Exploring Texts: Main Ideas and Structures

What is the main idea of a story about a boy who learns to ride a bike after many attempts?

• It's important to wear a helmet.

• Practice makes perfect.

• Bikes are a popular mode of transportation.

• Everyone should learn to ride a bike.

Which text structure would an author most likely use to describe the steps in a science experiment?

• Cause and effect

• Compare and contrast

• Sequence

• Description

After reading a chapter in a book, what is the best way to summarize the information?

• Copy the most important sentence from each paragraph.

• Write down everything you remember without looking.

• List the main points in your own words.

• Draw a picture of the main event.

What is a cause and effect structure in a text?

• Showing the order of events

• Explaining reasons something happened and the results

• Describing the differences between two things

• Giving a detailed description of a topic

How would you identify the main idea in a paragraph?

• Look for the sentence that is repeated the most.

• Find the sentence that is at the very end.

• Choose the sentence that tells what the whole paragraph is about.

• Pick the sentence with the most interesting fact.

Which text structure is used to show how two animals are different and alike?

• Cause and effect

• Sequence

• Compare and contrast

• Problem and solution

What sequence of events would you expect in a story about a seed growing into a tree?

• The seed is planted, a tree is cut down, leaves grow.

• Leaves grow, a seed is planted, a tree sprouts.

• A seed is planted, a tree sprouts, leaves grow.

• A tree is cut down, a seed is planted, leaves grow.

If an article is explaining the reasons behind a city's decision to build more parks, what text structure is it using?

• Description

• Sequence

• Cause and effect

• Compare and contrast

When two characters in a story have different opinions about a school rule, what type of text structure can be used to show their points of view?

• Sequence

• Cause and effect

• Compare and contrast

• Description

What is the best way to determine the main idea of a non-fiction text?

• Read the first sentence of every paragraph.

• Look at the pictures and captions.

• Read the introduction and conclusion.

• Focus on the most interesting details.