Main Idea Review

Main Idea

I can determine the main idea of a passage.

What is a topic?

A topic is . . .

• one or two words about what the story or paragraph is about

• the place, thing, animal, or person the paragraph, or story is talking about. The topic is a noun.

• repeated throughout the entire paragraph or story

• Examples, Santa Claus, Christmas, Rudolph, North Pole, dog (like Santa Claws), reindeer, Nutcracker

What is a main idea?

A main idea is . . .

* the main point the author is trying to make

* often located in the first or last sentence of a paragraph

* the title can help you understand what the main idea may be

* supported by details in the text

* all information in the paragraph should relate to the main idea

* is written in a complete sentence

*is written in your own words

Multiple Choice

Most of the time, Main Idea can be found ...

• at the start or end of a paragraph

• In the middle of a paragraph

• on the last page

• in the index

Multiple Choice

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

• Who is the main character?

• What is the main event?

• What is one important detail?

• What point is the author trying to make?

Multiple Choice

Is this a topic or a main idea? "Roller coasters move in different ways."

• topic

• main idea

Multiple Choice

Is this a topic or a main idea? "turtle shells"

• topic

• main idea

What is a supporting detail?

A supporting detail is . . .

• comes right from the text

• supports the main idea

Let's Practice

Multiple Choice

Benjamin Franklin invented many things that made life easier in the late 1700's. He invented the lightning rod that saved many homes from fires. He also invented the Franklin stove. The stove could heat a room better than a fireplace and saved people a lot of fuel. He also invented a special kind of glasses called bifocals. This new kind of glasses helped people read better.

What is the main idea of the text?

• Benjamin Franklin invented the lightning rod.

• Benjamin Franklin invented the Franklin stove.

• Benjamin Franklin invented the bifocals.

• Benjamin Franklin was a great inventor.

Multiple Choice

Seated on his throne, King Midas wore a golden crown. He had golden rings on each finger and held a golden scepter. His vest was embroidered with golden thread and even his shoes had golden ornaments. He had a golden box filled with gold coins. He named his daughter Marigold.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• King Midas loved gold.

• King Midas sold lots of gold.

• King Midas had a heart of gold.

• King Midas hated gold.

Multiple Choice

Some people say that the White House has ghosts. The most famous ghost is Abraham Lincoln. He is often seen standing in his room looking out the window. Even Eleanor Roosevelt said that she saw him. There is a legend that old Abe walks back and forth all night before something terrible is about to happen. This paragraph mainly tells:

• Lincoln's ghost is the most famous ghost in the White House.

• Eleanor Roosevelt's ghost walked through the White House.

• There have been many ghosts in the White House.

• The ghosts show when something will happen.

Multiple Choice

IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA

It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. Brach's, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. That's a lot of candy corn, but that's nothing compared to the production of Tootsie Rolls. Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry's staple product: chocolate. Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. Now that's a mouthful!

• There are lots of popular candies sold each year.

• The candy industry is overpowering.

• Tootsie Rolls are delicious.

• Candy corn is the world's most abundant candy piece.

Multiple Choice

Is there a hairy monster in the Pacific Northwest? Some people think so. They say it lives in the mountains. They call it "Bigfoot". No one knows for sure if Bigfoot is real. Hundreds of people say they have seen the monster, and many more claim to have seen its huge footprints. Reports state that Bigfoot looks like an ape. It doesn't run, but it walks very fast. Bigfoot is said to be a fast swimmer as well. Reports of the strange Bigfoot make the monster an interesting puzzle.

What is the main idea of the text?

• The Pacific Northwest is a nice place to visit.

• Bigfoot looks like an ape.

• Bigfoot is still a mystery.

• Bigfoot's physical features

Multiple Choice

Matilda Excerpt

By Roald Dahl

By the time she was three, Matilda had taught herself to read by studying newspapers and magazines that lay around the house. At the age of four, she could read fast and well and she naturally began hankering after books. The only book in the whole of this enlightened household was something called Easy Cooking belonging to her mother, and when she had read this from cover to cover and had learnt all the recipes by heart, she decided she wanted something more interesting. "Daddy," she said, "do you think you could buy me a book?" "A book,” he said. "Whatd' you want a flaming book for?" "To read, Daddy." "What's wrong with the telly, for heaven's sake? We've got a lovely telly with a twelve-inch screen and now you come asking for a book! You're getting spoiled, my girl!"

What is the main idea?

• Matilda can read fast.

• Matilda is eager to learn and read more.

• Matilda is interested in cookbooks.

• Matilda’s dad won’t buy her a new book.

Multiple Choice

Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information very quickly. That's why they use pictures! The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.

Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

• Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is

• Pictures help weather reporters get information out fast

• Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short

• They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area