SOL: Main Idea Review

Have you ever heard the expression, “Keep the main thing- the main thing”? What do you think that means?

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Identifying the Main Idea

​Today we are going to learn how to determine the main idea in a passage or paragraph.

Learning Intention

We will know that we are successful when we have been able to correctly identify the main idea of a text.

Success Criteria

Identifying the Main Idea

The main idea is the author’s central idea or main point that he or she wants to say about a topic. To determine the main idea of a text, read the passage, determine the topic, and then decide what the author was mainly trying to say about that topic. That is the main idea. You can tell if your main idea is correct because it will be supported by the other details in the passage. Make sure that your answer is the main idea and not one of the supporting details.

Multiple Choice

In July 1996, Subaru Takahashi left Japan in a 30-foot sailboat. He hoped to become the youngest person to sail across the Pacific. But in August, an engine failed, leaving him without lights. Then a violent storm hit. Even his two-way radio broke. But Takahashi didn’t give up. Fifty-four days later, the 14-year-old sailed into San Francisco Bay, ending his 6,000-mile journey.

Which sentence best expresses the main idea? 

• Subaru Takahashi did an amazing thing.

• Subaru Takahashi didn’t know what he was doing.

• Subaru Takahashi took a dangerous risk.

• Subaru Takahashi was only 14 years old.

Multiple Choice

Scotland’s Loch Ness has been making headlines for more than 70 years. In 1933, two people reported seeing a huge animal swimming in the lake. Two more claimed they saw the same creature moving across land. Some people said it had a hump. Others said it had flippers and a long neck. Despite more than 4,000 sightings, no one knows for sure if “Nessie” exists.

Which sentence best expresses the main idea?

• Loch Ness is home to a strange creature.

• Rumors of a strange creature have made Loch Ness famous.

• Nessie has a hump.

• Nessie usually stays in the water.

Multiple Choice

Unicorns were once common in folktales. Unicorns resembled horses with a single horn on their foreheads. They lived deep in the forest and were rarely seen. The only way to capture one was to send a maiden alone into the forest. Upon seeing her, a unicorn would approach. It would then lie down beside her, allowing itself to be captured.

Which sentence best expresses the main idea? 

• Unicorn means “one horn.”

• Unicorns were magical.

• Unicorns were popular in folktales.

• Unicorns were only hunted by women.

Multiple Choice

Tattoos might be “in,” but they can also be dangerous. Dirty needles are sometimes used to puncture the skin. These needles can spread deadly diseases. It is important for people to research tattoo parlors for their cleanliness. Because, being “in” could just mean being in the hospital.

Which sentence best expresses the main idea? 

• States should make tattooing illegal.

• Tattoos come with health risks.

• People who are “in” have tattoos.

• Getting a tattoo will make you popular.

Multiple Choice

How are colds spread? Picture this: Jeremiah coughs and covers his mouth with his hand. Then Ming borrows his highlighter. Ming yawns and rubs her eyes. She forgets to return Jeremiah’s highlighter. She gives it to Valerie, who will see Jeremiah next period. Valerie holds it in her teeth while opening her locker, and now, instead of one person with a cold, there are three!

Which sentence best expresses the main idea? 

• People should be careful about who they lend their things to.

• Colds are spread by human contact.

• People should not cover their mouths with their hands when they cough.

• No one should borrow Jeremiah’s highlighter any more.

Multiple Choice

For centuries, the people of Pentecost Island have held an unusual event: land diving. Once a year, young men tie jungle vines to their ankles and throw themselves off 100-foot towers. As the men fall, they curl their heads under. This allows only their shoulders to brush the ground. The people believe that this ritual ensures a plentiful harvest.

Which sentence best expresses the main idea?  

• Bungee jumping probably evolved from land diving.

• Extreme sports are not new.

• The villagers take great risks to improve their chances of a good harvest.

• Pentecost Island has been around for centuries.

Identifying the Main Idea

Today we have been able to determine the main idea of a text in a passage. As you read through text, make sure that you identify the topic and what the author is mainly trying to say. Here is an example of an SOL question on that skill. Now complete the Identifying the Main Idea: Space Junk (SOL Review) in Edulastic.