Main Idea

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

Dolphins are very smart animals.  They even have their own language.   They talk to each other with clicks, whistles, and grunts.  Scientists have been studying this dolphin language.  They hope that in the future, people and dolphins will be able to talk to each other. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• Dolphins can talk to people.

• Dolphins are very smart animals. 

• Dolphins are different from fish.

• Scientists study language.

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. 

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

The earth's surface is constantly changing.  All over the world everyday there are earthquakes, floods, and volcanoes that quickly change our world. Some changes are too small to see.  Others cause tremendous damage and costs millions of dollars to clean up. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• It is expensive to clean up the damage
• Sometimes we can't see the changes. 
• The Earth's surface is always changing.

Benjamin Franklin invented many things that made life easier in the late 1700s.  He invented the lightning rod that saved many homes from fires.  He also invented the Franklin stove.  The stove could heat a room better than a fireplace and saved people a lot of fuel.  He also invented a special kind of glasses called bifocals.  This new kind of glasses helped people to read better. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• Benjamin Franklin thought reading was important.
• Benjamin Franklin was not afraid of fire.
• Benjamin Franklin was a great inventor.
• A Franklin stove can heat a whole room.

Blood is a miracle liquid. It flows to every part of the body. Some blood cells carry food and oxygen to body organs. Other blood cells kill germs and help stop cuts from bleeding. People can die if they lose a lot of blood or their blood cells get sick. Doctors sometimes give people fresh blood to save their lives.

What is the main idea of the text?

• Many blood cells are made by the body.

• People can die from loss of blood.

• Sick people are given blood sometimes.

• Blood is very important.

Koala's fur has many uses. Their thick fur protects them from the heat and the cold. The fur is like a raincoat when it's raining. Fur on the koala's bottom is extra thick so the koalas can easily rest in trees.

What is the main idea of the text?

• Koalas rest in trees.

• Fur helps koalas.

• Koalas keep warm with fur.

• Koalas' fur is like a raincoat.

Giant pandas are losing their habitats. Giant pandas live in bamboo forests in China. The average giant panda eats about 30 pounds of bamboo each day. Unfortunately, the forests are being cut down and the giant panda is endangered.

What is the main idea of the text?

• Giant Pandas

• Giant Pandas are huge.

• Giant Pandas are becoming endangered because they go to zoos.

• Giant Pandas are becoming endangered because they're losing their habitats.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Mars is named after the ancient Roman god of war because of the red planet's bloody color. The ancient Greeks named the fourth planet from the sun after their god of war, Ares. Other civilizations gave the planet names based on its color. For example, the Egyptians named it "Her Desher," meaning “the red one”, while ancient Chinese astronomers dubbed it “the fire star.” What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• Mars is the fourth planet from the sun.
• Ancient Chinese dubbed the planet “the fire star”.
• The many names given to Mars are because of its color.
• Mars may have some living creatures on it.

It’s hard to imagine what things were like before there was money, but such a time did exist. During these times people exchanged goods using the barter system. The word barter means to trade. People using the barter system traded things instead of buying and selling them. So if you were a rice farmer, you would trade your rice with many people to get all of the things that you wanted or needed. Unfortunately, the people from whom you needed things might not want your rice. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• Before money, people used to barter for goods.
• Sometimes, people traded rice for other items.
• Money did not always exist as we know it.
• Not every person likes rice.