Question:

Question

What is the difference between a topic and a central idea?

Responses

The topic is stated directly, while the central idea is always hidden.
The topic is stated directly, while the central idea is always hidden. EndFragment

The topic is a complete sentence, while the central idea is only one word.
The topic is a complete sentence, while the central idea is only one word.

The topic is always an opinion, while the central idea is always a fact.
The topic is always an opinion, while the central idea is always a fact.

The topic is a general subject, while the central idea is a specific statement about that subject.

Answer 1

The best response is:

The topic is a general subject, while the central idea is a specific statement about that subject.

This clearly distinguishes between the broader concept (topic) and the more focused message or argument (central idea) that one can derive from the text.