RC main idea and primary purpose

[vivekjaiswal]

Hi,

I am having problems with the RC main idea and primary purpose questions.

Is there any difference between the main idea and the primary purpose of the passage?

How should I attack such questions?
I have learned from many books that the main idea or the primary purpose of the passage is generally linked to the first and the last paragraph of the passage. What if the passage is just two paras??
I generally follow this approach, but am almost always stumped by the main idea or the primary purpose questions.
Please help!!

[GoodThings]

Add me to the list. When i get the the question right, the answer usually jumps out at me on one of the choices.

How do you approach it? When i finish the first paragraph, i say ok, this leads to that. After i finish the second paragraph, i say ok, it's an example of that. But sometimes the second paragraph isn't an example. So i ask questions. Is this the wrong approach?

I get about 50/50 on these questions. But usually the answer is pretty obvious. And if not, i can pretty much eliminate 3 of the wrong choices. Any suggestions?

GT