3rd ELA#1-RI3.2 (Main Idea)

Ocean waves are very powerful. Over hundreds of years, they can wear away even the hardest kind of rock. In some places, crashing waves turn land along the coast into steep rocky cliffs.

Which sentence BEST tells the main idea of the passage?

• Ocean waves wash over rocks on the coast.

• The sound of ocean waves crashing is very loud.

• Ocean waves are strong enough to change the land.

• Some kids of rocks are so hard they last for hundreds of years.

The first year I grew a garden, I planted only short, purple flowers. How boring! Now I know, though, to plant flowers together that look different. In my opinion, a mix of a few colors in the same spot looks best. Also, plant tall flowers with shorter flowers. This will make your garden look more interesting. Another tip for getting your garden to stand out it to plant flowers in groups. That will look more natural than single flowers in a row.

Which sentence BEST describes the main idea of the paragraph?

• A garden looks the best when it is full of short, purple flowers.

• A garden looks best when the flowers are different colors and heights.

• A garden looks best when all the flowers are tall.

• A garden looks best when all of the flowers are short.

The land along the edge of the ocean is called the coast. Ocean waters act like a scraper on coastal land. Crashing waves slowly grind up the soil and rock and carry it away.

Which sentence BEST tells the main idea of the passage?

• The ocean slowly carries water to the coast.

• The ocean slowly breaks off pieces of the coast.

• The ocean is popular place for people to swim.

• The ocean scrapes dirt off of plants that are near the water.

Have you ever heard about meat–eating plants? That's right, plants that eat meat. There are about four hundred and fifty meat–eating plants in the world. They can be three inches to five feet tall.

These plants are often found in swampy areas. They usually live where the soil quality is bad.

Meat–eating plants need to trap insects and small animals for their food. Most of these plants give off a sweet smell to bring in prey. They may also have brightly–colored flowers and leaves to bring in insects and small animals. The plants have different ways to trap food. Some of these plants have leaves that work to pull in and then trap unsuspecting insects. Some plants, like the Venus flytrap, have leaves with tiny hairs on them. These trigger the leaves to close when an insect lands upon them. Other plants, like the sundew plant, have leaves that produce a sticky dew–like substance that glitters in the sunlight. Insects are attracted to the dew and become stuck when they land on the leaves. The leaves then close around the insects. Some other plants drown animals in poisonous liquids or water. The pitcher plant is an example of a meat–eating plant that drowns its victims. The inside walls of the leaves are covered with a waxy surface that makes them very slippery. Insects may slip and fall to the bottom of the pitcher. This is where the plant digests them.

Meat–eating plants are harmless to humans. Most animals are also safe. Insects and small frogs are the most common feast among meat–eating plants.

Which sentence best describes the main idea of the passage?

• Humans should not touch meat-eating plants.

• Meat-eating plants are found all over the world.

• Meat-eating plants must work to catch their food.

• All meat-eating plants are poisonous.

Which sentence from the passage BEST supports your answer in the previous question.

• There are about four hundred and fifty meat–eating plants in the world.

• Meat–eating plants need to trap insects and small animals for their food.

• Some other plants drown animals in poisonous liquids or water.

• Meat–eating plants are harmless to humans.