Summarizing Central Ideas

Front

What is the central idea of the passage?
Thomas Edison’s life span is known as “The age of Edison.” If it wasn’t for Thomas Edison, we might not have electric lights, telephones, movie cameras, or computers! Think of all the ways these great products affect our lives today. Edison held over 1,000 patents and received dozens of awards during his lifetime for his inventions and contributions to science.

Back

Thomas Edison was an important inventor

Front

What is a statement that tells what a passage is mostly about called?

Back

Main Idea

Front

Which sentence is a supporting detail that recycling is important? Options:

There are many landfills available for waste.

,

Recycling paper saves trees from being cut down.

,

Clean jars before recycling them.

,

Separate your paper, cans, and glass jars before recycling.

Back

Recycling paper saves trees from being cut down.

Front

Which sentence is a supporting detail that you should get enough sleep? Options: Many people sleep later on the weekends. Caffeine keeps some people awake at night. Dark rooms are best for sleeping. Seven to nine hours keeps you refreshed the next day.

Back

Seven to nine hours keeps you refreshed the next day.

Front

What is the best question to ask yourself when you are trying to find the main idea?

Back

What point is the author trying to make?

Front

Which of the following statements is true about SUMMARIZING?

• A summary should include many story details.
• A summary is always found in the first sentence of a paragraph or chapter.
• A summary should always be fiction.
• A summary is what the passage is mostly about.

Back

A summary is what the passage is mostly about.

Front

Which best describes a summary?

Back

Main or most important idea of the text

Front

The faculty at Newtown Elementary School invites you to attend our annual Honors Dinner on Thursday, June 17, 2005, in the school cafeteria.

A meal will be served at 7:00 P.M. The cost of the meal is $7.50 per person. Please respond by June 5th with the number of family members attending. We look forward to seeing you there.

Which of the following is the best summary of the invitation?

Back

The teachers at school are having a dinner to which you are invited. It will be at 7 P.M. on June 17 and will cost $7.50 a person.