3rd Grade Main Idea practice

The main idea will always be the first sentence.

• True

• False

In order for the reader to find the main idea of a passage the reader must read carefully and think carefully about the passage. If the reader is not sure they should reread the passage.

• True

• False

The main idea is a statement explaining what the passage is mostly or mainly about.

• True

• False

Sometimes the main idea is the last sentence of a passage or it could be a middle sentence.

• True

• False

The main idea must be supported by key __________.

The newspaper photographer takes many pictures of an event. Once the photographer comes back to the newspaper office, the pictures are developed in about 15 minutes. From all the pictures taken, only one or two are chosen to be printed in the newspaper.

• A newspaper employs many people.

• The photographer takes one or two pictures of an event.

• A photographer takes pictures for a newspaper.

A very important food for a large number of people is bread. Bread is made from many different kinds of grains. Americans eat bread mostly made from wheat. Bread is important to us because it is a good source of energy.

• There are few kinds of bread.

• The best kind of bread is made from wheat.

• Bread is a good source of energy.

Lynn's first trip in an airplane was exciting. She was flying from California to New York to see her grandparents. The plane was a 747 jumbo jet. Lynn liked the inside of the plane. It was very comfortable. Lynn enjoyed the trip, but was glad to get back down on the ground.

• Lynn disliked the airplane trip.

• The airplane trip was enjoyable to Lynn.

• Airplane trips are always fun for everyone.

The person who leads a marching band is called the drum major. This person wears a special costume with a very tall hat. The job of the drum major is to give the band the beat of the music. The drum major uses a whistle and a baton to signal steps in the march.

• The drum major is important to the marching band.

• The drum major must be tall so everybody can see them.

• Only a boy can be a drum major.

Fish come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Some fish live in fresh water and some live in salt water. There are more than 20,000 kinds of fish. Most fish hatch from eggs. Fish have backbones and breathe underwater through gills.

• Some fish are very beautiful.

• There are many kinds of fish.

• Most fish live in saltwater.