Week 15 ELA Central Idea

Week 15 ELA Central Idea

Read each item carefully.

• Pay attention to the question.

• Is it asking for Central Idea, or something else?

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Multiple Choice

There are a lot of myths flying around about bats. One of these myths is that bats are blind. Bats can actually see quite well, some even better then people! Another myth is that bats are dirty. This is also untrue, as bats are very clean animals. Like cats, they spend lots of time grooming themselves.

According to the passage, which is true?

• Bats can't see.

• Bats are dirty.

• Bats can see well.

• Bats live in caves.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

There are a lot of myths flying around about bats. One of these myths is that bats are blind. Bats can actually see quite well, some even better then people! Another myth is that bats are dirty. This is also untrue, as bats are very clean animals. Like cats, they spend lots of time grooming themselves.

• Bats live in caves.

• Bats are interesting animals.

• Bats can be very dangerous animals.

• Bats are misunderstood animals.

Multiple Choice

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 (legal right to own his inventions) and received dozens of awards during his lifetime for his inventions and contributions to science.

Which can be supported by the paragraph?

• a patent is a legal right to own your invention - no one else can use it without your permission.

• Edison didn't patent any of his inventions - he wanted to share them freely.

• Edison's lifetime was called "Edisonism".

Multiple Choice

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 (legal right to own his inventions) and received dozens of awards during his lifetime for his inventions and contributions to science.

• The light bulb was an important invention.

• Thomas Edison was an important inventor.

• Thomas Edison was an excellent student.

• Creating inventions is a difficult process.

Multiple Choice

Millions of acres of tropical rainforest have been destroyed. Many animals and people lose their homes when the rain forest is cut down. The loss of forests is called deforestation. Today, people are destroying the forests so quickly that the animals are unable to adapt. Many of these animals, such as the leopard, need miles and miles of untouched rain forest in order to live. Furthermore, as more of the rainforest is destroyed, the risk of air pollution and loss of oxygen increases. The lack of trees increases soil erosion and flooding, both of which cause problems for farmers.

Which can be supported by the passage?

• Leopards are gaining more land for their homes.

• There is a lot of deforestation going on.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

Millions of acres of tropical rainforest have been destroyed. Many animals and people lose their homes when the rain forest is cut down. The loss of forests is called deforestation. Today, people are destroying the forests so quickly that the animals are unable to adapt. Many of these animals, such as the leopard, need miles and miles of untouched rain forest in order to live. Furthermore, as more of the rainforest is destroyed, the risk of air pollution and loss of oxygen increases. The lack of trees increases soil erosion and flooding, both of which cause problems for farmers.

• Leopards are losing their homes.

• The destruction of the rain forest is harming humans and animals.

• The destruction of the rain forest is an interesting subject.

• Forests provide oxygen for humans and animals.

Multiple Choice

In 1969, Apollo 11’s successful landing on the moon was seen on TV all around the world. At last, men had walked on the moon for the first time ever! Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin became famous American heroes. This mission was a great achievement for the U.S. space program, and led to six more Apollo flights in the years to come. The mission's success also led to further deep space explorations by the United States and other countries around the world.

Which can be supported by the text?

• The Apollo program was a failure.

• Millions watched the Apollo 11 moon landing.

• People were surprised about Apollo 11's success.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

In 1969, Apollo 11’s successful landing on the moon was seen on TV all around the world. At last, men had walked on the moon for the first time ever! Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin became famous American heroes. This mission was a great achievement for the U.S. space program, and led to six more Apollo flights in the years to come. The mission's success also led to further deep space explorations by the United States and other countries around the world.

• Apollo 11’s landing was an important moment in history.

• Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin are heroes.

• People were surprised about Apollo 11's success.

• Millions watched the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

The law was not exactly fair in the Middle Ages in Europe. Back then, you could blame someone in your town for committing a crime. The “criminal” could then challenge you to a fight to prove his guilt or innocence. If you lost the fight, you were charged as a liar and the criminal was believed to be innocent. If you won, the criminal was believed to be guilty.

• Those who were innocent of crimes often won.

• Fighting is a good way to decide guilt or innocence.

• Most people lied about crime in the Middle Ages.

• Laws were unfair in the Middle Ages.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

In training to be a knight, a person was expected to study hard and learn good manners. They didn't learn just how to fight. Their education was quite diverse. They were taught to play musical instruments, sing, and recite poetry. They also studied reading, writing, geometry, and strategy games. Another knight would then teach the person to shoot a bow and arrow, fight with a sword, and ride a horse. To say the least, knights had a well-rounded education.

• Knights learned a variety of subjects while training.

• Knights were very talented individuals.

• Knights were very hard working.

