WorksheetsDetermining Central Idea
Total questions: 25
Worksheet time: 25mins
The central idea is...
the focused idea of the text.
a detail from the text.
the first sentence of a paragraph.
a quote you provide from the text.
True or False: The central idea is directly tied to the author's main point or argument.
False
True
Being able to identify the central idea of a text shows...
that you can cite evidence from the text.
that you know how to write.
that you understand the text.
that you like what you are reading.
In complex texts, the central idea...
is stated and can be quoted directly from the text.
is implied, not stated, meaning you must rely on clues in the text to find it.
is not directly said by the author, meaning you must draw conclusions.
is said in the title, and therefore, copying the title is a great way to find the central idea.
How is central idea different from theme?
Theme incudes specific names and details from the text.
Central idea includes specific names and details from the text.
The central idea tells the lesson or moral of the text.
The theme is the main topic or focus of the text.
Why are we working on central idea in high school?
The central idea is harder to identify in complex texts.
Identifying the central idea is a new standard in high school.
The central idea is very easy and it is ridiculous that we are still learning about it.
Analyzing the central idea involves more than identifying it.
Which of the following is NOT a type of specific detail that could support the central idea?
points made
events
conversations
citations
True or false: You do not have to read all of the supporting details to determine the central idea.
True
False
True or False: One supporting detail could change what your central idea says.
True
False
How ready do you feel to start determining and analyzing the central idea?
Very Ready
Somewhat ready
I need more information
What are we talking about?
Read the following paragraph. (1)The first U.S. zoo opened in Philadelphia in 1874. (2)Visitors were thrilled to see animals from all over the world. (3)The zoo had six giraffes, an elephant named Jennie, and many colorful birds. (4)It also had some animals from Australia. (5)People were amazed at the kangaroos, wombats and dingoes. Which sentence in the passage best supports the central idea of the paragraph?
Sentence 1
Sentence 2
Sentence 3
Sentence 5
Read the following passage:
The Louisiana Purchase proved to be one of the shrewdest business pacts in the entire history of the United States. The purchase doubled in the area of the country and provided territory from which fourteen new states were created either wholly or in part. It also gave us control over the mouth of the Mississippi River and opened up the way to foreign trade. Prior to the purchase, the waterway had been blocked by the Spanish, probably with the approval of Napoleon. The land that was bought was rich in timber, minerals, and natural resources of many kinds. Finally, the cost of the transaction was unbelievably low; the total of $15 million amounted to about four cents an acre.
What is the central idea of this passage?
The Louisiana Purchase was a very good business deal for the U.S.
The land bought by the Louisiana Purchase was rich in minerals.
The land bought by the Louisiana Purchase was very cheap.
Most Americans were very pleased with the purchase.
What is central idea?
The message about life in a text
The best information to support the subject
What the text is mainly about
The purpose for the article
Read the following passage: Katie Clean invited Messy Missy to her house to work on their biology project, but Katie Clean had no idea what a visit from Messy Missy entailed. First of all, it was raining and Messy Missy neither bothered to take her boots off nor thoroughly wiped them on the doormat. Then Messy Missy ate a bag of hot chips on Katie Clean’s white bedspread without asking, and Messy Missy is a sloppy eater, so hot chip powder got all over the bedspread. Katie Clean tried to be polite and ignore Messy Missy’s sloppy behavior, but then Messy Missy threw her chip wrapper on the floor. Offended, Katie Clean pretended that she was sick and asked Messy Missy to leave. The next day Katie Clean asked the teacher if she could work by herself. After explaining her situation, the teacher allowed Katie to work alone. Messy Missy would have finished the assignment by herself, but she spilled grape soda all over her assignment. What can the reader infer the theme of the passage is?
Messy Missy made a poor choice in project partners.
Both of the girls reveal negative traits about themselves based on the events.
When making choices, consider the consequences first.
Always work alone because you can’t count on others to be responsible.
What can the reader infer the theme of the passage is?
Money is the key to being successful in life.
Money can buy you happiness as long as you earned it.
Mark had a lot more money than Penny.
In order to truly appreciate what you have, you need to work for it.
What is the central idea of this paragraph?
You are the driver of your life, not the passenger.
Since you are the driver, decide where you want to go and draw up a map to get there.
Decide on your values and set goals.
What is the main idea of the following text?
The paths you choose today can shape you forever. It’s both frightening and exciting that we have to make so many vital decisions when we’re so young and full of hormones, but such is life. Imagine an eighty-foot rope stretched out before you. Each foot represents one year of your life. Teenagehood is only seven years, such a short span of rope, but those seven affect the remaining sixty-one, for good or bad, in such a powerful way.
It is both frightening and exciting that you have to make so many vital decisions.
Life is short like an eighty-foot rope.
The paths you choose today can shape you forever.
Find the central 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 are bucked off of bulls at riding competitions, 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. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business
Being a clown isn't all fun and games.
Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.
Rodeos are exciting.
Clowns are good at riding bulls.
Why is it important for you as a reader to be able to identify the central idea in an informational text?
The central idea is the author's main reason for writing.
Determining the central idea helps us understand the point of a text
Finding the central idea helps us understand where the author grew up.
Determining the central idea helps us understand the setting of a piece of fiction.
What is the central idea of a text?
The main point or message the author wants to convey.
A minor detail mentioned in the text.
The first sentence of the text.
A quote from the text.
True or False: The central idea is always explicitly stated in the text.
True
False
Which of the following best describes the process of identifying the central idea in a text?
Summarizing the text in your own words.
Finding the most interesting part of the text.
Identifying the author's purpose for writing.
Looking for repeated ideas or themes.
In a narrative text, the central idea is often related to...
The setting of the story.
The main character's journey or transformation.
The author's writing style.
The dialogue between characters.
How does understanding the central idea help in analyzing a text?
It allows you to memorize the text.
It helps you understand the author's main argument or message.
It makes the text more entertaining.
It helps you identify the genre of the text.
Which of the following is NOT a method to determine the central idea of a text?
Identifying key details and examples.
Looking for the author's thesis statement.
Ignoring the introduction and conclusion.
Summarizing the text in your own words.
