In Main Point questions, the central reference combines which elements?

• A. Issue AND APOV
• B. Only Issue
• C. Only APOV
• D. None

Answer: (A)

Main Point questions test the one sweeping claim the author is making about the topic, stated from the author’s own point of view. The central reference blends two things: the issue (what’s being discussed) and the author’s stance on that issue (APOV). The strongest answer captures the author's overarching conclusion about the topic as it’s framed by their perspective. If you pull apart either element alone, you don’t reach the actual main point. For example, with an issue like free college tuition and an APOV that the government should fund higher education, the main point would be a statement such as “The government should fund free college tuition because it will expand access and benefit society,” which ties the topic to the author’s stance and reasoning.