SAT Main Idea

What is the main idea?
Bears eat many types of food. They eat fish. They also eat berries. They even eat insects and insect nests!

• They eat fish.

• Bears eat many types of food.

• They also eat berries.

• They even eat insects and insect nests!

What is the main idea?

• They need to be fed twice a day.

• You have to watch them closely.

• Puppies need special care.

• Puppies need to go outside many times a day.

If the main idea is...
The Crayola crayon box has so many colors to use!
What could a detail be?

• I like to color in coloring books.

• Crayons are made of wax.

• Macaroni and Cheese is one of the colors!

• Crayola crayons are $2 for each box.

If the main idea is...
Trees help humans in many ways.
What could a supporting detail be?

• Trees need water to grow.

• Trees give us food.

• Trees are in danger.

• Birds live in trees.

What is the main idea?

• Its the authors point of view

• Is what the passage is mostly about

• It is the sequence of the story.

IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA

Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or bulls buck them off, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. Of course, this is a very dangerous thing to do. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business.

• Sometimes clowns can mean serious bussiness.

• Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.

• Cowboys and Rodeo Clowns are constantly in danger.

• A Rodeo bull's attention is easily caught by Rodeo clowns.

Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.
Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

• Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is

• Pictures help weather reporters get information out in a fast way

• Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short

• They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area

What is the main idea?

• There are many fun things to do at the beach.

• It is also fun to look for shells.

• Some people simply like to sunbathe.

• Going to the beach to swim can be fun.

What is the main idea of a passage?

• The central point or message the author wants to convey

• A minor detail mentioned in the text

• The author's personal opinion

• The conclusion of the passage

Which of the following best describes the main idea of a paragraph?

• A summary of the entire text

• The most interesting fact in the paragraph

• The primary concept or argument presented

• A quote from the paragraph