5th Nonfiction/ Main Idea

"Matilda" Passage

By Roald Dahl

By the time she was three, Matilda had taught herself to read by studying newspapers and magazines that lay around the house.

At the age of four, she could read fast and well and she naturally began hankering after books. The only book in the whole of this enlightened household was something called Easy Cooking belonging to her mother, and when she had read this from cover to cover and had learnt all the recipes by heart, she decided she wanted something more interesting.

"Daddy," she said, "do you think you could buy me a book?" "A book,” he said. "What do you want a book for?" "To read, Daddy." "What's wrong with the TV, for heaven's sake? We've got a lovely TV with a fifty inch screen and now you come asking for a book! You're getting spoiled, my girl!"

What is the main idea?

• Matilda can read fast.

• Matilda is eager to learn and read more.

• Matilda is interested in cookbooks.

• Matilda’s dad won’t buy her a new book.

Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures.

The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area.

Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.

Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

• Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is

• Pictures help weather reporters get information out in a fast way

• Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short

• They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area

Which supporting detail best supports this Main Idea sentence?

Subway is a healthier option than McDonald's.

• It's best to just cook food at home.

• A lot of people choose to eat Subway for lunch and dinner.

• McDonald's french fries are salty and delicious.

• Subway uses fresh ingredients whereas McDonald's has processed fried food.

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 basketball players spend hours practicing free throws.

• All of us can be professional athletes.

Select the supporting detail that does not belong.

Main Idea: My cat is afraid of everything.

• He hides under the couch when you turn the microwave on.

• He sleeps all day long.

• He runs away when you sweep the floor.

• He jumps every time the doorbell rings.

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.

Which term best describes the main idea of a piece of writing?

• A supporting detail

• A central point

• A broad topic

• A statement of opinion

If I wanted to teach someone how to tie their laces, what text structure would I use?

• Description

• Cause and Effect

• Sequence

• Problem Solution

Which text structure is being used in this passage?

"The Spanish ribbed newt uses its bones as weapons. When it is threatened, it forces the tips of its ribs through the sides of its body. This creates two rows of needle-sharp spines."

-"When Lunch Fights Back"

• Sequence

• Compare and Contrast

• Cause and Effect

• Index

Which text structure is being used in this passage?

"Patek recorded mantis shrimp punches again and again. She could hardly believe the results. The mantis shrimp typically struck the instrument with well over 200 pounds of force. "The hammer impact is massive," she says. "These animals are producing thousands of times their body weight in peak impact force. As far as I know this still holds the record as the highest force generation of any organism that has been measured on the planet."

-"When Lunch Fights Back"

• Cause and Effect

• Sequence

• Description

• Problem and Solution