Main Idea

Main idea and details

​

Multiple Choice

The main idea is what the story is ______________ about.

• mostly

• only

• never

Multiple Choice

The main idea does not need supporting details.True or False?

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is a supporting detail that recycling is important?

• There are many landfills available for waste.

• Recycling paper saves trees from being cut down.

• Clean jars before recycling them.

• Separate your paper, cans, and glass jars before recycling.

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

What animal has the longest nose in the world? If you thought the elephant, you were right. The elephant’s nose, called a trunk, is also the most useful nose in the world. The elephant uses its nose to sniff food, roll logs, and fight foes. When it is thirsty, the elephant can drink six quarts with its nose. It also uses its nose for taking a bath too.

What is the best topic for this passage?

• The longest nose

• The elephant

• The elephant’s nose

Multiple Choice

What animal has the longest nose in the world? If you thought the elephant, you were right. The elephant’s nose, called a trunk, is also the most useful nose in the world. The elephant uses its nose to sniff food, roll logs, and fight foes. When it is thirsty, the elephant can drink six quarts with its nose. It also uses its nose for taking a bath too.

What is the main idea for this passage?

• The elephant’s nose is very useful to them.

• What animal has the longest nose in the world?

• The elephant has a nose that we call a trunk.

Multiple Choice

What animal has the longest nose in the world? If you thought the elephant, you were right. The elephant’s nose, called a trunk, is also the most useful nose in the world. The elephant uses its nose to sniff food, roll logs, and fight foes. When it is thirsty, the elephant can drink six quarts with its nose. It also uses its nose for taking a bath too.

Which statement IS the supporting detail?

• The elephant uses its nose to fight foes.

• The elephant’s nose is called a trunk.

• The elephant can drink a lot of water.

Multiple Choice

It is easy to make a good cup of tea. Just follow these steps. First, boil some water. Next put some hot water in the tea pot to warm it. Pour the water out of the pot and put in some tea leaves. You will need one teaspoon of tea leaves for each cup of tea you want. Then pour the boiling water into the tea pot. Cover the pot and wait for a few minutes. Now the tea is ready to drink.

What is the most suitable topic for this paragraph?

• A cup of Tea

• How to make a cup of tea

• How to drink tea

Multiple Choice

It is easy to make a good cup of tea. Just follow these steps. First, boil some water. Next put some hot water in the tea pot to warm it. Pour the water out of the pot and put in some tea leaves. You will need one teaspoon of tea leaves for each cup of tea you want. Then pour the boiling water into the tea pot. Cover the pot and wait for a few minutes. Now the tea is ready to drink.

What is the topic sentence for this paragraph?

• The tea is ready to drink.

• You just follow the steps to make a cup of tea.

• It is easy to make a good cup of tea.

Multiple Choice

It is easy to make a good cup of tea. Just follow these steps. First, boil some water. Next put some hot water in the tea pot to warm it. Pour the water out of the pot and put in some tea leaves. You will need one teaspoon of tea leaves for each cup of tea you want. Then pour the boiling water into the tea pot. Cover the pot and wait for a few minutes. Now the tea is ready to drink.

Which statement is NOT the supporting detail?

• Put some hot water in the tea pot to warm it.

• Cover the pot and wait for a few minutes.

• The tea is ready to drink.

Multiple Choice

A baby koala has a pretty easy life. After it is born, the baby koala is carried in its mother’s pouch and is fed by her. When the koala is sixth months old, its eyes are widely open and it is eager to see the outside world. So its mother carries it on her back until the baby koala is almost as big as she is.

The topic of the paragraph is __________.

• A koala’s mother

• A pretty easy life

• A baby koala

Multiple Choice

A baby koala has a pretty easy life. After it is born, the baby koala is carried in its mother’s pouch and is fed by her. When the koala is sixth months old, its eyes are widely open and it is eager to see the outside world. So its mother carries it on her back until the baby koala is almost as big as she is.

The main idea of this paragraph is __________.

• A baby koala is carried in its mother’s pouch.

• A baby koala has a pretty easy life.

• A koala’s mother carries her baby on her back.

Multiple Choice

A baby koala has a pretty easy life. After it is born, the baby koala is carried in its mother’s pouch and is fed by her. When the koala is sixth months old, its eyes are widely open and it is eager to see the outside world. So its mother carries it on her back until the baby koala is almost as big as she is.

The supporting detail of this paragraph is __________.

