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Central Idea Practice Quiz

Total questions: 10

Worksheet time: 50mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the central idea of the passage?


Millions of acres of tropical rainforest have been destroyed. Many animals and people lose their homes when the rain forest is cut down. Today, people are destroying the forests so quickly that the animals are unable to adapt. Many of these animals, such as the leopard, need miles and miles of untouched rain forest in order to live. Furthermore, as more of the rainforest is destroyed, the risk of air pollution and loss of oxygen increases.

a)

Leopards are losing their homes

b)

The destruction of the rain forest is harming humans and animals.

c)

The destruction of the rain forest is an interesting subject

d)

Forests provide oxygen for humans and animals

2.

What is the central idea of the passage?


Thomas Edison’s life span is known as “The age of Edison.” If it wasn’t for Thomas Edison, we might not have electric lights, telephones, movie cameras, or computers! Think of all the ways these great products affect our lives today. Edison held over 1,000 patents and received dozens of awards during his lifetime for his inventions and contributions to science.

a)

The light bulb was an important invention

b)

Thomas Edison was an important inventor

c)

Thomas Edison was an excellent student

d)

Creating inventions is a difficult process

3.

What is the central idea of the passage?


Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. Many beautiful three-dimensional creations are made with this art. Starting with only one square of paper, you can fold and fold and fold, until you’ve created amazing models. With practice, you can learn to make abstract designs or recognizable animals such as cranes (a type of bird) or even dinosaurs.

a)

Origami is an interesting and beautiful art form

b)

The art of origami came from Japan

c)

Origami is three-dimensional art

d)

Origami is a good way to show creativity

4.
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:
a)
Gorillas are misunderstood as vicious animals.
b)
Gorillas are mean animals
c)
Gorillas don't like other animals.
5.
"Are you already done?" his father asked. "It seems like you just got in the water." Jacob was finished with his bath in two minutes. He got his body and hair wet, rubbed  shampoo on his hair, washed his body with soap, and rinsed off. He liked fast baths so to have more time to play. In fact, Jacob never took a long bath. To him, the faster the bath, the better.
What is the central idea of the passage?
a)
Jacob is very clean
b)
Jacob never too showers
c)
Jacob likes to take fast baths
6.
School uniforms are far cheaper than the currently popular fashions. Many students work long hours at a paying job instead of doing homework because they feel they have to "keep up appearances." If students wore uniforms, there would be no need for most of them to have jobs that take away from their study time.

This passage is mostly about?
a)
popular fashions being expensive
b)
school uniforms being a good idea.
c)
students working many hours at jobs.
d)
teens enjoying wearing uniforms.
7.
Benjamin Franklin was very interested in electricity.  One day he tried a very dangerous experiment to prove that lightning was electricity.  He attached a key to a kite string and flew the kite during a thunderstorm.  When the lightning hit the kite, sparks flew from the key.  Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning was electricity.
a)
Benjamin Franklin liked to play in the rain.
b)
Benjamin Franklin performed an experiment that proved
lightning was electricity.
 
c)
Benjamin Franklin knew a lot about thunderstorms.
d)
Benjamin Franklin invented a new kind of kite.
8.
For years scientist have wanted to know the spider's secret.  The threads of spider webs are so tiny, yet so strong.  How can these threads be so strong?  Now scientists have found out.  The inside of the spider's thread is soft.  It helps the web stretch without breaking.  The outside of the web is hard and strong.  This paragraph mainly tells:
a)
who makes thread soft
b)
how spiders make strong thread
c)
how scientists make strong thread
d)
why spiders spin webs
9.
Emma desperately wanted the silky baby blue scarf that stared back at her from the shop window. When Mrs. Marple called to ask her to babysit, Emma knew this was her chance to earn the money to buy the scarf. After babysitting, Emma counted out her cash. She had enough to buy the scarf! The next afternoon, she raced to the store and bought the scarf, the perfect gift for her Mom! 
What's the main idea of this passage?
a)
Emma is an excellent babysitter.
b)
Emma babysits regularly for Mrs. Marple.
c)
Babysitting helped Emma buy her Mom the perfect scarf.
d)
Emma was shopping for a gift for her Mom.
10.
What is the Central Idea of the passage?
What's that humming sound?  Could it be hummingbird, the only bird capable of backward flight?  Hummingbirds have many unique flight habits that distinguish them from other birds.  Most birds flap their wings up and down to fly, but the hummingbird moves its wings forward and backward very rapidly in a figure eight pattern.  This allows the hummingbird to hover in position, fly upside down, and move about very rapidly.  And while other birds have to push off with their feet to begin flying, and work their ways up to their top speeds, the hummingbird can both start flying at maximum speed and stop flying instantaneously.  After you've seen a hummingbird in flight, it's unlikely that you'll mistake them for another bird.
a)
Birds and hummingbirds are very different.
b)
Hummingbirds make a humming sound.
c)
Hummingbirds wings fly in figure eight patterns.
d)
The hummingbird flys in a totally unique and unusual way.