WorksheetsMain Idea
Total questions: 30
Worksheet time: 5hrs 0mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Winnie the Pooh loves to eat honey. He likes it because it is sweet. Pooh looks for honey in the woods. He climbs trees to get it. He will eat the honey he finds.
a)
Pooh likes honey.
b)
Pooh likes to eat candy.
c)
Pooh likes to catch bees.
2.
Growing vegetables can be fun. Ethan grew cabbage and tomatoes in his garden. Ethan took good care of the plants in his garden. The best part was eating them.
a)
Vegatables are hard to grow.
b)
You must eat vegetables.
c)
Ethan grew two kinds of vegetables.
3.
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
4.
The main idea is supported by what?
a)
concluding sentences
b)
details
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.
Fifth grade is a good time to show additional responsibility. Fifth graders could show additional responsibility by getting a cell phone. As fifth graders, we are starting to stay after school for clubs or sports, and when we go into middle school, we will do more of this. With this added responsibility after school, we need a way to get in touch with our parents. Also, fifth graders are old enough to understand how to use a cell phone responsibility. A fifth grader understands that a phone is not just for playing games and listening to music. A fifth grader can show responsibility by not using all of the phone minutes or data on the phone for fun. Parents could help fifth graders set time limits for games and music. Finally, a phone is an expensive item, and you have to take care of it. A fifth grader can show responsibility by keeping up with the phone and not losing it.
Which of the following would best support the main idea if added to the paragraph?
a)
A phone could also be used to text friends and family members.
b)
It takes responsibility not to break the rules that parents set for how to use the phone.
c)
If there is an emergency at school, a cell phone would be useful.
7.
What at is the main idea of this paragraph?
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.
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.
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.
8.
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?
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.
9.
Tom started to reel in his line. The fish tugged and pulled hard. Judging by the weight of his catch, this fish could feed his family for three days. Tom struggled to stay in the boat and not be pulled over the side. Finally his catch came into view. He had snagged a snapping turtle!
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
a)
Tom finds enough food for his family.
b)
Tom gets pulled out of his boat by a huge fish.
c)
Tom didn't catch anything.
d)
Tom catches a snapping turtle while fishing.
10.
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?
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.
11.
The earth's surface is constantly changing. All over the world everyday there are earthquakes, floods and volcanoes that quickly change our world. Some changes are too small to see. Others cause tremendous damage and costs millions of dollars to clean up.
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
a)
It is expensive to clean up the damage
b)
Sometimes we can't see the changes.
c)
The Earth's surface is always changing.
12.
Supporting details....
a)
are pointless when determining the central idea
b)
just give more information
c)
do not support the central idea
d)
are evidence and prove the central idea
13.
Benjamin Franklin invented many things that made life easier in the late 1700’s. He invented the lightning rod that saved many homes from fires. He also invented the Franklin stove. The stove could heat a room better than a fireplace and saved people a lot of fuel. He also invented a special kind of glasses called bifocals. This new kind of glasses helped people to read better.
a)
Benjamin Franklin thought reading was important.
b)
Benjamin Franklin was not afraid of fire.
c)
Benjamin Franklin was a great inventor.
d)
A Franklin stove can heat a whole room.
14.
Soccer is known in some countries as football. It is a popular sport across the world, with over 200 countries playing the sport. It is estimated that over 250 million people, both men and women, play soccer. The sport has been part of the Olympic games from 1900 to 1928 and from 1936 to today.
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
a)
Soccer is important at the Olympics.
b)
Soccer is a worldwide sport.
c)
Soccer is also called football.
d)
Soccer is played by men and women.
15.
Amanda sat on a chair in her room. She looked out the window at a tree, which was covered with snow. She held a pencil in her hand and a pad of writing paper in her lap. She began to dream of a story she could write. Suddenly, a bird flew onto a snow-covered branch of the tree. The bird’s head was red, and its feather were black with white tips. Amanda thought, “What if the bird were magic?” Now she had an idea for her first story.
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
a)
Amanda was lazy and a dreamer
b)
Amanda couldn't write.
c)
Amanda wants to be a writer and gets an idea for a story.
16.
The Constitution of the U.S. has been amended several times to allow more citizens the right to vote. The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, extended voting rights to former slaves. The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, gave women the right to vote. In 1971, the 26th Amendment granted voting rights to those 18 years and older, changing the requirement that voters must be 21 years old.
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
a)
The Constitution has been amended many times.
b)
Women didn’t vote until 1920 but men could vote since the founding of the country
c)
Today, almost anyone can vote.
d)
The Constitution has been amended several times to grant more citizens the right to vote.
17.
Hand sanitizers can be a good substitute for washing your hands when soap and water are not available. To kill germs, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Pour about a dimesized drop of hand sanitizer on your hands. Then, rub your hands together for 3o seconds to help the hand sanitizer begin its work.
a)
How to use hand sanitizer
b)
How germs are spread in hospitals
c)
Where to buy hand sanitizers
18.
Do you ever wonder what makes gum so chewy? Gum has been around for about 3,000 years. Until the 1940’s, gum was made out of chicle, a type of tree sap. Flavorings were added during the 1860’s to make gum taste better. Now, gum makers use a soft, chewy, and edible type of rubber-like substance to make gum.
a)
The different flavors of gum
b)
Types of tree sap
c)
What gum is made of
19.
