Main Idea and Context 4.3.25

Which piece of evidence better supports the claim?

Claim: People who choose to have fewer belongings are happier than those who have a lot.

• According to a study on minimalism, people who limit their possessions are more satisfied with their lives than people who have more. The study also revealed that minimalists experience positive emotions more often than average Americans do.

• A blogger writes that her life is richer now that she has given away many of her possessions. She goes on to say, "Possessions tend to weigh you down and prevent you from living the best life you can possibly live."

Answer explanation

The evidence from a study provides stronger support than the quote from the blogger because a study looks at many people objectively.

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CCSS.RI.7.8

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?

• People with synesthesia may hear a sound when they touch an object

• People with synesthesia experience a fusing of different senses.

• People with synesthesia are weird.

• People with synesthesia are lactose intolerant.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

The main, or central, idea of the passage is People with synesthesia experience a fusing of different senses. How does the detail in bold develop the main idea?

• It describes the origin of the word to reinforce its meaning.

• It doesn't support the claim.

• It describes the meaning of an antonym to contrast the meaning.

• It highlights the difficulties people with synesthesia experience.

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CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What is the main or central idea of this passage?

• Genghis Khan ruled by fear while Kublai Khan governed with regard for the people he ruled.

• Genghis Khan used both brilliant and vicious tactics to expand his empire.

• Kublai Khan was a better leader than Genghis Khan.

• Leaders should respect their citizens.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

The main, or central, idea of the passage is Genghis Khan ruled with fear and might, while Kublai Khan governed with regard for the people he ruled. How does the detail in bold develop the main idea?

• It casts doubt on Kublai Khan's leadership abilities.

• It contrasts the leaders' two styles of governance.

• It shows that Genghis Khan was a terrible leader.

• It does not help develop the main idea.

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CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What is the central idea of this passage?

• Thanks to conservation efforts in Florida, manatee populations have increased.

• If boats are allowed in manatee protection areas, they have to go at a slower rate of speed.

• Manatees are mammals.

• Boating is fun but can be dangerous for wildlife.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

The main, or central, idea of the passage is Thanks to conservation efforts, Florida manatee populations have increased.

How does the detail in bold develop the main idea?

• It highlights a successful conservation strategy.

• It anticipates a flaw in the strategy.

• It does not support the main idea.

• It highlights an ineffective conservation strategy.

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CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which piece of evidence best supports the claim "Pizza parties are educational"?

• “They give students time to relax and socialize during the busy school day.”

• Rosemary Roma adds, “I’ve always believed that I learn more after eating a slice or two of pizza.”

• Pizza parties can even reinforce math concepts—just ask your students to calculate how to divide the slices evenly among the whole class.

• " “My best school memories are of pizza parties,” says mozzarella master Basil Brickoven."

Answer explanation

"Pizza parties can even reinforce math concepts—just ask your students to calculate how to divide the slices evenly among the whole class."

This sentence actually shows one way that pizza parties can be educational: teachers can use the pizza to reinforce math concepts. This is the strongest evidence.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Which evidence from the text best supports the claim that Tilbury Foster is unkind?

• "It was…Tilbury Foster, seventy and a bachelor, reputed to be wealthy and sour and crusty."

• "Saladin had tried to contact him once, by letter, and had not made that mistake again."

• • "Tilbury now wrote to Saladin, saying he should shortly die, and should leave him thirty thousand dollars, cash; not for love, but because money had given him most of his troubles, and he wished to place it where there was good hope that it would continue its malignant work."

  
  

• "Now came great news! Stunning news —joyous news, in fact. It came from a neighboring state, where the family's only surviving relative lived."

Answer explanation

"Tilbury now wrote to Saladin, saying he should shortly die, and should leave him thirty thousand dollars, cash; not for love, but because money had given him most of his troubles, and he wished to place it where there was good hope that it would continue its malignant work."

This is the best choice. This line gives us Tilbury’s words, which clearly express an unkind sentiment: that he hopes to cause problems for others.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which detail from the text best explains how the Silk Road “shaped not only the ancient world, but also our own”?

• "The Silk Road, a system of trade routes that lasted from around 200 B.C.E. to 1453 C.E, extended over 4,000 miles from ancient China to the Mediterranean Sea."

• "The Silk Road allowed people across ancient Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa and Europe to trade goods like silk, tea, spices, cloth, and jade."

• "Having a compass was like having a tiny treasure map that could guide merchants and explorers across the vast, unpredictable terrain of the ancient world."

• "Buddhism, now one of the major religions of East Asia, was introduced to China by Buddhist monks traveling along the Silk Road."

Answer explanation

"Buddhism, now one of the major religions of East Asia, was introduced to China by Buddhist monks traveling along the Silk Road."

This is the best choice. This sentence shows that the Silk Road shaped the ancient world by introducing Buddhism to China. The sentence also says that Buddhism is “now one of the major religions of East Asia,” which shows that the spread of Buddhism via the Silk Road in ancient times affected the current popularity of Buddhism.

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CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2