Main Idea

Jellyfish

Are jellyfish really made up of jelly? Up to 95% of this animal’s body is made up of water. It is not made up of jelly at all. When a jellyfish moves, it jiggles the way jelly does. The jellyfish is not even a fish. It does not have fins like fish does. It doesn’t swim like a fish or have a body like one. It has a bell. The bell is the round part of the body that looks like the jellyfish’s head but it isn’t. The bell is mainly the stomach. Hanging from the jellyfish’s bell are tentacles. Fish do not have tentacles. So really, a jellyfish’s name doesn’t make much sense?

What is the passage mainly about?

• Jelly and fish

• The jellyfish's name

• Where jellyfish live

• Different kinds of jellyfish

Jellyfish

Are jellyfish really made up of jelly? Up to 95% of this animal’s body is made up of water. It is not made up of jelly at all. When a jellyfish moves, it jiggles the way jelly does. The jellyfish is not even a fish. It does not have fins like fish does. It doesn’t swim like a fish or have a body like one. It has a bell. The bell is the round part of the body that looks like the jellyfish’s head but it isn’t. The bell is mainly the stomach. Hanging from the jellyfish’s bell are tentacles. Fish do not have tentacles. So really, a jellyfish’s name doesn’t make much sense?

Which detail DOES NOT support the main idea?

• Jellyfish live in the ocean.

• A jellyfish is not made of jelly.

• The bell is the round part of the body.

• Hanging from the jellyfish's bell are tentacles.

Jellyfish

Are jellyfish really made up of jelly? Up to 95% of this animal’s body is made up of water. It is not made up of jelly at all. When a jellyfish moves, it jiggles the way jelly does. The jellyfish is not even a fish. It does not have fins like fish does. It doesn’t swim like a fish or have a body like one. It has a bell. The bell is the round part of the body that looks like the jellyfish’s head but it isn’t. The bell is mainly the stomach. Hanging from the jellyfish’s bell are tentacles. Fish do not have tentacles. So really, a jellyfish’s name doesn’t make much sense?

Which is a detail that connects to the title?

• Jellyfish have a bell.

• Jellyfish have tentacles that help them move.

• Jellyfish are not fish.

• Jellyfish jiggle like jelly when it moves.

Hurricanes

Hurricanes are large, intense storms that begin over the ocean, where they gather heat and energy from the water. Hurricanes move slowly toward land, usually moving 10-20 miles per hour for more than one week. The most dangerous part of the hurricane is the storm surge, when it reaches land and causes flooding. Wind and waves also contribute to the damage caused by these surges.

What is the main idea of this passage?

• Hurricanes form over the ocean.

• Hurricanes are dangerous storms.

• Storm surges are caused by hurricanes.

• Hurricanes cause flooding.

Hurricanes

Hurricanes are large, intense storms that begin over the ocean, where they gather heat and energy from the water. Hurricanes move slowly toward land, usually moving 10-20 miles per hour for more than one week. The most dangerous part of the hurricane is the storm surge, when it reaches land and causes flooding. Wind and waves also contribute to the damage caused by these surges.

What is one key detail that supports the main idea?

• The most dangerous part of a hurricane is a storm surge.

• Hurricanes move slowly toward land.

• Hurricanes are large storms.

• Hurricanes are named after people.

Hurricanes

Hurricanes are large, intense storms that begin over the ocean, where they gather heat and energy from the water. Hurricanes move slowly toward land, usually moving 10-20 miles per hour for more than one week. The most dangerous part of the hurricane is the storm surge, when it reaches land and causes flooding. Wind and waves also contribute to the damage caused by these surges.

Which is the definition of a hurricane?

• The center of a hurricane is called an eye.

• Hurricanes are large, intense storms that begin over the ocean.

• Hurricanes move slowly toward land.

• Wind and waves are the dangerous parts of a hurricane.