• The koala carries her mother on her back when it is big.

• The baby koala is in its mother's pouch and is fed by her.

• The baby koala is eager to see the outside world.

Multiple Choice

Birds are excellent source of food. Chickens and turkeys are examples of birds which supply man with great quantities of meat. Chickens and other birds also supply eggs. Farmers consider most birds as friends because they eat insect pests and the seeds of weeds.

Birds are useful to people.

What is the best topic of this passage?

• Chicken

• Farmers

• Birds

Multiple Choice

Birds are excellent source of food. Chickens and turkeys are examples of birds which supply man with great quantities of meat. Chickens and other birds also supply eggs. Farmers consider most birds as friends because they eat insect pests and the seeds of weeds. Birds are useful to people.

Which statement is the topic sentence?

• Birds are excellent source of food.

• Birds are useful to people.

• Chickens and other birds also supply eggs.

Multiple Choice

Birds are excellent source of food. Chickens and turkeys are examples of birds which supply man with great quantities of meat. Chickens and other birds also supply eggs. Farmers consider most birds as friends because they eat insect pests and the seeds of weeds. Birds are useful to people.

According to this passage, which statement is NOT TRUE?

• Birds help farmers by eating insect pests.

• Chickens and turkeys help farmers eat insects.

• Birds provide us both egg and meat.

Multiple Choice

Are you in the habit of skipping breakfast? Breakfast is important; it gets your metabolism going. Then spread your remaining calories throughout the rest of the day by eating a wholesome lunch, nutritious snack, and balanced dinner. Eating this way keeps your metabolism high. You are also less likely to binge on junk food. You will have more energy and feel better if you eat nutritious food at least every four hours.

What is the best topic of this passage?

• Breakfast

• Skipping Breakfast

• Metabolism

Multiple Choice

Are you in the habit of skipping breakfast? Breakfast is important; it gets your metabolism going. Then spread your remaining calories throughout the rest of the day by eating a wholesome lunch, nutritious snack, and balanced dinner. Eating this way keeps your metabolism high. You are also less likely to binge on junk food. You will have more energy and feel better if you eat nutritious food at least every four hours.

What is the main idea of this passage?

• Breakfast is important.

• Skipping breakfast is bad for health.

• Breakfast gets your metabolism going.

Multiple Choice

Are you in the habit of skipping breakfast? Breakfast is important ; it gets your metabolism going. Then spread your remaining calories throughout the rest of the day by eating a wholesome lunch, nutritious snack, and balanced dinner. Eating this way keeps your metabolism high. You are also less likely to binge on junk food. You will have more energy and feel better if you eat nutritious food at least every four hours.

Which sentence is a major supporting details?

• Breakfast gets your metabolism going.

• Eating this way keeps your metabolism high.

• You are also less likely to binge on junk food.

Multiple Choice

Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal assistants. They will look and behave much like humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers. Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier. 

What is the topic? 

• Robots

• Personal assistants

• Future workers

Multiple Choice

Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal assistants. They will look and behave much like humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers. Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier. 

What is the main idea ?

• Someday we will all have robots to be our personal assistants.

• Robots of the future will be able to learn from experience.

• Robots will look and behave much like humans.

Multiple Choice

Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal assistants. They will look and behave much like humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers. Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier. 

Which sentence is NOT the supporting detail ?

• The robots of the future will be able to learn from experience.

• Robots will make our lives easier.

• Robots will take place humans.

Multiple Choice

Tree squirrels are probably the best known of all wild animals. There are several different kinds of tree squirrels. The Mario squirrel is probably the most common.  You will

find it in parks and even on city streets. The red squirrel likes to stay in the forests.

Two other well-known kinds are the fox squirrel and the flying squirrel.

What is the main idea of this passage?

• There are many kinds of tree squirrels.

• Tree squirrels are the best known of all wild animals.

• Squirrels live in the city and the forests.

Multiple Choice

Tree squirrels are probably the best known of all wild animals. There are several different kinds of tree squirrels. The Mario squirrel is probably the most common.  You will find it in parks and even on city streets. The red squirrel likes to stay in the forests.

Two other well-known kinds are the fox squirrel and the flying squirrel.

Which statement is the major supporting detail ?

• The Mario squirrel is probably the most common. 

• Tree squirrels are the best known of all wild animals.

• You will find the squirrels in parks and on city streets.

