Main Idea 1
What is the Main Idea?
The most important point the author is trying to make.
What are supporting details?
Statements that explain or prove the main idea?
Homemade pizza is delicious. First, make the dough from flour, water, and yeast. After that, begin making the tomato sauce. Next, add any vegetables you like. Then, bake it in the oven. After a short time, the kitchen begins to smell delicious. Soon, it’s ready to eat! The main idea of this passage is:
The main idea of this passage is:
How to make a pizza.
African American female writers have always inspired Oprah Winfrey. When she was a teenager, Winfrey read a book that changed her life. That book was I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. The book spoke to Winfrey. It gave her hope. She realized she could rise above the poverty and racism that marked her life. What is the main idea of this passage?
The main idea of this passage is:
Books that inspired Oprah Winfrey.
Answers may vary slightly.
I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end, we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave! What is the main idea of this passage?
The main idea of this passage is:
A. Weekends are times to travel.
B. The writer enjoys spending time with family.
C. The writer’s grandparents live far away.
D. The writer is sad to leave her cousins.
The main idea of this passage is:
A. Weekends are times to travel.
B. The writer enjoys spending time
with family.
C. The writer’s grandparents live
far away.
D. The writer is sad to leave her
cousins.
What is your favorite way to eat a potato? Potatoes are one of the most versatile foods in the world. You can bake a potato and eat it whole, or you can cut it up and roast it in the oven. Many people boil potatoes and then beat them until the potatoes are smooth, creating mashed potatoes that can be covered with gravy. Potatoes can be made into French fries, potato chips, hash browns, soft dumplings, or potato salad. Cooks often use potatoes in soups and casseroles. No one can accuse the potato of being useless! What is the topic of this passage?
a. Cooking
b. Potato chips
c. Food
d. Potatoes
What is the topic of this passage?
d. Potatoes
If you are feeling sad, you can make yourself feel better by doing a few simple things. You can take a walk (or get another form of exercise), you can talk to a friend, or you can write down your feelings. Writing down the good things in your life will help too. Doing something good for someone else will also help you feel better. If you still feel a little sad, act happy. It works like magic to make you feel better! What is the main idea of this passage?
The main idea of this passage is:
There are many ways to make yourself feel better.
Harriet Tubman lived during a time when it was illegal to help enslaved people escape to freedom, but she helped them escape anyway. Because of her efforts, she came to be known as “Moses,” referring to an important figure in the Bible. She became the most well-known leader of the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a system of secret routes that helped enslaved people escape to free states. What is the main idea of this passage?
How Harriett Tubman helped free hundreds of slaves escape to freedom.
Answers may vary slightly.
2. Wilbur and Orville Wright were brothers who were inventors, even from a young age when they built kites and bicycles. Many people credit the Wright Brothers with designing and building the first successful airplane. In 1903, their first flight only lasted 12 seconds, but it continues to inspire people all over the world to learn about science and math, to work hard to realize their dreams, and to use imagination to achieve success. The main idea of this passage is:
A. The Wright Brothers worked hard.
B. The Wright Brothers were inventors who have inspired many people.
C. Inventors build kites and bicycles.
D. The first flight was in 1903.
The main idea of this passage is:
B. The Wright Brothers were inventors who have inspired many people.
What is your favorite way to eat a potato? Potatoes are one of the most versatile foods in the world. You can bake a potato and eat it whole, or you can cut it up and roast it in the oven. Many people boil potatoes and then beat them until the potatoes are smooth, creating mashed potatoes that can be covered with gravy. Potatoes can be made into French fries, potato chips, hash browns, soft dumplings, or potato salad. Cooks often use potatoes in soups and casseroles. No one can accuse the potato of being useless! What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Potatoes are delicious.
B. The best way to eat a potato is to mash them and then pour gravy over the top.
C. There are several ways that potatoes can be prepared.
D. Some methods of cooking potatoes are more nutritious than others.
What is the main idea of this passage?
c. There are several ways that potatoes can be prepared.
Did you know that giraffes are the tallest animals in the world? They are unique in other ways, too. For one thing, they sleep only about 20 minutes each day, and usually not more than five minutes at a time. (They have to remain alert for predators.) Also, every giraffe’s coat is unique, and varies in color from white to nearly black, depending on what they eat and where they live. What is the main idea of this passage is?
The main idea of this passage is:
Giraffes are unique animals.
Thurgood Marshall was the first African American to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. He devoted his career to fighting racism. He argued many important cases before the Supreme Court. His most famous case was Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka in 1954. In the Brown v. Board of Education case, Marshall argued that separate schools for African Americans and whites were unequal and unconstitutional. The Supreme Court agreed with him. With one case, he forever changed the face of education in the United States. What is the main idea of this passage?
The main idea of this passage is:
Thurgood Marshall v. Board of Education
Answers may vary slightly.
I have a dog whose name is Paco. He is almost 10 years old. Paco is very loveable with a brown face and short black fur. He is one of my best friends. He plays with me, sleeps with me, and goes on walks with me. I am so glad to have him around. I love him. What is the main idea of this passage is:
A. The dog’s name is Paco.
B. Everyone should have a dog.
C. The writer's dog is an important part of his life.
D. The dog is cute and sweet.
The main idea of this passage is:
C. The writer's dog is an important part of his life
What is your favorite way to eat a potato? Potatoes are one of the most versatile foods in the world. You can bake a potato and eat it whole, or you can cut it up and roast it in the oven. Many people boil potatoes and then beat them until the potatoes are smooth, creating mashed potatoes that can be covered with gravy. Potatoes can be made into French fries, potato chips, hash browns, soft dumplings, or potato salad. Cooks often use potatoes in soups and casseroles. No one can accuse the potato of being useless! Which of the following detail sentences best supports the main idea and could be added to the paragraph?
A. Some people prefer to remove the middle of the potato and eat only the potato skin.
B. Potatoes are rich in Vitamin C.
C. Potatoes can be white, red, yellow, or blue/purple.
D. French fries should always be served with ketchup.
Which of the following detail sentences best supports the main idea and could be added to the paragraph?
A. Some people prefer to remove the middle of the potato and eat only the potato skin.
Hurricanes are large, intense storms that begin over the ocean, where they gather heat and energy from the water. Hurricanes move slowly toward land, usually moving 10-20 miles per hour for more than one week. The most dangerous part of the hurricane is the storm surge when it reaches land and causes flooding. Wind and waves also contribute to the damage caused by these surges. What is the main idea of this passage is:
The main idea of this passage is:
Hurricanes are dangerous storms.
Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play Major League Baseball. Robinson played for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Although he played multiple positions, he was most famous for playing second base. He was also an outstanding hitter and fast runner. What is the main idea of this passage?
Jackie Robinson played many positions in baseball.
Answers may vary slightly.