• Sword fighting was the most important subject a knight learned.

Multiple Choice

Jackie Robinson did something nobody had ever done before. He was not only a three-sport athlete at UCLA. He was the first African-American to play on a Major league baseball team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson had to deal with racism all over the country. He was treated very poorly by the by other players and fans in the stadiums he visited. But, whenever things got difficult, his courage and determination kept him going. His efforts led the way for other African-Americans to play in previously white-only leagues. Today his number 42 is retired (not allowed to be used) on every team in major league baseball, and he is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Which can be supported by the text?

• The text gives many specific examples of racism suffered by African-American athletes.

• The text identifies the three sports Jackie Robinson played at UCLA.

• The text gives two examples of honors given to Jackie Robinson.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

Jackie Robinson did something nobody had ever done before. He was not only a three-sport athlete at UCLA. He was the first African-American to play on a Major league baseball team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson had to deal with racism all over the country. He was treated very poorly by the by other players and fans in the stadiums he visited. But, whenever things got difficult, his courage and determination kept him going. His efforts led the way for other African-Americans to play in previously white-only leagues. Today his number 42 is retired (not allowed to be used) on every team in major league baseball, and he is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

• Jackie Robinson played an important role in fighting racism in America.

• Jackie Robinson played many different sports.

• Jackie Robinson is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

• Jackie Robinson played for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Multiple Choice

The Industrial Revolution was a time period when the world experienced a rapid change in how products were made. Machines and factories became common. Before the Industrial Revolution, most cloth was hand-made in people’s homes. They used spinning wheels and weaving looms to make their own clothes. This took a lot of time and hard work! But during the Industrial Revolution, textile machines were built that made great quantities of textiles (cloth) very quickly. Before long, machines were built to make other products, such as paper and even cars! This saved people much time and energy.

Which inference can be supported by the text?

• Spinning wheels and weaving looms took up a lot of space.

• People did not like buying factory-made cloth.

• The Industrial Revolution helped the world prosper.

• Before the Industrial Revolution, most things were made by hand.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

The Industrial Revolution was a time period when the world experienced a rapid change in how products were made. Machines and factories became common. Before the Industrial Revolution, most cloth was hand-made in people’s homes. They used spinning wheels and weaving looms to make their own clothes. This took a lot of time and hard work! But during the Industrial Revolution, textile machines were built that made great quantities of textiles (cloth) very quickly. Before long, machines were built to make other products, such as paper and even cars! This saved people much time and energy.

• The Industrial Revolution allowed goods to be made faster and easier.

• Cloth was difficult to make before machines.

• The Industrial Revolution helped the world prosper.

• Spinning wheels were used to make cloth before machines.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

William Shakespeare was a very prolific writer. By the time of his death at 52 years of age, he had written 37 plays, 154 poems, and two long, narrative poems. No other writer of his time produced as many high-quality works as Shakespeare. His writings are considered great examples of use of the English language. His works are studied by high school and college students around the world. Among his most popular works are Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream. His words have inspired many writers to this day!

• Shakespeare wrote "Romeo and Juliet".

• Many people enjoyed Shakespeare’s plays.

• Shakespeare would have created many other works if he hadn’t died so young.

• Shakespeare was a talented writer.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. Many beautiful three-dimensional creations are made with this art. Starting with only one square of paper, you can fold and fold and fold, until you’ve created amazing models. With practice, you can learn to make abstract designs or recognizable animals such as cranes (a type of bird) or even dinosaurs.

• Origami is an interesting and beautiful art form.

• The art of origami came from Japan.

• Cranes are a common creation using origami.

• Origami is a good way to show creativity.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

Leonardo da Vinci was born in Italy long ago in the year 1452. Besides being a great artist, he is well-known for his many inventions. He kept notes on all of his ideas. Many of his ideas were not possible to do with the technology of his time. But with modern technology, we have learned that his inventions are were indeed on target. Among his notes were designs for parachute, a diving suit, and a flying machine similar to today’s helicopter.

• Da Vinci was a great artist.

• Da Vinci was a man ahead of his time.

• Da Vinci was a better artist than inventor.

• Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.

Multiple Choice

The legacy of slavery in the United States is a complex topic. What we often don't study is how the trans-Atlantic slave trade impacted African communities. If you lived in a West African or Central African area, you might live in fear of being captured and sent away. Your family was likely already missing some people whom you'll never see again. If other kingdoms had guns, you needed to get guns, too, in order to protect yourselves. So, you went to war, to capture people to sell into slavery to get guns. It is said that Africa still hasn't recovered completely from the damage done by the slave trade.

According to the passage, which is NOT true?

• The slave trade caused wars between African kingdoms.

• The slave trade had negative affects on African kingdoms.

