ELA Central Idea

A progressive social reformer and activist, Jane Addams, was on the frontline of the settlement house movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As the daughter of a wealthy Illinois businessman, Jane Addams did not have to worry about money. Despite her wealth and privilege, she was concerned about the poor. After college, Addams found her true calling in London. It was during a trip to Europe that Addams visited Toynbee Hall, a settlement house in London on the city’s East End that provided much-needed services to poor industrial workers. Addams vowed to bring that model to the United States, which was in the early years of industrialization and immigration. Inspired by what she saw in London, Addams founded a settlement house of her own, Hull House, in Chicago in 1889. Hull House was one of the first centers of its kind in the United States. The house provided services for the immigrant and poor population living in the Chicago area. The center also offered classes, child care, food, and help with finding jobs. What is the central idea of the article?

• Addams was the daughter of a wealthy businessman.

• The Hull House provided help for the poor and immigrant population in Chicago.

• After a trip to Europe, Addams was inspired to start a settlement house in the US leading her to found the Hull House.

• Addams was impressed and inspired by Toynbee Hall, a settlement house in London on the city’s East End that provided much-needed services to poor industrial workers.

Reality television is touted a genre of television programming which presents unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, document actual events, and have ordinary people instead of professional actors. However, critics argue that reality television shows do not accurately reflect reality since participants are placed in artificial situations and given scripts or story lines to follow. Other critics say reality TV make stars out of untalented people unworthy of fame. Many people still tune into their favorite reality TV show since it is fun to watch, but they take it with a grain of salt and put it in the same category as scripted sitcoms. What is the central idea of this passage?

• Reality TV is more like a scripted show.

• People can become famous with reality TV even if they are without a specific talent.

• Many people do not like reality TV since the majority of the shows are not considered real.

• Reality television does not accurately reflect reality since participants are placed in artificial situations.

We all know that every snowflake is unique and we assume a scientist discovered this fact. Surprisingly it was not a scientist, but a young farmer from Vermont, who took the first micro-photograph of a snowflake in 1885 when he just 19 years old. Wilson Bentley always loved nature so when he received a microscope for his 15th birthday, the first thing he did was try and examine a snow flake. Intrigued by their unusual designs, he tried to sketch detailed drawings, but the snow would melt before he could get it done. He decided it would be better to photograph them. This was not an easy process, and it took him 2 years to figure out. But once he got started he could not stop. Bentley went on to capture over 5,000 images, and was the first one to realize that no two snow flakes were alike. What is the central idea of this passage?

• It took Wilson Bentley 2 years to learn how to photograph a snowflake.

• Wilson Bentley had a love for nature which led to an interest in snowflakes.

• A farmer received a microscope for his birthday which sparked a love of science.

• Wilson Bentley, a nature lover and farmer, was one of the first to observe snowflakes each determine each one is unique.

In 1890 the first hairdryer was invented by French stylist Alexander Godefroy. His invention was a large, seated version that consisted of a bonnet that attached to the chimney pipe of a gas stove. Godefroy invented it for use in his hair salon in France, and it was not portable or handheld. It could only be used by having the person sit underneath it. This invention led to the first patent of a portable hair dryer in 1911, and handheld dryers finally arrived in homes around 1920. Hard to believe that before hair dryers could be mass produced at affordable prices, women would sit next to a stove or fireplace and some resorted to using hose attachments at the exhaust end of a vacuum cleaner to dry their hair! Hairdryers have come a long way over the years. What is the central idea of the passage?

• Woman would try almost anything to dry their hair.

• Godefroy's invention changed how people could dry their hair.

• Godefroy's hair dryer was not portable was cumbersome to use.

• Portable hairdryers started showing up in homes in the 1920s.

For most American kids, it wouldn’t be Halloween without trick-or-treating for candy. However, when trick-or-treating first started candy wasn't even an option. In the 1930s and early 1940s, children were given everything from homemade cookies and pieces of cake to fruit, nuts, coins and toys. It wasn't until the 1950s when candy manufacturers began to get in on the act and promote their products for Halloween. As trick-or-treating became more popular, candy was considered an affordable, convenient offering. It wasn’t until the 1970s, though, that wrapped, factory-made candy was viewed as the only acceptable thing to hand out to all the little ghosts and goblins that showed up on people’s doorsteps. What is the central idea of the article?

• American kids love receiving candy on Halloween.

• Trick-or-treating has a long history that didn't always involve candy.

• In the 1930s kids were given toys, cake, and even toys when they went trick-or-treating.

• In the 1970s individually wrapped candies were introduced to the market and considered the best thing to pass out to trick-or-treaters.

What is the central idea of this passage?

• People would have forgotten that Goths ever existed if the meaning of the word “Goth” never changed.

• “Goth” and “gothic” are used to describe things that are similar to the original Goths.

• The word “gothic” is often used to describe a style of building that has been unpopular since the 1200s.

• The meanings of the words “Goth” and “gothic” have changed over the years.

How do the key details in each paragraph support the main idea?

• They show how confused people continue to use the words “Goth” and “gothic” incorrectly.

• They show how people have chosen to use the words “Goth” and “gothic” in different ways.

• They show that people still use the words “Goth” and “gothic” to describe ancient Europeans.

• They show that new meanings have given the words “Goth” and “gothic” more popularity.

What is the central idea of the following passage?

• Sloths and tapirs are other creatures that live in the rain forest.

• The rain forest is home to many creatures.

• Monkeys, toucans and macaws live in the rain forest.

Select the supporting detail that doesn't fit.

Central Idea: My cat is afraid of everything.

• He hides under the couch when you turn the microwave on.

• He sleeps all day long.

• He runs away when you sweep the floor.

• He jumps every time the doorbell rings.

What is the author's viewpoint about bees?

• The author views bees as pests.

• The author views bees as helpful.

• The author has a negative view of bees.

• The author feels neutral about bees.