Saving Hawaiian Monk Seals

Marine animal experts are on a mission. They want to save Hawaiian monk seals from becoming extinct. Extinct means "no longer existing." Today, about 1,200 seals live near the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Experts fear that the population will drop in the next five years. "The clock is ticking," says scientist Jen Palmer. Experts worry that the seals are not getting enough food. Many of the pups are thin and are not living past their first few years. Scientists are trying to figure out why. Other scientists are monitoring the monk seals’ habitat for pollution. A habitat is a place in nature where an animal or a plant lives. "Every person takes a very tiny bit of the puzzle, and you hope at some point you...put it all together and it makes a pretty clear picture," says scientist Charles Littnan.

The main idea of this passage is:

• Scientists are trying to find out what is causing the drop in the monk seal population.

• Scientists are trying to end pollution in the waters around Hawaii.

• Scientists are urging people to be more aware of the pollution they create.

• Scientists are trying to learn about what the monk seal eats.

Saving Hawaiian Monk Seals

Marine animal experts are on a mission. They want to save Hawaiian monk seals from becoming extinct. Extinct means "no longer existing." Today, about 1,200 seals live near the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Experts fear that the population will drop in the next five years. "The clock is ticking," says scientist Jen Palmer. Experts worry that the seals are not getting enough food. Many of the pups are thin and are not living past their first few years. Scientists are trying to figure out why. Other scientists are monitoring the monk seals’ habitat for pollution. A habitat is a place in nature where an animal or a plant lives. "Every person takes a very tiny bit of the puzzle, and you hope at some point you...put it all together and it makes a pretty clear picture," says scientist Charles Littnan.

Which is NOT a detail from this passage?

• Twelve hundred monk seals live near Hawaii.

• The monk seal population is expected to drop in the next 5 years.

• Monk seals eat fish and octopus.

• Many seal pups are not surviving until adulthood.

Lost and Found

Last Saturday, Troy Driscoll, 15, and best friend Josh Long, 17, were found. The teenagers had spent six days lost at sea. They were seven miles off Cape Fear, North Carolina. It was over 100 miles from their starting point of Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. The boys left in their 14-foot sailboat on April 24. They ignored a warning by the National Weather Service. Right away, they realized they were in trouble. They tried to swim to shore, but the wind and strong currents swept them even farther out to sea. On the second day, they lost their fishing gear. They were not able to catch any fish. They drank sea water because they were without fresh water. A few times, the boys slipped into the ocean to cool off. They were scared back onto the boat by sharks. At night, the boys shared a single wet-suit. It kept them warm in the cooler temperatures. The boys had lost hope. Larger boats passed them, unable to see them waving. Last Saturday, they were finally spotted by men on a fishing boat. The teens were taken to a hospital. They were thirsty, hungry, and exhausted. They had bad sunburns, but they would be okay. Luckily, they were in good shape.

This passage is mainly about:

• how two boys were going to be okay after sailing

• how two boys had to survive at sea for six days

• how two boys kept warm by sharing a wetsuit

• how two boys caught a lot of fish while sailing

Lost and Found

Last Saturday, Troy Driscoll, 15, and best friend Josh Long, 17, were found. The teenagers had spent six days lost at sea. They were seven miles off Cape Fear, North Carolina. It was over 100 miles from their starting point of Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. The boys left in their 14-foot sailboat on April 24. They ignored a warning by the National Weather Service. Right away, they realized they were in trouble. They tried to swim to shore, but the wind and strong currents swept them even farther out to sea. On the second day, they lost their fishing gear. They were not able to catch any fish. They drank sea water because they were without fresh water. A few times, the boys slipped into the ocean to cool off. They were scared back onto the boat by sharks. At night, the boys shared a single wet-suit. It kept them warm in the cooler temperatures. The boys had lost hope. Larger boats passed them, unable to see them waving. Last Saturday, they were finally spotted by men on a fishing boat. The teens were taken to a hospital. They were thirsty, hungry, and exhausted. They had bad sunburns, but they would be okay. Luckily, they were in good shape.

Which statement supports the idea that the boys were hungry?

• Luckily, they were in good shape.

• The teens were taken to a hospital.

• They were not able to catch any fish.

• They realized they were in trouble