Worksheets5.RC.6 Main Idea Practice
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 1hrs 10mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.
Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?
Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?
a)
Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is
b)
Pictures help weather reporters get information out in a fast way
c)
Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short
d)
They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area
2.
"I hate the idea of having all those people out there watching me...I just don't like it when I'm around so many people. I wish I just could hide somewhere," whispered Violet.
What can you infer about Violet?
What can you infer about Violet?
a)
She is energetic
b)
She is shy
c)
She is mean
d)
She hates people
3.
Seated on his throne, King Midas wore a golden crown. He had golden rings on each finger and held a golden scepter. His vest was embroidered with golden thread and even his shoes had golden ornaments. He had a golden box filled with gold coins. He named his daughter Marigold.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
a)
King Midas loved gold.
b)
King Midas sold lots of gold.
c)
King Midas had a heart of gold.
d)
King Midas hated gold.
4.
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?
What is the passage mostly about?
a)
who uses pemmican today
b)
what can be put into pemmican
c)
how pemmican was prepared by Native Americans.
d)
why people eat pemmican today
5.
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?
What is the paragraph mostly about?
a)
how long you might expect to live
b)
about the health of females
c)
why people live to be 70
d)
tells that people live to be 100
6.
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?
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.
7.
Floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand and debris behind. It can take months to clean up after a flood.
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
a)
Floods can cause a lot of damage.
b)
Floods cause mudslides.
c)
Floods damage houses and roads.
8.
The earth's surface is constantly changing. All over the world everyday there are earthquakes, floods and volcanoes that quickly change our world. Some changes are too small to see. Others cause tremendous damage and costs millions of dollars to clean up.
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
a)
It is expensive to clean up the damage
b)
Sometimes we can't see the changes.
c)
The Earth's surface is always changing.
9.
Scientists can measure the intensity of an earthquake. They use an instrument called the Richter scale. The Richter scale compares the strength of different earthquakes. Earthquakes below 2.0 usually can’t be felt. Earthquakes over 5.0 on the scale can cause damage. A magnitude 7.0 is a major earthquake and can cause tremendous damage.
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
a)
Scientists can measure the intensity of an earthquake.
b)
Strong earthquakes can cause lots of damage.
c)
Some earthquakes are very small.
d)
There is a type of scale called a Richter scale
10.
One the most popular musical instruments is the piano. In the traditional musical instrument classification system of string, woodwind, percussion and brass, the piano falls into two categories. It is considered a string instrument because the sound comes from the strings inside the piano. It is also considered a percussion instrument, since the player strikes the keyboard, which signals an internal hammer to strike the strings.
What is the author main point?
What is the author main point?
a)
The piano is both a string and percussion instrument.
b)
The piano is a string instrument.
c)
The piano is a popular instrument.
d)
The strings of a piano makes the sound.
11.
Irish immigration to the U.S. began during the early development of the American colonies. It is estimated that 200,000 Irish came to the U.S. in the 17th and 18th centuries. The numbers swelled from 1820 to 1850 to almost 2 million Irish immigrants. Most of these were fleeing the potato famine from 1845 until 1852. Steady numbers continued to arrive during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Today, over 36 million Americans claim some level of Irish ancestry.
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
a)
The potato famine caused many Irish to immigrate to the U.S.
b)
The U.S. is a country of immigrants.
c)
The Irish are coming to the U.S. still today.
d)
The Irish came in large numbers to the U.S.
12.
The Constitution of the U.S. has been amended several times to allow more citizens the right to vote. The 15th Amendment, ratifi ed in 1870, extended voting rights to former slaves. The 19th Amendment, ratifi ed in 1920, gave women the right to vote. In 1971, the 26th Amendment granted voting rights to those 18 years and older, changing the requirement that voters must be 21 years old.
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
a)
The Constitution has been amended many times.
b)
Women didn’t vote until 1920 but men could vote since the founding of the country
c)
Today, almost anyone can vote.
d)
The Constitution has been amended several times to grant more citizens the right to vote.
13.
