wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Controlling Idea/Text Structures

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 1hrs 14mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the CONTROLLING IDEA of this paragraph?

You’ve probably heard that older men die before older women virtually everywhere in the world. In the United States, women are expected to live an average of 80.4 years, while men live only 75.2 years. Sociologists attribute many factors to this trend. For example, men have higher testosterone levels than women, which may make men more likely to abuse alcohol and tobacco, drive aggressively, and engage in other life-threatening behaviors. Men also choose riskier types of work and become involved in wartime aggression, which are connected to men’s decreased life expectancy. Studies also show that women are less likely to experience life-threatening illnesses and health problems than men are.

a)

Women are generally in better health than men.

b)

Men engage in more risky behaviors than women.

c)

Men have more testosterone than women.

d)

Men's life expectancy is shorter than women's.

2.

What is the CONTROLLING IDEA of this paragraph?

Many people look back to the 1950s as the golden age of the traditional family, but was it really? Many families were unable to survive the traumas of war and its aftermath, and the divorce rate rose from one in six in 1940 to one in four marriages in 1946. Although many families prospered in the years following World War II, many others suffered from economic hardship. In 1948, Newsweek reported that most of the 27 million schoolchildren in the United States were badly in need of medical or dental care, while more than 900 thousand children were malnourished.

a)

The families in USA went through a lot of divorces in the 1950s.

b)

The families in USA faced many problems in the 1950s.

c)

The 1950s were the golden age for families in USA.

3.

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?

a)

Why we can taste only sweet things.

b)

that we taste through our nose

c)

Taste buds are found in different places.

