Christo and Jeane Claude HMH Main Idea

Main Idea and Evidence

Multiple Choice

What is a main idea?

• problem and solution

• What the text is about mostly

• A subheading

• The lesson of the story

​Think: Why did the author write this?
Think: What is the text structure?

Directions:

1. Read the paragraph

2. Choose the best heading for the paragraph based on the examples from the text.

What is the author's purpose? How do you know?

What is the text structure? How do you know?

Back in 1979 what were the chances of Christo and Jeanne-Claude constructing a giant artwork stretching 23 miles through Central Park? After all, Central Park is New Yorkers’ big backyard, the place where they run, bike, walk dogs, play ball, skate, and even take rides in horse-drawn carriages. It has acres of green grass. Thousands of stately trees. Long curving paths, a lake, ponds, fountains, a castle, a zoo, sculptures, and a merry-go-round. The mayor was skeptical of the artists’ proposal. Some environmentalists worried about it damaging the park’s trees, plants, and wildlife. In 1981, the Parks Commissioner published a 185-page book saying “no.”

Multiple Choice

Choose the best headline:
This winter, we have gotten more snow than usual.  More than six feet of snow have fallen and winter isn't over yet.  Last year at this time, we only had a couple of inches of snow. Cold winds from the north are thought to be causing the increased snow.  

• Old Man Winter
• Is It Spring Yet?
• More Snow Than Usual

Multiple Choice

Choose the best headline:
One hundred fishermen turned out for the start of the annual fishing contest held at Clear Lake.  The contest runs for two months.  Any fish caught during this time will be measured for weight and length. The person with the largest catch wins one year's supply of bait.  Updates will be published weekly. 

• Fish Tales
• Fishing Around
• Annual Fishing Contest Begins

Multiple Choice

Choose the best headline:
Daniel Woods, a fifth-grader from Arlington, won the spelling bee.  He outspelled 34 other students to win.  Daniel will go to the national spelling bee next month. 

• Spelling Bees Are Fun
• 5th Grader Wins State Spelling Bee
• Winning A Spelling Bee

​Paragraph 9-139

People argued about why the artists wanted to make such a big expensive work of art. The artists made the artwork to please themselves and as a gift to the city.

What evidence supports this main idea?

Open Ended

paragraph 9-13 Main Idea:

People argued about why the artists wanted to make such a big expensive work of art. The artists made the artwork to please themselves and as a gift to the city.

What evidence supports this main idea?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would provide the best text evidence for the main idea of paragraph 9-13?

• In paragraph 11, the author states "Was it Art?"

• In paragraph 10, the author states "Why would these two artists spend millions of dollars to create a gigantic artwork that would remain for only two weeks."

• In paragraph 10, the author states " Television and newspaper commentators argued back and forth."

Multiple Choice

Solve this Riddle:
What has roots that nobody sees,
is taller than a tree,
up, up it goes and yet never grows?

• Tree
• Clouds
• Mountain
• Ocean

Multiple Choice

I have lots of keys but I can't open anything. What am I?

• keyboard
• piano
• key ring