Main Idea 1
Steel is a very important metal that is used for many things. In the United States, the automobile industry uses the most steel. Steel is also used for putting up buildings. Cans and containers are made from steel. Steel can be used to make farm and factory machines. What is the main idea?
A. Steel is an important metal.
B. Steel is used for many different things.
B. Steel is used for many different things
Did you know that giraffes are the tallest animals in the world? They are unique in other ways, too. For one thing, they sleep only about 20 minutes each day, and usually, not more than five minutes at a time in order to remain alert for predators. Also, every giraffe’s coat is unique, and varies in color from white to nearly black, depending on what they eat and where they live. What is the main idea?
A. Giraffes are unique animals.
B. Giraffes are tall animals.
C. Giraffes are very strange animals.
A. Giraffes are unique animals.
I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end, we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave! What is the main idea?
A) Weekends are times to travel.
B) The author enjoys spending time with her family.
C) The author's grandparents live far away.
B) The author enjoys spending time with her family.
Cody is a great soccer player. He practices every day after school. Cody plays soccer for his school team, and so far this year he has scored 6 goals! He can also run very fast. Everyone thinks that Cody is the best soccer player they know. What is the main idea?
A. Cody practices soccer a lot.
B. Cody is a great soccer player.
C. Cody scores a lot of goals when he plays soccer.
B. Cody is a great soccer player.
Africa has many kinds of animals. The jungles are home to gorillas, chimpanzees, and others of the primate family. In the grasslands, there are elephant herds. In the plains, there are lions, giraffes, zebras, and antelopes. What is the main idea?
A. Africa is home to many types of animals.
B. There are many strange animals in Africa.
A. Africa is home to many types of animals.
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 also 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 can 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?
A. There are lots of ways to feel better when you’re sad.
B. Sometimes people feel sad.
C. When people feel sad they need help.
A. There are lots of ways to feel better when you’re sad.
The students had a backward day at school. They had to do things backward for the entire day. Some of them wore their t-shirt backward. They read a book from back to front! Dessert was eaten first instead of last at lunch. They tried to walk down the hall backward, but they kept bumping into each other. It was a fun day. What is the main idea?
A. The students had a weird day.
B. The students had fun at school.
C. The students were having a backward day at school.
C. The students were having a backward day at school.
Dolphins are good learners. They learn to play games. They learn to do tricks. Trainers have taught dolphins how to save lives. One trainer even taught his dolphins to clean out their tank. For each piece of trash they brought him, he gave them a fish. What is the main idea?
A) Dolphins are good learners.
B) Dolphins like fish.
C) Some people like to teach dolphins.
A) Dolphins are good learners.
The Great Lakes are five freshwater lakes in North America. They formed thousands of years ago as the glaciers melted. The Great Lakes contain most of the freshwater in North America. More than 30 million people rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water. They are also important shipping routes, fishing sites, and sources of drinking water. What is the main idea?
A. The Great Lakes are important to North America.
B. The Great Lakes formed a long time ago.
A. The Great Lakes are important to North America.
Violins and violas are very similar instruments. Both of them are string instruments that you might find in an orchestra. You also could find a cello in an orchestra. Violins and violas both have 3 strings that you play by using a bow or by plucking. Also, they are both played by being held between the shoulder and chin. What is the main idea?
A. String instruments are played in an orchestra.
B. Violins and violas are similar.
B. Violins and violas are similar.
Tom started to reel in his line. The fish tugged and pulled hard. Judging by the weight of his catch, this fish could feed his family for three days. Tom struggled to stay in the boat and not be pulled over the side. Finally, his catch came into view. He had caught a snapping turtle! What is the main idea?
A. Tom didn't catch anything.
B. Tom catches a snapping turtle while fishing.
C. Tom loves to fish.
B. Tom catches a snapping turtle while fishing.
Honeybees form large hives. There are thousands of bees in a hive. One bee is the queen. She lays the eggs. Some bees gather nectar and pollen from flowers to make honey. Other bees protect the hive. Some bees keep the hive clean. Still, other bees help the queen. Each bee has a special job to do in the bee hive. What is the main idea?
A. Every bee in the hive has a job.
B. Bees do a lot of things.
C. There are thousands of bees in the world.
A. Every bee in the hive has a job.
Earthquakes are caused when the plates of the Earth's crust move. Earthquakes happen along "fault lines" in the earth’s crust. When the plates in the Earth suddenly shift, the Earth will begin to shift, shake, or tremble. What is the main idea?
A) Earthquakes occur on "fault lines."
B) Earthquakes cause a lot of damage.
C) Earthquakes are caused when the plates of the Earth's crust move.
