2A Reading Plus Lesson 2 (V1)

2A Reading Plus Lesson 2 (V1)

Main Idea and Themes:

Determining Main Idea

Main Idea & Themes: Determining Main Idea

Every time you read a text, you should look for the main idea of that text. The main idea of a text is what the text is mainly about -- it is the most important point of the text. A text will tell you many things as you read. Your job is to figure out which are details that support the main idea and which are less important details. To find the main idea of a text, you need to focus on the text’s most important point. A text has many details. The main idea does not tell you about all of these details. The main idea tells you the most important point. The main idea can be anywhere in a text. Sometimes the author will put the main idea, or the most important point, in the beginning of a text. But sometimes the main idea can be in the middle or at the end of a text. 

► Read this paragraph.

Rice is a food that is eaten all over the world. In Spain there is Spanish rice, in Mexico there is rice and beans, and in India there is rice bread. The Chinese have fried rice, the Japanese have rice cakes, and Americans have rice pudding.

What is the main idea of this paragraph? The first sentence is the main idea because it says people all over the world eat rice. The other sentences give details about the kinds of rice meals that are eaten in different places.

► Read this paragraph.

More than 4,000 years ago, people in ancient India came up with “nothing.” They were the first to have the idea of a number zero. Before then, there was no written way to show there was nothing to count. Sometimes the main idea does not come at the beginning. In this paragraph, the main idea is in the second sentence. It tells about the first people to have the idea of a number zero. The first and third sentences give details about the idea of a number zero and why it was needed.

► Read this paragraph.

It may surprise you that plants are used in products to clean your house. They can be used to wash clothes and shine shoes. Plants also are used in products that clean your body. They are in things like soap and shampoo. Plants have many uses. 

*Sometimes the main idea is stated at the end of a text. The main idea here is that plants have many uses. The other sentences give examples of how plants are used.

*The main idea can be anywhere in the text. You need to read closely and carefully to see if the main idea is in the beginning, middle, or end of a text.

Multiple Select

► Select the main idea sentence in each of the following paragraphs. Remember, the main idea can be in the beginning, middle, or end of a text.

As time went by, things got harder and harder for the red foxes. Some nights they had to stay out all night before they could catch something to eat. Some nights they could not find food at all.

• As time went by, things got harder and harder for the red foxes.

• Some nights they had to stay out all night before they could catch something to eat.

• Some nights they could not find food at all.

Multiple Select

► Select the main idea sentence in each of the following paragraphs. Remember, the main idea can be in the beginning, middle, or end of a text.

Many bees fly out of the hive every day. They take nectar from the flowers. Each bee brings a little nectar back to the hive. The nectar is stored there. After a time, the nectar becomes honey. The worker bees are the ones that make this honey.

• Many bees fly out of the hive every day.

• They take nectar from the flowers.

• Each bee brings a little nectar back to the hive. The nectar is stored there.

• After a time, the nectar becomes honey.

• The worker bees are the ones that make this honey.

Multiple Select

►Select the main idea sentence in each of the following paragraphs. Remember, the main idea can be in the beginning, middle, or end of a text.

Three colors are known as “primary colors.” They are red, yellow, and blue. Using these three primary colors, you can make any other color you want.

• Three colors are known as “primary colors.”

• They are red, yellow, and blue.

• Using these three primary colors, you can make any other color you want.

Multiple Select

► Select the main idea sentence in each of the following paragraphs. Remember, the main idea can be in the beginning, middle, or end of a text.

Roberto Clemente once said, “Baseball has been very good to me.” A more truthful statement may be Roberto Clemente has been very good to baseball. During his career, he hit 240 home runs. He was the first Latino player to get 3,000 hits. His batting average was better than just about anyone who has played the game.

• Roberto Clemente once said, “Baseball has been very good to me.”

• A more truthful statement may be Roberto Clemente has been very good to baseball.

• During his career, he hit 240 home runs. He was the first Latino player to get 3,000 hits.

• His batting average was better than just about anyone who has played the game.

Multiple Select

► Select the main idea sentence in each of the following paragraphs. Remember, the main idea can be in the beginning, middle, or end of a text.

If you think a whale is the biggest fish in the sea, think again. A whale is big, but it is not a fish. It is a mammal, or a warm-blooded animal. It just happens to live in the water. Whales are the largest and heaviest animals in the world, in or out of the water.

• If you think a whale is the biggest fish in the sea, think again. A whale is big, but it is not a fish.

• It is a mammal, or a warm-blooded animal.

• It just happens to live in the water.

• Whales are the largest and heaviest animals in the world, in or out of the water.

Multiple Select

► Select the main idea sentence in each of the following paragraphs. Remember, the main idea can be in the beginning, middle, or end of a text:

Certain things happen to your body when you feel stress. Your heart will beat faster, more blood will go through your body, and your brain will feel sharper. Your eyes will work better and you will see more clearly. Your body may make sweat, which will help you stay cool. You will be full of energy.

• Certain things happen to your body when you feel stress.

• Your heart will beat faster, more blood will go through your body, and your brain will feel sharper.

• Your eyes will work better and you will see more clearly.

• Your body may make sweat, which will help you stay cool. You will be full of energy.

Multiple Select

► Select the main idea sentence in each of the following paragraphs. Remember, the main idea can be in the beginning, middle, or end of a text.

Nature has many kinds of smells. Some smells are very pleasant. For example, most people like the smell of flowers, which can be quite nice. Most flowers have pleasant smells, but other things can smell bad.

• Nature has many kinds of smells.

• Some smells are very pleasant.

• For example, most people like the smell of flowers, which can be quite nice.

• Most flowers have pleasant smells, but other things can smell bad.

Multiple Select

► Select the main idea sentence in each of the following paragraphs. Remember, the main idea can be in the beginning, middle, or end of a text.

Many people like to invent things. They may not be as famous as Thomas Edison. After all, life would be pretty dark without his invention of the light bulb. However, inventors of all ages have had many good ideas.

• Many people like to invent things.

• They may not be as famous as Thomas Edison.

• After all, life would be pretty dark without his invention of the light bulb.

• However, inventors of all ages have had many good ideas.