Central Idea

What is central idea?

• A lesson, moral, or universal concept conveyed through a story

• What a text is mainly about

• A text that only talks about one thing

• A type of detail

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9-10.RN.2.2

_____ are supporting details or important pieces of information that support the central idea of a text.

• Contrast

• Key details

• Theme

• Fact

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9-10.RN.2.2

Find the central idea: Zoey went out into the woods to get some raspberries. Her mother called out and told her to come back inside, but Zoey ignored her. The sky soon opened up and began pouring out rain. Once Zoey came back to her mother, she promised to always listen to her. What is the main idea of the passage?

• Zoey ignored her mother and got caught in a storm

• Always listen to your mother

• Zoey went outside to get raspberries. Zoey ignored her mother then was caught in a storm. She then promised to always listen to her mother.

• There are multiple main ideas.

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9-10.RN.2.2

Find the central idea: Juan loves to play games. His favorite game is chess because it requires a great deal of thought. Juan also likes to play less demanding board games that are based mostly on luck. He prefers Monopoly because it requires luck and skill. If he's alone, Juan likes to play action video games as long as they aren't too violent.

• Juan dislikes violence

• Juan enjoys monopology

• Juan likes to think

• Juan enjoys playing games

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9-10.RN.2.2

Find the central idea: Gravity is the force that makes things fall to Earth. You can't see or touch it, but without gravity, life on Earth would be quite different. Everything would simply float away. If you jumped up, you would fly off into space. If you threw a baseball, it would never come down. Gravity is also the force that keeps the Earth orbiting around the sun. So, without gravity, the Earth might float away, too.

• Life on Earth would be impossible without gravity

• The Earth will float away

• Baseballs would never come down

• If you jumped up, you would float away

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9-10.RN.2.2

Find the central idea: Steel is a very important metal which is used for many things. In the United States, the automobile industry uses the most steel. Steel is used in putting up buildings. Cans and containers are made from steel. Steel is used to make farm and factory machines.

• The auto industry is the most important industry in the US

• The US produces the most steel in the world

• Steel is an important metal with many uses

• Cans and containers are made from steel

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9-10.RN.2.2

Find the central idea: When tigers hunt, they hunt alone. In contrast, lions hunt in groups; they work together to drive their prey into an ambush. Cheetahs are known for their speed when they chase prey. Leopards are able to climb trees when they are prowling for prey. Surprisingly, jaguars often hunt in water. There is great diversity in the hunting habits of large cats. There is also great diversity in the places in which they hunt.

• There is great diversity in the hunting habits of large cats, and there is also great diversity in the places in which they hunt.

• When tigers hunt, they hunt alone, but in contrast, lions hunt in groups.

• Cheetahs, leopards, and jaguars have different methods of hunting.

• Jaguars hunt in water

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9-10.RN.2.2

Find the central idea: Most people think that Johann Sebastian Bach played the piano, but this is not true. The piano was not invented until just two years before he died. Bach's main instrument was the organ. He was a great organist. He wrote a lot of wonderful music for that instrument. He also played other keyboard instruments that were ancestors of the piano. Among these instruments was the harpsichord. Along with Mozart, Bach is considered to be one of the all-time great composers

• Mozart and Bach did not compose music for the piano.

• Johann Sebastian Bach was a great organist and writer.

• The piano had not been invented three hundred years ago.

• The harpsichord was a keyboard instrument before the piano.

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9-10.RN.2.2

Find the central idea: We often let others know what we are thinking without using words. The name that we give for this kind of communication is body language. Body language includes gestures, facial expressions, and posture. Body language does not always mean the same thing to everyone.

• We sometimes use words to express ourselves.

• Body language may not mean the same thing to everyone.

• We use body language to communicate with others.

• Body language includes gestures, facial expression, and posture

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9-10.RN.2.2

Find the central idea: Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or are bucked off of bulls at riding competitions, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way, rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business

• Being a clown isn't all fun and games.

• Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.

• Rodeos are exciting.

• Clowns are good at riding bulls.

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9-10.RN.2.2