Summarizing Main Idea

It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. Brach's, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. That's a lot of candy corn, but that's nothing compared to the production of Tootsie Rolls. Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry's staple product: chocolate. Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. Now that's a mouthful! What is the main idea of this passage?

• Tootsie rolls are delicious

• Chocolate is best

• How much of popular candies are sold each year

• How large the earth is

If you are feeling sad, you can make yourself feel better by doing a few simple things. You can take a walk (or get another form of exercise), you can talk to a friend, or you can write down your feelings. Writing down the good things in your life will help too. Doing something good for someone else will also help you feel better. If you still feel a little sad, act happy. It works like magic to make you feel better! What is the main idea?

• Sometimes people feel sad.

• You should do good things for others.

• We're not always happy.

• There are many ways to make yourself feel better.

Mark wanted to be a great skater. But he didn't want to spend the hours practicing. He wished he could just do the tricks easily. Mark's dream was to have everyone stop and stare when he entered the skate park. He wanted them to say, "Mark is the best skater in the whole world."

What is the main idea?

• Mark wants everyone to think he's a great skater without doing the hard work.

• Mark practices very hard to become a great skater.

• Mark is the best skater at the park.

• Mark wants to learn how to skate so he can compete.

Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer. Soccer players learn how to dribble and pass the ball. They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score. Most importantly, soccer players learn how to work together with their teammates.

What is the main idea?

• Soccer players learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score.

• Soccer players learn how to dribble.

• Soccer players learn how to work together as teammates.

• Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.

Which of these best summarizes paragraph 6?

• Fishing can wear out even the hardiest sportsman

• The only sport that compares to fishing is flyfishing.

• After a good night's sleep, a fisherman forgets any bad luck.

• A dedicated fisherman will let nothing keep him from the sport.

Which statement best summarizes the section entitled "Where did your life go?"

• Nuns and priests are some of the best teachers in the world.

• Sometimes teachers have to stay after school to help coach a sport.

• When you're a teacher, sometimes you wonder where your life went.

• Teachers have to work in a classroom all day and often spend their afternoon and evenings doing work for the schools.

Which of these is a summary of Christian's experience with the Pro Walk?

• Christian was skeptical of the Pro Walks claims at first.

• Christian wore the Pro Walk to one of his soccer scrimmages.

• After wearing the Pro Walk for the first time, Christian noticed some soreness.

• After finding the right size, Christian felt that the Pro Walk alleviated his pain.

Which of these sentences contains a summary?

• While he acknowledged that the inserts supported his arches, he felt slight pain on the sides of his feet.

• The Pro Walk provided support around Christian's arches.

• This infomercial claims that these plastic inserts offer support for your feet, correcting your gait and stabilizing for your spine.

• He didn't perceive any muscle tension or discomfort during the game, though he admitted that the feeling of the hard plastic under his feet was a little aggravating at first.

This passage provides the MOST information on

• Catching crabs with mutton and string.

• the challenge that entices fisherman

• fishing in the Florida keys

• popular bait and tackle

Which question would be most helpful for figuring out the main idea of a book?

• what is the main thing that the author wants to say?

• what else do I know about the subject?

• who is the author of the passage?