Main Idea
Key Supporting Details
Theme
Context Clues/homonyms
Random
100
What is a main idea?
The focus point of a story-what a story is mostly about.
100
Describe the purpose of supporting details.
Supporting details work to provide evidence, deeper meaning, or add value to the main idea.
100
What is a theme?
The lesson, message or moral of the story.
100
The tailor will press the seam before finishing the jacket. Choose the correct meaning of press: A. squeeze out juice B. force your way C. make smooth D. reporters
C
100
What is the author's purpose of most TV commercials?
Persuade
200
Find the Main Idea: A United States astronaut was the first person to set foot on the moon. He was Neil Armstrong. This happened on July 20, 1969 as the world watched on TV.
What is, "A United Stated astronaut was the first person to set foot on the moon."
200
List two supporting details that would give more detail about the following main idea: Exercise is an important part of life.
Possible answers: Healthier body and mind, more capable lifestyle, better sleep . . .
200
Identify the theme of the following passage: Two men were traveling together when a Bear suddenly met them on their path. One of them climbed up quickly into a tree and concealed himself in the branches. The other, seeing that he he was in grave danger of being attacked, fell flat on the ground. When the Bear came up and felt him with his snout, he held his breath, and feigned the appearance of death as much as he could. The Bear soon left him, for it is said that a bear will not touch an already dead body. When the bear was gone, the other Traveler descended from the tree, and jokingly asked of his friend what it was the bear had whispered in his ear. "He gave me this advice," his companion replied. "Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the approach of danger."
Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.
200
The Johnson's had a plethora of apricots this year, and were more than willing to share their harvest with anyone who asked. plethora means: a. gift b. surplus c. deficiency
B. Surplus
200
Based on this sentence, what can you infer about what happened the night before? When we got up in the morning, branches and leaves were all over the yard and the garbage can was in the street.
There was a storm the night before.
300
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes between the Earth and the sun. During an eclipse, the moon blocks all or part of the sun. A solar eclipse would happen every month if the orbits of the Earth and the moon were perfectly circular and the moon orbited on the same plane as the Earth’s orbit around the sun. However, the Earth’s orbit and the moon’s orbit are not perfect circles. They are both oval shaped, or elliptical. In addition, the moon’s orbit is not on the same plane as the Earth’s, but is angled at about 5 degrees. These orbit characteristics provide fewer opportunities for the moon to be in the correct position to block the sun. Rather than happening every month, some type of solar eclipse happens only two to fi ve times a year. A total solar eclipse for any give location is even rarer. In a total eclipse, the moon completely blocks the sun, leaving only a rim of light called “the ring of fi re.” A total eclipse occurs somewhere on Earth about every 18 months. Any one location on Earth, however, will only be able to view a total eclipse about every 360 to 410 years.
A solar eclipse is a rare event.
300
Which sentence or sentences are irrelevant to the main idea of the following passage? When I was growing up, one of the places I enjoyed most was the cherry tree in the back yard. Every summer when the cherries began to ripen, I used to spend hours high in the tree, picking and eating the sweet, sun-warmed cherries. Behind the yard was an alley and then more houses. But I had some competition for the cherries — flocks of birds that enjoyed them as much as I did and would perch all over the tree, devouring the fruit whenever I wasn't there. My mother always worried about my falling out of the tree, but I never did. I used to wonder why the grown-ups never ate any of the cherries; but actually when the birds and I had finished, there weren't many left.
The main idea is that the author enjoys the cherries. The sentences "Behind the yard was an alley and then more houses." and "My mother always worried about my falling out of the tree, but I never did." do not support the main idea (the author's love of cherries.
300
Identify the theme: A boy was hurt by a Nettle, a plant covered with stinging hairs. He ran home and told his Mother, saying, "I don't know why it hurts, I barely touched it." "That was why it hurt you," said his Mother. "The next time you touch a Nettle, grasp it strongly, and it will be soft as silk to your hand, and it will not hurt you."
Whatever you do, do it with all of your might.
300
Did you see the notice about the new class? What does notice mean in the sentence above: A. to pay attention to B. to comment on C. announcement D. warning
C
300
Anastasia sat by the fountain in the park with her head in her palms. She was weeping mournfully and wearing all black. In between gasps and sobs, Anastasia cried out a name: “Oh... John…” And then her cell phone beeped. Her hand ran into her purse and her heart fluttered. The text message was from John. She opened up the message and read the few bare words, “I need to get my jacket back from you.” Anastasia threw her head into her arms and continued sobbing.
Based on John's request and Anastasia's reaction, I can infer that John and Anastasia broke up.
