Central Idea

We often let others know what we are thinking without using words. The name that we give for this kind of communication is body language. Body language includes gestures, facial expressions, and posture. Body language does not always mean the same thing to everyone.

What is the CENTRAL IDEA of the above paragraph?

• We sometimes use words to express ourselves.

• We use body language to communicate with others.

• Body language may not mean the same thing to everyone.

• Body language includes gestures, facial expression, and posture.

What is the central idea?
 There are many types of lethal venom in the animal kingdom, but perhaps no stranger carrier than the platypus. The platypus is one of few venomous mammals.  Males carry a venom cocktail in their ankle spurs that incapacitates victims with excruciating pain.  Stranger still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses electroreception.  What this means is that the platypus uses its bill to sense the electricity produced by the muscular movements of its prey.  The platypus neither sees, hears, nor smells its prey while hunting but, rather, pursues it through electroreception.  Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young.  The platypus is an odd creature indeed.  

• The platypus is an odd, poisonous creature.
• Platypus males have a poison ankle spur.
• Platypus can sense electricity
• None of these options

The faculty at Newtown Elementary School invites you to attend our annual Honors Dinner on Thursday, June 17, 2005, in the school cafeteria.

A meal will be served at 7:00 P.M. The cost of the meal is $7.50 per person. Please respond by June 5th with the number of family members attending. We look forward to seeing you there.

Which of the following is the best summary of the invitation?

• The teachers at school are having a dinner to which you are invited. It will be at 7 P.M. on June 17 and will cost $7.50 a person.

• Students need to decide if they want to go to the Honors Dinner with their teachers and family at Newtown Elementary School.

• Newtown Elementary School is going to have an Honors Dinner. The teachers hold this dinner once a year for all of the honors students.

• The dinner costs $7.50 a person. You need to let the teachers know by June 5 how many people you are bringing to the dinner.

Native Americans dried strips of meat, pounded it into a paste, and then mixed it with fat. Sometimes they added berries and sugar. Then they pressed it into small cakes. They called these cakes pemmican. Pemmican didn't spoil, and it provided lots of energy for people traveling or going hunting. 
This passage is mainly about?

• who uses pemmican today
• what can be put into pemmican
• how pemmican was made by Native Americans

Wolverines are medium sized mammals. They weigh no more than 50 lbs. Yet they have earned their reputation for ferocity by killing prey many times their size. But why do they get in so many fights? The reason why wolverines have so many conflicts with other animals (including wolves, cougars, and even bears) is probably because of the wolverine's preferred hunting style. Rather than chasing down or tricking its prey like most hunters, the wolverine prefers to take its meals directly from other hunters. So while a polar bear or a lone wolf might be enjoying a hard earned carcass, a hungry wolverine may try to take his lunch. As you might imagine, this style of hunting get the wolverine in plenty of fights.

What is the CENTRAL IDEA in the above paragraph?

• Wolverines are medium sized animals who get very hungry.

• Wolverines have a aggressive hunting style.

• Despite their size, Wolverines are ferocious animals.

• Wolverines get into many fights.

What does the central idea of a story tell the reader?

• a specific detail from the story
• The conflict of the story
• What the story is about 
• The universal truth, moral, or idea the author wants to express

What is a topic?

• the writer's opinion about a text
• the general subject of a text
• the details that explain the text
• a retelling of the most important ideas

Most people think that gorillas are mean, but actually they are shy. It seems that such a huge animal with very large teeth would be aggressive. Hollywood movies help convey this image of the scary, ferocious gorilla. In fact, gorillas only attack if they are provoked. 
This author belives that:

• Gorillas are misunderstood as vicious animals.
• Gorillas are mean animals
• Gorillas don't like other animals.

What text features can give you a clue of what the main idea is?

• Title
• Headings
• Pictures
• All of these

Which supporting detail shows why you should get enough sleep?

• Many people sleep later on the weekends.

• Caffeine keeps some people awake at night.

• Dark rooms are best for sleeping.

• Seven to nine hours keeps you refreshed the next day.