Central Idea
Liam waters the community garden every morning. He plants vegetables and flowers, and neighbors help harvest the produce for a food pantry. People take turns caring for the beds and share the food at a weekly market.
What is the central idea of this passage?
A) The garden is expensive to maintain.
B) The garden brings the community together and helps feed families.
C) Only Liam cares about the garden.
D) The garden is only for flowers.
B) The garden brings the community together and helps feed families.
Rosa visited the museum and saw paintings, dinosaur bones, and a model of the solar system.
Which one-sentence definition best describes an objective summary of this passage?
A) A sentence that explains why you liked a text.
B) A sentence that tells the main points of a text without personal opinions.
C) A sentence that copies a paragraph word for word.
D) A sentence that guesses at the author's opinion.
B) A sentence that tells the main points of a text without personal opinions.
Sam studies for math each evening for two hours and completes extra practice problems. He also attends an after-school math club twice a week.
Which sentence is a supporting detail that shows Sam studies hard?
A) He studies only when he forgets homework.
B) Sam hates math.
C) Sam is a superhero.
D) He studies each evening for two hours and completes extra practice problems.
D) He studies each evening for two hours and completes extra practice problems.
The school library's catalog shows 5,000 items available for checkout, and a librarian counted the titles last month.
Is the statement 'The library has 5,000 books' a fact or an opinion?
Fact
Ella studies for tests every night and practices flashcards. On weekends she paints landscapes with watercolors.
Which choice correctly identifies the relevant and irrelevant details to the stated central idea?
A) Relevant: she enjoys painting; Irrelevant: she studies every night.
B) Relevant: she studies every night; Irrelevant: she paints landscapes on weekends.
C) Both are equally relevant.
D) Neither detail is relevant.
B) Relevant: she studies every night; Irrelevant: she paints landscapes on weekends.
A school started a recycling club that collects paper and cans. Students teach classmates how to sort items and hold monthly drives to reduce waste and keep the school cleaner.
Which central idea best matches the passage?
A) Recycling is boring.
B) Recycling is illegal.
C) Recycling costs too much.
D) Students can make a difference by recycling.
D) Students can make a difference by recycling.
Maya adopted a puppy named Coco. Coco learned to sit and come when called after two weeks of training.
Which choice is the best objective one-sentence summary?
A) Maya adopted Coco, and after two weeks of training Coco learned to sit and come when called.
B) Coco is the cutest puppy and Maya is the best owner.
C) Maya spent too much money on a dog.
D) Coco ran away after two days.
A) Maya adopted Coco, and after two weeks of training Coco learned to sit and come when called.
Community volunteers planted rows of shade trees along the neighborhood walkway, and the new trees now help cool the path and filter dust and pollution.
Which two details best support the idea that planting trees benefits the neighborhood?
A) Volunteers planted trees and the trees cool the path.
B) Volunteers also ate lunch together.
C) The trees are very old.
D) The park has a playground.
A) Volunteers planted trees and the trees cool the path.
Which sentence is clearly an opinion?
A) The number of students choosing salads increased.
B) Some students said the new lunches taste bad.
C) The lunch menu lists sandwiches and salads.
D) The cafeteria opened at noon.
B) Some students said the new lunches taste bad.
The public works crew fills potholes on Main Street monthly and repaves damaged sections. Each year the mayor also organizes a bake sale for the community fair.
Which choice identifies the relevant and irrelevant details?
A) Relevant: the mayor bakes cookies; Irrelevant: pothole repairs.
B) Relevant: pothole repairs on Main Street every month; Irrelevant: the mayor organizes a bake sale for the fair.
C) Both details are irrelevant.
D) Both details are relevant because they happened in town.
B) Relevant: pothole repairs on Main Street every month; Irrelevant: the mayor organizes a bake sale for the fair.
City parks offer green space, playgrounds, and walking paths. Many families use parks for exercise and gatherings, and the parks host community events during the summer.
Which choice correctly explains the difference between a topic and a central idea and gives an appropriate central idea for this passage?
