Central Idea Quiz

What is the central idea of a passage or text?

• The supporting details or evidence provided in the passage.

• The conclusion drawn by the author.

• The background information about the topic.

• The main point or theme that the author is trying to convey.

What is the CENTRAL IDEA of a nonfiction text?

• What the text is MOSTLY about.

• A full paragraph SUMMARY of a text.

• The type of CONFLICT used throughout a text.

• The universal truth, moral lesson, or message that the author intends for the audience.

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 a controversial subject

• Forests provide oxygen for humans and animals

What is the central idea of the passage?

Thomas Edison’s life span is known as “The age of Edison.” If it wasn’t for Thomas Edison, we might not have electric lights, telephones, movie cameras, or computers! Think of all the ways these great products affect our lives today. Edison held over 1,000 patents and received dozens of awards during his lifetime for his inventions and contributions to science.

• The light bulb has become an essential invention

• Thomas Edison's inventions still impact society today

• Thomas Edison worked until he perfected his inventions

• The process of inventing is never-ending

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 in the Baseball Hall of Fame

• Jackie Robinson played many different sports

• Jackie Robinson is an important figure in American History

• Jackie Robinson played for the Brooklyn Dodgers

What is the central idea of the passage?

The law was not exactly fair in Europe during the Middle Ages. Back then, you could blame someone in your town for committing a crime. The “criminal” could then challenge you to a fight to prove his guilt or innocence. If you lost the fight, you were charged as a liar and the criminal was believed to be innocent. If you won, the criminal was believed to be guilty.

• Laws of the Middle Ages were unfair.

• Fighting was a good way to determine guilt or innocence during the Middle Ages.

• Most people lied about crime in the Middle Ages.

• Individuals that were innocent of crimes often won the fighting challenges.

Mark loves to walk in the woods. He enjoys looking at the trees and smelling the flowers. Mark also likes to watch the squirrels run through the trees.

What is the main idea of the text?

• Mark loves to walk in the woods.

• Mark enjoys playing baseball

• Mark is an active young man.

Mark loves to walk in the woods. He enjoys looking at the trees and smelling the flowers. Mark also likes to watch the squirrels run through the trees.

Which of the following statements is a supporting detail to the main idea?

• He enjoys looking at the trees and smelling the flowers.

• Mark lives in the city.

• Mark likes birds.

Janice loves to go to basketball games. Her favorite team is the Houston Rockets. Janice enjoys watching the players warm-up before the game. She has been going to games since she was six years old.

Which of the following sentences is a supporting detail?

• Janice gets to the games late.

• Janice enjoys watching the players warm-up

• Janice likes the Lakers.

Amanda got her surfboard out of her truck. She always loved to be the first person on the beach in the morning. Amanda paddled out to the waves and caught her first ride of the day. She loves the calm of the ocean and the feeling of riding waves. Surfing has always been Amanda's favorite sport.

What is a supporting detail in the passage?

• Amanda likes to swim.

• Amanda enjoys sunbathing.

• She loves the calm of the ocean and the feeling of riding waves.