What's the Main Idea?
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.
The main idea of the paragraph is: a. The koala is not a bear. b. The kangaroo is nothing like the koala. c. The kangaroo and koala are mostly alike but have some differences. d. The kangaroo and koala are exactly alike.
c. The kangaroo and koala are mostly alike but have some differences.
When most people see an onion, they assume that the onion will be eaten. However, creative people have found additional purposes for the common onion. Some of these uses may even surprise you! Did you know that onions repel insects? Therefore, some people rub onion on their skin or clothes as an Earth-friendly alternative to bug spray. Other people use onions to polish metal. They just crush an onion, combine it with water, and rub the mixture on metal surfaces until the metal looks spic and and span.
a. description b. cause & effect c. problem & solution d. chronological/sequential order
a. What is description?
Government officials issued EVACUATION orders to many people living on or near the coastline before Hurricane Sandy.
What does the word EVACUATION mean in the sentence?
a. the movement toward a building or area because it is dangerous.
b. the movement away from a building or area because it is dangerous c. the movement of boxes from one place to another
b. the movement away from a building or area because it is dangerous?
# 19 - King Zook
It all started with a trading card. I had to have it. It was King Zook from
Planet B in the “Star Invasions” set. In perfect condition. Milton said I could have
it for four dollars. But I only had two dollars left in my pocket.
“What about your lunch money, Mark?” asked Milton.
My lunch money! Of course! I handed over another two dollars, and that
left me fifty cents. I could buy a chocolate milk and coast through the afternoon.
No problem, I thought, carefully putting my King Zook card in the pocket of my
notebook.
The Author’s main purpose for writing this passage is to
a) Inform the reader about what it takes to buy a King Zook card.
b) Inform the reader about how much a King Zook card costs.
c) Entertain the reader with a story about a boy who had to have a King Zook
card.
d) Entertain the reader with a story about a boy who lost all of his lunch money.
c) Entertain the reader with a story about a boy who had to have a King Zook
card.
Cheetahs are a type of cat. They can run up to 60 miles per hour, but only for a short amount of time. Their quick speed helps them successfully hunt for food. The cheetah's tail, small head, and retractable claws allow them to run at super speeds.
Readers can conclude that:
a. Cheetahs are beautiful creatures b. Cheetahs are near extinction c. Cheetahs are the world's fastest animals
c. Cheetahs are the world's fastest animals?
Lucy would never get her room clean. It looked like a tornado had hit it. She couldn’t believe how much damage her friends had done. They pull everything out and didn’t put anything back. Glue was spilled all over her rug, and fingernail polish was spilled on her new bedspread. They had even wiped their chocolate covered fingers on her curtains. Wow! What a mess!
The main idea of the paragraph is: a. There is glue on the rug. b. Lucy’s friends are messy. c. A tornado hit the house. d. Lucy’s friends ate chocolate.
b. Lucy’s friends are messy.
Cutting an onion can be an extremely unpleasant experience. In fact, it is so awful that it often results in eyes that sting like bees, and tears streaming down the cook's face. Have you ever wondered what causes this undesirable outcome, and how you can avoid it? Slicing the onion releases sulfuric acid into the air. This sulfuric acid reacts with the moisture in a person's eyes and results in the tearful reaction. There is a simple solution to this common problem. Cut the onion under a stream of running water. This will prevent the sulfuric acid from reacting with your eyes' moisture.
a. description b. cause & effect c. problem & solution d. chronological/sequential order
c. What is problem and solution?
By combining groups, the aging leaders hoped to create a clear path for a new GENERATION of suffragists to take over.
The word GENERATION means:
a. a time span of about thirty years b. people who make new things c. yesterday
a. time span of thirty years?
# 3 - Don’t Destroy the Park
At the upcoming city council meeting, the council will vote on whether or
not to destroy Pilla Park and turn it into a shopping mall. I am writing to tell you
this is a bad idea. Hundreds of kids and families in Eudora use the park each
week. Also, it is a great place to hang out in the summer because of the full-
grown trees all throughout. Please think about the advantages of having a great
park close to downtown before making your vote.
The Author’s main purpose for writing this passage is to
a) Persuade readers that a shopping mall should be built.
b) Inform readers that the city council will vote on building a new shopping mall
soon.
c) Persuade readers that Pilla Park is a great place and should not be
destroyed.
d) Inform readers that Pilla Park is a great place and should not be destroyed
c) Persuade readers that Pilla Park is a great place and should not be
destroyed.
