WorksheetsMain Idea
Total questions: 94
Worksheet time: 2hrs 55mins
What kind of sentence tells the main idea of a paragraph?
supporting detail
example sentence
topic sentence
transition sentence
What might be the main idea of a book titled, "Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables?"
Tomatoes are good for you.
Strawberries have seeds on the outside.
It's important to eat vegetables and fruit.
Spinach is good for your bones.
A SUPPORTING detail explains the main idea in a paragraph. What does SUPPORT mean?
to write
to hold up and help
to end
to search and find
What is a main idea?
the central point of a piece of writing
the most interesting detail in a book
the information that supports the topic sentence
the punctuation used in a paragraph
If you read an essay about how important recycling is to our environment, what is the topic?
littering
recycling
plastic
paper
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 eat healthy food.
People should pick up trash.
Recycling is important to protect the environment.
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?
It is also fun to look for shells.
Some people simply like to sunbathe.
There are many fun things to do at the beach.
Going to the beach to swim can be fun.
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?
They learn how to work together as teammates.
Soccer players learn how to dribble.
Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.
Soccer players learn how to control the ball so they can score.
Which chapter would have information about lions, tigers, and snow leopards?
"Save the Snow Leopards"
"Lion, King of the Jungle"
"How Tigers Get Their Stripes"
"Big Cats of the World"
Robots are being used in sumo wrestling contests. Sumo wrestling is a sport that started in Japan. It takes place in a ring. Two players try to score points by holding each other down or pushing each other out of the ring. Robot sumo uses robots instead of humans. The robot that scores the most points wins.
Which of the following is a supporting detail of this paragraph?
Robot sumo uses robots instead of humans.
Robots are being used in sumo wrestling contests.
The robot that scores the most points wins.
Watching robot sumo is boring.
What is the main idea?
What is the theme?
What the story is mostly about
main idea
Theme
The message, lesson, or moral of a story.
Main Idea
Theme
You turn a year older, and friends sing a certain song to you. The story of "Happy Birthday" goes back to the 1890s. In 1893 a teacher named Patty Smith Hill and her sister Mildred published a book called Song Stories for Kindergarten. The first song in the book was a four-line verse called "Good Morning to All." Patty soon wrote new words to this ditty, and it became the popular "Happy Birthday" song still sung today. People sing it in many languages around the world. Which of the following is the main idea of this paragraph?
Celebrating birthdays
Kindergarten songs
The story of "Happy Birthday"
A worldwide birthday song
The main idea of a passage is more specific than the topic.
True
False
Which term best describes the main idea of a piece of writing?
A supporting detail
A central point
A broad topic
A statement of opinion
In an essay, details serve a similar function to
An instruction manual for putting together furniture
The characters in a work of fiction
Blank pages in a notebook
The evidence an attorney uses to convict a criminal
If you read an essay explaining why eating healthy foods is good for you, what would the topic be?
Healthy foods include fruits, vegetables, and lean protein.
Healthy foods
Eating healthy foods is good for you.
Eating is necessary to sustain life.
In the same article about healthy foods, what would the main idea be?
Healthy foods include fruits, vegetables, and lean protein.
Healthy foods
Eating healthy foods is good for you.
Eating is necessary to sustain life.
Which supporting detail might you find in the same article?
That people who eat healthy foods live longer.
That healthy foods include vegetables and protein.
That healthy foods are good for you.
That eating is necessary to sustain life.
What inference can you make about main ideas in writing?
They're always based in fact, and never opinion.
To be effective, they must be supported by facts.
In many essays, they have nothing to do with the topic.
Most pieces of writing lack main ideas.
What is the topic of this sentence? Chocolate is a more popular flavor than vanilla.
Chocolate
Vanilla
Ice cream
Rockets
Where can you find the main idea in a piece of writing?
In the first sentence
In the last paragraph
There is no set place to find the main idea.
What are some strategies for identifying the main idea of a passage? Choose THREE answers.
Sort facts from opinions.
Re-read the passage more than once.
Try to summarize the passage in one sentence.
Ask general questions about the passage.
Look for repeated words and phrases.
What is the main idea?
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?
What is this selection mainly about?
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?
There are many fun things to do at the beach.
It is also fun to look for shells.
Some people simply like to sunbathe.
Going to the beach to swim can be fun.
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
A penny for your thoughts? If it’s a 1943 copper penny, it could be worth as much as fifty thousand dollars. In 1943, most pennies were made out of steel since copper was needed for World War II, so the 1943 copper penny is ultra-rare. Another rarity is the 1955 double die penny. These pennies were mistakenly double stamped, so they have overlapping dates and letters. If it’s uncirculated, it’d easily fetch $25,000 at an auction. Now that’s a pretty penny.
