Multiple choice
Short answer
True/False
Facts about main idea
summarizing or topic of the passage
100

A. Catie didn't want to change her name to "Cate."

B. Catie and Katie solved the problem of having similar names.

 C. "Catie" looked prettier in print than "Katie."

Catie and Katie had the same name. It sounded the same when anyone said it. But one Catie started with the letter "C" and the other with the letter "K." How could they know who was being called? They decided that "Catie" would stay the same and "Katie" would shorten her name to "Kate" to avoid confusion.

B.

100
It was backward day at school. The students had to do things backwards. Some of them wore their t-shirt backward. They took a test before they studied the lesson! Dessert was served first instead of last at lunch. They tried to walk home backward, but they kept bumping into each other and fell down. What is the main idea of this passage?
Students had a backwards day.
100

A. True

B. False

The main idea is ALWAYS the first sentence of the paragraph.

B

100

You must have _________ to support your main idea.

Supporting details

100

What is the topic of this passage? They are building a new school near my house. Every day I watch the workers drive huge tractors and push a ton of dirt. They have big cranes that help them place tall beams in the ground. The workers build walls using bricks. Every day it looks more and more like a school. Mom says I will go there in the fall.

Getting a New School/ Building a new school

200

A. How to shoot a basketball

B. Jon likes basketball.

C. What position Jon plays

Based on the passage, what did the author want you to learn from this passage? Jon held the ball in his hands. He bounced it slowly on the ground. Once. Twice. He crouched low and then jumped. The ball flew into the air. Up, up, up it went. Then down, down, down into the basket. "Yes!" he yelled. "Nothing but the net!"

A

200

What is the main idea of this passage? The rules for lining up are very clear. Wait until the teacher calls your group, then stand up and push in your chair. Walk to the door and stand in a straight, quiet line. Anyone not following the rules will be told by the teacher to please sit down. This can cause the class to be late for their transition.

The rules for lining up are very clear.

200

A. True

B. False

Summarize means to retell the main idea of a story.

A

200

a. Where a story takes place

b. Who the story is about

c. What the story is mostly about

d. How to make something

What does the term "main idea" mean?

C.

200

Aaron wanted to ride his bike to school. He saw that he had to a flat tire. Aaron said, "Oh,no, I really wanted to ride my bike to school. I will have to wait until I get it fixed." His mom said, "I will take you to school today." Aaron went to school with out his bike.

Aaron couldn't ride his bike because of a flat tire.

300

A. draw a picture of the character

 B. remember details that make the story interesting 

C. mentally summarizing it in 2-3 sentences

 A test-taker can remember the main idea of the story by

C

300

Which of the following is the main idea sentence in this paragraph?

My mother is a veterinarian. She loves animals. When she was younger she had lots of pets. She even teaches classes about how people can help protect animals.

my mother is a veterinarian.

300

A. True B. False

Supporting Details are details that support the main idea of the story.

A

300

A. hook sentence

B. second sentence

C. concluding sentence

D. topic sentence

Where can you usually find the Main Idea?

D

300

What is this selection mainly about?(Summarizing) 

Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal servants. They will look and behave much like real humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers and they will be able to respond in kind! Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier.

Someday we will have robots that will be our personal servants.

400

A. He practices everyday after school.

 B. He won player of the year last year.

 C. John's favorite sport is basketball.

Read the following sentences and choose the main idea. John's favorite sport is basketball. He practices every day after school. He won player of the year last year. One day, John hopes to enter a basketball competition (and of course win).

C

400

What is the definition of "main idea"?

What a text is mostly about.

400

A.True

B.False

The main Idea is not always stated clearly in the passage.

A

400

A. True B.False

When summarizing a story or a passage, you should tell what the main idea is.

A.

400

Peter's parents bought a new carpet for the lining room. Now, he has to take his shoes off when he enters the house. He's also not allowed to eat or drink in the living room any more. Peter's furry dog isn't allowed to play ball in there either. When his parents got the new carpet, there were lots of new rules.

Petter's parents made new rules so the new carpet stays clean

500

A. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is

B. Pictures help weather reporters get information out in a fast way.

C. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short.

Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph? 

Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.

B

500

What is the main idea of this passage?

Sonny watches too much television. A toddler shouldn't spend hours sitting in front of a televison screen. Worse yet, some of his wild behavior has been inspired by those awful cartoons he watches. His parents should spend more time reading or playing games with him and pull the plug on the TV! A baby needs more attention than just keeping them occupied and quiet.

Watching a lot of television is bad for Sonny

500

A. True

B. False

Supporting details never tell you what the main idea is in a story or passage.

B

500

A. supporting points and details

B. clues and prior knowledge

C. paper and pencil

D. comparing and contrasting

What two things are needed to find the Main Idea?

A

500

There is a village on an island near Scotland. it was built out of stone. A storm covered in in sand 4,000 years ago. It stayed covered until 1851. Then another storm blew the sand away. The village looked just like it did 4,000 years ago!

About a village covered in sand for over 4,000 years ago