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WorksheetsCentral Idea Task Cards
Total questions: 22
Worksheet time: 22mins
Which of the following detail sentences best supports the main idea and could be added to the paragraph?
You should limit the number of potato chips you eat.
George Crum's new sack became known as "Saratoga Chips".
Potato chips are known for being crunchy.
George Crum died in 1914.
What is the main idea of this passage?
Potatoes are delicious.
The best way to eat a potato is to mash them and then pour gravy over the top.
There are several ways that potatoes can be prepared.
Some methods of cooking potatoes are more nutritious than others.
Which of the following detail sentences best supports the main idea and could be added to the paragraph?
Some people prefer to remove the middle of the potato and eat only the skin.
Potatoes are rich in Vitamin C.
Potatoes can be white, red, yellow, or blue/purple.
French fries should always be served with ketchup.
Which of the following detail sentences best supports the main idea and could be added to the paragraph?
Poor Egyptians were buried in the sand.
Tomb walls can tell a story, as well, because they were often painted with scenes from the dead person's life.
Egypt is located in the northeast corner of Africa.
Which of the following detail sentences best supports the main idea and could be added to the paragraph?
"Lunatic" comes from the Latin word "luna" which means "moon", because people thought insanity was caused by changes in the moon.
Finding a word's origin can be difficult
"Luna" is the Spanish word for "moon".
What is the main idea of the passage?
It is important to wear a bicycle helmet to prevent head injuries and even death.
A bicycle accident can happen to anyone.
It is not necessary to wear a bike helmet for short bike trips.
Which of the following detail sentences best supports the main idea and could be added to the paragraph?
Some states have laws that require children wear helmets when riding a bike.
In 2009, it was estimated that 9 out of 10 people killed in bicycle accidents were not wearing a helmet.
Bicycle crashes result in scrapes and bruises.
Being able to identify the central idea of a text shows...
that you can cite evidence from the text.
that you know how to write.
that you understand the text.
that you like what you are reading.
In complex texts, the central idea...
is stated and can be quoted directly from the text.
is implied, not stated, meaning you must rely on clues in the text to find it.
is not directly said by the author, meaning you must draw conclusions.
is said in the title, and therefore, copying the title is a great way to find the central idea.
True or false: You do not have to read all of the supporting details to determine the central idea.
True
False
Which sentence from the paragraph supports the idea that cats have a smart way of getting what they want?
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
Because lambs are sometimes eaten by coyotes, ranchers may hunt or trap the coyotes. However, killing coyotes may upset nature's balance. Scientists have found a way to protect sheep without killing coyotes. Coyotes are fed lamb meat treated with a drug. When they eat the meat, they get sick. Later, coyotes won't even go near lambs. They'll hunt rabbits instead.
This story mainly tells.....
Coyotes prefer rabbits to lambs.
Killing coyotes upsets nature's balance.
Scientists are trying to protect sheep and coyotes.
Do you ever wonder how you taste things? You owe your sense of taste to your taste buds. We have 9,000 taste buds just on the tongue alone. There are also taste buds on the roof of your mouth. You even have taste buds on the back of your throat.
What does the author want you to learn about the passage?
Why we can taste only sweet things.
that we taste through our nose
Taste buds are found in different places.
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.
This is what you look for when trying to determine the central/main idea.
Clues, hints, and evidence.
Patterns, repeated words, phrases, or related ideas.
The bibliography
The table of contents
These connect directly back to the central/main idea.
Sentences
Paragraphs
Supporting Details
Summaries