A butterfly has several stages of the life cycle. First the adult butterfly lays an egg. The egg hatches and a caterpillar emerges. After the caterpillar eats and grows, it will form a chrysalis. The last step is for the adult butterfly to hatch from the chrysalis. The process of metamorphosis in now complete.
According to the passage butterflies form a chrysalis because:
a. They go through metamorphosis b. They form a chrysalis c. They change into a caterpillar
a. they go through metamorphosis?
Tim and his family went fishing today. They stopped on the way to the lake and bought all of their favorite snacks. When they got to the lake, they ate and then started fishing. Tim caught four fish, and his brother caught three. They laughed and gave each other a high-five every time they caught a fish. The whole family had a great time. Maybe they would go fishing again soon.
The main idea of the paragraph is: a. Tim caught four fish. b. He ate his favorite snack. c. The family had a great time. d. They ate fish for supper.
c. The family had a great time.
Be sure to keep onions out of your pet's reach. Onions contain an ingredient called thiosulfate. While this ingredient is perfectly safe for humans, it is toxic to cats and dogs. Thiosulfate weakens a cat or dog's red blood cells. If your pet consumes enough onions, the red blood cells can even burst. As you can see, the accidental ingestion of onions by your cat or dog can result in worrisome consequences.
a. description b. cause & effect c. problem & solution d. chronological/sequential order
b. What is cause and effect?
People in low ELEVATIONS along the coast were especially at risk during the hurricane.
The word ELEVATIONS means:
a. heights above sea level b. a road along the coast c. houses up on mountains
a. heights above sea level?
Get the Point
When you’re scribbling a note with a pencil, do you ever wonder what this
handy tool is made from? To get right to the point, a pencil is made of a number
of materials. The inside is made of graphite that is made stronger with clay. Its
wooden outside comes from cedar trees. The yellow paint on the wood is made
from minerals, while the metal brand at one end is aluminum. Should you make
a mistake while writing, use the eraser. Is main materials are soybean oil and
latex.
The Author’s main purpose for writing this passage is to
a) Inform readers about how clay can be used to write with.
b) Persuade readers that the best tool to use for writing is a pencil.
c) Inform readers of what a pencil is made out of.
d) Entertain readers with a story about a pencil.
c) Inform readers of what a pencil is made out of.
Wildfires are a pretty common event. It is estimated that over 100,000 fires happen in the United States alone each year. So, how do they begin? First, there may be a lack of water in the area. This is known as a drought. During this time, the land is very dry and can easily catch fire. Next, something has to cause the fire to begin. 90% of the time it is humans. Forgetting to put out a campfire can cause the land to go up in flames.
Which detail does NOT support the idea that wildfires are common?
a. They are caused by too many people in one place. b. There is a drought. c. Campfires can get out of control.
a. caused by too many people in one place?
Living things are organisms with certain characteristics. They need water, food, and air to survive. They grow and change, and they move on their own. Living things reproduce, or make more of themselves. For example, plants and animals are living things. Plants make their own food and animals eat plants or other animals for food.
What is the main idea of the passage?
a. There are four characteristics of living things. b. Animals make their own food. c. All living things need sunlight. d. Plants eat other plants.
a. There are four characteristics of living things.
Onions have been around for a long time. In fact, scientists agree that onions were likely a staple in the prehistoric diet. Onions are known to have existed in Egypt in 3500 BC. To the ancient Egyptians, onions symbolized eternity, and many pharaohs were buried alongside onions. The ancient Greeks also believed in the power of onions. In fact, in the first century AD, a Greek physician convinced several Greek athletes that onions had a medicinal property that would make them stronger. As a result, the majority of athletes who participated in the first Olympic Games ate several pounds of onions and drank onion juice. In the Middle Ages, onions were prescribed to alleviate headaches. Today, onions are primarily used to add flavor to our foods.
a. chronological/sequential order b. cause & effect c. problem & solution d. compare & contrast
a. What is chronological or sequential?
He spread a light coat of finely powered PUMICE over the surface of the parchment.
The word PUMICE means:
a. a thick glue b. pieces of sand c. powdery substance made of glass from volcanoes
c. powdery substance made of glass from volcanoes?
