Main Idea

What is a main idea?

• Summary of the plot.

• A type of text feature.

• What a passage is mostly about.

• An important detail from the passage.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

Despite the hatred that most people feel towards cockroaches, they do help humans in several ways. For example, they are perfect experimental animals and are used for scientific research in the laboratory. Breeding them is easy, for they thrive under almost any conditions. In studies on nutrition and food, cockroaches are good subjects because they will eat any kind of food. They can be used to study heart disease, and cancer researchers work with roaches because they grow cancerous tumors like those that are found in humans.

What is the MAIN IDEA of this passage?

• Cockroaches are vile, disgusting insects with no redeeming qualities.

• Cockroaches are genetically resilient insects with beneficial qualities

• Cockroaches are easy to breed and thrive under almost any condition

• It's obvious that the world will be taken over by cockroaches.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Using the passage from question 2, which is a SUPPORTING DETAIL that supports the main idea?

Despite the hatred that most people feel towards cockroaches, they do help humans in several ways. For example, they are perfect experimental animals and are used for scientific research in the laboratory. Breeding them is easy, for they thrive under almost any conditions. In studies on nutrition and food, cockroaches are good subjects because they will eat any kind of food. They can be used to study heart disease, and cancer researchers work with roaches because they grow cancerous tumors like those that are found in humans.

• "Breeding them is easy"

• "They are perfect experimental animals"

• "They can be used to study heart disease"

• "They are perfect experimental animals"

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

Most teenagers and young adults do not know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. It is a big decision. There are a number of things you can do to narrow the choices. For example, you can take an interest test, do some research on your own about a career, try volunteer work in the field you are interested in, or "job-shadow", where you spend a day with a person who is working in a field that interests you. These are just a few helpful ideas as you begin to choose a career.

What is the MAIN IDEA of the passage?

• Occupational knowledge is paramount when choosing a career.

• Teenagers who don’t know what they want to do professionally will be jobless.

• Teenagers should work part time so they know what they want to do later as adults.

• Teenagers can do many things when thinking about their future line of employment.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Born on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany, Anne Frank lived in Amsterdam with her family during World War II. Fleeing Nazi persecution of Jews, the family went into hiding for two years; during this time, Frank wrote about her experiences and wishes. She was 15 when the family was found and sent to the camps, where she died. Her work, The Diary of Anne Frank, has gone on to be read by millions.

What is the MAIN IDEA of this passage?

• It’s obvious had she lived, Anne Frank would be a famous author.

• Anne Frank and her family were brave to have hidden from the Nazis.

• Anne Frank’s diary was a voice for her struggles.

• Anne Frank lived an all-too short but profound life as recorded in her diary.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

When a person decides to get a dog, he or she has many kinds to choose from. As a rule, short haired dogs are best for cities. Beagles, Boston Terriers, and Dachshunds make good city pets. Great Danes are short-haired, too. However, they are too big for city living. It is hard in a city to give them all the exercise they need. Setters, Springer Spaniels and Collies are especially good as country dogs.

What is the MAIN IDEA of the passage?

• Dogs make better pets than cats.

• Some breeds of dogs are better than others for city life.

• There are many breeds of dogs.

• Short haired dogs are better for cities.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

Using the passage from question 6, which detail best SUPPORTS the main idea?

When a person decides to get a dog, he or she has many kinds to choose from. As a rule, short haired dogs are best for cities. Beagles, Boston Terriers, and Dachshunds make good city pets. Great Danes are short-haired, too. However, they are too big for city living. It is hard in a city to give them all the exercise they need. Setters, Springer Spaniels and Collies are especially good as country dogs.

• "Everyone needs a dog."

• "Big dogs need lots of exercise."

• "As a rule, short haired dogs are best for cities."

• "Setters, Springer Spaniels and Collies are especially good as country dogs."

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.1