What helps readers interpret an informational text to find the central idea?

Question

a careful reading of the title and first sentence
a careful reading of the title and first sentence

other texts on the same subject by different authors
other texts on the same subject by different authors

an analysis of claims and statements in the text
an analysis of claims and statements in the text

background information about the author

Answer 1

To help readers interpret an informational text and find the central idea, the most effective option would be:

an analysis of claims and statements in the text

While reading the title and first sentence may provide some context, and consulting other texts can offer different perspectives, analyzing the claims and statements made within the text allows readers to engage critically with the material and directly identify the main point or central idea. Background information about the author may provide some context but is less effective for determining the central idea of the text itself.