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Central Idea and Summarizing Review

Total questions: 11

Worksheet time: 49mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the central idea of the passage?


Millions of acres of tropical rainforest have been destroyed. Many animals and people lose their homes when the rain forest is cut down. Today, people are destroying the forests so quickly that the animals are unable to adapt. Many of these animals, such as the leopard, need miles and miles of untouched rain forest in order to live. Furthermore, as more of the rainforest is destroyed, the risk of air pollution and loss of oxygen increases.

a)

Leopards are losing their homes

b)

The destruction of the rain forest is harming humans and animals.

c)

The destruction of the rain forest is an interesting subject

d)

Forests provide oxygen for humans and animals

2.

What is the central idea of the passage?


Thomas Edison’s life span is known as “The age of Edison.” If it wasn’t for Thomas Edison, we might not have electric lights, telephones, movie cameras, or computers! Think of all the ways these great products affect our lives today. Edison held over 1,000 patents and received dozens of awards during his lifetime for his inventions and contributions to science.

a)

The light bulb was an important invention

b)

Thomas Edison was an important inventor

c)

Thomas Edison was an excellent student

d)

Creating inventions is a difficult process

3.

What is the central idea of the passage?


In 1969, Apollo 11’s successful landing on the moon was seen on TV all around the world. At last, men had walked on the moon for the first time ever! Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin became famous American heroes. This mission was a great achievement for the U.S. space program, and led to six more Apollo flights in the years to come. The mission's success also led to further deep space explorations by the United States and other countries around the world.

a)

Apollo 11’s landing was an important moment in history

b)

Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin are heroes

c)

People were surprised about Apollo 11's success

d)

Millions watched the Apollo 11 moon landing

4.

What is the central idea of the passage?


The law was not exactly fair in the Middle Ages in Europe. Back then, you could blame someone in your town for committing a crime. The “criminal” could then challenge you to a fight to prove his guilt or innocence. If you lost the fight, you were charged as a liar and the criminal was believed to be innocent. If you won, the criminal was believed to be guilty.

a)

Laws were unfair in the Middle Ages

b)

Fighting is a good way to decide guilt or innocence.

c)

Most people lied about crime in the Middle Ages.

d)

Those who were innocent of crimes often won

5.

What is the central idea of the passage?


There are a lot of myths flying around about bats. One of these myths is that bats are blind. Bats can actually see quite well, some even better then people! Another myth is that bats are dirty. This is also untrue, as bats are very clean animals. Like cats, they spend lots of time grooming themselves.

a)

Bats are misunderstood animals

b)

Bats are interesting animals.

c)

Bats can be very dangerous animals

d)

Bats live in caves

6.

Turn over a bag of potato chips. Is the label interesting? A simple food recipe may use several ingredients. These come from the soil and from chemistry labs around the world. Surprises also show up in the labels on clothing and other products. Look at the label on a package of lipstick. The tube seems small and shiny, but inside lipstick there is soap, oil, fish scales, and wax!


Which is the best way to summarize this passage?

a)

A bag of potato chips seems like a simple recipe. There are many ingredients from the soil and from chemistry labs.

b)

Clothes and other products have many ingredients as well. Lipstick alone has soap, oil, wax, and fish scales.

c)

Labels show what goes into food, clothing, and other products. A simple product may have many ingredients.

d)

Lipstick seems small and shiny. Look at the label sometime. It has at least four different ingredients.

7.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be held in Brazil. It will be the 20th year of the World Cup. Brazil was chosen in October of 2007 to host the 2014 competition. Earlier in the year, South America had been chosen as the continent for the contest. Brazil was the only country to put in a bid. This is the second time Brazil will host the World Cup. The country hosted it in 1950. It is the first World Cup to be held in South America since 1978, when Argentina hosted. No other South American country has hosted the World Cup more than once.


The summary of this passage is:

a)

The 20th World Cup will take place in 2014. In 2007, it was decided that the competition would be held in South America. It is the first World Cup in South America since 1978.

b)

In October 2007, Brazil was chosen to host the 20th World Cup. Brazil has already hosted the World Cup before. 1978 was the last time a South American country hosted the World Cup.

c)

The 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil. It is the second time Brazil has been chosen to host the World Cup. Brazil is the only South American country to host the World Cup twice.

d)

Early in 2007, South America was chosen as the continent for the 20th World Cup. Brazil was the only country that put in a bid. Brazil hosted the World Cup before in 1950.

8.
Tomorrow is Jill's birthday. She is excited because she gets to pick where she will eat dinner. Will it be Mexican food at the Big Enchilada House? Or will it be fried chicken at the Chicken Shack, or a big cheeseburger at Al's Hamburger Palace. She just couldn't decide. Then there was always the Pizza Shop with that great pepperoni pizza. How would she ever decide? Maybe she would just flip a coin.
The Summary of this passage is:
a)
Jill has many restaurants to choose from for her birthday.
b)
 Jill loves Mexican food.
c)
The Pizza Shop has the best pizza in town.
d)
 Jill will choose a place by flipping a coin.
9.
It started when they got to the bears. Peter felt tired and his stomach hurt. He dragged himself over to see the elephants, which were eating from a stack of hay. Normally, the elephants were his favorite. Without much interest, Peter followed his classmates to the camels, which were busy swatting flies with their tails. Peter knew he should be having fun at the zoo, but he just felt terrible and all he wanted to do was lie down and rest. Even the lions and tigers did not interest him now. 
The Summary of this passage is:
a)
Peter's favorite animals were the elephants.
b)
The camels were swatting flies with their tails.
c)
 It was really hot at the zoo.
d)
Peter didn't enjoy the zoo because he felt really bad.
10.
Summarizing is a retelling in your own words, a short version of the main ideas, events and details.
a)
True
b)
False
11.

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 central 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.