In this excerpt from an essay, which sentence provides the main idea? fast food chains are on every corner of every town. you can get a quick and cheap meal of a burger, fries, and a soda in minutes. but the next time you think about stepping into a fast food restaurant, think about what you’re doing to your body first. regularly eating fast food can cause all sorts of health problems, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and even cancer. there’s a reason fast food is also called junk food. it is food that is high in fat and calories, with very low nutritional value. so do your health a favor—give the fast food a pass and get a salad instead!

The following sentence provides the main idea:

But the next time you think about stepping into a fast food restaurant, think about what you’re doing to your body first.

Further Explanation:

The main idea of an essay is the author's central message. This message can either be stated directly or implied.

Main ideas are often found in the beginning of the paragraph or as a concluding sentence. However, the main idea may also be inferred or implied. Several sentences in the essay can introduce and support the main idea without explicitly stating the main idea.

To identify the main idea of an essay, ask yourself: "What is the main point the author is trying to make?"

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Key words:

main idea

the more fit you are, the faster the recovery. your heart rate drops most sharply in the first minute after you stop exercising; it should then fall about 20 beats a minute—a drop of less than 12 beats a minute is considered abnormal. this “recovery heart rate” is measured as part of an exercise stress test.