Multiple Choice
Short Answer
True/False
Facts About Main Idea
Main Idea VS Supporting Details
100

Joy sat on the bench at the baseball field and waited. She didn’t like waiting alone. All of the other kids have been picked up by their parents. Where was her mother? Suddenly, her mother came running up to her. “Oh, Joy, I am so sorry. Next time I will make myself a note to help me remember.”
a. Joy’s mother forgot to pick her up. b. Joy hated waiting alone. c. Joy plays baseball. d. Joy’s mother writes notes.

A

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.

100

A. True B. False 

The main idea is ALWAYS the first sentence of the paragraph.

B. False: The main idea can be anywhere in the paragraph.

100

a. who is the main character . b. what the story is mostly about. c. the details of the story. d. extra information included in the paragrpah about the main topic

The main idea of a story tells us__________________.

B

100

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.
(Main idea or Supporting detail) The workers build walls using bricks is a…

Supporting Detail

200

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!"
A. Jon can jump high. B. Jon likes basketball. C. Jon makes a basket. D. How to throw a basketball.

C.

200
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. What is the main idea of this passage?
The rules for lining up.
200

A. True B. False 

The main idea gives a prediction for what the author thinks is coming up.

B- False: The main idea tells what a paragraph is mostly about.

200

a. Where a story takes place b. Who the story is about c. What the story is mostly about d. Examples and extra information included in the paragrpah about the main topic 

Which choice describes "supporting details"

D.

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 without his bike.
(Main idea or Supporting detail) Aaron couldn't ride his bike to school is a…

Main idea

300

Tommy ran down the street chasing his dog. “Max! Max!” he yelled. He knew he should have checked the gate before letting Max into the backyard. His mother has told him this a hundred times. How could he have forgotten? If he had closed the gate, Max would still be in the backyard.
a. Tommy’s mother told him to close the gate. b. Tommy forgot to make sure the gate was closed. c. Tommy was forgetful. d. Tommy’s mother was bossy.

B.

300
Which of the following is the main idea sentence in this paragraph? My mother is a veterinarian. She earned her degree at Ohio State. She loves to take care of animals. When she was younger she had lots of pets. Now, she even teaches classes about how people can help protect animals.
My mother is a veterinarian.
300

A. True B. False 

Supporting Detail is details tells more about the main idea.

A. True

300

A. first sentence B. second sentence C. last sentence D. topic sentence 

Where can you often find the main idea?

D

300

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! Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier.
(Main idea or Supporting detail) Someday we will have robots that will be our personal servants is a…

Main idea

400

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).
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

C

400
Although many people think a koala is a bear, it is not. The koala is a type of mammal called a marsupial. A kangaroo is also a marsupial. These mammals carry their babies in a pouch. The kangaroo’s pouch is on her stomach, but the koala’s pouch is on her back. Both feed their babies milk and keep them secure in their pouch until they are strong enough to survive on their own. What is the main idea of this passage? A. The koala is not a bear. B. The kangaroo is nothing like a koala. C. The kangaroo and koala are alike, but have some differences.
The kangaroo and the koala are alike, but have some differences.
400

A.True B.False 

The main idea is always stated clearly in the passage?

B. False: Sometimes a reader needs to use the supporting details to be able to identify the main idea.

400

A. True B. False 

When you summarize a passage, you tell about the main idea.

A.True

400

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 the main idea of this passage?

Peter's parents made new rules so the new carpet stays clean.

500

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 images to show where the cold air is and where the warm air is. They have to show 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.
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

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.
Sonny watches too much television
500

A. True B. False 

Supporting details never tell you what the main idea is in a story or passage.

B. False: Supporting details give you clues to what the main idea is when the main idea is not clearly stated.

500

A. supporting details B. exposition C. paper and pencil D. comparing and contrasting 

What is needed to find the main idea?

A

500

There is a village on an island near Scotland. It was built out of stone. A storm covered it 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!
What is the main idea of this passage?

A village covered in sand in 1851 looked exactly the same when another storm blew the sand away 4,000 years later.

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