C) Earthquakes are caused when the plates of the Earth's crust move.
A female kangaroo has a special fold of skin that forms a pouch. The pouch is like a large pocket on its stomach. When a baby kangaroo, or a joey, is born, it climbs into its mother’s pouch. At birth, a joey is only about one inch long. It needs to stay in the pouch so it can grow more. After several months, the joey has grown enough to leave the pouch for short periods. By the time the joey is ten months old, it is ready to leave the pouch for good. What is the main idea?
A. A joey is a baby kangaroo.
B. Kangaroos have pouches.
C. A baby kangaroo stays in its mother's pouch until it is strong enough to live on its own.
C. A baby kangaroo stays in its mother's pouch until it is strong enough to live on its own.
There are many different kinds of bears in the world. black bears live in North America. Grizzly bears also live in North America. Giant pandas live in the mountain ranges in western China. The white polar bear lives in the Arctic. The biggest bear is the Kodiak bear, which is found in Alaska. What is the main idea?
A. There are many kinds of bears in the world.
B. Bears are dangerous.
C. Bears are mammals.
A. There are many kinds of bears in the world.
4. One of 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 main idea?
A. Pianos are very popular instruments.
B. The piano is both a string and percussion instrument.
B. The piano is both a string and percussion instrument.
Floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses, roads, and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. They often leave behind mud, sand, and debris. The water supply in a town can be contaminated. It can take months to clean up after a flood. What is the main idea?
A. Floods are common in many places.
B. Floods can cause a lot of damage.
B. Floods can cause a lot of damage.
Catie and Katie have the same name. Even though one name starts with the letter "C" and the other with the letter "K," it sounds the same when anyone says it. How could they know who was being called? They decided that the name "Catie" would stay the same and "Katie" would shorten her name to "Kate" to avoid confusion. What is the main idea?
A) Catie didn't want to change her name to "Cate."
B) Catie and Katie solved the problem of having similar names.
C. Catie and Katie thought it was fun to have the same-sounding name.
B) Catie and Katie solved the problem of having similar names.
Dolphins are mammals that live in the ocean. Mammals are different than fish, reptiles, or birds. As a mammal, dolphins breathe oxygen, even though they live in water. Because they are mammals, a dolphin mother gives birth to a live baby, unlike reptiles and birds who lay eggs. A dolphin mother also feeds her baby milk like other mammals. What is the main idea?
A. Dolphins are mammals that live in the ocean.
B. Dolphins are unique animals.
A. Dolphins are mammals that live in the ocean.
My mother is a veterinarian. She loves animals. When she was younger she had lots of pets. She even teaches classes about how people can help protect animals. She works hard to treat animals when they are sick and she enjoys helping people with taking care of their pets. What is the main idea?
A. The author's mother is a veterinarian who loves animals.
B. Veterinarians are helpful to animals.
C. Veterinarians love animals.
A. The author's mother is a veterinarian who loves animals.
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 of this passage?
A. People love going to the beach.
B. There are many fun things to do at the beach.
c. Going to the beach is fun.
B. There are many fun things to do at the beach.
Mary has a new pet. Her pet is a baby kitten. It is soft and cuddly. The kitten likes to sleep a lot. Mary put a soft blanket in a box for its bed. Mary plays with her kitten when it is awake. She never forgets to feed her kitten. What is the main idea?
A. Mary loves her new pet.
B. Mary's kitten is really cute.
C. Mary’s new pet is a kitten.
C. Mary’s new pet is a kitten.
Benjamin Franklin invented many things that made life easier in the late 1700s. He invented the lightning rod which has saved many homes from fires. He also invented the Franklin stove. The stove could heat a room better than a fireplace and saved people a lot of fuel. He also invented a special kind of glasses called bifocals. This new kind of glasses helped people to read better. What is the main idea?
A) Benjamin Franklin thought reading was important.
B) Benjamin Franklin was not afraid of fire.
C) Benjamin Franklin was a great inventor.
C) Benjamin Franklin was a great inventor.
There are eight planets in the Solar System, and each one is very different. Some planets, like Jupiter and Saturn are very large. Others, like Mercury and Mars are smaller. Jupiter has moons that are larger than Mercury. The planets also have different temperatures. Uranus is the coldest and Venus is the hottest. What is the main idea?
A. There are eight planets in the solar system.
B. The planets in our solar system are very different.
C. Some planets are cold and some are hot.
B. The planets in our solar system are very different.
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. What is the main idea?
A. Weather reporters help us know the weather.
B. Weather reports need to be correct.
C. Weather reporters use pictures to help express information quickly.
C. Weather reporters use pictures to help express information quickly.