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Main idea

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 53mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
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.
2.
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. 
3.
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)
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.
4.
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?
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.
5.
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?
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.
6.
John and Matt want to be firemen.  They want to ride on the big fire truck.  John wants to climb ladders and rescue people from fires.  Matt wants to hold the big hose and spray water on the fires to put them out.
What is the main idea?
a)
John wants to climb a ladder.
b)
John and Matt want to be firemen
c)
Matt wants to hold a fire hose.
d)
They want to ride on the big fire truck.
7.
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?
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.
8.
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.
9.
Mary has a new pet.  Her pet is a baby kitten.  It is soft and cuddly.  The kitten likes to sleep a lot.  Mary put a soft blanket in a box for its bed.  Mary plays with her kitten when it is awake.  She never forgets to feed her kitten.
What is the main idea?
a)
The kitten sleeps a lot.
b)
Mary plays with her kitten
c)
Mary’s new pet is a kitten.
d)
Mary want a new pet.
10.
The frog sat on the side of the pond.  He was very still.  His green color made him hard to see.  A bug flew near him.  His tongue zipped out, and he gobbled it up.  Then the frog was still again.  He waited for the next bug.
What is the main idea?
a)
Frogs are green .
b)
Frogs eat bugs.
c)
Frogs do not move.
d)
Frogs live in ponds.
11.
It was backward day at school.  The students had to do things backward.  Some of them wore their T-shirts backward.  They took a test before they studied the lesson.  Dessert was served first instead of last.  They tried to walk home backward, but they bumped into each other and fell down. 
What is the main idea?
a)
Dessert is supposed to come last.
b)
The students had a backward day.
c)
It is hard to do things backward.
d)
Students failed their tests.
12.
Jon held the ball in his hands.  He bounced it slowly on the ground.  Once. Twice. He crouched low and then jumped.  The ball flew into the air.  Up, up, up, it went.  Then down, down, into the basket.  “Yes!” he yelled.  “Nothing but net!”
What is the main idea?
a)
How to throw a basketball.
b)
Jon could jump.
c)
Jon liked basketball.
d)
Jon makes a basket.
13.
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?
a)
Tom finds enough food for his family.
b)
Tom gets pulled out of his boat by a huge fish.
c)
Tom didn't catch anything.
d)
Tom catches a snapping turtle while fishing.
14.
Yesterday was my birthday. When I woke up, I noticed my brother Josh hung up a big sign that said,"Happy Birthday, Charles!" Mom made spaghetti for dinner.
It's my favorite food in the whole world. My friend Dave came over and handed me a wrapped gift. I wondered what it was. It was a new basketball! I had a great day.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?
a)
Josh got lots of gifts.
b)
Charles got a lot of gifts.
c)
Charles had a great birthday.
d)
Josh had a great birthday.
15.

Steel is a very important metal which is used for many things. In the United States, the automobile industry uses the most steel. Steel is used in putting up buildings. Cans and containers are made from steel. Steel is used in putting up buildings. Cans and containers are made from steel. Steel is used to make farm and factory machines.

a)

Steel is used in many purposes.

b)

The auto industry is the most important.

c)

The United States produces the most steel in the world.

d)

Steel is not an important industry.

16.

Jean finally had the money for something she had wanted to buy for a long time. Today after school, Jean would buy her own skateboard. She was pretty good at using skateboards, because she used those of friends to practice. She was looking forward to having her own to use whenever she wanted.

a)

Jean will get a skateboard.

b)

Jean is an expert at skateboarding.

c)

Jean borrows a skateboard.

d)

Jean does not like skateboarding.

17.

There are about 2,000 kinds of bats. They come in many sizes. Bats are rather strange looking animals. They are soft and furry with large ears. Bats cannot run or walk. They usually eat insects. Bats are the only mammals that fly.

a)

Bats are unusual mammals.

b)

Bats move by running and flying.

c)

Bats look like many other animals.

d)

Bats have large ears and fluffy ears.

18.

The largest bird is the ostrich. This bird is unable to fly. It can run as fast as a horse. The ostrich makes use of its feet and legs to protect itself. It kicks its enemies. Ostriches eat insects, mice, and snakes.

a)

To describe the smallest bird.

b)

To describe why the ostrich can't fly.

c)

To describe the largest bird.

d)

To describe a flying bird.

19.

One of the oldest and most important jobs in the world is that of the farmer. We all depend on the farmer for our food. Modern farming is very different that it was years ago. Today's farmer has many machines to help do the work faster and better.

a)

Because of machines, we do not need farmers.

b)

Everyone should be a farmer so we would have more food.

c)

Farming is still an important job.

d)

Farming is a useless skill to know.

20.

One of the best-known cartoonists in the world was Walt Disney. As a boy, Disney liked to draw. He moved to Hollywood and there he made cartoons. He was responsible for creating the characters of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto the dog, and others.

a)

Drawing cartoons makes you famous.

b)

Disney made many well-known cartoon characters.

c)

Pluto is Disney's best known cartoon character.

d)

Disney made Mickey Mouse.