Multiple Choice

If you are feeling sad, you can make yourself feel better by doing a few simple things. You can take a walk (or get another form of exercise), you can talk to a friend, or you can write down your feelings. Writing down the good things in your life will help too. Doing something good for someone else will also help you feel better. If you still feel a little sad, act happy. It works like magic to make you feel better!
What is the main idea?

• Sometimes people feel sad.
• You should do good things for others.
• We're not always happy.
• There are many ways to make yourself feel better. 

Multiple Choice

Mark wanted to be a great skater. But he didn't want to spend the hours practicing. He wished he could just do the tricks easily. Mark's dream was to have everyone stop and stare when he entered the skate park. He  wanted them to say, "Mark is the best skater in the whole world."
What is the main idea?

• Mark wants everyone to think he's a great skater without doing the hard work.
• Mark practices very hard to become a great skater.
• Mark is the best skater at the park.
• Mark wants to learn how to skate so he can compete.

Multiple Choice

Tom started to reel in his line. The fish tugged and pulled hard. Judging by the weight of his catch, this fish could feed his family for three days. Tom struggled to stay in the boat and not be pulled over the side. Finally his catch came into view. He had snagged a snapping turtle!
What is the main idea?

• Tom finds enough food for his family.
• Tom gets pulled out of his boat by a huge fish.
• Tom didn't catch anything.
• Tom catches a snapping turtle while fishing.

Multiple Choice

Mary has a new pet.  Her pet is a baby kitten.  It is soft and cuddly.  The kitten likes to sleep a lot.  Mary put a soft blanket in a box for its bed.  Mary plays with her kitten when it is awake.  She never forgets to feed her kitten.
What is the main idea?

• The kitten sleeps a lot.
• Mary plays with her kitten
• Mary’s new pet is a kitten.
• Mary want a new pet.

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

There are many fun things to do at the beach.  Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach.  Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed.  Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun.  It is also fun to look for shells.  Some people simply like to sunbathe.
What is the main idea?

• There are many fun things to do at the beach.
• It is also fun to look for shells.
• Some people simply like to sunbathe.
• Going to the beach to swim can be fun.

Multiple Choice

the general subject that the passage is about

• Topic
• Claim
• Main Idea
• Supporting details

Multiple Choice

a statement that tells what a passage is mostly about

• Topic
• Claim
• Main Idea
• Transitional sentence

Multiple Choice

The reader should determine the main idea BEFORE reading the passage.

• True
• False

Multiple Choice

The main idea does not need supporting details.

• True
• False

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is a supporting detail that recycling is important?

• There are many landfills available for waste.
• Recycling paper saves trees from being cut down.
• Clean jars before recycling them.
• Separate your paper, cans, and glass jars before recycling.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is a supporting detail that you should get enough sleep?

• Many people sleep later on the weekends.
• Caffeine keeps some people awake at night.
• Dark rooms are best for sleeping.
• Seven to nine hours keeps you refreshed the next day.

Multiple Choice

The main idea is what the story is ______________ about.

• mostly

• only

• never

Multiple Choice

Key details give important information that support the main idea.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Mount Rushmore is a huge carving in a stone cliff. The carving shows the faces of four U.S. presidents. They are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Mount Rushmore is in South Dakota. Each year many people visit this amazing sight.

What is a detail that tells about the main idea?

• How the four presidents were chosen

• Why Mount Rushmore is in South Dakota

• Which presidents are at Mount Rushmore

Multiple Choice

Jake's family went on a camping trip. They went to a park by the ocean. They rode their bikes around the park and cooked their food over a fire outside. They saw some deer. They came home Sunday afternoon. 
What is the main idea? 

• They saw some deer
• Jake's family likes to camp
• Jake's family went on a camping trip
• They cooked their food outside

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

Porpoises live in the earth's oceans and sometimes in bays and rivers near oceans. Porpoises are mammals. Their babies get their food from their mother's body. These animals live in the water, but they must come up for air. Porpoises are very interesting animals.
What is the main idea?

• Porpoises live in the ocean
• Porpoises are mammals
• Porpoises must come up for air
• Porpoises are very interesting animals 

Multiple Choice

Hummingbirds love pink or red flowers. They guard their favorite flowers and try to keep other birds away. They fight one another for food. Their wings make a whirring sound when they hover over flowers to sip nectar. The tiny birds fly long distances to go to a warmer climate for the winter. They make their tiny nests in shrubs or trees. 
What is the main idea?