# 18 - Dogs VS Cats
Ever wondered which pet is a better pet - a dog or a cat? In my opinion, it
isn’t even close. A dog is much better than a cat. To start with, a dog will be very
loyal to you for life. As soon as you walk in the door, your dog will be waiting with
a tail wagging. The cat will be hiding behind a curtain. Dogs also help to keep
you healthier because they love to walk. Taking a dog on a walk once or twice a
day will keep your dog happy, and get you exercising. Try taking a cat on a walk.
You won’t make it down the block until your cat refuses to go any further and you
end up carrying the cat back to your house. Trust me - stick with a dog when
getting a new pet.
What is the author’s purpose for writing this passage?
a) Persuade the reader to buy a new pet soon.
b) Persuade the reader to get a dog instead of a cat as a pet.
c) Entertain the reader with a story about a dog and a cat living in the same
house.
d) Entertain the reader with a story about trying to walk a cat.
b) Persuade the reader to get a dog instead of a cat as a pet.
The very first people to live in what is now Tennessee came here over 12,000 years ago. We do know some facts about these early people. Archaeologist have found tools and weapons from these people. These first Tennesseans are called the Paleo-Indians. These Native American were nomads. Nomads do live in one place but travel with herds to hunt animals for food.
Readers can infer from the article passage that:
a. Nomads traveled around because food would become scarce. b. Nomads traveled around to meet other people. c. Nomads traveled around because they wanted to find new homes.
a Nomads traveled around because food would become scarce?
Hurricanes are large storms. They begin over the ocean. They gather heat and energy from the water. Hurricanes move slowly to land as they grow stronger. Hurricanes are dangerous because of their size. They are also dangerous because of high winds and big waves. Hurricanes can bring flooding, power outages, and tornadoes.
What is the main idea of the passage?
a. Hurricanes are summer storms. b. Hurricanes are one type of storm. c. Hurricanes are large, dangerous storms. d. Hurricanes are just like tornadoes and floods
c. Hurricanes are large, dangerous storms.
Yellow onions and white onions are very similar. In fact, beginning cooks often use these onions interchangeably. When a cook reads a recipe that calls for an onion that will need to be cooked, they are likely to reach for a yellow onion or a white onion. The most obvious difference between yellow onions and white onions is their color. However, there are also more subtle differences. A yellow onion has a tough outer skin. In contrast, a white onion tends to have a thinner, more tender skin.
a. chronological/sequential order b. description c. problem & solution d. compare & contrast
d. What is compare and contrast?
The public exhibit was closed so CONSERVATORS could restore the documents to the case.
The word CONSERVATORS means:
a. person who cares for and repairs items for historical reasons b. a person who writes documents c. a person who visits the museum
a. person who cares for and repairs items for historical reasons?
George Washington, the first President of the United States, took office in
1789. The first president to live in the White House, however, was John Adams.
He and his wife Abigail moved there in 1800. Since then, technology has
changed the lives of presidents. In 1833, Andrew Jackson was the first president
to ride on a train. James Polk was the first president to be photographed in
1849. Benjamin Harrison was the first president to have electricity in the White
House in 1891. Presidential firsts also relate to advances in communications. In
1993, William Clinton was the first president to have e-mail in the White House.
In 1955, Dwight Eisenhower was the first president to appear on color TV. The
first president to make a radio broadcast from the White House was Calvin
Coolidge in 1925.
What is the author’s purpose for writing this passage?
a) Persuade the reader that U.S. Presidents were special people.
b) Inform the reader about different presidential firsts.
c) Persuade the reader that Presidents get to do a lot of fun things.
d) Inform the reader about Dwight D. Eisenhower and how he was the first
president to appear on TV.
b) Inform the reader about different presidential firsts.
There are legends written about a sea monster called a Kraken. The Kraken was huge and had large tentacles. These long arms could reach all the way to the top of a ship's main mast. Then, the monster could wrap its arms around the ship and turn it over. All the legends are most likely based on a real and scary sea creature called the giant squid. Giant squids can be as long as a bus. They have eight arms and two long tentacles. The two tentacles are like whips. Giant squids have the largest eyes in the animal kingdom. They help the giant squid see things in the deep, dark ocean. In the olden days, sailing ships were small and made out of wood. If a ship was attacked by a large creature, the sailors called it the Kraken.
What can the reader conclude about the Kraken?
a. It is as big as a bus.
b. It is based on a real creature. c. It is mean to sailors everywhere.
b. is based on a real creature?