例七：
English is clearly an international language. It is spoken by pilots and airport control operators on all the airways of the world. Over 70 percent of the world's radio programs are in English
本段主題句為首句，其后的內(nèi)容均說明首句。
例八：
It's no wonder that we have so many rejections for physical reasons in our Selective Service. Since October of 1948, some six million young men have been examined for military duty. Of these, more than a million were rejected as physically unfit for military service. To get two men today, the United States Army must call seven men. Of the five rejected three are turned down for physical reasons and two for mental problems. To get the 196 thousand additional men we needed for Berlin, the government had to call up 750 thousand men. And the rejection rate is increasing each year. The reason for this problem is that we are under exercised as a nation. We look, instead of play. We ride, instead of walk. The way we live prevents us from being healthy.
本段中找不到某一 句作為主 題。根據(jù)文中的內(nèi)容進行歸納，可找出主題思想，即：“The military's rejection rate for physical reason is increasing because this nation's lack of exercise is leading to poor health.”
例九：
For adults a cold is not that serious. However, this is not the case for children. Cold symptoms in children may be signs of more serious diseases and should be given prompt medical attention.
本段主題句為第二句，因為在however后面才是作者真正的看法，并在本文中進一步作了說明。
然而，我們也常常發(fā)現(xiàn)，有的主題思想并非直接由一、二個句子表述，而是在文中間接暗示著。這就需要讀者根據(jù)文中細節(jié)進行概括與歸納，找出主題思想。
例十：
Some students prefer a strict teacher who tells them exactly what to do. Others prefer to be left to work on their own. Still others like a democratic discussion type of class. No one teaching method can be devised to satisfy all students at the same time
本段中心思想在結尾句得到體現(xiàn)，它是此段內(nèi)容的結論。
在確定一篇文章的中心思想時，我們通常用快讀的方法，從頭至尾將全文瀏覽一遍，注意不要被個別詞、句難住而停下來。要從上下文的連貫意思上來理解進行闡述的、有關這個主題我們了解了什么。這樣，就可以比較有把握地概括出中心思想了。
在閱讀理解測試中，常常用于檢查對主題思想的掌握的問題有：
1. The main (central, principal) idea of this passage is __________________ .
2. The main idea of this selection may be best expressed as __________________.
3. The main theme (topic) of the passage is __________________ .
4. The passage is mainly about __________________ .
5. This passage deals mainly (primarily) with __________________ .
6. The author's purpose in writing this passage is __________________ .
7. The main purpose of the passage is __________________ .
8. The best (most appropriate) title of (for) this passage is __________________ .
9. What would be the most appropriate title for this passage?
10. What is the subject of this passage?
11. Which of the following best summarizes the passage?
12. Which of the following best sums up the main idea of the whole passage?
建議大家在平時的閱讀練習中進行全文快速瀏覽，嘗試自己提煉和總結文章主旨。經(jīng)過一段時間的練習，考試中必然能快速了解整篇文章大意，方便選出正確答案。
