Free Printable MAIN IDEA, TOPIC SENTENCE AND SUPPORTING DETAILS

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MAIN IDEA, TOPIC SENTENCE AND SUPPORTING DETAILS

Total questions: 23

Worksheet time: 39mins

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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?

Sometimes people feel sad.

You should do good things for others.

We're not always happy.

There are many ways to make yourself feel better.

Mark wanted to be a great skater. But he didn't want to spend the hours practicing. He wished he could just do the tricks easily. Mark's dream was to have everyone stop and stare when he entered the skate park. He wanted them to say, "Mark is the best skater in the whole world."
What is the main idea?

Mark wants everyone to think he's a great skater without doing the hard work.

Mark practices very hard to become a great skater.

Mark is the best skater at the park.

Mark wants to learn how to skate so he can compete.

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?

Tom finds enough food for his family.

Tom gets pulled out of his boat by a huge fish.

Tom didn't catch anything.

Tom catches a snapping turtle while fishing.

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?

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

Soccer players learn how to dribble.

They learn how to work together as teammates.

Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.

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?

There are many fun things to do at the beach.

It is also fun to look for shells.

Some people simply like to sunbathe.

Going to the beach to swim can be fun.

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?

Mrs. Jones bakes pies.

Mrs. Brown bakes rolls.

Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are bakers

They work at a store called Bake Goods to Go.

What is the main idea of a reading selection?

The supporting ideas in a text that show proof.

What the text is mainly about.

A conclusion statement

A full and complete sentence.

What is the main idea of the following paragraph?

Robots are being used in sumo wrestling contests. Sumo wrestling is a sport that started in Japan. It takes place in a ring. Two players try to score points by holding each other down or pushing each other out of the ring. Robot sumo uses robots instead of humans. The robot that scores the most points wins.

Robots are being used in sumo wrestling contests.

Sumo wrestling is a sport.

Robots hold each other down in sumo wrestling.

Robots that score more points will win.

4. Which of the following is a supporting detail of this paragraph?
Robots are being used in sumo wrestling contests. Sumo wrestling is a sport that started in Japan. It takes place in a ring. Two players try to score points by holding each other down or pushing each other out of the ring. Robot sumo uses robots instead of humans. The robot that scores the most points wins.

Robots are being used in sumo wrestling contests

Robots sumo contests are better than human sumo contests.

Robot sumo uses robots instead of humans.

Watching robot sumo is boring.

10.

What is one supporting details from the text?
Mother gorillas do a lot for their babies. They nurse their babies. They protect them from danger. And they teach the tiny gorillas how to get along with other gorillas.

Mother gorillas do a lot for their babies.

They teach the tiny gorillas how to get along with other gorillas.

Baby gorillas need their mothers a lot.

Mother gorillas prefer to keep their babies safe.

11.

Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.
Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is

Pictures help weather reporters get information out in a fast way

Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short

They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area

12.

Most teenagers and young adults do not know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. It is a big decision. There are a number of things you can do to narrow the choices. For example you can take an interest test, do some research on your own about a career, try volunteer work in the field in which you are interested, or "job-shadow," in which you spend a day with a person who is working in a field that interests you. These are just a few helpful ideas as you begin to choose a career.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Occupational knowledge is paramount when choosing a career.

Teenagers who don’t know what they want to do professionally will be jobless.

Teenagers should work part time so they know what they want to do later as adults.

Adolescents can do many things when thinking about their future line of employment.

13.

What is the purpose of a topic sentence?

To tell the reader the general theme.

To tell the reader the topic and the main idea.

To confuse the reader about the topic of the sentence.

To conclude an argument.

14.

The topic sentence is:

the details that make complicated ideas easier to understand

the purpose of the essay

the main idea of the paragraph

none of the answer choices

15.

Select the supporting detail that doesn't fit.

Topic Sentence:Doing your homework has many benefits.