The 1943 copper penny
The material of the penny is all that is important.
Rare and valuable pennies
Make sure to collect your pennies for further auctions.
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?
What is this selection mainly about?
What can you infer about Violet?
Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?
What is this selection mainly about?
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
What is the definition of main idea?
Its the authors point of view
Is what the passage is mostly about
It is the sequence of the story.
The main idea can be implied or stated.
True
False
What is the main idea?
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.
The main idea is supported by what?
concluding sentences
details
The central idea of a passage/text is....
what the text is a little bit about
what the text is sometimes telling you
what the text is never about
what the text is mostly or mainly about
What might be the central idea of a book titled "Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables?"
Tomatoes are good for you.
Strawberries have seeds on the outside.
It's important to eat vegetables and fruit.
Spinach is good for your bones.
Supporting details....
are pointless when determining the central idea
just give more information
do not support the central idea
help prove the central idea (evidence)
Do you think this sentence implies a theme or a main idea? It was a rainy day, and mom had to get creative to keep the kids from getting too bored.
Theme
Main Idea
Do you think this sentence implies a theme or a main idea?When Julia fell off the monkey bars and broke her arm, she was terrified to go to the emergency room.
Theme
Main Idea
Do you think this sentence implies a theme or a main idea?Even if someone has something else that you want, you should still be thankful for what you have.
Theme
Main Idea
The theme is rarely directly stated.
TRUE
FALSE
You have to make inferences to figure out the theme of the story.
Yes
No
Central idea and main idea are the same thing.
YES
NO
NO WAY
YES WAY
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?
There are many fun things to do at the beach.
It is also fun to look for shells.
Some people simply like to sunbathe.
Going to the beach to swim can be fun.
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?
They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score.
Soccer players learn how to dribble.
They learn how to work together as teammates.
Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.
What is the main idea?
Its the authors point of view
Is what the passage is mostly about
It is the sequence of the story.
Native Americans dried strips of meat, pounded it into a paste, and then mixed it with fat. Sometimes they added berries and sugar. Then they pressed it into small cakes. They called these cakes pemmican. Pemmican didn't spoil, and it provided lots of energy for people traveling or going hunting. Today explorers still carry and eat this food.
What is the passage mostly about?
who uses pemmican today
what can be put into pemmican
how pemmican was prepared by Native Americans.
why people eat pemmican today
Were you born after 1985? If so, how long do you expect to live? Most people born after 1985 can expect to live more than 70 years. Of course, this is just a guess based on past records. By the way, females can expect to live about six years longer than males. That’s taken from past records too!
What is the paragraph mostly about?
how long you might expect to live
about the health of females
why people live to be 70
tells that people live to be 100
Mrs. Gonzales likes to paint. She likes the pretty colors. She draws a picture first. Then she uses her paints. She gives her pictures to her son.
Mrs. Gonzales does not paint well.
Painting is fun.
Mrs. Gonzales paints pictures.
Aaron and Angel are friends. They look alike. They talk alike. Sometimes the dress alike. People think Aaron is Angel. People think Angel is Aaron. The boys think it is funny.
Aaron and Angel are alike in many ways.
Aaron is older than Angel.
Angel is bigger than Aaron.
An important farm crop in the United States is cotton. Cotton is used for making clothing. Cotton is still a popular choice for clothes because it is easy to clean and last a long time.
Cotton is the most important U.S. crop.
Cotton is not used today.
Cotton is important for making clothes.
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or bulls buck them off, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. Of course, this is a very dangerous thing to do. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business.
Sometimes clowns can mean serious bussiness.
Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.
Cowboys and Rodeo Clowns are constantly in danger.
A Rodeo bull's attention is easily caught by Rodeo clowns.
Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?
When we think of seaweed, we usually picture brown or green plants a foot or so in length. Seaweeds are also of other colors. Some are red. Some kinds grow to lengths of a hundred feet! These form giant seaweed forests, where many kinds of fish take shelter. What is the main idea?
Why some seaweed grows so large
What seaweed is like
Why seaweed is red
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
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?
Where to find a bird range
Why birds like to travel
How bird ranges differ
Not all animals that live in the water are fish. Frogs and tadpoles, for example, spend part of their lives in water. They are amphibians, not true fish. Whales and seals are warm-blooded mammals. Some snakes live partly in water too. What is the main idea?