400
Write the main idea of this passage in your own words. As important as water conservation is, it is also very easy. A few simple habits can signifi cantly reduce the water consumption of a household. One way to save water is to turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth. Also, don’t allow faucets to drip; one drip can waste a large amount of water over a short period of time. Baths require less water than showers, so by taking a bath instead of a shower, you can reduce the amount of water your home uses. In the kitchen, running a dishwasher when it is completely full, rather than half full, can save up to 20 gallons a day. These simple changes will save water and save money.
A few simple changes can save water in the home.
400
Identify two supporting details: A solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes between the Earth and the sun. During an eclipse, the moon blocks all or part of the sun. A solar eclipse would happen every month if the orbits of the Earth and the moon were perfectly circular and the moon orbited on the same plane as the Earth’s orbit around the sun. However, the Earth’s orbit and the moon’s orbit are not perfect circles. They are both oval shaped, or elliptical. In addition, the moon’s orbit is not on the same plane as the Earth’s, but is angled at about 5 degrees. These orbit characteristics provide fewer opportunities for the moon to be in the correct position to block the sun. Rather than happening every month, some type of solar eclipse happens only two to fi ve times a year. A total solar eclipse for any give location is even rarer. In a total eclipse, the moon completely blocks the sun, leaving only a rim of light called “the ring of fi re.” A total eclipse occurs somewhere on Earth about every 18 months. Any one location on Earth, however, will only be able to view a total eclipse about every 360 to 410 years.
A solar eclipse only happens two to five times a year. A total eclipse for one particular place on Earth occurs about once every 360 to 410 years.
400
Identify the theme in this text: Katie Clean invited Messy Mike to her house to work on their biology project, but Katie Clean had no idea what a visit from Messy Mike really entailed. Initially, it was raining and Messy Mike neither bothered to take his boots off nor thoroughly wiped them on the doormat. Then Messy Mike ate a bag of Hot Cheetos on Katie Clean’s white bedspread. Messy Mike is a sloppy eater and hot chip powder got all over the bedspread. Katie Clean tried to be polite and ignore Messy Mike’s sloppy behavior, but then Messy Mike threw her Cheeto wrapper on the floor. Offended, Katie Clean pretended that she was sick and asked Messy Mike to leave. The next day Katie Clean asked her teacher if she could work by herself. After explaining her situation, the teacher allowed Katie to work alone. Messy Mike would have finished the assignment by himself, but she spilled grape soda all over her assignment.
Don't let other people stop you from being great.
400
*As of this morning when the new science museum plans were unveiled, there is a new paradigm for architecture in the city. paradigm means:
standard
400
*I tried to remain interested and connected, but she was so loquacious that I had to excuse myself after half an hour, or risk glazing over and losing the thread of the conversation. loquacious means:
talkative
500
Write the main idea of this passage in your own words. Irish immigration to the U.S. began during the early development of the American colonies. It is estimated that 200,000 Irish came to the U.S. in the 17th and 18th centuries. The numbers swelled from 1820 to 1850 to almost 2 million Irish immigrants. Most of these were fleeing the potato famine from 1845 until 1852. Steady numbers continued to arrive during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Today, over 36 million Americans claim some level of Irish ancestry.
The Irish came in large numbers to the U.S.
500
Write main idea and three supporting details: Three major movements in the history of art are Medieval, Renaissance and Modern. The Medieval period, which encompasses the time from around 600 AD into the 14th century, is predominately religious in nature. Objects are not portrayed realistically, but as simple fl at images. During the Renaissance period, beginning in the late 14th century and continuing into the 16th century, artists developed a more realistic style. Renaissance artists also discovered the use of perspective, which brought a three dimensional feeling to two dimensional artwork. Prominent artists of this time were Leonardo da Vinci and Jan van Eyck. Modern art, which encompasses the Impressionist and Cubist movements, began in the late 19th century and through the 20th century. Rather than focusing on realism, artists explored the use of light, movement and color. Modern artists include Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh.
Main Idea: Three major art periods are Medieval, Renaissance and Modern. 1. Medieval art was religious and not realistic. 2. The Modern art period included Impressionism. 3. The Renaissance period began in the late 14th century.
500
Identify and Justify the theme in this text: In his sophomore year of high school, Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team at Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that Jordan was too short to play at that level, so Jordan was cut from the team. Jordan didn’t let this obstacle defeat him. In fact, it pushed him to work even harder. He trained vigorously and grew another four inches the following summer. When he finally made the varsity squad, Jordan averaged 25 points a game and went on to become one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Never give up.
500
I’m going to use a pseudonym when I write my book so my family doesn’t recognize me. pseudonym means:
fake name
500
When human-like traits are given to non-human objects
personification
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