Doing your homework helps you remember the material better.

Those who complete their homework often do better on the test.

When you have done your homework, it makes it easier to participate in class.

Homework takes up your precious after school time.

16.

First, I made flyers describing my service and prices. Mom and I delivered them to all the houses in our neighborhood. A few days later my neighbors dog was my first customer. The owner thought I did such a nice job that he told all his friends. I've been in business almost a year and I'm so busy. Every Saturday I have about seven dog washing appointments. I hope to save enough money to buy a pet store some day. What would be a good topic sentence for this paragraph?

My Own business

Last summer I started my dog washing business.

Mom helped me with my business.

I have lots of dogs to wash on Saturday.

17.

Which sentence is most likely the topic sentence of the paragraph?

The best trip my family ever took was to New Orleans, Louisiana. We drove there in two days. I didn't think it would be very interesting, but I was wrong. We saw the Mississippi River, rode a horse carriage in the French Quarter, and visited a cemetery where everyone was buried above the ground. I liked the food best, especially the New Orleans doughnuts called beignets.

I didn't think it would be very interesting, but I was wrong.

We drove there in two days.

The best trip my family ever took was to New Orleans, Louisiana.

I liked the food best, especially the New Orleans doughnuts called beignets.

18.

1. Which supporting detail best supports this topic sentence?

It takes a lot of hard work to become a professional athlete.

The pros live the good life.

People like professional football players make a lot of money.

Professional athletes spend countless hours practicing their sports.

All of us can be professional athletes.

19.

1. Danger often appears in the most unexpected places. People usually think of the bathtub as a safe, quiet place. But more accidents occur there than anywhere else in the home. Slips or falls that occur while entering and leaving the tub injure thousands of people every year. Most people think of a baker as having a safe and pleasant job; however, rolling, kneading, and pounding dough causes clouds of flour dust, which can enter the lungs and disable the baker.

Which of the following is NOT a supporting detail?

Some activities are more dangerous than they look

Thousands of people are hurt in tub accidents every year

People think bakers have a safe job

Bakers can be disable by flour in their lungs

20.

Identify the supporting detail which is irrelevant to the topic sentence.
Topic Sentence: One benefit of internet for learning is its easy access of information.

It can help students to save time to search for certain information related to their studies using the internet compared to searching it in books in the library.

Internet brings a lot of benefits not only to the students but also the teachers in the teaching and learning process.

Apart from searching for specific information about their studies from either yahoo or google, students can also watch a video presentation on the topic from Youtube.

The specific information that students wish to find could be obtained in a mere seconds compared to long minutes of browsing through book shelves then going into the pages after pages of the books.

21.

Identify the supporting detail which is irrelevant to the topic sentence.
Topic Sentence: One challenge of studying overseas is to adapt to the food eaten in the foreign land.

The students could face difficulties in getting used to the type of food eaten by the locals and also the food sold there.

If the students are not used to eating hot and spicy food, studying in Asian countries could pose a challenge to their digestive system.

On the other hand, Asian students who study in western countries could face difficulty in adapting to the local menus which to their palate the food is bland.

Different people from different parts of the world prepare or cook their foods differently and according to their preferences.

22.

Identify the supporting detail which is irrelevant to the topic sentence.
Topic Sentence: The importance of English for my future career is to secure my dream job which is a neurosurgeon

I need to be able to speak English fluently so that i could pass the job interview excellently.

Being a neurosurgeon I need a strong command of the English language in order to hold a successful professional discussions with other fellow surgeons both locally or abroad.

English is an important international language whereby, it is spoken by millions of people in the world.

Besides, having a strong command of the English language would make people have more confidence in my ability as a neurosurgeon because that would eliminate misinterpretation of medical information I read in medical journals written in English.

23.

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MAIN IDEA, TOPIC SENTENCE AND SUPPORTING DETAILS

Total questions: 23

Worksheet time: 39mins

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