Multiple Choice
Catie and Katie had the same name. Both names sounded the same when anyone said them. However, Catie's name started with the letter "C" and Katie's name began with the letter "K." How could they know who was being called? They decided that "Catie" would stay the same and "Katie" would shorten her name to "Kate" to avoid confusion.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
A. Catie didn't want to change her name to "Cate."
B. Catie and Katie solved the problem of having similar names.
C. "Catie" looked prettier in print than "Katie."
D. Catie and Katie thought it was fun to have the same-sounding name.
B. Catie and Katie solved the problem of having similar names.
It was backwards day at school. The students had to do things backwards. Some of them wore their T-shirt backwards. They took a test before they studied the lesson! Dessert was served first instead of last during lunch. They tried to walk home backwards, but they kept bumping into each other and fell down.
What is the main idea of this passage?
Students had a backwards day.
True or False: The main idea is ALWAYS the first sentence of the paragraph.
A. True
B. False
B. False
The main idea may be either the first or last sentence of a given paragraph. However, it is not always the first sentence.
The main idea of a story tells us ___________.
A. Who is the main character.
B. What the story is mostly about.
C. The details of the story.
D. Nothing
B. What the story is mostly about.
They are building a new school near my house. Every day I watch the workers drive huge tractors and push a ton of dirt. They have big cranes that help them place tall beams in the ground. The workers build walls using bricks. Every day it looks more and more like a school. Mom says I will go there in the fall.
What is the topic of this passage?
Any answer that indicates the following:
A new school is being constructed near the main character's home.
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.
Based on the passage, what did the author want you to learn from this passage?
A. There are rare and valuable pennies.
B. World War II used a lot of copper
C. Steel is a precious commodity
D. You can win money by auctioning pennies.
A. There are rare and valuable pennies.
The rules for lining up are very clear and important. Wait until the teacher calls your group, then stand up and push in your chair. Walk to the door and stand in a straight, quiet line. Anyone not following the rules will be told by the teacher to please sit down. This can cause the class to be late for their transition.
What is the main idea of this passage?
The rules for lining up are very clear and important.
True or False: Summarize means "to retell the main idea of a story."
A. True
B. False
A. True
Summarizing means retelling what a passage is mostly about in your own way.
What do we use to help explain the main idea of a story?
A. Facts
B. Supporting details
C. Sequence of events
D. Explanation
B. Supporting details
Aaron wanted to ride his bike to school. He saw that his bike had a flat tire. Aaron said, "Oh, no! I really wanted to ride my bike to school. Guess I'll have to wait until I get it fixed." His mom said, "I will take you to school today." Aaron went to school without his bike.
What is the main topic of this passage?
Any answer that indicates the following:
Aaron couldn't ride his bike because of a flat tire.
AND/OR
Aaron couldn't ride his bike and rode with his mother in her car to get to school.
A test-taker can search for the main idea of the story by:
A. Drawing a picture of the character.
B. Remembering details that make the story interesting.
C. Looking at the first and last sentences of paragraphs in the text.
D. Think about what you plan to do after the test.
C. Looking at the first and last sentences of paragraphs in the text.
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.
Which of the following is the main idea sentence in this paragraph?
My mother is a veterinarian and loves animals.
True or False: Supporting details are details that support or help explain the main idea of a passage.
A. True
B. False
A. True
Supporting details provide evidence of what a story is mostly about. They support the main idea.
Where can you usually find the main idea of a passage?
A. The first sentence of a paragraph.
B. The last sentence of a paragraph.
C. The subtitle of the passage.
D. All of the above.
D. All of the above.
Remember: you must use strategies to determine whether all of these answers support the main idea.
Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal servants. They will look and behave much like real humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers and they will be able to respond in kind! Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier.
What is this passage mainly about?
Any answer that indicates the following:
At a point in the future, we will have robots that will be our personal servants.
John's favorite sport is baseball. He practices every day after school. He won player of the year last year. One day, John hopes to enter a baseball competition - and, of course, win. When he grows up, John hopes to become a famous baseball player like his idol, Jackie Robinson.
What is the main idea?
A. He practices everyday after school.
B. He won player of the year last year.
C. John's favorite sport is baseball.
D. None of the above.
C. John's favorite sport is baseball.
What is the main idea?
The main idea is what the text is mostly about.
True or False: The main idea of a passage is not always stated clearly in the passage.
A. True
B. False
A. True
The main idea is not always directly stated in the text. This is why we must use supporting details to identify the main idea.
Summarizing a story can often help you determine the main idea.
A. True
B. False
A. True
Summarizing is retelling the story in your own way. Using details from the passage - as well as characters, the setting, the problem, and the solution in fictional texts - can help you determine the main idea.
Peter's parents bought a new carpet for the living room. Now, he has to take his shoes off when he enters the house. He's also not allowed to eat or drink in the living room any more. Peter's furry dog isn't allowed to play ball in there either. When his parents got the new carpet, there were lots of new rules.
What is this passage mostly about?
Any answer that indicates the following:
Peter's parents made new rules so the new carpet stays clean.
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?
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.
B. Pictures help weather reporters get information out in a fast way.
Amusement parks have many amazing rides. One of these rides is the rollercoaster. Rollercoasters can go up and down, from side to side, and can take many twists and turns - within three minutes! Sometimes, they can even take you upside down in a giant loop! Rollercoasters are an exhilarating experience that many can enjoy.
What is the main idea of this passage?
Any answer that indicates the following:
Rollercoasters are an exhilarating experience because they can take you in many different directions.
True or False: Supporting details never support what the main idea of a passage is.
A. True
B. False
B. False
Supporting details always provide evidence that supports the main idea.
Which of the following may NOT help identify the main idea?
A. Rereading the passage
B. Reading the first sentence of paragraphs in the passage
C. Reading the last sentence of paragraphs in the passage
D. Rereading the title of the passage
D. Rereading the title of the passage
While a title may indicate the main topic, rereading the title may not always help you find the main idea. You must search for supporting details within the text.
The dodo bird is an animal that is now extinct. Although it did not live for long, the dodo bird was a bird that lived on an island in the Indian Ocean during the 1800s. The dodo bird could not fly and therefore hunted for nuts, fruit, and other plants to eat on the ground. The dodo bird was hunted down to extinction by Dutch sailors for food. Though they did not survive, the dodo bird is an interesting part of the history of extinct animals.
What is the main idea of this passage?
Any answer that indicates the following:
The dodo bird is an interesting animal that lived in the past and is now extinct.