公共英语三级考试中，主旨推断题不仅频繁出现在阅读测试中，还专门设有一个大题(61-65)全部是有关主旨的。主旨推断题要求考生具有很强的话语篇章把握能力和分析能力，能够从全局的角度对文章括以总领，梳清脉络。可以说，对阅读理解主旨题的把握能力决定了阅读这个整体题项的成败，它也是衡量阅读水平高低的一个重要标尺。所以，如果我们在这个题上能够取得突破，就等于是攻克了阅读当中最顽固的堡垒，其它类型的题也就不在话下了。所谓主旨大意题指针对段落或短文的subject(主题)、main idea(主题思想)、title(题目)或purpose(目的)拟题。尽管题型或用词不尽相同，但所针对的都是段落(或短文)的主旨大意。以下是针对段落(或短文)的主旨大意所设立的常见题型：

　　1. What is the main idea of this paragraph(passage)?

　　2. What is the author′s main point?

　　3. The main idea (central thought)of the paragraph(passage)is--------

　　4. Which of the following sentences best expresses the main idea?

　　5. What does the paragraph (passage)mainly suggest?

　　6. The main point of the paragraph(passage)is-----

　　7. The paragraph (passage)centers on the point that---------

　　8. The author seems to be especially interested in------

　　9. The topic sentence of the paragraph(passage)?

　　10. What topic is treated in this paragraph(passage)?

　　11. What the paragaph (passage) tells us would be summarized by the sentence---

　　12. The best summary of the paragraph (passage)is that ---

　　13. The paragraph (passage)informs us that---

　　14. We can infer from the paragraph (passage)that----

　　15. What does this paragraph (passage) imply?

　　16. What is the subject of this paragraph (passage)?

　　17. Which of the following can be concluded from the information presented in this paragraph (passage)?

　　18. What conclusion can be drawn from this paragraph (passage) ?

　　19. The (main) subject of the paragraph (passage) is----

　　20. Which of the following best states the theme of paragraph (passage)?