Determine the main idea of a passage

Read the passage.

                              The Power of Exercise

Why should you exercise? When you exercise, you lower your chances of getting sick. For example, exercise makes your heart healthier and your body stronger. It improves your mood and can make you feel calm. Regular exercise helps you think more clearly, so you can get more done during the day. Exercise can even help you sleep better at night. Regular exercise can make your life better in so many ways!

What is the main idea of the passage?

• Exercise helps people feel better in many ways.

• People Who exercise regularly are happier.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Read the passage.

What Would Life Be Like Without Gravity?

Gravity is the force that makes things fall to Earth. You can't see or touch it, but without gravity, life on Earth would be quite different. Everything would simply float away. If you jumped up, you would fly off into space. If you threw a baseball, it would never come down. Gravity is also the force that keeps the Earth orbiting around the sun. So, without gravity, the Earth might float away, too.

What is the main idea of the passage?

• Without gravity, the earth wouldn't orbit the sun.

• Life on earth would be different without gravity.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Read the passage.

Baby Kangaroos

A female kangaroo has a special fold of skin that forms a pouch. The pouch is like a large pocket on its stomach. When a baby kangaroo, or joey, is born, it climbs into its mother's pouch. At birth, a joey is only about one inch long. It needs to stay in the pouch so it can grow more. After several months, the joey has grown enough to leave the pouch for short periods of time. By the time the joey is ten months old, it is ready to leave the pouch for good.

What is the main idea of the passage?

• A baby Kangaroo stays in its mother's pouch until it's strong enough to live on its own.

• Female Kangaroos have pouches on their bellies for carrying their young.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Read the passage.

Smartphones

Smartphones are phones that are used for more than making calls and sending messages. People count on them for getting directions and finding information on the internet. People also have fun listening to music, taking pictures, and playing games on their phones. On the other hand, smartphones have some downsides. They can make it hard to keep your mind on important things, like studying. Some people even text during meals, or when spending time with their family. Driving while using a phone puts people in danger. Smartphones are useful, but they can cause problems if not used safely and politely.

What is the main idea of the passage?

• Smartphones can be used in both good and bad ways.

• There are many good things about smartphones.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Read the passage.

Where Do Bats Sleep?

Bats are known for flying around at night and sleeping during the day. You may have seen pictures of bats sleeping upside down in caves. Bats have other daytime resting places, too. They sleep in trees, in old buildings, and even under bridges. More than a million bats sleep under one bridge in Austin, Texas. This colony, or group, contains about as many bats as there are people in the city!

What is the main idea of the passage?

• A huge group of bats sleeps under a bridge in Austin, Texas.

• Bats sleep in many different kinds of places during the day.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Read the passage.

Rabbits and Hares

Rabbits and hares are part of the same animal family. They both have long ears, short tails, large eyes, and strong teeth. Because they look so similar, rabbits and hares are often mistaken for each other. However, even though rabbits and hares look alike, they have different habits. Rabbits live in large family groups. On the other hand, hares mostly live alone. Rabbits live in underground tunnels and will run underground to hide. In contrast, hares live above the ground. The two animals even eat different kinds of foods. Rabbits like soft foods like grass, while hares prefer harder foods such as bark.

What is the main idea of the passage?

• Animals from the same animal family look alike.

• Rabbits and hares may look alike, but they are actually quite different.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Read the passage.

How Deadly Are Black Widows?

Black widow spiders are far more deadly to animals than they are to people. The spiders catch beetles, flies, and other insects in their webs and wrap them in silk. Then, they suck the insects out and eat them. Female black widows sometimes even kill and eat other spiders! People, on the other hand, are usually safe from black widows. The spiders only bite to protect themselves. A person who is bitten by a black widow may experience aches or upset stomachs. However, it is rare for a person bitten by a black widow to die.

What is the main idea of the passage?

• Black widows are more deadly to insects than they are to people.

• In rare cases, black widow spider bites are deadly to people.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2