• Hummingbirds are interesting birds
• They hover over flowers to sip nectar.
• They fly long distances to travel to warmer climates in the winter
• They guard their favorite flowers

Multiple Choice

Juan loves to play games. His favorite game is chess because it requires a great deal of thought. Juan also likes to play less demanding board games that are based mostly on luck. He prefers Monopoly because it requires luck and skill. If he's alone, Juan likes to play action video games as long as they aren't too violent. 
What is the main idea? 

• Juan dislikes violence
• Juan likes to think
• Juan enjoys Monopoly
• Juan enjoys playing games

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is a supporting detail that recycling is important?

• There are many landfills available for waste.
• Recycling paper saves trees from being cut down.
• Clean jars before recycling them.
• Separate your paper, cans, and glass jars before recycling.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is a supporting detail that you should get enough sleep?

• Many people sleep later on the weekends.
• Caffeine keeps some people awake at night.
• Dark rooms are best for sleeping.
• Seven to nine hours keeps you refreshed the next day.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is a supporting detail that you should get enough sleep?

• Many people sleep later on the weekends.
• Caffeine keeps some people awake at night.
• Dark rooms are best for sleeping.
• Seven to nine hours keeps you refreshed the next day.

Multiple Choice

Which supporting detail best supports this topic sentence?
It takes a lot of hard work to become a professional athlete. 

• The pros live the good life.
• People like professional football players make a lot of money.
• Professional athletes spend countless hours practicing their sports.
• All of us can be professional athletes. 

Multiple Choice

Which supporting detail does not support the main idea?

Main idea: Technology can help students learn.

• Students who are struggling can use educational websites to study at their own pace.

• It's fun to look up Youtube videos in your free time.

• Many word processors have spell check to help with spelling.

• Students can communicate with each other about class assignments.

Multiple Choice

There are many fun things to do at the beach. Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach. Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed. Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun. It is also fun to look for shells. Some people simply like to sunbathe.

What is the main idea?

• There are many fun things to do at the beach.

• It is also fun to look for shells.

• Some people simply like to sunbathe.

• Going to the beach to swim can be fun.

Multiple Choice

Jenny visited her grandmother in the hospital.  She saw how kind and helpful the nurses were to her grandmother.  Now she wants to be a nurse when she grows up.  She wants to help sick people get well. 
What is the main idea?

• Jenny got sick.
• Jenny wants to be a nurse.
• Her grandmother was in the hospital.
• Jenny was glad the nurses were being kind to her grandmother.

Multiple Choice

Jake's family went on a camping trip. They went to a park by the ocean. They rode their bikes around the park and cooked their food over a fire outside. They saw some deer. They came home Sunday afternoon. 
What is the main idea? 

• They saw some deer
• Jake's family likes to camp
• Jake's family went on a camping trip
• They cooked their food outside

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

Niagra Falls is one of the most beautiful sights in North America. It is on the Niagra River halfway between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Niagra Falls is located on the American and Canadian border. The American Falls is 167 feet high. On the Canadian side, the Horseshoe Falls is 161 feet high. 
Which of the following is NOT a supporting detail? 

• The American Falls is 167 feet high
• The Horseshoe Falls is 161 feet high
• Niagra Falls is one of the most beautiful sights in North America
• It is located between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie

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

Mark wanted to be a great skater. But he didn't want to spend the hours practicing. He wished he could just do the tricks easily. Mark's dream was to have everyone stop and stare when he entered the skate park. He  wanted them to say, "Mark is the best skater in the whole world."
What is the main idea?

• Mark wants everyone to think he's a great skater without doing the hard work.
• Mark practices very hard to become a great skater.
• Mark is the best skater at the park.
• Mark wants to learn how to skate so he can compete.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is a supporting detail that recycling is important?

• There are many landfills available for waste.
• Recycling paper saves trees from being cut down.
• Clean jars before recycling them.
• Separate your paper, cans, and glass jars before recycling.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is a supporting detail that you should get enough sleep?

• Many people sleep later on the weekends.
• Caffeine keeps some people awake at night.
• Dark rooms are best for sleeping.
• Seven to nine hours keeps you refreshed the next day.

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea of the following paragraph?
Mother gorillas do a lot for their babies. They nurse their babies. They protect them from danger. And they teach the tiny gorillas how to get along with other gorillas.

• Mother gorillas do a lot for their babies.
• The baby gorillas are very small.
• Baby gorillas need their mothers a lot.
• Mothers gorillas protect their babies.

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.