Free Printable Main Idea Quiz

Worksheets

Main Idea Quiz

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 3hrs 20mins

Name

Class

Date

What does the main idea of a story tell the reader?

a specific detail from the story

The conflict of the story

What the story is about

The universal truth, moral, or idea the author wants to express

Key details give important information to support the main idea.

True

False

Main Idea:
Frogs are amazing jumpers.

What supporting detail would go with this main idea?

Frogs use their tongue to catch flies.

A tadpole is the name of a young frog.

Frogs have long, powerful legs which help them leaplong distances.

The Fire-belly Toad has slightly warty skin.

A SUPPORTING detail explains the main idea in a paragraph. What does SUPPORT mean?

to search and find

to hold up and help

to end

to write

If you read an essay about how important recycling is to our environment, what is the main idea?

People shouldn't make so much plastic.

People should pick up trash.

People should eat healthy food.

Recycling is important to protect the environment.

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?

Weekends are times to travel.

The author enjoys spending time with her family.

The author's grandparents live far away.

The author is sad to leave her cousins.

Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal servants. They will look and behave much like real humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers and they will be able to respond in kind! Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier.
What is this selection mainly about?

Someday we will have robots that will be our personal servants.

We will be able to talk to robots and they will be able to respond.

Robots will be untiring workers.

Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience.

Toy cars and trucks were lying all over the floor. Ben had dumped his entire toy box in the middle of his room looking for his favorite blue car. His Uncle Lonnie had given it to him for his birthday. Uncle Lonnie was coming for a visit, and Ben wanted them to play together with it. Ben looked for about an hour and could not find the car. When his mother called him, he stepped on something hard. It was his blue car.
What is the main idea or main event of the passage?

Ben had many toys and trucks

Uncle Lonnie gave Ben a blue car

Ben dumped his entire toy box in the middle of the floor

Ben found the blue car his Uncle Lonnie gave him by stepping on it

Snow was falling again. Every puzzle was put together, every book was read, and the refrigerator was covered in artwork. Buddy and William were bored. They couldn't go out and play in the snow because they were both sick. Even though school might be canceled tomorrow, they were ready to go back to school.
What is the main idea or main event of the passage?

they were sick

it was snowing again

they were bored and ready to go back to school

the refrigerator was covered in artwork, and the puzzles were put together

10.

What is the main idea of this passage?

Lions live in groups called prides

Male lions leave their prides to start a new one

Female lions stay in the pride they were born to

Prides are mostly made up of female lions

11.

What is the main idea of this passage?

Lions live in Africa.

Lions are meat eaters.

Lions do not usually attack humans.

12.

What is the main idea of this passage?

Penguins have water proof feathers.

Penguins are built for swimming.

Penguins are birds.

13.

What is the main idea of this passage?

Blue whales eat krill.

Blue whales live in the ocean.

Blue whales are the largest animals.

14.

What is the main idea of this passage?

Blue whale babies are called calves.

Blue whale babies drink milk.

Blue whale calves are born already very large.

15.

Select ALL of the strategies that can be used to help you find the main idea of a non-fiction text?

Look for words/phrases that repeat.

Read the topic sentence and the conclusion sentence.

Read the title and make a guess.

Look for supporting details that support the main idea.

Ask yourself "who or what did or does what?"

16.

What is the main idea of this passage?

Gorillas are herbivores.

Gorillas have large brains.

Gorillas are different from monkeys in many ways.

17.

What is the main idea of this passage?

The silverback is the oldest and strongest in the group.

The silverback is the leader of a group of gorillas.

Silverbacks are silver in color.

18.

What is the main idea of this passage?

Disney World is located in Orlando, Florida.

Disney World is a theme park.

Disney World is a large vacation spot.

19.

What is the main idea of this passage?

The monorail can bring you to the moon!

Disney has many ways to get from place to place.

Disney has hotels, shops, and theme parks.

20.

What is the main idea of this passage?

Zebra stripes are all the same.

A zebra's unique stripes help them survive.

No two zebras are exactly alike.

100 %

Main Idea Quiz

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 3hrs 20mins

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