Main Ideas and Details (RI.5.2)
Q: What is the BEST definition of a "main idea"?
A) A single word in the text
B) The most important point the author is making
C) The first sentence of a paragraph
D) A random detail from the passage
Answer: B) The most important point the author is making
Q: What is a "cause and effect relationship" in a text? A) When one event makes another event happen B) When two events happen at the same time C) When events happen in order D) When two people talk to each other
Answer: A) When one event makes another event happen
Q: What is a "cause and effect relationship" in a text? A) When one event makes another event happen B) When two events happen at the same time C) When events happen in order D) When two people talk to each other
Answer: A) When one event makes another event happen
Q: Which context clue helps you determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word? A) The word's pronunciation B) How many times the word appears C) Words or phrases near the unfamiliar word D) The length of the word
Answer: C) Words or phrases near the unfamiliar word
Q: Which is NOT a common text structure?
A) Cause and effect
B) Compare and contrast
C) Rhyming pattern
D) Chronological order
Answer: C) Rhyming pattern
Q: What is "point of view" in informational text?
A) Only the author's opinion
B) The perspective from which information is presented
C) Only facts with no opinions
D) Only the main character's thoughts
Answer: B) The perspective from which information is presented
Read the passage: Sharks have existed for over 400 million years, predating dinosaurs and surviving mass extinctions. These efficient predators have excellent senses that help them hunt. Most sharks must swim constantly to breathe, as water needs to flow over their gills.
Which is a main idea from this passage? A) Sharks are dangerous to humans B) Sharks have survived for millions of years C) Sharks live in the ocean D) Sharks eat only fish
Answer: B) Sharks have survived for millions of years
Q: Read the passage: In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. Her arrest led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, where African Americans refused to ride city buses. The boycott lasted 381 days and ended when the Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional.
What relationship does this passage show?
Answer: Cause and effect: Rosa Parks' action led to the boycott, which led to the Supreme Court ruling
Q: Read the sentence: The archaeologist carefully excavated the site, digging slowly to avoid damaging any ancient artifacts buried in the soil.
What does "excavated" mean?
A) Photographed
B) Dug up
C) Studied
D) Rebuilt
Answer: B) Dug up
Q: Read the passage: First, gather all your ingredients. Next, mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Then, add the wet ingredients and stir until smooth. Finally, pour the batter into a pan and bake for 30 minutes.
What structure does this text use?
A) Problem and solution
B) Cause and effect
C) Sequential/chronological
D) Compare and contrast
Answer: C) Sequential/chronological
Q: Read the passage: I believe recycling is one of the most important things we can do to help our planet. When I recycle paper, plastic, and glass, I feel proud knowing I'm making a difference. Everyone should make the effort to recycle more.
This passage is written from which point of view?
A) Third-person scientific
B) First-person opinion
C) Second-person instructional
D) Historical perspective
Answer: B) First-person opinion
Q: What helps you identify key details in a text?
A) They support the main idea
B) They are always in the first paragraph
C) They are always the longest sentences
D) They are always italicized
Answer: A) They support the main idea
Q: Read the passage: Thomas Edison didn't invent the first light bulb, but he created the first practical and long-lasting one in 1879. Edison tested over 6,000 materials before finding carbonized bamboo as an effective filament. Meanwhile, Nikola Tesla was developing alternating current (AC) electricity, which would eventually prove more efficient than Edison's direct current (DC) system for delivering electricity over long distances.
How are Edison and Tesla connected in this passage?
Answer: They were both working on electrical innovations around the same time but focused on different aspects (lightbulbs vs. electrical systems)
Q: Read the passage: Herbivores like giraffes and elephants eat only plants. Carnivores such as lions and wolves eat only meat. Omnivores, including bears and humans, eat both plants and animals.
What do these words have in common?
A) They describe animal habitats
B) They describe animal diets
C) They describe animal species
D) They describe animal colors
Answer: B) They describe animal diets
Q: Read the passage: Although both hurricanes and tornadoes are powerful storms with strong winds, they differ in several ways. Hurricanes form over warm ocean waters and can be hundreds of miles wide, while tornadoes form over land and are rarely more than a mile wide. Hurricanes can last for days or weeks, but most tornadoes last less than an hour.
What structure does this text use?
A) Description
B) Problem and solution
C) Cause and effect
D) Compare and contrast
Answer: D) Compare and contrast
Q: Read these two quotes about wolves:
Wildlife biologist: "Wolf populations are essential for maintaining balanced ecosystems. They control deer and elk populations, which allows vegetation to flourish."
Rancher: "Wolves are a threat to livestock. When they kill our cattle and sheep, it costs us money and threatens our livelihood."
How do these points of view differ?
Answer: The biologist focuses on wolves' ecological benefits, while the rancher focuses on the economic threat wolves pose to their business.
Q: Read the passage: The Grand Canyon was carved over millions of years by the Colorado River. It is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and over a mile deep in some places. The canyon exposes nearly two billion years of Earth's geological history in its colorful rock layers. It became a national park in 1919 and attracts millions of visitors every year.