Why just fish live in water
Why whales live in water
Which animals live in water
Some people say that the White House has ghosts. The most famous ghost is Abraham Lincoln. He is often seen standing in his room looking out the window. Even Eleanor Roosevelt said that she saw him. There is a legend that old Abe walks back and forth all night before something terrible is about to happen. This paragraph mainly tells:
what Lincoln's ghost is like
when Eleanor Roosevelt's ghost walked
hwo many ghosts the White House has
how ghosts show when something will happen
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
Sometime in December of 1891, Dr. James Naismith was teaching gym at the YMCA College in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was raining, and Dr. Naismith was trying to keep his students active. He wanted them playing a rough game that would keep them moving. He didn't like a few ideas that were too rough. Then Naismith had his breakthrough. He wrote out the rules for a game with peach baskets fixed to ten-foot elevated tracks. Naismith's students played against one another, passing the ball around and shooting it into the peach baskets. Dribbling wasn't a part of the original game. Also it took a while to realize that the game would run more smoothly if the bottoms of the baskets were removed. But this game grew to be one of the most popular sports in America today. Can you guess which one?
The most popular sport in America
Dr. James Naismith's career in teaching
The invention of Basketball
How to get students active
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
Before you put on that skeleton costume and rove door-to-door pandering for candy, take a minute to reflect on this tradition. Halloween is believed to have come from an ancient Celtic festival dating back some 2,000 years. November 1st was the Celtic New Year and marked the end of summer to the Celts. They celebrated on its eve by wearing costumes made of animal skins and dancing around bon fires. Over the next two millennia, this primitive celebration grew to be the candy fueled costume ball that we know today.
The origins of Halloween
The New Celtic Year
Primitive traditions
Why the skeleton costume is the best for Halloween
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
You might think that all automobile fuels are the same, but they aren't. Automobiles can run on one of three types of fuel: gasoline, diesel, and biodiesel. All these fuels are burned inside of the engine, which creates the heat and energy that is used to power the car. But there are important differences between these fuels. Gasoline and diesel are more common than biodiesel. But each burns differently. Diesel fuel is heavier and less flammable than gasoline, so it has to be compressed before it will burn. Gasoline may be lighter than diesel, but both fuels are made from crude oil. On the other hand, biodiesel fuel is made from vegetables. Both biodiesel and diesel fuels must be burned in diesel engines, which only use diesel fuel. If gasoline is pumped into a diesel engine, it will have to be pumped out. These fuels may look pretty similar at the gas station, but remember that there are important differences between them or it may cost you.
Which fuel is best to use for your car
Gasoline, diesel, and biodiesels area all fuels, but they have important differences in how they are made and used.
The benefits of biodiesel
How fuels change the way we drive
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
Sir Isaac Newton was contemplating the universe in his garden one day in 1665 when he noticed an apple fall from a tree. Newton wondered to himself, “Why should the apple always fall to the ground? Why does it not go sideways or upwards but directly toward the Earth’s center?” After much contemplation Newton concluded that objects are pulled to the Earth through a force that he called gravity, which means heaviness in Latin. On July 5th, 1687 Newton formally expressed his law of universal gravitation in series of books called The Principia.
The life of Issac Newton
Issac Newton studies the Earth's forces
A falling apple inspired Newton to think about gravity
What do you get when you contemplate the universe.
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or bulls buck them off, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. Of course, this is a very dangerous thing to do. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business.
Sometimes clowns can mean serious bussiness.
Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.
Cowboys and Rodeo Clowns are constantly in danger.
A Rodeo bull's attention is easily caught by Rodeo clowns.
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or bulls buck them off, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. Of course, this is a very dangerous thing to do. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business.
Sometimes clowns can mean serious bussiness.
Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.
Cowboys and Rodeo Clowns are constantly in danger.
A Rodeo bull's attention is easily caught by Rodeo clowns.
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
Sometime in December of 1891, Dr. James Naismith was teaching gym at the YMCA College in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was raining, and Dr. Naismith was trying to keep his students active. He wanted them playing a rough game that would keep them moving. He didn't like a few ideas that were too rough. Then Naismith had his breakthrough. He wrote out the rules for a game with peach baskets fixed to ten-foot elevated tracks. Naismith's students played against one another, passing the ball around and shooting it into the peach baskets. Dribbling wasn't a part of the original game. Also it took a while to realize that the game would run more smoothly if the bottoms of the baskets were removed. But this game grew to be one of the most popular sports in America today. Can you guess which one?
The most popular sport in America
Dr. James Naismith's career in teaching
The invention of Basketball
How to get students active
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
Before you put on that skeleton costume and rove door-to-door pandering for candy, take a minute to reflect on this tradition. Halloween is believed to have come from an ancient Celtic festival dating back some 2,000 years. November 1st was the Celtic New Year and marked the end of summer to the Celts. They celebrated on its eve by wearing costumes made of animal skins and dancing around bon fires. Over the next two millennia, this primitive celebration grew to be the candy fueled costume ball that we know today.
