Main Idea

Robots are being used in sumo wrestling contests. Sumo wrestling is a sport that started in Japan. It takes place in a ring. Two players try to score points by holding each other down or pushing each other out of the ring. Robot sumo uses robots instead of humans. The robot that scores the most points wins.

Which of the following is a supporting detail of this paragraph?

• Robots are being used in sumo wrestling contests.

• Robot sumo contests are better than human sumo contests.

• Robot sumo uses robots instead of humans.

• Watching robot sumo is boring.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Students compete in robot sumo contests. They learn how to build their own robots. They compete against their classmates and students from other schools. To win, students must be creative. They must have a good plan for defeating other robots.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• Students need a good plan for defeating other robots.

• Students compete against their classmates and students from other schools.

• Students compete in robot sumo contests.

• Students must be creative to win.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Students compete in robot sumo contests. They learn how to build their own robots. They compete against their classmates and students from other schools. To win, students must be creative. They must have a good plan for defeating other robots.

Which of the following is a supporting detail of this paragraph?

• Students like building sumo robots.

• Students compete in robot sumo contests.

• They use excellent strategies to defeat other robots.

• They must have a good plan for defeating other robots.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

TRUE or FALSE: Main idea isn't always what a text is mostly about.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

You run up and down the court. You have to be able to chase down the ball. Sometimes you play for five or six minutes straight without a time out.

Which of the options below would make a good topic sentence for this paragraph?

• Exercise is hard.

• Basketball is an athletic sport.

• I love the Lakers.

• I played basketball last Thanksgiving.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Select the best main idea for the paragraph.

When you bake cookies, you first have to make sure you have all the ingredients. Then you have to mix them together. Finally, you have to put them in the oven.

• Baking cookies is really easy to do.

• My grandma has the best cookies recipe.

• There are a few steps you must follow when making cookies.

• Cookies are easier to make than cake.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What are the sentences called that tell more about the main idea? 

 

• conclusion

• main idea 

• supporting details 

• paragraph

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which sentence is most likely the topic sentence of the paragraph?

Growing a garden can be fun, good exercise, and will provide fresh fruits and vegetables for the gardener. It is interesting to watch the seeds pop their heads above the soil for the first time. It is sometimes hard to believe that a little seed can become a large vine or plant in just a few weeks. Planting the seeds and pulling weeds are good exercise for anyone. Then, after watching the plant grow and produce, the gardener ends up with delicious tomatoes, beans, or other yummy produce from the garden.

• Growing a garden can be fun, good exercise, and will provide fresh fruits and vegetables for the gardener.

• It is interesting to watch the seeds pop their heads above the soil for the first time.

• It is sometimes hard to believe that a little seed can become a large vine or plant in just a few weeks.

• Planting the seeds and pulling weeds are good exercise for anyone.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which sentence is most likely the topic sentence of the paragraph?

The rides at the fair are awesome! Everyone can find something they enjoy doing. Many people gather to watch the bull riding. Others like to watch the dogs herding the sheep. Everyone comes for the food and dessert. The county fair is a great place for entertainment and fun.

• The rides at the fair are awesome!

• Everyone can find something they enjoy doing.

• Everyone comes for the food and dessert.

• The county fair is a great place for entertainment and fun.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Choose the best main idea for the paragraph.

For example, a person can have breakfast in New York, board an airplane, and have dinner in Paris. A businesswoman in London can instantly place an order with a factory in Hong Kong by sending a fax. Furthermore, a schoolboy in Tokyo can turn on a TV and watch a baseball game being played in Los Angeles.

• Airplanes have changed our lives.

• Advances in technology have made the world seem smaller.

• The fax machine was an important invention.

• Global lifestyles are evolving.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2