To help readers interpret an informational text and find the central idea, the most effective approach would be a careful reading of the title and first sentence. The title often conveys the main topic or focus of the text, and the first sentence can set the stage for the central idea or thesis.
While analyzing claims and statements in the text can also be important in understanding the central idea, it typically comes after getting an initial sense of the text's purpose. Background information about the author and other texts on the same subject can provide valuable context but are not as directly useful for pinpointing the central idea within a specific text.
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