Main Idea Practice

What is the main idea / teaching of Confucianism

• Duty and placing the needs of your family and community above your own

• Humans are naturally evil, strict laws and harsh punishments force people to complete their duties

• Free yourself from worldly desires and live simply. Let nature and spiritual force guide you.

How did the Silk Road benefit China?

• Trade decrased

• Travel to North America was easier

• Trade increased and inventions and ideas spread

• Other countries learned how to make silk.

What is the main idea / teaching of Legalism

• Duty and placing the needs of your family and community above your own

• Humans are naturally evil, strict laws and harsh punishments force people to complete their duties

• Free yourself from worldly desires and live simply. Let nature and spiritual force guide you.

Yellowstone National Park is mainly located in Wyoming, although three percent is located in the state of Montana. The Continental Divide of North America runs diagonally through the southwestern part of the park. The park sits on the Yellowstone Plateau, which is an average elevation of 8,000 feet above sea level. This plateau is bounded on nearly all sides by mountain ranges. There are 290 waterfalls that are at least fifteen feet in the park, the highest being the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, which falls 308 feet. Summarize this paragraph in one sentence. Be specific and clearly explain the main idea.

Do you ever remember your dreams? You may not remember what you dream, but you probably dream every night—almost everyone does. Why do you have dreams? Scientists disagree on exactly why you dream. Some say it is your brain’s way of processing things. You learn a lot and have a lot of things happen to you, so while you sleep, your brain processes that information. Dreaming might be the way your brain makes sense of what happens to you. Some say that dreams are the way your brain solves problems. Suppose you are upset about something. Dreams may be a way for your brain to help you feel better. People may not agree on why you dream. But everyone agrees that dreaming is very important. You need to dream so that your brain is ready for the next day

• How to fall asleep

• Where to find a good bed

• How many hours of sleep you need

• Dreams

When another old cave is discovered in the south of France, it is not usually news. Rather, it is an ordinary event. Such discoveries are so frequent these days that hardly anybody pays heed to them. However, when the Lascaux cave complex was discovered in 1940, the world was amazed. Painted directly on its walls were hundreds of scenes showing how people lived thousands of years ago. The scenes show people hunting animals, such as bison or wild cats. Other images depict birds and, most noticeably, horses, which appear in more than 300 wall images, by far outnumbering all other animals. Early artists drawing these animals accomplished a monumental and difficult task. They did not limit themselves to the easily accessible walls but carried their painting materials to spaces that required climbing steep walls or crawling into narrow passages in the Lascaux complex. Unfortunately, the paintings have been exposed to the destructive action of water and temperature changes, which easily wear the images away. Because the Lascaux caves have many entrances, air movement has also damaged the images inside. Although they are not out in the open air, where natural light would have destroyed them long ago, many of the images have deteriorated and are barely recognizable. To prevent further damage, the site was closed to tourists in 1963, 23 years after it was discovered.

• Wild Animals in Art

• Hidden Prehistoric Paintings

• Exploring Caves Respectfully

• Determining the Age of French Caves

It's hard to imagine what things were like before there was money, but such a time did exist. During these times people exchanged goods using the barter system. The word barter means to trade. People using the barter system traded things instead of buying and selling them. So if you were a rice farmer, you would trade your rice with many people to get all the things that you wanted or needed. Unfortunately, the people from whom you needed things might not want your rice. Isn't it nice to just go to the store and buy candy instead of having to trade rice for it?

Summarize this paragraph in one sentence. Be specific and clearly explain the main idea.

What is the main idea of the following passage? 'The Industrial Revolution was a period of major industrialization that took place during the late 1700s and early 1800s. It began in Great Britain and quickly spread throughout the world. The Industrial Revolution marked a major turning point in history; almost every aspect of daily life was influenced in some way.'

• A) The Industrial Revolution started in the United States.

• B) The Industrial Revolution had a global impact.

• C) The Industrial Revolution was a minor event in history.

• D) The Industrial Revolution only affected Great Britain.

Summarize the main idea of this passage: 'The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials. It was built along the northern borders of China to protect against various nomadic groups. The wall stretches over 13,000 miles and is a symbol of China's historical strength and perseverance.'

• A) The Great Wall of China is a short structure.

• B) The Great Wall of China was built for decoration.

• C) The Great Wall of China was built to protect against invasions.

• D) The Great Wall of China is made entirely of wood.

What is the main idea of the following passage? 'The Renaissance was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political, and economic “rebirth” following the Middle Ages. Generally described as taking place from the 14th century to the 17th century, the Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature, and art.'

• A) The Renaissance was a time of cultural decline.

• B) The Renaissance only affected art.

• C) The Renaissance was a period of cultural and intellectual growth.

• D) The Renaissance occurred in the 18th century.