WorksheetsEOG Prep Main Idea
Total questions: 52
Worksheet time: 29mins
1. A topic is the subject that the selection is all about
True
False
2. A main idea is the most important thought about the topic
True
False
3. Main ideas are always found at the beginning of the paragraphs.
True
False
the person or thing the passage is about--usually one or two words
Topic
Main Idea
Conclusion
Analogy
the central or most important idea about a topic that the writer wants to communicate to readers.
Main Idea
Conclusion
Analogy
Subject
What is the main idea?
Chocolate chip cookies were invented by accident.
Ruth Wakefield got free choclate chips for life.
Ruth Wakefield ran a bed and breakfast inn.
Chocolate chip cookies started with the recipe for vanilla cookies.
What is the main idea?
Meteorologists predict the weather.
Meteorologists are scientists.
Meteorologist use tools like satellites and weather balloons.
Meteorologists watch cities to the west of their city to help predict weather.
What is the main idea?
Dolphins breathe using lungs.
Thunderstorms produce thunder and lightning.
Thunderstorms are dangerous.
Thunderstorms produce lightning only.
What is the main idea?
Eels have sharp teeth.
Eels are fascinating fish.
Eels are not snakes.
Eels live in caves.
What is the main idea?
Jane Goodall's life was devoted to chimpanzees.
Jane Goodall was born in England.
Jane Goodall moved to Africa when she was 23.
When Jane Goodall was a little girl, she dreamed of going to Africa.
What is the main idea?
Scientist believe that Earth is a magnet.
Poles that are different attract each other.
Magnets have two poles.
Magnets attract many metals.
What is the main idea?
Adelie penguins breed and raise their young in Antarctica.
Both parents take care of the eggs.
Adelie penguins live farther south than any other penguin.
They live in groups called colonies.
What is the main idea?
James Wright worked for General Electric.
The army couldn't use what Wright made.
James Wright worked as an engineer during World War II.
Silly Putty was invented by accident.
What is the main idea?
Volcanoes are interesting Earth phenomena.
When volcanoes erupt, lava flows down the mountain.
When volcanoes erupt, they get bigger over time.
There are more than 1,500 active volcanoes on land today.
What is the main idea?
Bullfrogs spend their whole life near water.
Their tadpoles can grow up to 8 inches.
American bullfrogs are interesting amphibians.
Male bullfrogs are territorial.
What is the main idea?
Bullfrogs spend their whole life near water.
Their tadpoles can grow up to 8 inches.
American bullfrogs are interesting amphibians.
Male bullfrogs are territorial.
What is the main idea?
Cell phones have a variety of uses.
Cell phones are used a lot in airports.
The main purpose of cell phones is for sending messages.
Cell phones are better than computers.
What is the main idea?
Air conditioning is a must-have in cars.
All cars will be able to drive themselves in the upcoming future.
Cars have evolved a lot over the years.
Cars were complex in 1886.
What is the main idea?
The Scholastic Aptitude Test has not changed over the years.
The Scholastic Aptitude Test has had a lot of changes over the years and is no longer in use.
The Scholastic Aptitude Test has undergone some changes, but it is still a popular test.
The Scholastic Aptitude Test is too difficult to administer and take.
What is the main idea?
Water is used by humans to clean their homes and feed their pets.
Water is an essential need for both animals and humans.
Dehydration should be avoided at all costs.
Dehydration is caused by lack of water and can result in shock and confusion.
What is the main idea?
People should monitor their sugar intake.
Excessive sugar gives you a surge of energy.
Consuming sugar is fine in moderation.
Excessive sugar intake can make you feel tired.
What is the main idea?
Individuals should choose devices that provide the appropriate amount of light when reading at night.
Lamps provide just the right amount of light for nighttime reading.
Individuals should not read at night because the lighting situation is not ideal.
Individuals will feel calm with too much light.
What is the main idea?
Individuals should choose devices that provide the appropriate amount of light when reading at night.
Lamps provide just the right amount of light for nighttime reading.
Individuals should not read at night because the lighting situation is not ideal.
Individuals will feel calm with too much light.
What is the main idea?
The living room is the most important room in the home for entertaining guests.
Living rooms always have loveseats and sofas, as well as end tables.
Living rooms typically have furniture and spaces to accommodate seating and family time.
Living rooms can only be used for playing board and card games.
Watches have developed over the years from when they were originally created.
The first watch was invented in 1510.
Watches can be used as cell phones.
Watches should only be used to tell time.
Rabbits and hares are not the
same. Rabbits live together in
burrows. Their babies are born blind
and without fur. Hares live alone above ground. Their babies are born with fur and are not blind. In addition, hares are usually bigger than rabbits.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Hares are bigger than rabbits.
Hares and rabbits are not the same.
Rabbits live together in burrows.
Some types of roller coasters use magnets to make them stop. Strong magnets are put into both the coaster and the end of the track. As the coaster approaches the end of the track, the attracting forces of the magnets bring it to a gentle stop.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Roller coasters stop at the end of the track.
Some kinds of roller coasters use magnets to make them stop.
Roller coasters are fun.
Julia Butterfly Hill lived in a giant Redwood tree for two years to keep it from being cut down. She climbed the tree, which was located in Northern California, on December 10, 1997. Many people helped her by bringing her food and supplies. She did not come down until the logging company promised never to cut the tree down.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Julia Butterfly Hill lived in a giant Redwood tree for two years to keep it from being cut down.
The logging company did not cut down the tree.
The tree was located in Northern California.
