Main Idea
Cameron was excited to play his new video game after school, but his mom reminded him that he needed to finish his homework first. Feeling annoyed, he sat at his desk and pulled out his assignment, but his excitement quickly turned into frustration. The numbers on the math worksheet seemed to blur together as he stared at the page, wishing he could just skip it. Minutes passed, and Cameron still hadn’t written anything. The more he thought about the game, the more impatient he became. Finally, his frustration took over. In a burst of anger, he tore up the worksheet, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it in the trash. He just wanted to avoid his work.
What is the main idea?
Cameron wanted to play his video game and got upset because he had to do his homework first.
Ashley liked playing board games, but she hated losing. She hated losing so much that she would do whatever it took to win, even bending or breaking the rules. She would steal money from the bank and hide it under the couch cushions. She would skip spaces while she was moving around the board. She would give others less money than they were owed and argue with them about it. Ashley’s cheating tricks were effective. She would win most of the games she played, but the people she played with were her friends and family, and it didn't take too long until they caught on to Ashley’s tricks. They tried to tell her to stop cheating. They said that the game wasn't fun when she cheated, but she didn't listen. She continued with her sneaky way of playing, until nobody would play with her anymore. Ashley may have won a lot of games, but at what cost?
What is the main idea?
Ashley’s cheating made her family not want to play with her anymore.
Recycling is an important way to protect the Earth and keep it clean. When people recycle materials like paper, plastic, glass, and metal, fewer items end up in landfills, which reduces pollution. Recycling also saves energy because making new products from recycled materials often uses less energy than creating them from raw resources. For example, recycling aluminum cans uses 95% less energy than making new ones from scratch. Even small actions, like separating your recyclables at home or reusing containers, can make a big difference over time. By recycling regularly, everyone can help protect the environment and reduce waste.
What is the main idea?
Recycling helps protect the Earth and keeps it clean.
Steel is one of the most important materials in the modern world because it is used in so many ways. In the United States, the automobile industry uses large amounts of steel to make cars, trucks, and buses that are both strong and safe. Steel is also a key material in construction. It helps build skyscrapers, bridges, and stadiums that can last for decades. On farms, steel is used to make tractors and other heavy machines that help farmers plant and harvest crops more efficiently. In factories, steel tools and equipment make it possible to produce many of the products we use. Even smaller everyday items, such as cans, kitchen appliances, and containers, are made from steel.
What is the main idea about this passage?
Steel is an important metal used for many different purposes.
Exercise is essential for keeping your body healthy and strong. When people run, swim, or ride a bike, their heart and lungs become stronger, which helps them have more energy throughout the day. Strength exercises, like lifting weights or doing push-ups, help build muscles and protect joints, making it easier to do daily activities. Exercise also improves coordination and balance, which can prevent falls and injuries. Even simple activities like walking or taking the stairs instead of the elevator can make a big difference. Regular exercise also helps the brain by improving focus, reducing stress, and making people feel happier.
What is the main idea?
There are many ways you can exercise to stay healthy and strong.
Tommy wanted a skateboard badly. Sometimes he would stay after school just to watch the older boys do tricks on the stairs. Tommy thought that it looked like so much fun to grind down rails and kickflip over gaps. He imagined performing jaw-dropping tricks on his way home. After months of saving money and begging his grandma, Tommy finally got a skateboard. With a big smile across his face, Tommy ran to his driveway and tried one of the tricks that he had imagined.
What is the main idea?
Tommy really wanted a skateboard, so he saved his money to buy one.
Sofia sat on her bed surrounded by open notebooks and crumpled papers. The big science test was tomorrow, and the more she studied, the more stressed she felt. She rubbed her eyes and sighed. “I’ve been studying for hours, and I still don’t get it,” she said, texting her friend Diego. “I’m going to fail.” A few seconds later, Diego replied, “Relax. You’re overthinking it. Just write the answers on a sticky note and hide it under your sleeve. Everyone does it.” Sofia stared at the message. “That’s cheating,” she typed back. “It’s not a big deal” Diego replied. “Mr. Alvarez never notices anyway. It’s just one test.” Sofia hesitated. She didn’t like the idea, but she also didn’t want to disappoint her parents or herself. Finally, she tore a small piece of paper and started writing down formulas in tiny letters. Her stomach twisted as she worked, but she told herself it would only be for this one test. The next morning, Sofia slipped the note into her sleeve. When the teacher passed out the test, her heart pounded. As she read the first few questions, she realized she actually remembered some of the answers from studying the night before. Maybe she didn’t need the note after all. Then she hit a question she couldn’t figure out. Her hands trembled as she slid the paper out just enough to peek at it. That’s when she heard Mr. Alvarez’s voice. “Sofia, what is that in your hand?” The classroom went silent. Everyone turned to look. Sofia’s cheeks burned as she handed him the note. “You know the rule,” he said quietly. “That’s an automatic zero.” Walking home, Sofia replayed everything in her head. Diego’s advice had seemed like a simple solution, but it had only made things worse.
