Main Idea and Supporting Details 1

Select all of the SUPPORTING DETAILS.

There are great numbers of deer around here. This whole area is great country for hunters and fishermen. There are bears, mountain lions, and coyotes. To the east there are streams full of trout, and there are ducks and geese.

• ...and there are ducks and geese.

• There are great numbers of deer around here.

• This whole area is great country for hunters and fishermen.

• There are bears, mountain lions, and coyotes.

What is the Main Idea

The attitudes of Americans toward gambling are amazingly contradictory. You may find, for example, that horse racing is legal in your state, but that you cannot legally play poker for money on your front porch; bookies may be prosecuted by state law, but they are supposed to purchase a federal license nonetheless; one church condemns gambling, while another raises money by sponsoring Bingo games. Gambling laws are inconsistent from state to state or even from town to town and are very difficult to enforce.

• Americans have negative attitudes toward gambling.

• Gambling laws are difficult to enforce.

• Gambling laws are inconsistent from community to community.

• Churches do not have uniform ideas about gambling.

WHICH SENTENCE EXPRESSES THE MAIN IDEA?

Do you wear glasses? Make sure your glasses fit well. The earpieces should be at eye level. Don’t try to adjust the earpieces yourself. Take your glasses for adjustments to the place you bought them. Keep your glasses in a case when you’re not wearing them. This will prevent scratches. Keep the lenses clean. A soft cloth is best for cleaning.

• There are several steps to taking care of your glasses.

• It's important to only let a professional handle your glasses.

• Glasses are hard to take care of.

• It's important to keep your glasses clean.

WHAT SENTENCE EXPRESSES THE MAIN IDEA?

Advertising affects our lives everyday. Brand names are common household words. We start each day using the toothpaste, soap, and breakfast foods promoted by advertisers. Ads have made the cars we drive signs of our success. Our choices of food, dress, and entertainment are swayed by ads. Not one aspect of American life is untouched by advertising.

• We are surrounded by advertisements every day.

• Every item has a brand and advertisement.

• Advertisements influence how we live.

• There are many different types of advertisements.

WHAT SENTENCE EXPRESSES THE MAIN IDEA?

A prison study showed that owning a pet can change a hardened prison inmate into a more caring person. Another study discovered that senior citizens, both those living alone and in nursing homes, became more interested in life when they were given pets to care for. Even emotionally disturbed children have been observed to smile and react with interest if there is a cuddly kitten or puppy to hold. Animals, then, can be a means of therapy for many kinds of individuals.

• Having a pet can make people more caring.

• Pets can help people mentally and emotionally.

• Everyone should have a pet.

• Pets make life more fun and interesting.