Reading for the Main Idea: Topic Sentence (1)

英语段落的中心思想常用主题句表达。所谓主题句就是概括说明某一段落中心思想的句子。因此，能迅速识别段落的主题句有助于读者很好地理解段落的中心思想。主题句通常出现在段落的开头。如A篇课文的第二段：

I soon learned that my life was now up to me. I had to set a study program if I were to succeed in my courses. I had to regulate the time I spent  studying and the time I spent socializing. I had to decide when to go to bed, when and what to eat, when and what to drink, and with whom to be friendly. These questions I had to answer for myself.  

这一段的第一句是主题句，说明作者很快认识到，进了大学后，现在的生活就取决于自己了。接下来的三句则说明怎样取决于自己。最后一句说明这些问题都必须自己回答，再一次强调了主题句所表达的思想。  

再如A篇课文的第三段：  

At first, life was a bit difficult. I made mistakes in how I used my time. I spent too much time making friends. I also made some mistakes in how I chose my first friends in college.  

这一段的第一句是主题句，说明一开始并非一切顺利，生活有点困难。怎么个困难法呢？后三句则做了具体说明。