School children in Washington State are raising salmon! The Department of Fish and Wildlife gives each participating classroom 500 salmon eggs. When the eggs hatch, the children care for the baby salmon and learn about their lifecycle. When the salmon are big enough, the class goes on a fieldtrip to release the salmon into a stream or river.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Each class gets 500 salmon eggs.
School children in Washington State are raising salmon.
The salmon are released into streams and rivers.
Giant pandas live in bamboo forests in China. The average giant panda eats about 30 pounds (14 kg) of bamboo each day. Unfortunately, the forests are being cut down and the giant panda is losing its habitat.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Giant pandas eat a lot of bamboo.
Giant pandas live in China.
Giant pandas are losing their habitats.
Incense cedar wood is used for making pencils because it does not break easily, but is soft enough to be sharpened without splintering. It also won't bend or warp in hot temperatures. Incense cedar trees are grown in California and Oregon.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Incense cedar wood is perfect for making pencils.
Incense cedar trees are grown in California and Oregon.
Incense cedar wood will not splinter when sharpened.
Incense cedar wood is used for making pencils because it does not break easily, but is soft enough to be sharpened without splintering. It also won't bend or warp in hot temperatures. Incense cedar trees are grown in California and Oregon.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Incense cedar wood is perfect for making pencils.
Incense cedar trees are grown in California and Oregon.
Incense cedar wood will not splinter when sharpened.
Here is something fun to try! Lay an egg on its side and try to make it spin. If it is not hard-boiled the shifting liquid inside will make it spin poorly. If it is hardboiled the solid inside will make it spin faster and longer.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
The shifting liquid inside makes it hard to spin.
A hardboiled egg will spin faster and longer.
You can tell if an egg is hardboiled by spinning it.
Here is something fun to try! Lay an egg on its side and try to make it spin. If it is not hard-boiled the shifting liquid inside will make it spin poorly. If it is hardboiled the solid inside will make it spin faster and longer.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
The shifting liquid inside makes it hard to spin.
A hardboiled egg will spin faster and longer.
You can tell if an egg is hardboiled by spinning it.
Rabbits and hares are not the
same. Rabbits live together in
burrows. Their babies are born blind
and without fur. Hares live alone above ground. Their babies are born with fur and are not blind. In addition, hares are usually bigger than rabbits.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Hares are bigger than rabbits.
Hares and rabbits are not the same.
Rabbits live together in burrows.
The ice cream cone was invented in 1904. It all started at the St. Louis World's fair when an ice cream vender ran out of dishes for his ice cream. A man named Ernest Hamwi was selling waffles in the booth next door. He helped his neighbor out by making cone-shaped waffles to hold the ice cream. The rest, as they say, is history!
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
The ice cream cone was invented in 1904.
They ran out of ice cream at the World's fair.
Ice cream is a yummy treat.
Some types of roller coasters use magnets to make them stop. Strong magnets are put into both the coaster and the end of the track. As the coaster approaches the end of the track, the attracting forces of the magnets bring it to a gentle stop.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Roller coasters stop at the end of the track.
Some kinds of roller coasters use magnets to make them stop.
Roller coasters are fun.
Julia Butterfly Hill lived in a giant Redwood tree for two years to keep it from being cut down. She climbed the tree, which was located in Northern California, on December 10, 1997. Many people helped her by bringing her food and supplies. She did not come down until the logging company promised never to cut the tree down.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Julia Butterfly Hill lived in a giant Redwood tree for two years to keep it from being cut down.
The logging company did not cut down the tree.
The tree was located in Northern California.
School children in Washington State are raising salmon! The Department of Fish and Wildlife gives each participating classroom 500 salmon eggs. When the eggs hatch, the children care for the baby salmon and learn about their lifecycle. When the salmon are big enough, the class goes on a fieldtrip to release the salmon into a stream or river.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Each class gets 500 salmon eggs.
School children in Washington State are raising salmon.
The salmon are released into streams and rivers.
Giant pandas live in bamboo forests in China. The average giant panda eats about 30 pounds (14 kg) of bamboo each day. Unfortunately, the forests are being cut down and the giant panda is losing its habitat.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Giant pandas eat a lot of bamboo.
Giant pandas live in China.
Giant pandas are losing their habitats.
Incense cedar wood is used for making pencils because it does not break easily, but is soft enough to be sharpened without splintering. It also won't bend or warp in hot temperatures. Incense cedar trees are grown in California and Oregon.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Incense cedar wood is perfect for making pencils.
Incense cedar trees are grown in California and Oregon.
Incense cedar wood will not splinter when sharpened.
Here is something fun to try! Lay an egg on its side and try to make it spin. If it is not hard-boiled the shifting liquid inside will make it spin poorly. If it is hardboiled the solid inside will make it spin faster and longer.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
The shifting liquid inside makes it hard to spin.
A hardboiled egg will spin faster and longer.
You can tell if an egg is hardboiled by spinning it.
One day in Switzerland a man named George de Mestral decided to take his dog for a walk. When he got back to his house, he saw that there were many small burrs clinging to his dog's fur. He examined undera microscope how the burrs were sticking, and ended up using what he saw
to invent Velcro!
The idea for Velcro came from nature.
Blurrs were clinging to the dog's fur.
George de Mestral invented Velcro.
The Atacama Desert is located on a plateau in northern Chile. It almost never rains in the Atacama Desert. In fact, there are some areas of the desert where rainfall has never been recorded. The average yearly rainfall in the Atacama is just one millimeter. Nowhere else on Earth is dryer than the Atacama Desert!
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
The Atacama Desert is in Northern Chile.
The Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth.
Rainfall has never been recorded in some parts of the Atacama Desert.
