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Main Idea Review

Total questions: 17

Worksheet time: 2hrs 37mins

Name

Class

Date

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.

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.

IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA

Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or bulls buck them off, 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. Of course, this is a very dangerous thing to do. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business.

Sometimes clowns can mean serious bussiness.

Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.

Cowboys and Rodeo Clowns are constantly in danger.

A Rodeo bull's attention is easily caught by Rodeo clowns.

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?

Amanda was lazy and a dreamer

Amanda couldn't write.

Amanda wants to be a writer and gets an idea for a story.

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.

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.

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.

One the most popular musical instruments is the piano. In the traditional musical instrument classification system of string, woodwind, percussion and brass, the piano falls into two categories. It is considered a string instrument because the sound comes from the strings inside the piano. It is also considered a percussion instrument, since the player strikes the keyboard, which signals an internal hammer to strike the strings.
What is the author main point?

The piano is both a string and percussion instrument.

The piano is a string instrument.

The piano is a popular instrument.

The strings of a piano makes the sound.

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?

The Constitution has been amended many times.

Women didn’t vote until 1920 but men could vote since the founding of the country

Today, almost anyone can vote.

The Constitution has been amended several times to grant more citizens the right to vote.

Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal servants. They will look and behave much like real humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers and they will be able to respond in kind! Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier.
What is this selection mainly about?

Someday we will have robots that will be our personal servants.

We will be able to talk to robots and they will be able to respond.

Robots will be untiring workers.

Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience.

10.

Many people have not heard giraffes make noises. Giraffes do not use sounds to “talk” with each other. When hurt, giraffes make a low moo, something like a cow. When frightened, they make a short, high sound.
What is the main idea?

Giraffes do make noises

Giraffes talk all the time.

Cows and giraffes talk to each other.

Lots of people have heard giraffes talk.

11.

Floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand and debris behind. It can take months to clean up after a flood.
What is the main idea?

Floods can cause a lot of damage.

Floods cause mudslides.

Floods damage houses and roads.

12.

Sir Isaac Newton was contemplating the universe in his garden one day in 1665 when he noticed an apple fall from a tree. Newton wondered to himself, “Why should the apple always fall to the ground? Why does it not go sideways or upwards but directly toward the Earth’s center?” After much contemplation Newton concluded that objects are pulled to the Earth through a force that he called gravity, which means heaviness in Latin. On July 5^th, 1687 Newton formally expressed his law of universal gravitation in series of books called The Principia.

What would be a good title for this passage?

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away!

Universal Oddities.

Look out below!

What Newton Knew.

13.

Corn was first grown by Native Americans. They showed the pilgrims how to grow corn as food. At one time, corn was used as money by pioneers. Corn is used as feed for farm animals. People also eat it as a vegetable. Oil, starch, and sugar can be made from corn. Corn is also important in industry. Medicine, paper, fertilizer, and glue can be made from corn and corn products.

Choose an appropriate topic sentence for this paragraph.

Native Americans were the first to grow corn.

Corn was used as money.

Many kinds of animals eat corn.

Do you know how important corn is?

14.

North Carolina police may use germs to catch bank thieves. Important papers can be sprayed with harmless germs that will stick to the hands of anyone who touches the paper. If a dishonest employee steals the papers, things that he or she touches later will have the germs on them. A scientist can show that the person leaving the germs got them when stealing the treated papers.

What is this story mainly about?

How some germs are harmless to people

How dishonest employees steal important papers

How police use germs to solve crimes

How important papers are treated

15.

How long should a topic be?

One sentence

2-5 Words

1-3 Words

2-5 Sentences

16.

How long should a main idea be?

One sentence

2-5 Words

1-3 Words

2-5 Sentences

17.

How many supporting details should there be?

One sentence

2-5 Words

1-3 Words

2-5 Sentences

100 %

Main Idea Review

Total questions: 17

Worksheet time: 2hrs 37mins

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