A) A topic is the main point; a central idea names the subject. Central idea: City parks are big.
B) A topic is an opinion; a central idea is a fact. Central idea: City parks are useless
C) A topic names what a text is about; a central idea tells the main point about that topic. Central idea: City parks give people places to play and relax.
D) A topic is only a question; a central idea is an answer. Central idea: City parks are dangerous.
C) A topic names what a text is about; a central idea tells the main point about that topic. Central idea: City parks give people places to play and relax.
The city built a new bike lane on Main Street. Several shop owners said more people biked to their stores after the lane opened.
Which sentence is an appropriate objective summary?
A) The bike lane caused more customers to bike to local businesses.
B) The bike lane is the worst decision the city made.
C) Someone once saw a bike on Main Street.
D) The city removed all parking spaces for cars.
A) The bike lane caused more customers to bike to local businesses.
The school cafeteria began serving more salads, whole-grain sandwiches, and fruit. As a result, some students chose these options more often and teachers reported students seemed more attentive after lunch.
Which three details from the passage support the idea that healthier lunches benefit students?
A) The cafeteria began serving salads, whole-grain sandwiches, and fruit; students chose these options more often; teachers reported students seemed more attentive after lunch.
B) The cafeteria is painted blue.
C) A book was left in the hallway.
D) The janitor likes music.
A) The cafeteria began serving salads, whole-grain sandwiches, and fruit; students chose these options more often; teachers reported students seemed more attentive after lunch.
A playground opened last summer near the school. Kids often play there before and after class. Several parents say it is the best playground in town.
Which choice correctly labels two factual statements and one opinion?
A) Facts: opened last summer; kids play there before and after class. Opinion: several parents say it is the best playground in town.
B) Facts: several parents say it is the best playground in town; kids play there. Opinion: it opened last summer.
C) Facts: it is the best playground in town; kids play there before and after class. Opinion: it opened last summer.
D) Facts: it rains every day; the playground is underground.
A) Facts: opened last summer; kids play there before and after class. Opinion: several parents say it is the best playground in town.
To study, Marco completed practice quizzes, reviewed vocabulary flashcards about food chains, and watched a TV show about dinosaurs.
Which choice correctly lists two relevant details and one irrelevant detail for the stated central idea?
A) Relevant: watched a TV show about dinosaurs and reviewed flashcards; Irrelevant: completed practice quizzes.
B) Relevant: completed practice quizzes and reviewed vocabulary flashcards; Irrelevant: watched a TV show about dinosaurs.
C) All three are equally relevant.
D) None are relevant.
B) Relevant: completed practice quizzes and reviewed vocabulary flashcards; Irrelevant: watched a TV show about dinosaurs.
Jada trains for a marathon by running shorter races, tracking her pace, and resting when needed. Over several months she increases distance slowly and improves her time in each shorter race.
Which choice identifies the central idea and a sentence that supports it?
A) Central idea: Gradual training improves performance. Supporting sentence: "She increases distance slowly and improves her time in each shorter race."
B) Central idea: Running is boring. Supporting sentence: "Over several months she increases distance slowly."
C) Central idea: Marathons are easy. Supporting sentence: "Jada trains for a marathon by running shorter races."
D) Central idea: Rest is unnecessary. Supporting sentence: "She tracks her pace."
A) Central idea: Gradual training improves performance. Supporting sentence: "She increases distance slowly and improves her time in each shorter race."
At the school science fair, students presented projects about renewable energy. Many built models of solar panels and small wind turbines and explained how their models generate electricity. Judges gave awards for clear explanations and originality.
Which 2–3 sentence objective summary best represents the passage?
A) The fair featured renewable-energy projects; students built and explained models of solar panels and wind turbines, and judges awarded prizes for creativity and clear explanations.
B) The fair was boring and the judges were unfair.
C) Many people attended an event about random science topics.
D) Students only displayed projects about dinosaurs.
A) The fair featured renewable-energy projects; students built and explained models of solar panels and wind turbines, and judges awarded prizes for creativity and clear explanations.
