Central Idea

What is the central idea of the passage?

Jackie Robinson did something nobody had ever done before. He was not only a three-sport athlete at UCLA. He was the first African-American to play on a Major league baseball team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson had to deal with racism all over the country. He was treated very poorly by the by other players and fans in the stadiums he visited. But, whenever things got difficult, his courage and determination kept him going. Today his number 42 is retired on every team in major league baseball, and he is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

• Jackie Robinson is an important figure in American History

• Jackie Robinson played many different sports

• Jackie Robinson is in the Baseball Hall of Fame

• Jackie Robinson played for the Brooklyn Dodgers

What does "text structure" mean?

• The text structure is the organizational pattern of an article: compare/contrast, problem/ solution, cause/effect

• The text structure is how many paragraphs a paper is supposed to have to be complete

• The text structure is similar to sentence structure: simple sentences versus compound sentences

• The text structure refers to indentation, capitalization, and the correct spacing of a paper

Microchips provide the power for wristwatches. They are also the brains in our computers, and they control robots. These chips are used in video games and space shuttles. They make our cameras, radios, and televisions small and light.
What is the story mainly about?

• How computers work
• Why televisions are small
• How microchips are used

What is the central idea of the passage?

Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. Many beautiful three-dimensional creations are made with this art. Starting with only one square of paper, you can fold and fold and fold, until you’ve created amazing models. With practice, you can learn to make abstract designs or recognizable animals such as cranes (a type of bird) or even dinosaurs.

• Origami is an interesting and beautiful art form

• The art of origami came from Japan

• Origami is three-dimensional art

• Origami is a good way to show creativity

Apples can be used to make many delicious treats. Some people like to slice apples and dip them in caramel. Others like to cook apples and make them into applesauce. Maybe you enjoy making apples into a pie. Or maybe you just like to pick them off the tree and take a big bite! There are many ways to enjoy this fruit! What is the CENTRAL IDEA of this passage?

• Apples are tasty

• There are many ways to eat an apple

• Apples come in all different forms

What is the central idea of the passage?

In 1969, Apollo 11’s successful landing on the moon was seen on TV all around the world. At last, men had walked on the moon for the first time ever! Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin became famous American heroes. This mission was a great achievement for the U.S. space program, and led to six more Apollo flights in the years to come. The mission's success also led to further deep space explorations by the United States and other countries around the world.

• Apollo 11’s landing was an important moment in history

• Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin are heroes

• People were surprised about Apollo 11's success

• Millions watched the Apollo 11 moon landing

 It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year.  Brach's, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end.  That's a lot of candy corn, but that's nothing compared to Tootsie Roll production.  Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day!  But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry's staple product, chocolate.  Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year.  Now that's a mouthful! 

•  This central idea is about chocolate. 
•  The central idea is how Tootsie Rolls are better than candy corn. 
•  The central idea is about how to circle the earth 4.25 times. 
•  The central idea is about how many popular candies are produced each year.

What is the central idea of the passage?

Millions of acres of tropical rainforest have been destroyed. Many animals and people lose their homes when the rain forest is cut down. Today, people are destroying the forests so quickly that the animals are unable to adapt. Many of these animals, such as the leopard, need miles and miles of untouched rain forest in order to live. Furthermore, as more of the rainforest is destroyed, the risk of air pollution and loss of oxygen increases.

• Leopards are losing their homes

• The destruction of the rain forest is harming humans and animals.

• The destruction of the rain forest is an interesting subject

• Forests provide oxygen for humans and animals

What is an inference?

• An inference is a wild guess about an unknown word or topic

• An inference is the tone and mood of an article

• An inference is used to sway the reader to think like the author

• An inference is a guess based upon background knowledge and experience

Another term for central idea is:

• summary

• the topic

• inference

• main idea