Finding the Central Idea

What is the central idea of an informational (nonfiction) text?

• What a text is mostly about.

• The name of the author.

• The number of pages in the text.

• The date the text was published.

What should you always read first to get clues about what a text is about?

• The title.

• The last sentence.

• The footnotes.

• The index.

While reading, what should you think about to keep your mind on the topic?

• The title.

• The page number.

• The author’s birthday.

• The color of the book.

After reading, should you look at the answer choices first or try to reveal the central idea on your own?

• Try to reveal the central idea on your own.

• Look at the answer choices first.

• Skip the question and come back later.

• Guess the answer without reading.

What should you do if the steps to identify the central idea don't work?

• Go back into the text and see which answer is written about the most.

• Skip the question and move on.

• Choose the answer that sounds the most interesting.

• Pick the first answer you see.