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Main Idea

Total questions: 21

Worksheet time: 42mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What does the MAIN IDEA of a story tell the reader?

a)

The most important idea about a topic or a story.

b)

The conflict of the story

2.

One dinosaur had a brain that weighed about as much as three pencils. Its body weighed ten tons and was over twenty feet in length. As you can guess, this dinosaur did not think too clearly. It wasn't the world's brightest dinosaur! What is the main idea of this paragraph?

a)

How big one dinosaur was

b)

What one dinosaur's brain was like

3.

Look at this book cover, what do you think the main topic will be?

a)

cars, trains, planes

b)

barbie dolls

4.

Now look at this book cover, what might one of your key details be?

a)

dolphins live in the ocean

b)

2nd graders take a field trip to the YMCA

5.

What is the main idea of this passage?

It was backwards day at school. The students had to do things backwards. Some wore their t-shirts backwards. Dessert was served first at lunch. They turned their papers upside down to write. They tried to write backwards.

a)

Dessert comes after lunch.

b)

The students had backwards day at school.

6.

Not all animals that live in the water are fish. Frogs and tadpoles, for example, spend part of their lives in water. They are amphibians, not true fish. Whales and seals are warm-blooded mammals. Some snakes live partly in water too. What is the main idea?

a)

Which animals live in water

b)

Why whales live in water

7.

There are about 13,000 wild horses in our country. Most are in the high lands of the Southwest. The horses find great difficulty in getting food during the winter months. Snow covers the grass and small bushes that they feed on. Their numbers grow smaller each year. What is the main idea?

a)

What is happening to our wild horses

b)

Why grass and bushes can't be seen

8.

An octopus isn't fast enough to swim after a fish. The octopus must wait for a fish to swim by. When the fish comes within reach, the octopus whips out his long arm to grasp it. Then the octopus has a tasty meal. What is the main idea?

a)

How much fish an octopus eats

b)

How an octopus gets its food

9.

Mary has a new pet. Her pet is a baby kitten. It is soft and cuddly. The kitten likes to sleep a lot. Mary put a soft blanket in a box for its bed. Mary plays with her kitten when it is awake. She never forgets to feed her kitten.

What is the main idea?

a)

Mary’s new pet is a kitten.

b)

Mary want a new pet.

10.
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.
11.
Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.  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.
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.
12.
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.
13.
Jenny visited her grandmother in the hospital.  She saw how kind and helpful the nurses were to her grandmother.  Now she wants to be a nurse when she grows up.  She wants to help sick people get well. 
What is the main idea?
a)
Jenny got sick.
b)
Jenny wants to be a nurse.
c)
Her grandmother was in the hospital.
d)
Jenny was glad the nurses were being kind to her grandmother.
14.
Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are bakers.  They work at a store called Bake Goods to Go.  Mrs. Jones works nights.  She bakes cakes, cookies, and pies.  Mrs. Brown works in the daytime.  She bakes bread and rolls.  Both Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are very good bakers.
What is the main idea?
a)
Mrs. Jones bakes pies.
b)
Mrs. Brown bakes rolls.
c)
Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are bakers
d)
They work at a store called Bake Goods to Go.
15.
What is the main idea?
bananas, oranges, lemons, apples
a)
yellow things
b)
fruit
c)
my favorite foods
d)
sports
16.
What is the main idea?
green, blue, purple, red
a)
colors
b)
things
c)
animals
d)
people
17.
What is the main idea?
pants, shirt, socks, shoes
a)
animals
b)
clothes
c)
games
d)
colors
18.
What is the main idea?
book, pencil, eraser, paper
a)
animals
b)
colors
c)
playground
d)
School supplies
19.
What is the main idea?
zebra, lion, monkey, turtle
a)
school supplies
b)
animals
c)
games
d)
verbs
20.
What is the main idea?
water, juice, tea, soda
a)
food
b)
animals
c)
drinks
d)
colors
21.

What is the main idea of this picture?

a)

sports equipment

b)

fruit

c)

insects

d)

who or what the story is about