Read for the overall message
Read the passage once without stopping at every unfamiliar word. Ask what changed, who was involved, and why the change mattered. A main idea should cover most of the passage rather than a single detail.
Last spring, residents of Cedar Street turned an unused car park into a small garden. At first, only six people joined the Saturday work sessions. By summer, more than twenty neighbours were helping. They planted herbs and vegetables, but the food was not the project's only benefit. People who had lived on the same street for years finally learned one another's names. The garden still faces problems: water is expensive, and volunteers must share the work fairly. Even so, the group plans to continue next year and invite the nearby school to take part.
Match an answer to a detail
For a detail question, return to the relevant sentence. For a main-idea question, consider the whole text. Distinguish what the writer states from what merely sounds plausible. The report mentions plans for the school, but it does not say that pupils already work in the garden.
Evidence: 'People ... finally learned one another's names.' Supported conclusion: The garden helped neighbours get to know each other.
Check your understanding.
Choose one answer for each question. You will see explanations after finishing.