later，Boston College provided him with an excellent legal background. He is presently a corporation lawyer in Miami，Florida.
由于这里没有一个句子可以单独陈述段落的主题，读这种结构的段落找出其主题就不那么容易必须把每个句子所陈述的意思认真理解之后才能确定主题是什么。
此段落的主题词是 study at the university，graduate with honors
上面这个段落的主题应该是 Joshua Bingham received an excellent education.（ Joshua Bingham受过良好的教育）
主旨大意题的干扰项（错误选项）有3种：
1. 概括范围太窄，只表达局部信息或某一细节，不能概括整篇文章的主旨大意。
2. 概括范围太宽，所表达的内容超出或多于文章阐述的内容。
3. 无关信息：即文章中未提到、或找不到语言依据的信息。
Example one
Coffee is a universal beverage that is served in different ways around the world. In London，for example，some Englishmen dip mustard into their coffee，while in Denver，a Person might add a dash of ketchup. Strips of orange and lemon Peel，cloves and cinnamon sticks are not unusual additions to the brew in Europe. An Asian delight consists of coffee brewed in boiling sugar. perhaps the richest cup of coffee can be enjoyed in Ireland where whiskey and whipped cream are important ingredients. In Australia a waitress will ask，“Do you want black or white？” Black is plain black coffee，but white is half coffee and half warm milk. If an Australian orders iced coffee，he will be served a cup of steaming coffee with a scoop of ice cream. It sounds like the Australian version of a “snowball in hell.”
1. Which statement best expresses the main idea？
a. The richest cup of coffee can be enjoyed in Ireland.
b. Asians enjoy a sweet cup of coffee.
c. Coffee is enjoyed in a variety of ways.
d. Australians have an unusual sense of humor.
2. The paragraph could be entitled
a. Some Like It Hot. b. Coffee Around the World.
c. Oriental Delights. d. A Snowball in Hell.
答案说明
l.第一个问题的正确答案是c，coffee is enjoyed in variety of ways.（咖啡可以以多种方式享用）这句话说明了这段文章的主题。它基本上是本段开头一句的翻版，它概括了本段其它句子所陈述的事实。
答案a，和b都是错误的，原因在于： 答案a和b所述内容是细节而非主题，同主题句相比？它们的范围显得狭隘了些。它们的重要性不及主题句。 答案d 是说澳大利亚人具有与众不同的幽默感；虽然本段文章某些地方可能表明澳大利亚人具有幽默感，但是答案d所指的仍是细节而不是主题。
2.第二个问题的正确答案是b：Coffee Around the World.（遍及全球的咖啡。文章的主题句说明咖啡是一种全球性饮料，文中的论证性句子又评述了若干国家的不同吃法。
答案a，c，d都是错误的，原因是： 答案a，c，d都分别说明了本段文章的部分内容，与答案b相比，都欠全面。
本段文章的结构是主题句位于段落的开头；作者一开始就提出论点，其余的句子是对这一论点的论证与解释说明。与此相对应的句子显然是第一句： Coffee is a universal beverage that； served in different ways around the world.
需要特别指出的是，标题型题虽然与主题句密切相关，但它们又有区别，找到了主题句不一定能找对标题。因为标题常常隐含于主题句之中，主题句只能使考生在确定标题的时候有所启发，考生只能根据主题句进行再抽象，然后找到标题。主题句在词法和句法上是一整句，而标题在结构上往往是单词或短语。主题句对整篇起到统帅作用，而标题是整篇表现的对象。主题句语义明确，而标题则内含较深。
Example two
When the weather is clear，pilots use their eyes to keep the airplane flying straight and level. In low visibility situations，however，the eye and other orientation senses，such as our sense of balance，are not only useless，they may be totally misleading. The only safe way to fly an airplane in low visibility conditions is to use instruments，which indicate the attitude of the airplane.
A. In bad weather，the senses can be misleading
B. Flying an airplane can be very difficult
C. When visibility is low the only safe way to fly an airplane is by using flight instruments.
D. When the weather is clear，pilots use their eyes to keep the airplane flying straight and level.
四项选择中成项和d项内容太具体，不能概括段落的主旨思想。b项内容又太笼统，超出了作者的原意。只有C项才准确地概括出段落的主旨思想。
总之，识别和理解主题句，可迅速准确地抓住短文的中心思想，从而把握住全篇的主要内容。在确定文章的主旨思想时，选项的内容既不能太具体也不能太笼统。在选择和确定主旨思想时，题中给出的四个选择项往往都是事实，要求考生从中选出最能概括文章主旨思想的一项作为正确答案。在这方面考生容易犯以下两种错误：一种是把主题的一部分看成是文章的“主旨思想”，这样选择的“主旨思想”太具体，不能准确地概括出整个文章或段落的主旨思想。另一种是在表达作者的主旨思想时，词语概括的范围太大，太笼统，超出了作者的本意。