Students sat in the cafeteria talking loudly. It was lunch time at Green Elementary, and the lunch room was full. The noise and the smell of grilled cheese filled the air. In the corner sat Rudy and Jacob. They were making their daily lunch trades.
"I'll give you my cheese crackers for your pretzels," said Jacob.
"Okay, I'll give you my vanilla pudding for your sugar cookies," said Rudy.
"Deal!" said Jacob.
What is the main idea or main event of the passage?
"I'll give you my cheese crackers for your pretzels," said Jacob.
"Okay, I'll give you my vanilla pudding for your sugar cookies," said Rudy.
"Deal!" said Jacob.
What is the main idea or main event of the passage?
a)
Jacob and Rudy trade food at lunch
b)
Rudy wanted Jacob's sugar cookies
c)
Jacob had cheese crackers and wanted pretzels
d)
Students were talking loudly during lunch at Green Elementary
20.
The main idea does not need supporting details.
a)
True
b)
False
21.
Seated on his throne, King Midas wore a golden crown. He had golden rings on each finger and held a golden scepter. His vest was embroidered with golden thread and even his shoes had golden ornaments. He had a golden box filled with gold coins. He named his daughter Marigold.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
a)
King Midas loved gold.
b)
King Midas sold lots of gold.
c)
King Midas had a heart of gold.
d)
King Midas hated gold.
22.
Benjamin Franklin loved to write. When he was twenty-two, he set up his own printing shop and started a newspaper. He also printed a book called Poor Richard’s Almanac. It had funny stories, information about the weather, and wise sayings.
a)
Benjamin Franklin loved to write stories and books.
b)
Benjamin Franklin worked very hard when he was young.
c)
Benjamin Franklin knew a lot about the weather.
d)
Benjamin Franklin was very poor.
23.
Main Idea:
Harry Houdini became a famous magician for his escapes from impossible traps.
What supporting detail would go with this main idea?
Harry Houdini became a famous magician for his escapes from impossible traps.
What supporting detail would go with this main idea?
a)
Houdini liked to travel to England to perform his magic tricks.
b)
Houdini was a very mysterious man.
c)
Houdini liked to do tricks with water.
d)
Houdini once escaped a straightjacket whilesuspended high in the air.
24.
Main Idea:
Frogs are amazing jumpers.
What supporting detail would go with this main idea?
Frogs are amazing jumpers.
What supporting detail would go with this main idea?
a)
Frogs use their tongue to catch flies.
b)
A tadpole is the name of a young frog.
c)
Frogs have long, powerful legs which help them leaplong distances.
d)
The Fire-belly Toad has slightly warty skin.
25.
Main Idea:
Chocolate is a very popular gift to give during the holidays.
What supporting detail would go with this main idea?
Chocolate is a very popular gift to give during the holidays.
What supporting detail would go with this main idea?
a)
On Valentine’s Day, heart shaped boxes filled with chocolate are given to loved ones.
b)
Hot chocolate is made with warm chocolate and milk.
c)
Most of the world’s cocoa beans come from Africa.
d)
Chocolate is a popular flavor of ice cream.
26.
Main Idea:
Octopuses have many different ways to hide themselves from predators.
What supporting detail would go with this main idea?
Octopuses have many different ways to hide themselves from predators.
What supporting detail would go with this main idea?
a)
Octopuses have two eyes and four pairs of arms.
b)
Octopuses like to live in coral reefs.
c)
Octopuses use camouflage to disguise themselves.
d)
Octopuses move about by crawling or swimming.
27.
Main Idea:
Archaeologists study the past through artifacts that they discover.
What supporting detail would go with this main idea?
Archaeologists study the past through artifacts that they discover.
What supporting detail would go with this main idea?
a)
Archaeologists work long hard hours in the sun.
b)
The discovery of stone tools gave archaeologists cluesabout how people lived in the past.
c)
Archaeologists dig in places around the world.
d)
Indiana Jones was an archaeologist.
28.
Main Idea:
There are many famous skateboarders in the United States.
What supporting detail would NOT go with this main idea?
There are many famous skateboarders in the United States.
What supporting detail would NOT go with this main idea?
a)
Tony Hawk became famous for his half pipe tricks.
b)
Shaun White is a professional skateboarder and snowboarder.
c)
With his own television show, Ryan Sheckler is the youngest skateboarder on the pro-circuit.
d)
The trick called the “Ollie” was created in the 1970’s.
29.
Main Idea:
To scuba dive you need a lot of special equipment.
What supporting detail would NOT go with this main idea?
To scuba dive you need a lot of special equipment.
What supporting detail would NOT go with this main idea?
a)
Scuba divers prefer the waters of the Caribbean.
b)
A mask is used to help the scuba diver see things underwater.
c)
A scuba diver uses an oxygen tank to breathe under water.
d)
Flippers make swimming in the ocean much easier.
30.
Main Idea:
One type animal that is a nocturnal hunter is a cat.
What supporting detail would NOT go with this main idea?
One type animal that is a nocturnal hunter is a cat.
What supporting detail would NOT go with this main idea?
a)
At night cats roam the streets looking for small rodents.
b)
Cats will wait in trees when it’s dark, and pounce on their prey.
c)
To clean themselves, cats use their tongue as a brush.
d)
Cats will hide in the shadows of a bush while stalking their midnight snack.
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