Chickadee Passage Main Idea

What is the main idea of the passage?

• The main idea is the central point of the passage.

• The main idea is the title of the passage.

• The main idea is the first sentence of the passage.

• The main idea is the last word of the passage.

How does the author organize the ideas in “How the Chickadee Weathers the Winter”?

• She describes how cold winter weather causes chickadees to grow more feathers.

• She compares how chickadees behave in the winter with the way other birds behave.

• She tells personal stories of chickadees she has seen in the wild during winter.

• She presents the problem of winter weather and tells how chickadees solve the problem.

The following question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.

• C) “Underneath are soft fluffy feathers called down. Down does the same job as the stuffing in a winter jacket.”

• D) “During the winter, the chickadee’s body produces more feathers for warmth. On a very cold day, you may see a chickadee fluffing up its feathers.”

• B) “During cold spells, chickadees nest together at night to keep warm. Sometimes as many as twenty will huddle together in a hole in a tree.”

• A) “The temperature has fallen below zero. The car won’t start, water pipes are frozen, and schools are closed.”

• E) “But the chickadee’s feet don’t have feathers. How can the chickadee keep its body warm with those bare feet out in the cold?”

Which detail from “How the Chickadee Weathers the Winter” supports the idea that readers should fill their bird feeders in the winter?

• A) A chickadee weighs less than a chocolate bar, but it flies about busily.

• B) To survive during the winter, the chickadee has to eat constantly.

• C) To keep from wasting energy, the chickadee learns to live with cold feet.

• D) The next time you’re stuck indoors on a cold day, admire the chickadees.

Read the following paragraph from the passage. “During the winter, the chickadee’s body produces more feathers for warmth. On a very cold day, you may see a chickadee fluffing up its feathers. This creates more space between the feathers to trap air that insulates the body.” (paragraph 5) Which idea do the details in this paragraph support?

• A) Winter can be a very difficult time for chickadees.

• B) Chickadees have fewer feathers in warmer months.

• C) Chickadees use their feathers to defend themselves.

• D) Air travels easily through the chickadees’ feathers.

What is the meaning of the word endure as it is used in this sentence?

• live through

• celebrate

• fight for

• ignore

The following question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B. Part B Select one sentence that supports the answer in Part A.

• A. "The temperature has fallen below zero."

• B. "If you went outside without winter clothes, you’d freeze before long."

• C. "Yet the chickadee, a tiny bird that weighs less than a chocolate bar, flies about busily."

• D. "The chickadee has to eat constantly during the winter to survive."