· Step 2. Survey the paragraph to identify the topic. The topic sentence might be the first one in a paragraph. Survey the rest of the paragraph to make sure.
· Step 3. Choose the correct wording of the main idea from the text.
Match the given 9 headings with the 9 paragraphs of the text:
Demography trends
Patterns of migration
The future world state
Modelling demographies
Demographic waves
Demography
Population growth as an ‘S’ curve
An unstoppable growth?
Diversity of global changes
Identifying where to find information
· Step 1. Survey the text
· Step 2. Read the questions and statements to identify the idea, the topic, and the purpose, underline the key words in the question, read one question or statement at a time.
A/ The main idea is what the author has in mind when s/he is writing a text. Which one of the sentences given below most closely renders the main idea of the text?
1. Demographic change is one of the most important factors affecting languages – and to a much greater extent than other key trends affecting English – they can be predicted.
2. Analysis of international travel movements suggests that three-quarters of all travel is between non-English speaking countries.
3. The future of languages in the world depends on people.
4. There is a large demand for either foreign language learning or the increasing use of English as a lingua franca.
5. Languages differ remarkably in the age structure of the population speaking them, which will affect the future destiny of languages in the world but also the nature of educational services.