• The population of Africa was significantly decreased by the slave trade.

• Guns were produced in Africa.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

The legacy of slavery in the United States is a complex topic. What we often don't study is how the trans-Atlantic slave trade impacted African communities. If you lived in a West African or Central African area, you might live in fear of being captured and sent away. Your family was likely already missing some people whom you'll never see again. If other kingdoms had guns, you needed to get guns, too, in order to protect yourselves. So, you went to war, to capture people to sell into slavery to get guns. It is said that Africa still hasn't recovered completely from the damage done by the slave trade.

• The slave trade caused wars between African kingdoms.

• The slave trade had negative affects on African kingdoms.

• The population of Africa was significantly decreased by the slave trade.

Multiple Choice

The Industrial Revolution was when there was rapid growth in the use of factories to made products. Factories needed raw materials. For example, wool or cotton was needed, in order for a factory to turn it into textiles (cloth). Iron was a raw material needed in order to make many new inventions. Rubber was a raw material needed for making tires for the new invention of the automobile. Africa had many natural resources that could be used as raw material in European factories. So, England, France, and other countries turned to Africa. They colonized (took over) most of the continent, so they could own the natural resources.

Which is NOT supported by the passage?

• Europe used Africa's natural resources in its factories.

• African rubber was used for car tires.

• The word textiles refers to cloth.

• European factory owners preferred to use rubber from Africa.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

The Industrial Revolution was when there was rapid growth in the use of factories to made products. Factories needed raw materials. For example, wool or cotton was needed, in order for a factory to turn it into textiles (cloth). Iron was a raw material needed in order to make many new inventions. Rubber was a raw material needed for making tires for the new invention of the automobile. Africa had many natural resources that could be used as raw material in European factories. So, England, France, and other countries turned to Africa. They colonized (took over) most of the continent, so they could own the natural resources.

• Europe wanted Africa's natural resources during the Industrial Revolution.

• African rubber was used for car tires.

• The word textiles refers to cloth.

• Europe treated Africans poorly.

Multiple Choice

In 1885, when European nations met in the Berlin Conference to divide Africa up between them, no African representatives were invited. No thought was given to the cultures of the people who lived there. In some cases, an ethnic groups was split apart into different colonies. Other times, ethnic groups who had nothing in common were grouped together into the same colony. The European way of doing things was assumed, such as individual land ownership (as opposed to community ownership). These actions weakened the various African cultural traditions.

Which is true, according to the passage?

• At the Berlin Conference European nations discussed how to honor the cultures of Africans.

• Africa is a country, with a few different ethnic groups, that are all very similar to each other.

• Ethnic groups were sometimes split into different colonies.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

In 1885, when European nations met in the Berlin Conference to divide Africa up between them, no African representatives were invited. No thought was given to the cultures of the people who lived there. In some cases, an ethnic groups was split apart into different colonies. Other times, ethnic groups who had nothing in common were grouped together into the same colony. The European way of doing things was assumed, such as individual land ownership (as opposed to community ownership). These actions weakened the various African cultural traditions.

• The Berlin Conference was the meeting where European nations discussed dividing up the African continent.

• Europeans mistreated Africa.

• European colonizing nations ignored the cultural lives of the African people.

• Africa has thousands of different ethnic groups, each with its own cultural traditions.

Multiple Choice

Being a colony usually means that your resources are sent to the country that owns you. Even your people can be a resource that the mother country uses during times of war. During World War II, Africans were drafted and fought in the armies of their dominating country, for example Great Britain. After the war, many colonies began seeking independence. They wanted self-determination (the right to run their own country), and an end to economic exploitation. In the 1950's,1960's, and 1970's most African colonies achieved their freedom, and became independent nations. Sometimes independence came through war, sometimes through peaceful agreement.

According to the passage, all are true EXCEPT

• Many Africans fought in WWII as part of the British Army.

• Most of Europe's colonies in Africa became independent in the decades following WWII.

• Africans wanted to be colonies of European nations.

• There were wars for independence in Africa.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

Being a colony usually means that your resources are sent to the country that owns you. Even your people can be a resource that the mother country uses during times of war. During World War II, Africans were drafted and fought in the armies of their dominating country, for example Great Britain. After the war, many colonies began seeking independence. They wanted self-determination (the right to run their own country), and an end to economic exploitation. In the 1950's,1960's, and 1970's most African colonies achieved their freedom, and became independent nations. Sometimes independence came through war, sometimes through peaceful agreement.

• Many Africans fought in WWII as part of the British Army.

• Most of Europe's colonies in Africa became independent in the decades following WWII.

• Colonies usually lose their resources to the country that is dominating them.

• There were wars for independence in Africa.