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WorksheetsMain Idea and Details
Total questions: 38
Worksheet time: 1hrs 4mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
The main idea is what the story is ______________ about.
a)
mostly
b)
only
c)
never
d)
very
2.
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?
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.
3.
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
4.
The earth's surface is constantly changing. All over the world everyday there are earthquakes, floods and volcanoes that quickly change our world. Some changes are too small to see. Others cause tremendous damage and costs millions of dollars to clean up. What is the main idea?
a)
It is expensive to clean up the damage
b)
Sometimes we can't see the changes.
c)
The Earth's surface is always changing.
5.
The main idea does not need supporting details.True or False?
a)
True
b)
False
6.
Which sentence is a supporting detail that recycling is important?
a)
There are many landfills available for waste.
b)
Recycling paper saves trees from being cut down.
c)
Clean jars before recycling them.
d)
Separate your paper, cans, and glass jars before recycling.
7.
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.
8.
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?
What is the main idea?
a)
There are many fun things to do at the beach.
b)
It is also fun to look for shells.
c)
Some people simply like to sunbathe.
d)
Going to the beach to swim can be fun.
9.
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?
What is the main idea?
a)
Giraffes do make noises
b)
Giraffes talk all the time.
c)
Cows and giraffes talk to each other.
d)
Lots of people have heard giraffes talk.
10.
What a story is mostly about is the called the _____________.
a)
Topic
b)
Claim
c)
Main Idea
d)
Transitional sentence
11.
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?
What is the main idea?
a)
There are many fun things to do at the beach.
b)
It is also fun to look for shells.
c)
Some people simply like to sunbathe.
d)
Going to the beach to swim can be fun.
12.
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?
What is the main idea?
a)
They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score.
b)
Soccer players learn how to dribble.
c)
They learn how to work together as teammates.
d)
Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.
13.
What is the best question to ask yourself when you are trying to find the main idea?
a)
Who is the main character?
b)
What is the main event?
c)
What is one important detail?
d)
What point is the author trying to make?
14.
A bat can fly at night or even with its eyes closed. But if you cover its ears, it can't fly very well. Bats make sounds that people can't hear. The bats find their way by listening to these sounds as they echo off things. Bats even locate insects to eat by following the sounds that bounce off the bugs. People use their eyes, but bats use their ears to know where they're going. This paragraph mainly tells:
a)
how bats use sound
b)
what things bats often eat as food
c)
how bats fly toward people
d)
how people can hear the sounds of bats
15.
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?
What is the main idea?
a)
Weekends are times to travel.
b)
The author enjoys spending time with her family.
c)
The author's grandparents live far away.
d)
The author is sad to leave her cousins.
16.
Read the following details and determine the main idea of the words.
-theater
-candy
-popcorn
-dark
-theater
-candy
-popcorn
-dark
a)
Playing at the park.
b)
Going to school.
c)
Playing a soccer game.
d)
Going to the movies.
17.
Perhaps one of the largest flowers grown is the sunflower. These giants grow up to 10 feet high. The flower itself is very large. It gets its name from the way it follows the sun. The face of the flower moves from east to west so that it is always facing the sun. The main idea is:
a)
To discuss large flowers.
b)
To describe the importance of the sunflower.
c)
To tell how the sunflower got its name.
18.
What text features can give you a clue of what the main idea is?
a)
Title
b)
Headings
c)
Pictures
d)
All of these
19.
Please read the following details and determine the main idea of these words.
-ghosts
-October
-costumes
-pumpkins
-haunted houses
-ghosts
-October
-costumes
-pumpkins
-haunted houses
a)
Halloween
b)
Christmas
c)
Spring
d)
Birds
20.
Please read the following details and determine the main idea of these words.
-pineapple
-apple
-grapes
-strawberry
-oranges
-pineapple
-apple
-grapes
-strawberry
-oranges
a)
Dessert
b)
Fattening foods
c)
fruits
d)
sports
21.
Please read the following details and determine the main idea of these words.
-football
-soccer
-volleyball
-baseball
-tennis
-football
-soccer
-volleyball
-baseball
-tennis
a)
school
b)
games
c)
something hard
d)
sports
22.
Please read the following details and determine the main idea of these words.
-candles
-presents
-party
-cake
-once a year
-candles
-presents
-party
-cake
-once a year
a)
Valentine's Day
b)
birthday
c)
vacation
d)
sports
23.
Please read the following details and determine the main idea of these words.
-pencils
-paper
-glue
-scissors
-notebooks
-pencils
-paper
-glue
-scissors
-notebooks
a)
school supplies
b)
circus
c)
ice cream flavors
d)
cities
24.
Please read the following details and determine the main idea of these words.
-tall buildings
-taxis
-noise
-lots of people
-billboards
-tall buildings
-taxis
-noise
-lots of people
-billboards
a)
In a city
b)
math
c)
Spring
d)
Birds
25.
Please read the following details and determine the main idea of these words.
-calculator
-operations
-addition
-numbers
-subtraction
-calculator
-operations
-addition
-numbers
-subtraction
a)
movies
b)
food
c)
engineer
d)
math
26.
Please read the following details and determine the main idea of these words.
-fireworks
-flags
-food
-America
-summer holiday
-fireworks
-flags
-food
-America
-summer holiday
a)
St. Patricks Day
b)
Christmas
c)
Easter
d)
Fourth of July
27.
What does the MAIN IDEA of a story tell the reader?
a)
The lesson or moral
b)
The conflict of the story
c)
What the story is about
d)
The beginning, middle, or end
28.
Jenny visited her grandmother in the hospital. She saw how kind and helpful the nurses were to her grandmother. Now she wants to be a nurse when she grows up. She wants to help sick people get well.
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
a)
Jenny got sick.
b)
Jenny wants to be a nurse.
c)
Her grandmother was in the hospital.
d)
Jenny was glad the nurses were being kind to her grandmother.
29.
The range of a bird refers to the area over which it flies. some birds are able to fly great distances, and range over almost the whole world. Other birds have a very small range. they travel over areas smaller than one hundred miles. What is the main idea?
a)
Where to find a bird range
b)
Why birds like to travel
c)
How bird ranges differ
30.
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?
What is the main idea?
a)
Weekends are times to travel.
b)
The author enjoys spending time with her family.
c)
The author's grandparents live far away.
d)
The author is sad to leave her cousins.
31.
Look at this book cover, what do you think the main topic will be?
a)
cars, trains, planes
b)
barbie dolls
32.
Now look at this book cover, what might one of your key details be?
a)
dolphins live in the ocean
b)
2nd graders take a field trip to the YMCA
33.
What is the main idea?
green, blue, purple, red
green, blue, purple, red
a)
colors
b)
things
c)
animals
d)
people
34.
What is the main idea?
pants, shirt, socks, shoes
pants, shirt, socks, shoes
a)
animals
b)
clothes
c)
games
d)
colors
35.
What is the main idea?
book, pencil, eraser, paper
book, pencil, eraser, paper
a)
animals
b)
colors
c)
playground
d)
School supplies
36.
What is the main idea?
zebra, lion, monkey, turtle
zebra, lion, monkey, turtle
a)
school supplies
b)
animals
c)
games
d)
verbs
37.
What is the main idea?
couch, tv, chair, rug
couch, tv, chair, rug
a)
animals
b)
school supplies
c)
bathroom
d)
family room
38.
What is the main idea?
water, juice, tea, soda
water, juice, tea, soda
a)
food
b)
animals
c)
drinks
d)
colors
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