Main Idea and Details

Main Idea and Details

Read the questions carefully before answering. Think!

Multiple Choice

Elephants use their trunks for many things. Elephants use their trunks to smell. In fact, elephants can smell better than bloodhounds. Baby elephants sometimes suck their trunks to soothe themselves the way human babies suck their thumbs. Elephants do not drink with their trunks. They use their trunks to suck up water and then pour it in their mouths. Elephants also greet each other with their trunks the way humans do by shaking hands. What is the main idea?

•  How much water elephants drink
• Where elephants live
• How elephant use their trunks

Multiple Choice

The main idea is what the story is ______________ about.

• mostly
• only
• never
• very

Multiple Choice

Which is the main idea?

• Playing with Play Doh involves all your senses.

• Play Doh feels smooth and cold.

• You can see it comes in bright, vibrant colors.

• It tastes a little salty, but don't ask how I know that.

Multiple Choice

You can make all sorts of things with Legos. (Which detail doesn't belong?)

• You can very easily build a column.

• You can make a castle, a monkey, or a car.

• It hurts to step on Legos with bare feet.

• There are even kits available to make Star Wars ships.

Multiple Choice

Keep your teeth happy. Brush your teeth twice a day. Make sure you floss your teeth every time you brush and after you eat. Avoid eating anything that sticks to your teeth, like candy and syrup. Eat vegetables and fruits that don't cause cavities. 
What is the main idea?

• Keep your teeth happy
• Brush your teeth twice a day
• Avoid eating candy and syrup
• Eat more vegetables

Multiple Choice

Read the following details and determine the main idea of the words.
-theater
-candy
-popcorn
-dark

• Playing at the park.
• Going to school.
• Playing a soccer game.
• Going to the movies.

Multiple Choice

Key details give important information to support the main idea.

• True
• False

Multiple Choice

Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.  Soccer players learn how to dribble and pass the ball.  They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score.  Most importantly, soccer players learn how to work together with their teammates.
What is the main idea?

• They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score.
• Soccer players learn how to dribble.
• They learn how to work together as teammates.
• Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.

Multiple Choice

Elephants use their trunks for many things. Elephants use their trunks to smell. In fact, elephants can smell better than bloodhounds. Baby elephants sometimes suck their trunks to soothe themselves the way human babies suck their thumbs. Elephants do not drink with their trunks. They use their trunks to suck up water and then pour it in their mouths. Elephants also greet each other with their trunks the way humans do by shaking hands. What is the main idea?

• How much water elephants drink

• Where elephants live

• How elephant use their trunks

Multiple Choice

Dogs are great pets. They can learn tricks and they are very loyal to their owners. Dogs can keep you company when you take a walk, play with you when no one else is around, or even make you laugh with the silly things they do. Dogs are cute and fun. Everyone should own a dog.

What is the MAIN IDEA of the passage?

• To tell about the tricks a dog can do.

• To tell you why dogs are great pets.

• Dogs can make you laugh with their silly tricks.

• Dogs can keep you company when you take a walk.

Multiple Choice

Miranda’s mom dropped her off at her best friend’s house after school on Friday. They couldn’t wait to hang out. The girls were so excited to be spending the whole night together. They had been planning this night for two weeks. Now the day was finally here! Yay!

What is the MAIN IDEA of this passage?

• Miranda and her best friend had fun at their sleepover.

• Miranda’s mom dropped her off at her friend’s house.

• Miranda and her friend were very excited to have their sleepover.

• Sleepovers are fun.

Multiple Choice

Please read the following details and determine the main idea of these words.
-candles
-presents
-party
-cake
-once a year

• Valentine's Day
• birthday
• vacation
• sports

Multiple Choice

Please read the following details and determine the main idea of these words.
-ghosts
-October
-costumes
-pumpkins
-haunted houses

• Halloween
• Christmas
• Spring
• Birds

Multiple Choice

The main idea is...

• The order in which events happen in a story.
• A series of important details identified in a nonfiction text.
• The big idea or life lesson that the author wants us to take away from a fictional story.
• A brief statement that you create which shows/reflects what a nonfiction text is mainly talking about.

Multiple Choice

Emily went hiking last week. She climbed large rocks and ate on the edge of a cliff. She used all of her climbing gear to get to the top of a mountain. She saw many awesome sights of the landscape below and felt like she could touch the sky above. 

• She climbed large rocks
• She ate lunch on the edge of a cliff
• Emily went hiking
• She felt like she could touch the sky

Multiple Choice

The Statue of Liberty is visited by thousands of people every year. The Statue of Liberty is a 151 foot tall statue of a woman holding a book and a torch. It was a gift of friendship from the people of France. It has become the universal symbol for freedom.
Which of the following is NOT a supporting detail? 

• The Statue of Liberty is an amazing statue
• The Statue of Liberty is 151 feet tall
• Thousands of people visit the Statues of Liberty each year
• It was a gift of friendship from France

Multiple Choice

What is the difference between Main Idea and Supporting Details?

• Main Idea is the end, and Supporting Details are the beginning.
• Main Idea is what the passage is about, and Supporting Details help describe/explain the Main Idea.
• Main Idea is in every passage, but Supporting Details are only in some. 
• Main Idea is what supports the supporting details. 

Multiple Choice

Cats are horrible animals. They can hiss, scratch, and bite people. Cats can make people sneeze and can be very messy in a house. Dogs are great animals and do not hiss at people. I do not know why anyone likes cats. Dogs are friendlier and smarter than cats.

Which of the following is a DETAIL from the passage?

• To tell about how great dogs are.

• To tell you why cats are horrible animals.

• To tell how messy and mean cats are.

• They can hiss, scratch, and bite people.

Multiple Choice

There are several events that can change the Earth's surface very quickly. Volcanoes can erupt and spread lava, rock and ash for several miles. Earthquakes can leave large cracks in the Earth's surface.

• Several events can change the Earth's surface.

• Earthquakes can cause large cracks.

• Volcanoes can be dangerous.