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Central Idea

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Who or what a text is about is called

a)

Central Idea

b)

Objective Summary

c)

Supporting Details

d)

Topic

2.

During World War I, many soldiers died because their wounds became infected. Antibiotics had not been discovered at that time. During World War II, many more soldiers died while in combat. Antibiotics are used to treat infections because they kill bacteria in the body. They are easily the most widely prescribed drug in the world.


What is the TOPIC of the above paragraph?

a)

Bacteria

b)

World War I

c)

Soldiers

d)

Antibiotics

3.

What is the CENTRAL IDEA of a nonfiction text?

a)

What the text is MOSTLY about.

b)

A full paragraph SUMMARY of a text.

c)

The type of CONFLICT used throughout a text.

d)

The universal truth, moral lesson, or message that the author intends for the audience.

4.

Which text feature can give you clues about the central idea?

a)

Title

b)

Headings

c)

Pictures

d)

All of these

5.

The CENTRAL IDEA of a nonfiction text needs to always be supported with...

a)

Supporting details

b)

The reader's opinion

c)

Reliable authors

d)

Concluding sentences

6.

What is the best question to ask yourself when you are trying to find the central idea of a text?

a)

Who is the main character?

b)

What is the significance of the main event?

c)

What is one important detail?

d)

What point is the author trying to make?

7.

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 a controversial subject

d)

Forests provide oxygen for humans and animals

8.

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 has become an essential invention

b)

Thomas Edison's inventions still impact society today

c)

Thomas Edison worked until he perfected his inventions

d)

The process of inventing is never-ending

9.

What is the central idea of the passage?


The law was not exactly fair in Europe during the Middle Ages. Back then, you could blame someone in your town for committing a crime. The “criminal” could then challenge you to a fight to prove his guilt or innocence. If you lost the fight, you were charged as a liar and the criminal was believed to be innocent. If you won, the criminal was believed to be guilty.

a)

Laws of the Middle Ages were unfair.

b)

Fighting was a good way to determine guilt or innocence during the Middle Ages.

c)

Most people lied about crime in the Middle Ages.

d)

Individuals that were innocent of crimes often won the fighting challenges.

10.

What is the central idea of the passage?


In 1969, Apollo 11’s successful landing on the moon was seen on TV all around the world. At last, men had walked on the moon for the first time ever! Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin became famous American heroes. This mission was a great achievement for the U.S. space program, and led to six more Apollo flights in the years to come. The mission's success also led to further deep space explorations by the United States and other countries around the world.

a)

Apollo 11’s landing was an important moment in history

b)

Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin are heroes

c)

People were surprised about Apollo 11's success

d)

Millions watched the Apollo 11 moon landing

11.

What is another word for SUPPORTING DETAILS used to identify the CENTRAL IDEA of a text?

a)

Text Evidence

b)

Type of Conflict

c)

Climax

d)

Context Clues

12.

Choose ALL that apply: Which of the following are TIPS that students can follow to determine the CENTRAL IDEA of a NONFICTION text?

a)

Ask yourself: What is this text mostly about?

b)

Look for: Words, terms, and details that are repeated throughout.

c)

Examine clues in: The title, photographs, captions, and subheadings

d)

Re-read: The beginning sentences of paragraphs for ideas introduced.

13.

What is the central idea of the passage?


In training to be a knight, a person was expected to study hard and learn good manners. They were taught to play musical instruments, sing, and recite poetry. They also studied reading, writing, geometry, and strategy games. Another knight would then teach the person to shoot a bow and arrow, fight with a sword, and ride a horse. To say the least, knights had a well-rounded education.

a)

Knights learned a variety of subjects while training

b)

Knights were very talented individuals

c)

Knights were very hard working

d)

Sword fighting was the most important subject a knight learned

14.

What is the central idea of the passage?