The origins of Halloween
The New Celtic Year
Primitive traditions
Why the skeleton costume is the best for Halloween
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
You might think that all automobile fuels are the same, but they aren't. Automobiles can run on one of three types of fuel: gasoline, diesel, and biodiesel. All these fuels are burned inside of the engine, which creates the heat and energy that is used to power the car. But there are important differences between these fuels. Gasoline and diesel are more common than biodiesel. But each burns differently. Diesel fuel is heavier and less flammable than gasoline, so it has to be compressed before it will burn. Gasoline may be lighter than diesel, but both fuels are made from crude oil. On the other hand, biodiesel fuel is made from vegetables. Both biodiesel and diesel fuels must be burned in diesel engines, which only use diesel fuel. If gasoline is pumped into a diesel engine, it will have to be pumped out. These fuels may look pretty similar at the gas station, but remember that there are important differences between them or it may cost you.
Which fuel is best to use for your car
Gasoline, diesel, and biodiesels area all fuels, but they have important differences in how they are made and used.
The benefits of biodiesel
How fuels change the way we drive
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
Yellowstone National Park is mainly located in Wyoming, although three percent is located in the state of Montana. The Continental Divide of North America runs diagonally through the southwestern part of the park. The park sits on the Yellowstone Plateau, which is an average elevation of 8,000 feet above sea level. This plateau is bounded on nearly all sides by mountain ranges. There are 290 waterfalls that are at least fifteen feet in the park, the highest being the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, which falls 308 feet.
Why to visit Wyoming
Yellowstone Park's beautiful water falls
The continental Divide of North America
Physical features of the Yellowstone Park
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. Brach's, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. That's a lot of candy corn, but that's nothing compared to the production of Tootsie Rolls. Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry's staple product: chocolate. Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. Now that's a mouthful!
How much of popular candies are sold each year.
The overpowering candy industry
Tootsie Rolls are delicious
Candy corn, the world's most abundant candy piece.
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
A penny for your thoughts? If it’s a 1943 copper penny, it could be worth as much as fifty thousand dollars. In 1943, most pennies were made out of steel since copper was needed for World War II, so the 1943 copper penny is ultra-rare. Another rarity is the 1955 double die penny. These pennies were mistakenly double stamped, so they have overlapping dates and letters. If it’s uncirculated, it’d easily fetch $25,000 at an auction. Now that’s a pretty penny.
The 1943 copper penny
The material of the penny is all that is important.
Rare and valuable pennies
Make sure to collect your pennies for further auctions.
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
Sir Isaac Newton was contemplating the universe in his garden one day in 1665 when he noticed an apple fall from a tree. Newton wondered to himself, “Why should the apple always fall to the ground? Why does it not go sideways or upwards but directly toward the Earth’s center?” After much contemplation Newton concluded that objects are pulled to the Earth through a force that he called gravity, which means heaviness in Latin. On July 5th, 1687 Newton formally expressed his law of universal gravitation in series of books called The Principia.
The life of Issac Newton
Issac Newton studies the Earth's forces
A falling apple inspired Newton to think about gravity
What do you get when you contemplate the universe.
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
When one hears the term "reality" applied to a show, one might expect that the events portrayed occurred naturally or, at the least, were not scripted. This is not always the case. Many reality shows occur in unreal environments, like rented mansions occupied by film crews. Such living environments do not reflect what most people understand to be "reality." Worse, there have been accusations that events not captured on film were later restaged by producers. Worse still, some involved in the production of "reality" television claim that the participants were urged to act out story lines premeditated by producers. With such accusations floating around, it's no wonder many people take reality TV to be about as real as the sitcom.
The everyday work on a set of a reality TV show.
How important is to watch reality TV shows
The similarities of reality TV with sitcoms.
Reality TV is not as real as they show you to be.
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
Nikola Tesla was an inventor and physicist who is best remembered for his contributions to the AC power system and radio, but he may have also built a death ray. At a 1937 luncheon in his honor, Tesla claimed to have created a weapon that could shoot a concentrated beam of energy capable of bringing down fleets of airplanes. He further claimed to have built, demonstrated, and used this weapon. When Tesla entered negotiations with the U.S., the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union to sell his device, Tesla claimed that one of these parties had sent people to break into his room and steal his invention, but that this theft was impossible since the blueprint for the weapon was entirely in his mind. Unfortunately, Tesla died with the blueprint in his mind before anyone could get one. On second thought, maybe that’s not such a bad thing
Tesla may have built a death ray but he died before it could be completed
Nikola Tesla's inventions were ahead of his time
The inventor of the AC power
The power of the "death ray"
