Summarizing Nonfiction text

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!

The main idea of this passage is:

• A. Weekends are times to travel.

• B. The writer enjoys spending time

  with family.

• C. The writer’s grandparents live

  far away.

• D. The writer is sad to leave her

  cousins.

Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins

Turtles are reptiles with hard shells that protect them from predators. Turtles spend most of their time in water and have webbed feet designed for swimming. Some turtles, like Sea turtles, never leave the ocean except to lay their eggs. Tortoises are land animals and have feet adapted for walking on land. When the sun gets too hot, they dig burrows in the ground with their strong legs and go underground to escape the heat. Terrapins live on both land and water, usually in swamps, ponds, lakes, and rivers.

What is the best SUMMARY for this selection?

• A.Tortoises are land animals that have feet specially adapted for their environment. When the sun gets too hot, they dig burrows to escape the heat.

• B.Turtles have hard shells that protect them from predators and spend most of their time in water.

• C.Turtles spend most of their time in water, tortoises spend most of their time on land, and terrapins live on both land and water.

• D. Terrapins live on both land and water, usually in swamps, ponds, lakes, and rivers.

Did you know that giraffes are the tallest animals in the world? They are unique in other ways, too. For one thing, they sleep only about 20 minutes each day, and usually not more than five minutes at a time. (They have to remain alert for predators.) Also, every giraffe’s coat is unique, and varies in color from white to nearly black, depending on what they eat and where they live.

The main idea of this passage is:

• A. They remain alert for predators.

• B. Giraffe's can be white or black.

• C. Giraffes sleep 20 minutes a day.

• D. Giraffes are unique animals.

Water plays an important part in our lives and in our environment. It covers nearly three-quarters of the Earth’s surface. It is fun to play in, but it is also needed for life. In fact, we can not survive without water to drink. People also need water to wash, cook, and grow food. Every living thing needs water. Without it, plants and trees would not grow, aquatic life would have no where to live, and animals who find their food in the water would have nothing to eat. Up in Earth’s atmosphere, water vapor cools and collects into clouds. When enough clusters of cloud particles stick together, they tumble back down to Earth as rain, snow, hail, or sleet. So, without water the water cycle would not work, and we would not have precipitation on Earth. Did you know that most of the world’s population does not have access to clean water? We are very lucky to live in a country where clean water is available for us to drink. It is up to us to be responsible users of the water we have on Earth.

What is the central idea of the passage?

• Water plays an important part in our lives and in our environment.

• We are lucky to have clean water.

• People also need water to wash, cook, and grow food.

• It is up to us to be responsible users of the water.

Ice Cream

The cold delicious treat you know as ice cream began in 17th century France, and the cone did not appear until 1904. Today the average American eats about 20 quarts of ice cream per year. It takes 5.8 pounds of whole milk and one pound of cream to make each gallon of ice cream. Ice cream is so popular in America that the United States celebrates National Ice Cream month in July.

What is the best summary for this selection?

• A. Today the average American eats about 20 quarts of ice cream a year. The United States celebrates National Ice Cream month in July.

• B. Ice cream was invented in the 17th century in France.

• C. It takes 5.8 pounds of whole milk and 1 pound of cream to make a gallon of ice cream.

• D. National Ice Cream Month is in July.

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

Elephants use their trunks for many things. Elephants use their trunks to smell. In fact, elephants can smell better than bloodhounds. Baby elephants sometimes suck their trunks to soothe themselves the way human babies suck their thumbs. Elephants do not drink with their trunks. They use their trunks to suck up water and then pour it in their mouths. Elephants also greet each other with their trunks the way humans do by shaking hands.
What is the main idea?

•  How much water elephants drink
• Where elephants live
• Elephants use the their trunks for many things.
• Elephants use their trunks to smell. 

Read the following passage and then answer the question.

As soon as she arrived at grandmother's house, Jessica ran into her bedroom to look at the blue quilt. It covered her grandmother's bed and was Jessica's favorite. It had patches of dark blue, medium blue, and light blue, with pictures of birds and flowers on every other patch. Jessica liked to take naps with the quilt wrapped around her. She loved the way it felt so soft and warm against her skin. Whenever she was visiting grandma, just looking at the quilt made Jessica happy.

What is the MAIN IDEA?

• Jessica's grandmother has a pretty blue quilt.

• Jessica loved her grandmother's quilt.

• Jessica took naps at her grandmother's house.

• The quilt was warm.

The article “The Three Men Who Invented the Telephone” is about three different men who contributed to the invention of the telephone.

Which of the following should you include in a summary of this article?

• details about how smartphones and cell phones work

• a detail about where the phrase “put someone on hold” came from

• a brief explanation of how each man was involved in the invention of the telephone

• your opinion about who really invented the telephone