Jackie Robinson did something nobody had ever done before. He was not only a three-sport athlete at UCLA. He was the first African-American to play on a Major league baseball team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson had to deal with racism all over the country. He was treated very poorly by the by other players and fans in the stadiums he visited. But, whenever things got difficult, his courage and determination kept him going. Today his number 42 is retired on every team in major league baseball, and he is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

a)

Jackie Robinson is in the Baseball Hall of Fame

b)

Jackie Robinson played many different sports

c)

Jackie Robinson is an important figure in American History

d)

Jackie Robinson played for the Brooklyn Dodgers

15.

What is the central idea of the passage?


Before the Industrial Revolution, most cloth was hand-made in people’s homes. They used spinning wheels and weaving looms to make their own clothes. This took a lot of time and hard work! But during the Industrial Revolution, machines were built that made great quantities of cloth very quickly. Before long, machines were built to make other products, such as paper and even cars! This saved people much time and energy.

a)

The Industrial Revolution allowed goods to be made faster and easier

b)

Cloth was difficult to make before machines

c)

The Industrial Revolution helped the world prosper

d)

Spinning wheels were used to make cloth before machines

16.

Most people want to think that they are in control of their pets. However, a study by Karen McComb at the University of Sussex found that cat owners are controlled by their cats. Cat owners probably won’t have too much trouble believing this. Cats make a fairly loud noise by mixing a purr with a cry. The sound seems to be less annoying to humans than straight meowing. Using this sound, cats tell humans when they want to eat and when they want the door opened. The purr part of the sound keeps humans from becoming too annoyed, so the cat gets exactly what he or she wants.


Which sentence from the paragraph SUPPORTS the central idea that CATS HAVE A SMART WAY OF GETTING WHAT THEY WANT?

a)

"Most people want to think that they are in control of their pets."

b)

"Cat owners probably won't have too much trouble believing this."

c)

"The purr part of the sound keeps humans from becoming too annoyed."

d)

"Cats make a fairly loud noise by mixing a purr with a cry."

17.

What is the central idea of the passage?


A penny for your thoughts? If it's a 1943 copper penny, it could be worth as much as fifty thousand dollars. In 1943, most pennies were made out of steel since copper was needed for World War II, so the 1943 copper penny is ultra-rare. Another rarity is the 1955 double die penny. These pennies were mistakenly double stamped, so they have overlapping dates and letters. If it's uncirculated, it'd easily fetch $25,000 at an auction. Now that's a pretty penny.

a)

The 1943 penny is worth 50 thousand dollars.

b)

the 1943 penny is more rare than the 1955 penny.

c)

Some pennies are rare and worth a lot of money.

d)

None of these options

18.

For hopeful professional football players, the prospect of being drafted can seem overwhelming because the odds are often against them. One way for players to stand out is to be in top physical condition. Potential football players have to be able to show coaches their power and abilities. Athletes have to show how strong and fast they are and should be able to show coaches and scouts the ways they can take advantage of their size. Opportunities for athletes to showcase their abilities include the 40-yard dash and the vertical jump. The vertical jump requires players to jump from a standing position and some top athletes can jump over 40 inches.


What is the central idea of this passage?

a)

It is difficult to become a professional football player.

b)

The vertical jump is a challenging task that involves jumping after standing still.

c)

Hopeful football players have to be in peak physical shape.

19.

For hopeful professional football players, the prospect of being drafted can seem overwhelming because the odds are often against them. One way for players to stand out is to be in top physical condition. Potential football players have to be able to show coaches their power and abilities. Athletes have to show how strong and fast they are and should be able to show coaches and scouts the ways they can take advantage of their size. Opportunities for athletes to showcase their abilities include the 40-yard dash and the vertical jump. The vertical jump requires players to jump from a standing position and some top athletes can jump over 40 inches.


What inference can be made about football players from this passage?

a)

Many hopeful athletes do not get drafted to play football.

b)

The vertical jump is a requirement.

c)

The 40-yard dash is a short race.

20.

What is the central idea if this passage?


Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or are bucked off of bulls at riding competitions, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business.

a)

Being a clown isn't all fun and games.

b)

Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.

c)

Rodeos are exciting.

d)

Clowns are good at riding bulls.