One runner reported losing 10 pounds after starting a daily exercise routine, but the study included only 10 participants and lasted two weeks.
Which choice best explains why that relevant detail might not be sufficient to prove the central idea 'exercise improves health'?
A) One supporting detail can fully prove a general claim without more evidence.
B) A detail can be relevant but not sufficient; a single short study with few participants does not prove a general claim about exercise and health.
C) Irrelevant details always prove the central idea.
D) Every relevant detail makes the central idea false.
B) A detail can be relevant but not sufficient; a single short study with few participants does not prove a general claim about exercise and health.
A reviewer wrote, 'The movie was boring,' while the film's entry lists its runtime as 95 minutes and names three lead actors.
Which choice correctly explains why the opinion should be excluded from an objective summary and provides a factual rewrite?
A) Use opinions in summaries; rewrite "The movie was boring" as "The movie was boring."
B) Opinions express personal feelings and should be excluded; rewrite "The movie was boring" as "The movie is 95 minutes long and features three main actors."
C) Opinions are the same as facts; keep them.
D) Turn facts into opinions to make summaries more interesting.
B) Opinions express personal feelings and should be excluded; rewrite "The movie was boring" as "The movie is 95 minutes long and features three main actors."
At a school event, a presenter explained water-saving tips, students made posters about reducing wasteful water use, and the school's mascot handed out stickers to visitors.
Which choice best identifies which details are relevant and explains why the mascot activity is irrelevant to developing the central idea?
A) Relevant: mascot stickers; Irrelevant: assembly tips and posters; because stickers are more memorable.
B) Relevant: assembly taught tips and students created posters; Irrelevant: mascot handed out stickers, because handing out stickers does not teach water-saving strategies or provide information that develops the central idea.
C) All details are irrelevant because saving water is only taught at home.
D) Relevant: stickers and posters; Irrelevant: assembly tips.
B) Relevant: assembly taught tips and students created posters; Irrelevant: mascot handed out stickers, because handing out stickers does not teach water-saving strategies or provide information that develops the central idea.
The town library launched a summer reading program that included games and small prizes to encourage kids to read. During the school year teachers reported that students who participated read more often, showed better fluency, and used a wider vocabulary in class discussions.
Which central idea best connects both sentences?
A) Summer programs are always costly.
B) Libraries should stop lending books.
C) Only volunteers benefit from reading programs.
D) A summer reading program can encourage reading and improve students' skills.
D) A summer reading program can encourage reading and improve students' skills.
Which choice correctly describes how to write an objective summary for the article?
A) Include the central idea and at least two main supporting points without opinions.
B) Use lots of personal opinions and feelings about the passage.
C) Only copy the first paragraph.
D) Add unrelated background information.
A) Include the central idea and at least two main supporting points without opinions.
Which task should students complete to analyze supporting details?
A) Pick the central idea, choose four supporting details, and explain how each helps develop the idea.
B) Rewrite the passage as a poem.
C) Only list one unrelated fact from the passage.
D) Describe the author's clothing.
A) Pick the central idea, choose four supporting details, and explain how each helps develop the idea.
Which task correctly describes how students should handle facts and opinions when writing an objective summary?
A) Identify three factual statements supporting the central idea; make sure not to include any opinions
B) Replace all facts with opinions.
C) Only list the first sentence of the article.
D) Add personal comments about how you felt.
A) Identify three factual statements supporting the central idea; make sure not to include any opinions
Which choice correctly describes the student task for distinguishing relevance?
A) Identify the central idea, select five details from the passage and label each as relevant or irrelevant; for each irrelevant detail, explain specifically why it doesn't support the central idea and how removing it would make the summary clearer.
B) Pick five random sentences and mark them all relevant.
C) Rewrite the passage as a fairy tale.
D) Only list the first and last words of the passage.
A) Identify the central idea, select five details from the passage and label each as relevant or irrelevant; for each irrelevant detail, explain specifically why it doesn't support the central idea and how removing it would make the summary clearer.