4.
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 central idea?
a)
They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score.
b)
Soccer players learn how to dribble.
c)
Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.
5.
Camp David is a secure location where the President can get away from it all. Established in 1942 by President Roosevelt, Camp David is located in Maryland, about 70 miles from Washington, D.C. in a heavily wooded area. U.S. Marines patrol the area providing optimal security. The Marines are part of the Navy. Because Camp David is so close to Washington, the president can be back at the White House very quickly in the event of a crisis. 
Which sentence supports the idea that Camp David is secure?
a)
It was established by President Roosevelt.
b)
Camp David is in a heavily wooded area.
c)
Camp David is very close to Washington, D.C.
d)
U.S. Marines patrol the surrounding area.
6.
Select the supporting detail that doesn't fit.
Topic Sentence: There are many reasons people find clowns scary.
a)
Their face paint hides their true identity. 
b)
People often think of the creepy clowns they've seen on movies such as "It."
c)
There have been some bad clowns in the news lately.
d)
Clowns makes fun balloon animals. 
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.
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
9.
The spots on a fawn's coat let it hide in shady areas without being seen. The viceroy butterfly looks like the bad-tasting monarch, so birds avoid both. The hognose snake hisses and rolls on its back when it fears another animal. When the opossum is attacked, it plays dead. Distressed turtles hide in their shells until they're sure it's safe to come out again.
 The paragraph mainly tells.......
a)
why spots or stripes make animals less visible.
b)
how some animals protect themselves.
c)
why birds don't like monarch butterflies.
d)
why some harmless animals look dangerous.
10.
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 flys in a totally unique and unusual way.
11.
What text structure does this paragraph use?
Even though Arizona and Rhode Island are both states of the U.S., they are strikingly different in many ways. For example, the physical size of each state is different. Arizona is large, having an area of 114,000 square miles, whereas Rhode Island is only about a tenth the size, having an area of only 1,214 square miles. Another difference is in the size of the population of each state. Arizona has about four million people living in it, but Rhode Island has less than one million. The two states also differ in the kinds of natural environments that each has. For example, Arizona is a very dry state, consisting of large desert areas that do not receive much rainfall every year. However, Rhode Island is located in a temperate zone and receives an average of 44 inches of rain per year. In addition, while Arizona is a landlocked state and thus has no seashore, Rhode Island lies on the Atlantic Ocean and does have a significant coastline.
a)
Compare & Contrast
b)
Description
c)
Cause & Effect
d)
Sequence
12.
What type of text structure is used in this paragraph:
Gregory is my beautiful gray Persian cat.   He walks with pride and grace, performing a dance of disdain as he slowly lifts and lowers each paw with the delicacy of a ballet dancer.   His pride, however, does not extend to his appearance, for he spends most of his time indoors watching television and growing fat.  He enjoys TV commercials, especially those for Meow Mix and 9 Lives.   His familiarity with cat food commercials has led him to reject generic brands of cat food in favor of only the most expensive brands.  Gregory is as finicky about visitors as he is about what he eats, befriending some and repelling others.   He may snuggle up against your ankle, begging to be petted, or he may imitate a skunk and stain your favorite trousers.   Gregory does not do this to establish his territory, as many cat experts think, but to humiliate me because he is jealous of my friends.   After my guests have fled, I look at the old fleabag snoozing and smiling to himself in front of the television set, and I have to forgive him for his obnoxious, but endearing, habits. 
a)
Description
b)
Sequence
c)
Chronological
d)
Compare and Contrast
13.
What text structure does this paragraph use?
The Life-Giving ParasiteHave you ever been swimming in a pond, stream, or lake and had a leech stick on you? You probably thought (or shouted) “Ick!” and tried to pry it off as fast as you could. But leeches aren’t really disgusting, and sometimes they can save lives!In ancient Egypt and later in medieval Europe, doctors put leeches on patients. They believed that the spineless wormlike creatures could cure all sorts of illnesses by sucking a patient’s blood. In Europe and in the United States, millions of leeches were used throughout the 1800s. Doctors applied leeches to treat a variety of illnesses, from obesity to headaches. People soon learned that leeches could not cure most diseases and were not a good treatment for patients. However, in 1985, a Harvard University doctor changed people’s thinking once again. He was trying to reattach a patient’s ear, which had been cut off. He had trouble reconnecting the veins because the patient’s blood kept clotting. He applied a leech to draw out the blood and saved the ear. Since then, leeches have often been used in surgery where body parts are reattached. During surgery, a leech is placed on the area where the surgeon does not want blood to pool and clot. Then the leech secretes a substance that keeps the veins open and stops the blood from clotting. The leech sucks up excess blood, allowing fresh blood to flow, which helps the patient heal. Some people are horrified at the thought of having a bloodsucking creature attached to them. But why not welcome a leech if it can save your life?
a)
Cause & Effect
b)
Chronological
c)
Problem & Solution
d)
Sequence
14.
What type of structure does this paragraph use?
The lack of rain and snow has horrible effects on farmers. With no rain their land dries up, and it is very difficult to grow anything. When the crops fail, the farmers haven't any choice but to get a second job in order to make the money they need. Farming is a full time job and with a second job, farmers are overworked, stressed and even depressed. Many farmers end up selling their land. Some farmers have accepted the government program the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which is the land is left idle to let the grass grow and must be left idle a certian number of years. while the land is in the CRP program, some farmers have taken outside jobs. That is why when it doesn't rain, you notice that most of the farmers are very crabby. As a farmer's daughter, I have experienced some good times and some bad times. I have gained a great respect for farmers everywhere. ~(c)2005 Laura White~ 
a)
Problem & Solution
b)
Sequence
c)
Description
d)
Cause & Effect
15.
Making sandbags can be easy and fun.The first thing you need to do is get to a location with a lot of sand, so if you're near a beach, that is perfect. The next thing you need to do is fill your bags with sand. You'll want to fill them completely so that it is firm, like a brick,but leave enough space at the top to tie it closed. After tying them closed you can stack them into a wall. Repeat steps until you have built a large wall.
a)
Chronological
b)
Cause and Effect
c)
Sequence
d)
Problem and Solution
16.
Hurricanes and destruction  have caused take many lives each year. Sadly, people do not have to die from these disasters. One thing to prevent lives being lost is having an evacuation procedure. Cities and towns in the path of a hurricane, need to be evacuated.Some people who live within these cities and towns do not have transportation, so buses should be provided and safe drop off zones need to be arranged. Having better evacuation procedures would save lives.
a)
Chronological 
b)
Cause and Effect
c)
Problem and Solution
d)
Sequence
17.
Hurricanes and tornadoes are both amazing but deadly natural phenomena.  Both generate deadly conditions, but in different ways. Tornadoes are likely to damage both people and property with their high winds,which go up to 300 miles per hour; however hurricanes are generally more feared because of their flooding. Also, hurricanes can produce tornadoes which make them dangerous, indeed.
a)
Chronological
b)
Cause and Effect
c)
Compare and Contrast
d)
Sequence
18.
What text structure is used?
Some people associate running only with panting, sweating, and plain and simple torture, but for me and other experienced runners the effect of running is pure and utter pleasure. When I run, it might look as though I’m in agony, with my gaping mouth, soaked brow, and constantly contracting leg muscles. In fact, however, my daily half-hour run represents a time of complete physical and mental relaxation. As I begin my run, my lungs escape the stuffy atmosphere of my job and school and are immediately refreshed by the clean, open air. The daily tensions built up in my body ease as my muscles stretch and pump, releasing all feelings of anger or frustration. I mentally dive into my run and feel as though I em lifting my feet from the pavement and ascending into the air. My mind wanders toward the outer limits of my imagination, and I seem to float, daydreaming about wherever my thoughts take me. I take pride in the salty perspiration that trickles down my face and body, signifying my effort and ambition. After I complete my run and cool down with long, deep breaths, my body tingles slightly and feels energized, as if I had just come off a roller coaster. I am more alert, my concentration is sharper, and my state of mind is relaxed and peaceful. I feel alive. Beginning runners who initially experience soreness and fatigue rather than this kind of “high” should be patient. As the body builds up strength and tolerance, they will no longer equate running with pain but rather with relief from tension and with greater emotional well-being.    Scott Weckerly (student) 
a)
Compare & Contrast
b)
Description
c)
Problem & Solution
d)
Cause & Effect
19.

Read the text.


Snowflakes are formed by water droplets freezing onto bits of dust in the atmosphere, but they come in many different shapes. The most well-known is the six-pointed, star-like snowflake, paper versions of which can be found in the windows of many classrooms. But some snowflakes are simple six-sided disks, and others are tiny six-sided columns. Two main factors determine the shape of an individual snowflake crystal: the temperature and level of moisture in the air. Colder temperatures, below -22°C (-7.6°F), produce simple disks and columns. The familiar star-shaped crystals form in warmer temperatures. And moister air gives rise to more complex shapes with more branches and details.

Which organizational structure does this text primarily use?

a)

problem-solution

b)

cause and effect

20.

Read the text.


Beavers in the wild build dams of sticks and dirt across streams and brooks, blocking the flow of water and forming ponds and wetlands. This behavior can cause conflicts with people when beaver dams flood roadways and property. If the dam is destroyed, the beavers will rebuild, because when they hear running water, their instinct is to dam it. Engineers cleverly resolved this issue by designing a special pipe that is inserted through the middle of the beaver dam. The pipe's end is located away from the dam and fenced off, so beavers can't block it. Water flows through the pipe, both preserving the beaver's pond habitat and protecting people's property.


Which organizational structure does this text primarily use?

a)

compare-contrast

b)

problem-solution