Main Idea, Summary, and Inference

Floods can cause tremendous damage.  They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand and debris behind.  It can take months to clean up after a flood.
 What is the main idea?

• Floods can cause a lot of damage.

• Floods cause mudslides.

• Floods damage houses and roads. 

What does Inference mean?

• finding details in a story

• Use clues and what you already know to come up with an idea

• Giving a reason for your answer

• Using what I know

Which one of the following is NOT a part of a summary?

• using your own words

• summary being shorter than the text

• exact words from the text

• including main ideas only

Which best describes a summary?

• a really long detailed piece of writing

• the entire text told in your own words

• a dumb thing that teachers make you write

• the main ideas and important details of a text

In a story about a marathon runner who trains for months, facing challenges like injuries and bad weather, but ultimately completes the race, what is the main idea?

• The physical demands of marathon running

• The importance of perseverance and goal-setting

• How to train for a marathon

• The history of marathons

In a narrative where a character always procrastinates and the story focuses on the consequences of this behavior, what is the main idea?

• Procrastination can lead to unexpected opportunities.

• Procrastination is a useful strategy for managing tasks.

• Procrastination often leads to negative consequences.

• Procrastination helps improve creativity.

If a story is set in a war-torn country and focuses on a family's struggle to survive, what is the main idea likely to be?

• The importance of adventure.

• The effects of war on families.

• The history of the country.

• The geography of the war-torn country.

A narrative describes a character who overcomes their fear of public speaking by joining the debate team, practicing speeches, and eventually winning a competition. What is the main idea?

• The rules of debate competitions

• The importance of overcoming personal fears

• How to join a school club

• Techniques for public speaking

In a story about a drought affecting a small farming community, with farmers working together to conserve water and support each other's crops, what is the main idea?

• The science of droughts and their impact on agriculture

• The importance of community support during difficult times

• How to irrigate crops efficiently

• The economic effects of drought on small towns

In an article about the history of the local library and its role in the community, from a simple book collection to a modern center for learning and events, what is the main idea?

• The architectural design of libraries

• The evolution of libraries and their importance in communities

• How to organize a library collection

• The future of digital libraries