Reading #1:

In 1945, airfares were set by a Cartel, an association of businesses that agreed to limit competition among airlines by fixing prices. Every airline had to charge the same amount for flights to the same places. However, Juan Trippe, from Pan American airlines, disagreed with the Cartel and worked hard to change the fare plan. When he first tried to reduce the cost of fares for flights going overseas, the British refused to allow his Pan Am plane to land in London. Trippe then tried another plan. He knew that the Cartel had no control over flights that went from New York to San Juan, Puerto Rico. He filled each flight from New York to San Juan with one-way fares of $75. The route was very popular, and the airline grew. Eventually, the Cartel had to let airlines set their own prices which encouraged competition among airlines. It was always Juan Trippe's hope that the average person would be able to enjoy airline travel, and he continued to work against the Cartel until his dream became a reality.

[Adapted from Smith, B. The Reader's Handbook, 3/e, p. 83.]

Reading #2: "Jelly Roll" Morton

One of the most important musicians to emerge from the New Orleans style was the pianist and composer "Jelly Roll" Morton (1885-1941). His career is typical of the successful musicians of his time. He was born in New Orleans.  He learned the skills of a ragtime pianist there. As an adult, he traveled throughout the country. In Chicago, around 1926, he founded a New Orleans-style jazz band.  They were named the "Red Hot Peppers."  He made a series of important recordings with the group.  Morton was an unusual New Orleans musician. His music was composed and often written down before a performance^. This aspect of his work clearly comes from his background in ragtime. Many of his pieces were first written for piano and later copied for jazz band. Toward the end of his life, the American folklorist, Alan Lomax, interviewed him. This interview left a valuable record of Jelly's activities. At this time, he made the claim that he was the inventor of jazz.

[Adapted from Simms, The Art of Music, 1993.]

You are already familiar with this passage because you read it earlier in the Active Reading Strategies Module.  This time, however, determine which sentence is the stated main idea, and explain why you chose it.  You will apply the Three-Step Method that you used in Reading #1.