Main Idea
A paragraph explains how bees collect pollen, make honey, and help flowers grow.
QUESTION: What is the main idea?
ANSWER: Bees help plants and make honey.
The puppy was famished, so it gobbled up the entire bowl of food.
QUESTION: What does famished mean?
ANSWER: Very hungry
Tyler walked into class dripping wet and carrying an umbrella.
QUESTION: What can you infer?
ANSWER: It was raining outside.
Ben forgot his lunch at home, so he ate cafeteria food.
QUESTION: What was the cause?
ANSWER: Ben forgot his lunch.
“The classroom was a zoo.”
QUESTION: What type of figurative language is this?
ANSWER: Metaphor
Mila practiced soccer every day after school. She ran laps, worked on passing, and practiced shooting goals. At the championship game, she scored the winning point.
QUESTION: What is the main idea?
ANSWER: Practice helped Mila improve at soccer.
The ancient vase was fragile, so the museum worker carried it carefully with two hands.
QUESTION: What does fragile mean?
ANSWER: Easy to break
The popcorn burned while Ava stared at the movie screen and smelled smoke too late.
QUESTION: What can you infer?
ANSWER: Ava forgot about the popcorn.
The sidewalk became slippery because freezing rain covered the ground overnight.
QUESTION: What was the effect?
ANSWER: The sidewalk became slippery.
“The baby slept like a rock.”
QUESTION: What type of figurative language is this?
ANSWER: Simile
The library was once noisy and messy. After students created rules and organized the shelves, more children began visiting to read and study.
QUESTION: What is the main idea?
ANSWER: The organized library became a better place for students.
After running three laps in the hot sun, Carlos felt completely exhausted and dropped onto the bench.
QUESTION: What does exhausted mean?
ANSWER: Very tired
Marcus hid his test paper in his backpack before his parents arrived home.
QUESTION: What can you infer?
ANSWER: He probably did poorly on the test.
Since the power went out during the storm, the family played board games by flashlight.
QUESTION: What caused the family to use flashlights?
ANSWER: The power went out.
“I ate so much I might explode!”
QUESTION: What type of figurative language is this?
ANSWER: Hyperbole
Penguins cannot fly, but their bodies help them survive in icy places. Thick feathers keep them warm, and strong flippers help them swim quickly through freezing water.
QUESTION: What is the main idea?
ANSWER: Penguins have adaptations that help them survive.
The crowd began to murmur quietly while waiting for the winner to be announced.
QUESTION: What does murmur mean?
ANSWER: Speak softly or whisper
The dog scratched at the door, paced in circles, and whimpered near its leash.
QUESTION: What can you infer?
ANSWER: The dog wanted to go outside.
Olivia studied vocabulary words every night for two weeks. As a result, she earned the highest grade in the class.
QUESTION: What effect did studying have?
ANSWER: She earned the highest grade.
“The wind whispered through the trees.”
QUESTION: What type of figurative language is this?
ANSWER: Personification
Even though the science fair looked chaotic at first, students slowly solved problems by sharing supplies, helping classmates, and staying calm under pressure.
QUESTION: What is the BEST main idea?
ANSWER: Teamwork helped students succeed during the science fair.
Jade was usually reluctant to speak in front of groups, but she finally raised her hand and shared her idea.
QUESTION: What does reluctant mean?
ANSWER: Unsure or unwilling
Emma checked the clock every two minutes, bounced her knee under the desk, and reread the same page five times without remembering it.
QUESTION: What can you infer about Emma?
ANSWER: She is nervous or worried about something.
The coach canceled practice after thunder echoed across the field and lightning flashed overhead.
QUESTION: Why was practice canceled?
ANSWER: There was dangerous weather/lightning.
“The lightning danced across the sky like glowing ribbons.”
QUESTION: What TWO types of figurative language are used?
ANSWER: Personification AND simile