Main Idea

Question: What is the main idea of this passage?

Caterpillars are interesting creatures. Did you know that caterpillars are really insects? Well, they are. Even though it looks like caterpillars have many legs, they have three pairs of what are called true legs. That gives them six legs, so caterpillars really are insects.

There are many different kinds of caterpillars. Some are fuzzy and some are smooth. Some are colorful and some are plain. Their color and skin covering helps protect them from other animals, like birds, that might want to eat them.

Later in the caterpillar's life, it goes through a change called metamorphosis. It builds a chrysalis around itself. The caterpillar stays inside this hard covering until a special change happens. In a while, the chrysalis will begin to break apart and out will come a beautiful butterfly. And guess what? It has six legs too!

• Caterpillars are insects.

• Some caterpillars are colorful.

• Caterpillars become butterflies.

• Caterpillars have six legs.

Question: What is the main idea of this paragraph?

There are many different kinds of caterpillars. Some are fuzzy and some are smooth. Some are colorful and some are plain. Their color and skin covering helps protect them from other animals, like birds, that might want to eat them.

• Birds might want to eat caterpillars.

• Some caterpillars are colorful and some are plain.

• There are different kind of caterpillars.

• Caterpillars can be fuzzy or smooth.

Question: What is the main idea of the paragraph?

Later in the caterpillar's life, it goes through a change called metamorphosis. It builds a chrysalis around itself. The caterpillar stays inside this hard covering until a special change happens. In a while, the chrysalis will begin to break apart and out will come a beautiful butterfly. And guess what? It has six legs too!

• Caterpillars build a chrysalis.

• They change through metamorphosis.

• Caterpillars stay in the chrysalis to change.

• Butterflies have six legs.

Based on the story, which statement BEST explains why caterpillars have different skin coverings?

There are many different kinds of caterpillars. Some are fuzzy and some are smooth. Some are colorful and some are plain. Their color and skin covering helps protect them from other animals, like birds, that might want to eat them.

• So they can hide from their enemies.

• So they can crawl quickly.

• So they can attract other caterpillars.

• So they can be called insects.

What are supporting details?

• Supporting details are events, facts, or examples related to each other.

• Supporting details are the main idea.

• Supporting details are the first sentence of a passage.

• Supporting details are not related in any way.