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Welcome to Brainfuse

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To summarize the main idea of a passage, we just need to figure out

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the topic,

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and what point the author wants to make about this topic

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If you look at the passage on screen, our topic is "climate change"

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So what point does the author want to make about climate change? Let's look at the first paragraph to see if

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there's a topic sentence that will help us figure that out

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No matter how aggressively heat-trapping emissions are reduced,

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some amount of climate change and resulting impacts will continue due to the effects of gases

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that have already been released. So, no matter what, we are going to feel the effects of

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climate change

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This is true for several reasons

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The author then lists one,

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two

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three reasons

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And closes the paragraph by saying "Consequently, there is also a need for adaptation"

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So the author saying that we also

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need to

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adapt to climate change, and in here she uses the word "also" so along with

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reducing emissions

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The author does not say we should give up on that

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So what point does the author want to make about this topic?

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The author wants readers to know how to address climate change

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And how can you sum that point up in one sentence?

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Here's one example

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We not only need to reduce emissions

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But also need to adapt to a new normal

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So notice that I haven't looked at any answer choices yet. I'm taking the time to figure out the main idea

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on my own. Taking the time to do that will help you avoid

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being tricked by the test makers. They often try to get test takers

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to choose specific details from the passage instead of the main idea. So let's scroll

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down to the answer choices

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and see which one has the closest meaning to the one written above

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So which of the following statements best summarizes the main idea of this passage

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Number one; Human beings do not need to alter their energy consumption,

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but they do need to find new ways to live in a changing environment

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On the first sentence the author does not say that we need to give up on reducing emissions

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So

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this first part

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makes

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this choice incorrect

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Moving on to the second one; Along with reducing reliance on heat-trapping

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gases,

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people also need to find new ways to live in a changing environment

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This one acknowledges that we need to reduce the use of heat wrapping gases

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And also argues that we need to adapt to climate change

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So this one is a possibility

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Let's check the next one; The effects of climate change will become less drastic within a few decades

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The third sentence pretty much contrast with the info in the passage

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Let's eliminate it

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And move to the next one

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The use of

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heat-trapping gases

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must be replaced by alternative fuels

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The author just briefly mentions that energy Supply systems cannot change overnight

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Up here in the intro

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Here it is in the fourth sentence; In addition, the factors that

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determine emissions, such as energy-supply systems,

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cannot be changed overnight

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So the passage does say this,

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but is it the main idea?

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The passage briefly mentions energy supplies but it's just a detail, not a main idea

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And finally

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All structures need to be reassessed to make sure they can withstand extreme weather conditions

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This one again, relates to one of the details in the passage

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It is listed as one of the ways that

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humans can adapt to the new conditions

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"Altering its zoning and building codes to place fewer structures in harm's

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way and making buildings less vulnerable to damage from the elements"

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Again this is a detail in the passage but not the main idea

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So we are left with

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Option 2 as our answer

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That's the main idea

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Knowing the main idea also helps you figure out the answers to other critical reading questions

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Whenever you read a passage, notice the topic and what point the author wants to make about this topic

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The main idea can then be summed up in one to two sentences

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Thank you for watching this lesson