If a main idea is not explicit, what skill should a reader have?

When the main idea of a text is not explicitly stated, a reader must be able to make inferences to understand the underlying message being conveyed. Inference skills allow readers to draw conclusions based on context clues, word choice, and surrounding details, enabling them to piece together the author's intent or the central theme without it being directly stated. This cognitive process is crucial when navigating texts where the main idea is implied rather than clearly articulated.

While summarization and identifying key details are also valuable skills, they are more relevant when the main idea is either directly stated or easily ascertainable through content analysis. Understanding tone, while useful, does not directly aid in uncovering the main idea when it’s implicit. The ability to make inferences thus becomes essential in such scenarios.