Main Idea and Supporting

Which detail supports the main idea?

• Scientists look at weather trends to know which areas would be likely to have a natural disaster

• Tornados are formed by cold air and warm air swirling around each other

• The Sanfraisco earthquake was devastating to California

• Pompeii was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted

Which term best describes the main idea of a piece of writing?

• supporting detail

• central point

• broad topic

• statement of opinion

What supporting detail might you find in an article about why you should eat healthy foods?

• People who eat healthy foods live longer

• Healthy foods include vegetables and protein

• Healthy foods are good for you

• Eating is necessary to sustain life

Which sentence is a supporting detail that recycling is important?

• There are many landfills available for waste.

• Clean jars before recycling them.

• Recycling paper saves trees from being cut down.

• Separate your paper, cans, and glass jars before recycling.

Which of the following is a good strategy to find the main idea?

• Guessing before reading

• Focusing on the pictures only

• Reading the first and last sentence

• Asking questions about what is most important in the text

Which of the following best represents the main idea?

• Specific facts and examples used to support the main idea.

• The central point or message that the author wants to convey.

• A moral or lesson that can be learned from the story.

• A brief summary of the story's events.

When summarizing a paragraph, you should include:

• Every detail and example

• Only the main idea

• The main idea and key supporting details

• Your own opinions about the topic

Why is it important to understand the main idea of a text?

• To improve your vocabulary

• To pass the time while reading

• To better understand the author's message

• To learn how to write long paragraphs

What is the main idea of a paragraph?

• The first sentence of the paragraph

• The most important point the author is trying to make

• A list of facts and details

• The conclusion or the last sentence

During a school project on environmental conservation, Zoe argues that recycling is crucial. Which of her supporting details best illustrates this point?

• Many communities have access to large landfills for waste disposal.

• By recycling paper, we prevent numerous trees from being cut down.

• It's important to clean jars thoroughly before recycling them.

• Emma suggests separating paper, cans, and glass jars for more efficient recycling.