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Worksheets

Finding Main Ideas

Total questions: 10

Worksheet time: 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
There are many fun things to do at the beach.  Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach.  Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed.  Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun.  It is also fun to look for shells.  Some people simply like to sunbathe.
What is the main idea?
a)
There are many fun things to do at the beach.
b)
It is also fun to look for shells.
c)
Some people simply like to sunbathe.
d)
Going to the beach to swim can be fun.
2.

Soccer players learn how to dribble and pass the ball. They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score. Most importantly, soccer players learn how to work together with their teammates. Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.

What is the main idea?

a)

They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score.

b)

Soccer players learn how to dribble.

c)

They learn how to work together as teammates.

d)

Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.

3.
John and Matt want to be firemen.  They want to ride on the big fire truck.  John wants to climb ladders and rescue people from fires.  Matt wants to hold the big hose and spray water on the fires to put them out.
What is the main idea?
a)
John wants to climb a ladder.
b)
John and Matt want to be firemen
c)
Matt wants to hold a fire hose.
d)
They want to ride on the big fire truck.
4.

Some students wore their T-shirts backward. They took a test before they studied the lesson. Dessert was served first instead of last. They tried to walk home backward, but they bumped into each other and fell down. The students had a fun backward day.

What is the main idea?

a)

Dessert is supposed to come last.

b)

The students had a fun backward day.

c)

It is hard to do things backward.

d)

Some students wore their T-shirts backward.

5.
If you are feeling sad, you can make yourself feel better by doing a few simple things. You can take a walk (or get another form of exercise), you can talk to a friend, or you can write down your feelings. Writing down the good things in your life will help too. Doing something good for someone else will also help you feel better. If you still feel a little sad, act happy. It works like magic to make you feel better!
What is the main idea?
a)
Sometimes people feel sad.
b)
You should do good things for others.
c)
We're not always happy.
d)
There are many ways to make yourself feel better. 
6.

Lisa and Angel are twins. They look alike. They talk alike. Sometimes they dress alike. People think Lisa is Angel. People think Angel is Lisa. The two girls think it is funny to have people mistakenly call their names.

a)

Lisa and Angel are alike in many ways.

b)

Lisa is older than Angel.

c)

Angel is bigger than Lisa.

d)

Lisa and Angel like to play together.

7.

There are several ways to determine if a snake is poisonous or not. First, poisonous snakes usually have triangular shaped heads while nonpoisonous snakes have rounded heads. Second, poisonous snakes have pupils that look like slits. Nonpoisonous snakes have pupils that are rounder. Finally, the snouts of poisonous snakes are sometimes upturned, while nonpoisonous snakes have rounded snouts.


What is the main idea of this paragraph?

a)

Where snakes live

b)

How to tell if a snake is poisonous or not

c)

How poisonous snakes smell

d)

How to handle poisonous snakes

8.

There are several ways to tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile. Crocodiles are bigger than alligators and have pointed snouts. Alligators have wide snouts. Wild crocodiles are found all over the world, but wild alligators are only found in the United States and China. Another way to tell the difference is to look at their mouths. When a crocodile’s mouth is closed, the fourth tooth sticks out of its mouth.

a)

Where crocodiles live

b)

Differences between crocodiles and alligators

c)

Dangers of crocodiles and alligators

d)

How to handle crocodiles and alligators

9.

To kill germs, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. First, pour about a dimesized drop of hand sanitizer on your hands. Then, rub your hands together for 3o seconds to help the hand sanitizer kills all the germs. Finally, just wait for your hands to dry.

a)

How to use hand sanitizers

b)

How germs are spread in hospitals

c)

Where to buy hand sanitizers

d)

We have to use hand sanitizers with alcohol to kill the germs.

10.

Sharks can lose up to 30,000 teeth in their lifetime. Sharks have teeth arranged in rows inside their mouths. These teeth do not have roots like human teeth do, so they fall out easily. When a shark takes a powerful bite into its food, several teeth are lost. When these teeth are lost, new ones push forward from the back rows to replace them. Luckily, sharks continually grow new teeth to replace the thousands they lose.

a)

What shark teeth look like

b)

Sharks lose many teeth over their lifetime.

c)

Sharks are carnivorous predators.

d)

Sharks grow new teeth to replace the ones they lose.