What is the main idea?
Sofia got caught cheating on her test after her friend told her it was okay to use a note.
It was Sean's first day at a new high school. Most of the students had been nice to him, until he got into gym class. The coach had assigned two captains, Mike and Jason, and they were picking teams from the boys in Sean's class. As Mike and Jason made their picks, it became pretty clear to Sean who was popular and who was not. Since Sean was short for his age, Mike and Jason assumed that Sean wasn’t good at basketball. As the list of players got smaller, Sean was still standing there with only a few kids left. Soon, only two students were left: Sean and another boy. Mike and Jason joked about which one they would get stuck with. Then Mike made his last pick. It was not Sean. Sean sighed and slowly walked over to join Jason’s team. As soon as the game started, Mike realized he had made a mistake. Sean quickly stole the ball from him and scored a layup. "The new kid got lucky, " Mike said, but it soon became clear that Sean had more going for him than luck. What Sean lacked in height, he made up for in speed, and he continued to take control for the remainder of the game. With Sean's blazing speed and quick moves, Jason’s team easily beat Mike’s team, and that was the last time Sean was ever picked last at that school.
What is the main idea?
Sean proved he could was good at basketball even though he was short.
After setting his alarm clock for PM instead of AM, Eric woke up late for school. In his rush, he forgot to pack a lunch or bring lunch money. Eric did not mind much at first because he figured that he could eat some of his friends' food. During lunchtime, Eric explained his situation to his friends at his lunch table. His friends felt sorry for him, but they had only packed lunches for themselves. Katie offered Eric a small bag of carrots. "Yuck! I hate carrots. Thanks anyway," Eric said as he declined Katie's offer. Chuck offered Eric his milk, to which Eric responded, "Is that white milk? Ewww... I hate white milk. Does anyone have any chocolate milk?" Some people at the table had chocolate milk, but they did not want to give their milk to Eric. To break the silence, Ben offered Eric half of his egg salad sandwich. Again Eric refused quite rudely, "Egg salad is gross. Doesn't anyone have anything good for me?" That was the last offer Eric received that day. He spent the rest of lunch without anyone talking to him.
What is the main idea?
Eric forgot his lunch and refused what his friends offered.
Jose opened up the present and began pouting. He screamed in a high-pitched voice, "This is Captain Thunder! I wanted Captain Lightning!" His mother looked at him with disappointment and handed him another present, which he greedily opened. "Why did you get me a red hat? You know I like blue more," Jose whined as he threw the hat across the room. His mother straightened her expression and squinted at him. Earlier she had hoped to take some pictures of this moment, but by now she had put away her camera. She sighed and handed him one more present in hopes that this year wouldn't be a total failure. Jose huffed and opened it. "A Game Box 4000... wow. Where's the Game Box 5000 that I asked for?" His mother couldn’t put up with his complaining anymore. The next time Jose came back from his dad’s house, he was surprised to see that all of his toys and gifts had been donated to children in need.
What is the main idea?
Jose complained about all his presents, so his mom gave his toys to other children.
Every year, the eighth-grade class at Rivera Middle School held a canned food drive for families in need. This year, there was even a small prize for whoever brought in the most cans. Miguel kept telling everyone he was going to win it. “Watch, I’m going to fill two boxes by myself,” he bragged to his friends. “That prize is mine.” He even posted online, saying he was going to be the winner. For the first few days, Miguel loved the attention, but by the end of the week his box was still empty. Every day he promised his teacher he would bring cans tomorrow, but tomorrow never seemed to come. Meanwhile, classmate Ariana showed up every morning with a few cans from her family’s kitchen, like beans, corn, and soup, until her box was nearly overflowing. On the last day of the drive, the teacher asked everyone to help load the donations into the car for delivery. Miguel stood by the door scrolling on his phone while Ariana and a few others carried heavy bags outside. When the teacher thanked everyone for their hard work, she smiled at Ariana. “You really made a difference,” she said. Miguel frowned. “Wait, I was going to bring some cans tomorrow,” he mumbled. “I just didn’t have time this week.” His teacher nodded kindly. “That’s okay, Miguel. Maybe next time.” Miguel looked down, embarrassed. All week he had talked about helping and winning the prize, but Ariana had actually done it.
What is the main idea?
Miguel said he would win the canned food drive, but Ariana worked hard and actually brought in the most cans.
The New York City subway is one of the largest and most important public transportation systems in the world. Every day, millions of people use it to travel to school, work, and other places across the city. The subway has dozens of lines and hundreds of stations, making it possible to get almost anywhere in the city quickly. Many people rely on the subway to avoid heavy traffic on the streets, especially during rush hour when cars and buses move very slowly. Trains run both above ground and underground, which helps people reach their destinations faster than driving. Riders follow schedules, use maps to plan their trips, and often transfer between lines to reach different neighborhoods. The subway allows thousands of commuters to save time and travel efficiently, making it an essential part of life in New York City.
What is the main idea?
The NYC subway is an important way that people travel around the city quickly and avoid traffic.