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Main Idea and Details Review

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 45mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The __________ is determined by the reader after reading the passage.

a)

topic

b)

topic sentence

c)

main idea

d)

supporting details

2.

The __________ is a statement that tells what the passage is mostly about.

a)

topic

b)

topic sentence

c)

main idea

d)

supporting details

3.

Find the central 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 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.

4.

“The rain forest is home to many creatures. Monkeys, toucans and macaws live in the rain forest. Butterflies and anteaters also live in the rain forest.”

What is the central idea?

a)

Sloths and tapirs are other creatures that live in the rain forest.

b)

The rain forest is home to many creatures.

c)

Monkeys, toucans and macaws live in the rain forest.

5.

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 flies in a totally unique and unusual way.

6.

Which sentence is a supporting detail that you should get enough sleep?

a)

Many people sleep later on the weekends.

b)

Caffeine keeps some people awake at night.

c)

Dark rooms are best for sleeping.

d)

Seven to nine hours keeps you refreshed the next day.

7.
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?
a)
Mark wants everyone to think he's a great skater without doing the hard work.
b)
Mark practices very hard to become a great skater.
c)
Mark is the best skater at the park.
d)
Mark wants to learn how to skate so he can compete.
8.
Elephants use their trunks for many things. Elephants use their trunks to smell. In fact, elephants can smell better than bloodhounds. Baby elephants sometimes suck their trunks to soothe themselves the way human babies suck their thumbs. Elephants do not drink with their trunks. They use their trunks to suck up water and then pour it in their mouths. Elephants also greet each other with their trunks the way humans do by shaking hands. What is the main idea?
a)
 How much water elephants drink
b)
Where elephants live
c)
How elephant use their trunks
9.

The rain began early in the morning. It fell as hard drops, one after another. The sky was full of dark purple clouds. Thunder began as a soft rumble and then became louder and louder. Lightning crashed every few minutes, making the sky a brilliant white.


What is the main idea of this paragraph?

a)

The farms needed rain.

b)

The thunder hurt people's ears.

c)

Lightning made the sky bright.

d)

The storm was very strong.

10.

Milk

Cry

Bottle

Diaper

Sleep

Rattle

Blanket


These words all fit with which main idea below?

a)

Child

b)

Night

c)

Baby

d)

Food

11.

Bed

Doctor

Nurse

Wheelchair

Surgeon

Medicine

Patient

Illness


Which of the following words below would be the best main idea?

a)

Science

b)

House

c)

Reading

d)

Hospital

12.

Tomorrow is Jill's birthday. She is excited because she gets to pick where she will eat dinner. Will it be Mexican food at the Big Enchilada House? Or will it be fried chicken at the Chicken Shack, or a big cheeseburger at Al's Hamburger Palace. She just couldn't decide. Then there was always the Pizza Shop with that great pepperoni pizza. How would she ever decide? Maybe she would just flip a coin.

What is the main idea of this passage?

a)

Jill has many restaurants to choose from for her birthday.

b)

Jill loves Mexican food.

c)

The Pizza Shop has the best pizza in town.

d)

Jill will choose a place by flipping a coin.

13.

The first book Chris read in fifth grade was about a lost kitten. Then he read a book about a family of bears, and then he read about a wild kangaroo in Australia. It seems every book Chris reads is about animals. Last week he found a good book about snakes and reptiles, and another book about elephants. Today Chris went to the library, and he checked out a book about dolphins, whales and other animals that live in the sea. The best summary of this passage is...

a)

Chris likes kangaroos.

b)

Chris is in the fifth grade.

c)

Chris reads a lot of books about animals.

d)

Dolphins and whales live in the sea.

14.

Books lay in the middle of his floor. Several broken toys were shoved halfway under the bed, and dirty clothes were everywhere. Frank's parents kept telling him to clean his room, but it never seemed to get clean. In fact, if Frank did manage to clean part of it, the rest of the room just got messier. In one corner of the room was an old peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and an open bag of potato chips was thrown on the dresser.

What is the main thing the author wants us to know?

a)

Frank's room was a mess.

b)

A peanut butter and jelly sandwich was in one corner of the room.

c)

Frank liked potato chips.

d)

Frank got in big trouble because his room was not clean.

15.

Carson's older sister, Madison, is a very good student. She isn't satisfied to just get by in school. She is involved in extra activities at school, including the school's music program and the math club. She also always tries to answer the teacher's questions in class. What is this paragraph mainly about?

a)

Madison was born before Carson.

b)

Madison is a very good student.

c)

Madison likes to show off.

d)

Madison likes music.

16.

It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. Brach's, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. That's a lot of candy corn, but that's nothing compared to the production of Tootsie Rolls. Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry's staple product: chocolate. Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. Now that's a mouthful! What is the main idea of this passage?

a)

Tootsie rolls are delicious

b)

Chocolate is best

c)

How much of popular candies are sold each year

d)

How large the earth is

17.

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!

What is the main idea?

a)

The author enjoys spending time with his/her family.

b)

Weekends are for travel.

c)

The grandparents live far away.

d)

The author is sad to leave her cousin's house.

18.

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?

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.

19.

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?

a)

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

b)

Mark practices very hard to become a great skater.

c)

Mark is the best skater at the park.

d)

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

20.

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?

a)

Mrs. Jones bakes pies.

b)

Mrs. Brown bakes rolls.

c)

Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are bakers

d)

They work at a store called Bake Goods to Go.