When cold season approaches, many people take precautions to avoid colds and flu. The flu shot is a first line of defense. Doctor's offices and pharmacies dispense shots. Many clinics, community groups, and public health departments offer free shots. Healthy eating, drinking plenty of fluids, and getting enough sleep are also important guards against winter illness.
The most important step of all, in order to stay well during cold season, is washing your hands frequently, Colds and flu are transmitted through your hands. The most common cold virus is the rhinovirus. You pick up and pass on flu and cold viruses whenever you touch surfaces contaminated by other people. Doorknobs, handles, faucets, food-cart and basket handles, elevator buttons, public phones, tables, and trays, to name a few, can all carry viruses and bacteria. Touching your nose or rubbing your eyes after an outing are the quickest way to pick up germs on your hands. So, pay attention and keep washing!
In three to five sentences, identify the main claim of the passage and explain some examples of supports for that claim. Identify a sentence in the second paragraph that contains an irrelevant detail.
The main claim of the passage is that washing your hands frequently is the most important step to staying well during cold season. One example of support for this claim is that colds and flu are transmitted through hands, and the most common cold virus is the rhinovirus. Another example is that touching surfaces contaminated by other people, such as doorknobs and handles, can pass on flu and cold viruses. Additionally, the passage mentions that touching your nose or rubbing your eyes after being out can quickly pick up germs on your hands.
An example of a sentence in the second paragraph that contains an irrelevant detail is "Doorknobs, handles, faucets, food-cart and basket handles, elevator buttons, public phones, tables, and trays, to name a few, can all carry viruses and bacteria." This detail listing various surfaces that can carry viruses and bacteria is not directly relevant to the main claim of washing hands frequently to stay well during cold season.
Your answer is incorrect.
I apologize for the mistake. Let me correct my response.
The main claim of the passage is that washing your hands frequently is the most important step to staying well during cold season. One example of support for this claim is that colds and flu are transmitted through hands. This is supported by the statement that the most common cold virus is the rhinovirus and that you can pick up and pass on flu and cold viruses whenever you touch surfaces contaminated by other people. Another example of support is the mention of touching your nose or rubbing your eyes after an outing, which are identified as quick ways to pick up germs on your hands.
As for the irrelevant detail, I apologize for misunderstanding the question. Upon reviewing the passage, there is no sentence in the second paragraph that contains an irrelevant detail. All the information provided in that paragraph directly supports the claim of washing hands frequently to avoid colds and flu.
The main claim of the passage is that washing hands frequently is the most important step to stay well during the cold season. One support for this claim is that colds and flu are transmitted through hands, and touching contaminated surfaces can spread viruses and bacteria. Another support is that touching the nose or rubbing the eyes after being outside can quickly pick up germs on the hands. Furthermore, the passage explains that washing hands is more effective than relying solely on other precautions like getting flu shots, healthy eating, or getting enough sleep.
An example of an irrelevant detail in the second paragraph is the mention of the most common cold virus being the rhinovirus. This detail does not directly support the claim that washing hands frequently is the most important step to stay well during the cold season.