Main Idea

Multiple choice

100

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. Catie and Katie had the same name. It sounded the same when anyone said it. But one Catie started with the letter "C" and the other 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.

B.

200

A. Jon can jump high. B. Jon likes basketball. C. Jon makes a basket. D. How to throw a basketball. Based on the passage, what did the author want you to learn from this passage? Jon held the ball in his hands. He bounced it slowly on the ground. Once. Twice. He crouched low and then jumped. The ball flew into the air. Up, up, up it went. Then down, down, down into the basket. "Yes!" he yelled. "Nothing but the net!"

D

300

A. draw a picture of the character B. remember details that make the story interesting C. mentally summarizing it in 2-3 sentences D. think about what you plan to do after the test. A test-taker can remember the main idea of the story by

C

400

A. He practices everyday after school. B. He won player of the year last year. C. John's favorite sport is basketball. D.None of these Read the following sentences and choose the main idea. John's favorite sport is basketball. He practices every day after school. He won player of the year last year. One day, John hopes to enter a basketball competition (and of course win).

C

500

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. Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph? 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.

B

Short answer

100

It was backward day at school. The students had to do things backwards. Some of them wore their t-shirt backward. They took a test before they studied the lesson! Dessert was served first instead of last at lunch. They tried to walk home backward, but they kept bumping into each other and fell down. What is the main idea of this passage?

Students had a backwards day.

200

What is the main idea of this passage? The rules for lining up are very clear. 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.

The rules for lining up are very clear.

300

Which of the following is the main idea sentence in this paragraph? 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.

my mother is a veterinarian.

400

What do main idea questions ask you to identify?

You are asked to identify the main topic of the passage.

500

What is the main idea of this passage? Sonny watches too much television. A toddler shouldn't spend hours sitting in front of a televison screen. Worse yet, some of his wild behavior has been inspired by those awful cartoons he watches. His parents should spend more time reading or playing games with him and pull the plug on the TV! A baby needs more attention than just keeping them occupied and quiet.

Watching a lot of television is bad for sonny

Facts about main idea

100

a. who is the main character . b. what the story is mainly about. c. the details of the story. d. nothing The main idea of a story tells us__________________.

B

200

a. Where a story takes place b. Who the story is about c. What the story is mostly about d. How to make something What does the term "main idea" mean?

C.

300

A. first sentence B. second sentence C. last sentence D. third sentence Where can you usually find the Main Idea?

D

400

A. True B.False When summarizing a story or a passage, you are tell what the main idea is.

A.

500

A. supporting points and details B. clues and prior knowledge C. paper and pencil D. comparing and contrasting What two things is needed to find the Main Idea?

A

summarizing or topic of the passage

100

What is the topic of this passage? 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.

Getting a New School/ Building a new school

200

Aaron wanted to ride his bike to school. He saw that he had to a flat tire. Aaron said, "Oh,no, I really wanted to ride my bike to school. I will have to wait until I get it fixed." His mom said, "I will take you to school today." Aaron went to school with out his bike.

Aaron couldn't ride his bike because of a flat tire.

300

What is this selection mainly about?(Summarizing) 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 eaier.

Someday we will have robots that will be our personal servants.

400

Peter's parents bought a new carpet for the lining 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.

Petter's parents made new rules so the new carpet stays clean

500

There is a village on an island near Scotland. it was built out of stone. A storm covered in in sand 4,000 years ago. It stayed covered until 1851. Then another storm blew the sand away. The village looked just like it did 4,000 years ago!

About a village covered in sand for over 4,000 years ago