Soccer is known in some countries as football. It is a popular sport across the world, with over 200 countries playing the sport. It is estimated that over 250 million people, both men and women, play soccer. The sport has been part of the Olympic games from 1900 to 1928 and from 1936 to today.
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
a)
Soccer is important at the Olympics.
b)
Soccer is a worldwide sport.
c)
Soccer is also called football.
d)
Soccer is played by men and women.
14.
The Constitution of the U.S. has been amended several times to allow more citizens the right to vote. The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, extended voting rights to former slaves. The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, gave women the right to vote. In 1971, the 26th Amendment granted voting rights to those 18 years and older, changing the requirement that voters must be 21 years old.
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
a)
The Constitution has been amended many times.
b)
Women didn’t vote until 1920 but men could vote since the founding of the country
c)
Today, almost anyone can vote.
d)
The Constitution has been amended several times to grant more citizens the right to vote.
15.
Niagra Falls is one of the most beautiful sights in North America. It is on the Niagra River halfway between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Niagra Falls is located on the American and Canadian border. The American Falls is 167 feet high. On the Canadian side, the Horseshoe Falls is 161 feet high.
Which of the following is NOT a supporting detail?
Which of the following is NOT a supporting detail?
a)
The American Falls is 167 feet high
b)
The Horseshoe Falls is 161 feet high
c)
Niagra Falls is one of the most beautiful sights in North America
d)
It is located between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie
16.
The peregrine falcon is a beautiful wild bird. It is also one of the fastest. In 1978, the peregrine falcon was placed on the endangered species list. The main reason the peregrine falcon was dying out was the use of pesticides.
Which of the following is NOT a supporting detail?
Which of the following is NOT a supporting detail?
a)
The peregrine falcon is one of the fastest wild birds
b)
It was placed on the endangered species list
c)
It was dying out because of pesticides
d)
The peregrine falcon is an amazing bird
17.
Danger often appears in the most unexpected places. People usually think of the bathtub as a safe, quiet place. But more accidents occur there than anywhere else in the home. Slips or falls that occur while entering and leaving the tub injure thousands of people every year. Most people think of a baker as having a safe and pleasant job; however, rolling, kneading, and pounding dough causes clouds of flour dust, which can enter the lungs and disable the baker.
Which of the following is NOT a supporting detail?
Which of the following is NOT a supporting detail?
a)
Some activities are more dangerous than they look
b)
thousands of people are hurt in tub accidents every year
c)
People think bakers have a safe job
d)
Bakers can be disable by flour in their lungs
18.
The Statue of Liberty is visited by thousands of people every year. The Statue of Liberty is a 151 foot tall statue of a woman holding a book and a torch. It was a gift of friendship from the people of France. It has become the universal symbol for freedom.
Which of the following is NOT a supporting detail?
Which of the following is NOT a supporting detail?
a)
The Statue of Liberty is an amazing statue
b)
The Statue of Liberty is 151 feet tall
c)
Thousands of people visit the Statues of Liberty each year
d)
It was a gift of friendship from France
19.
Eva wanted to surprise her sister Cindy for her birthday. She decided to plan a picnic for her sister. She made two sandwiches and put them in a bag. Then she put some cookies and bottles of water in the bag. When she told Cindy about the surprise, Cindy her sister a big hug. Then the girls walked to the park.
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
a)
The girls walked to the park
b)
Eva planned a picnic to surprise her sister
c)
Eva told Cindy about the surprise
d)
Eva put some cookies and water in a bag
20.
Hummingbirds love pink or red flowers. They guard their favorite flowers and try to keep other birds away. They fight one another for food. Their wings make a whirring sound when they hover over flowers to sip nectar. The tiny birds fly long distances to go to a warmer climate for the winter. They make their tiny nests in shrubs or trees.
What is the main idea?
What is the main idea?
a)
Hummingbirds are interesting birds
b)
They hover over flowers to sip nectar.
c)
They fly long distances to travel to warmer climates in the winter
d)
They guard their favorite flowers
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