Central Idea and Theme

What is the central idea?
 There are many types of lethal venom in the animal kingdom, but perhaps no stranger carrier than the platypus. The platypus is one of few venomous mammals.  Males carry a venom cocktail in their ankle spurs that incapacitates victims with excruciating pain.  Stranger still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses electroreception.  What this means is that the platypus uses its bill to sense the electricity produced by the muscular movements of its prey.  The platypus neither sees, hears, nor smells its prey while hunting but, rather, pursues it through electroreception.  Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young.  The platypus is an odd creature indeed.  

• The platypus is an odd, poisonous creature.
• Platypus males have a poison ankle spur.
• Platypus can sense electricity
• None of these options

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

Find the central idea
The term "machine gun" is commonly applied to any gun that is designed to fire repeatedly and in rapid succession for as long as the trigger is held down.  During the course of warfare, the trigger of some machine guns may be held down almost continuously for hours to create suppressant fire (rounds fired not necessarily to kill an enemy, but to prevent them from attacking).  All of this firing can generate a lot of heat, which may cause the weapon to overheat and malfunction.  But this situation has been addressed in a number of ways.  For one, practically all machine guns fire from an open bolt, which allows air to cool the breach between bursts of fire.  Additionally, some machine guns have removable barrels, which allow hot barrels to be replaced.  And some advanced machine guns even have sophisticated barrel cooling systems, which maintain a functional heat level within the weapon.  As you might have concluded, a lot of brain power has gone into keeping those guns firing.

•   Machine guns overheat and there are different ways to address the issue. 
• Machine guns are powerful weapons.
• Machine guns fire rapidly and repeatedly.
• None of these

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

Depression is a common illness that is easy to treat. Unfortunately, many people don't take their symptoms seriously and don't talk to their doctors about their problems. They don't know that depression has a physical cause; it is not a sign of weakness or a mood that will just go away.

Which of the following details would best support the main idea of this passage?

• Jorge doesn't feel like himself anymore.
• Girls are more likely to suffer from depression than boys.
• Depression often runs in families.
• Many people try to hide their depression and avoid getting help.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

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

• Who is the main character?

• What is the main event?

• What is one important detail?

• What point is the author trying to make?

Microchips provide the power for wristwatches. They are also the brains in our computers, and they control robots. These chips are used in video games and space shuttles. They make our cameras, radios, and televisions small and light.
What is the story mainly about?

• How computers work
• Why televisions are small
• How microchips are used

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

THE YEAR WAS 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren't only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else. All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General.

What line of text BEST shows that the government in "Harrison Bergeron" is too controlling?

• They weren't only equal before God and the law.
• Nobody was better looking than anybody else.
• All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments
• United States Handicapper General

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.W.7.9A

Money is pretty old but nobody knows exactly how old it is. Perhaps the oldest evidence of people using money is in the Code of Ur-Nammu. The Code of Ur-Nammu is a system of laws written around 2050 BC. That’s like 4,000 years ago! Many of Ur-Nammu’s laws carry fines, such as one stating that if a man is proven innocent of sorcery, his accuser must pay 3 shekels. This ancient document shows me two things: Ur-Nammu didn’t tolerate false witch-hunts, and money is very old.  

• This central idea of this passage is that the barter system and some of its shortcomings. 
• This central idea of this passage is that money is old. 
• This central idea of this passage is about sorcery. 
• This central idea of this passage is about life in 2050 BC. 

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

 In his sophomore year of high school, Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team at Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina.  But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that Jordan was too short to play at that level, so Jordan was cut from the team.  Jordan didn't let this obstacle defeat him.  In fact, it pushed him to work even harder.  He trained vigorously and grew another four inches the following summer.  When he finally made the varsity squad, Jordan averaged 25 points a game and went on to become one of the greatest basketball players in history. 

• What is the theme of the story? Growing four inches helps you become a better basketball player. 
• What is the theme of the story? Coaches can be unfair to short basketball players.
• What is the theme of the story? Never give up. Persistance pays off.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

Justin was jealous when his cousin Cassie was named valedictorian of her class. "Some people are just born smart," he told himself later as he watched TV on the couch. He had not been with Cassie all of those times when she studied late into the night. Justin was also jealous when his cousin Victor was elected class president. "Some people are just more popular than others," Justin told himself while playing video games on the couch. He had not been with Victor while he tirelessly campaigned, listened sympathetically to the problems of others, and treated everyone he knew with kindness and respect. When Justin's cousin Matthew became the quarterback for the varsity squad, Justin was envious. "Some people are just more athletic than others," he told himself as he played around on his computer. Justin had not been with Matthew while Matthew trained relentlessly to develop his athletic abilities. "One day something lucky will happen to me too," Justin told himself as he snacked on junk food.

• The theme is that cousins make terrible friends. 
• The theme is: Good things don't just happen to you unless you make them happen. 
• The theme is that some people are just born better than others. 

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

Grand was a superstar high school athlete from a small town where football was revered. The people of this town placed such a high value on victories that a top performer like Grant was given privileges and exceptions that all others were denied. Grant did not have to struggle his way through rigorous courses in high school. Instead he attended special study sessions with members of the athletic department where the participants studied little other than football. To the surprise of few, Grant was given a full ride to a reputable university based on his athletic prowess, but Grant was not prepared for this new experience. He expected the university to make numerous special exceptions for him as his high school had, and while he did receive quite a few of these exceptions, it was not enough to compensate for how woefully underprepared he was. Despite numerous good faith interventions by the university, Grant failed to get it together, lost his scholarship, and dropped out after his freshman year.

• The theme is that you can hurt people if you help them too much.
• The theme is that football is not that important. 
• The theme is that high schools should not push good grades. 

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2