What are TWO main ideas in this passage?
Answer: The Grand Canyon was formed by natural processes over a very long time AND The Grand Canyon is a significant landmark with impressive features
Q: Read the passage: Photosynthesis is the process plants use to make their own food. First, plants absorb water through their roots. Then, their leaves take in carbon dioxide from the air. When sunlight hits the leaves, chlorophyll (the green pigment) captures the sun's energy. This energy is used to combine water and carbon dioxide to make glucose (sugar) and oxygen. The plant uses the glucose for energy, and releases oxygen into the air.
Explain the sequence of events in photosynthesis based on the passage.
Answer: Plants absorb water → Leaves take in carbon dioxide → Chlorophyll captures sunlight energy → Energy combines water and carbon dioxide → Glucose and oxygen are produced
Q: Read the passage: Tectonic plates are enormous pieces of Earth's crust that fit together like a puzzle. These plates move very slowly—only a few centimeters per year. When plates collide, they can form mountains. When they move apart, they can create valleys or oceans. When plates slide past each other, earthquakes can occur.
What does "collide" mean based on context?
A) Move apart
B) Stay still
C) Crash together
D) Sink down
Answer: C) Crash together
Q: Read these two passages:
Passage 1: Space exploration began with the launch of Sputnik 1 by the Soviet Union in 1957. Four years later, in 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space. In 1969, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the Moon.
Passage 2: Exploring space provides many benefits. Scientists learn about planets and stars. New technologies are developed that help people on Earth. Space exploration also inspires young people to study science and engineering.
How do the structures of these passages differ?
Answer: Passage 1 uses chronological order to show when space events happened, while Passage 2 uses a descriptive structure to list the benefits of space exploration.
Q: Read these accounts of the same historical event:
American textbook: "The American Revolution was a heroic struggle for independence and freedom from British rule."
British textbook: "The American colonies rebelled against Britain partly due to disputes over taxation and representation."
How do national perspectives influence these accounts?
Answer: The American account emphasizes heroism and freedom, reflecting national pride, while the British account uses more neutral language focusing on specific causes of conflict.
Q: Read the passage: Honeybees live in large family groups called colonies. A colony can contain up to 60,000 bees! Each bee has a specific job. The queen lays eggs, worker bees collect pollen and nectar, and drones mate with the queen. Honeybees communicate through a special dance that tells other bees where to find flowers. Without bees pollinating plants, many of our fruits and vegetables would not grow.
Write a summary of this passage in your own words.
Answer: (Accept reasonable summaries that include: Honeybees live in large colonies with different bees having specific jobs, and they're important for pollination)
Q: Read the passage: The water cycle is Earth's way of recycling water. As the sun heats oceans, lakes, and rivers, water evaporates into the air as water vapor. As this water vapor rises, it cools and condenses into clouds. When the water droplets in clouds become heavy enough, they fall back to Earth as precipitation (rain, snow, or hail). Some water runs off into rivers and streams, some soaks into the ground, and some evaporates to begin the cycle again.
Compare and contrast evaporation and condensation based on the passage.
Answer: Evaporation occurs when liquid water becomes water vapor due to heat, while condensation is when water vapor cools and becomes liquid water droplets in clouds. They are opposite processes in the water cycle.
Q: Read the passage: Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. This phenomenon occurs in many marine creatures like jellyfish and anglerfish, as well as in fireflies and some fungi. These organisms produce light through a chemical reaction inside their bodies. Some use it to attract prey, while others use it to communicate or ward off predators.
Define "bioluminescence" using evidence from the passage.
Answer: Bioluminescence is when living organisms produce and emit their own light through chemical reactions in their bodies.
Q: Read these two passages:
Passage 1: Plastic pollution is a serious environmental problem. When plastic enters oceans and waterways, marine animals can mistake it for food or become entangled in it. Many animals die as a result. Additionally, plastics break down into tiny pieces called microplastics, which can harm smaller organisms and enter the food chain.
Passage 2: The problem of plastic pollution is overwhelming, but there are solutions. People can reduce their use of single-use plastics by carrying reusable bags and water bottles. Communities can implement recycling programs and beach clean-ups. Governments can pass laws limiting plastic production and encouraging alternatives.
Compare and contrast the structures of these two passages.
Answer: Passage 1 uses cause and effect structure to explain how plastic pollution harms wildlife. Passage 2 uses problem-solution structure by presenting solutions to plastic pollution. Both passages address the same topic but organize information differently.
Q: Read these two accounts about smartphones:
Tech magazine: "Smartphones have revolutionized how we communicate, work, and access information. These devices put the world at our fingertips and have created countless opportunities for innovation and connection."
Child development expert: "The increasing use of smartphones by children has raised concerns about screen time, social development, and sleep patterns. While these devices offer educational benefits, limits should be considered."
Analyze how each account's perspective influences what information is emphasized.
Answer: The tech magazine emphasizes the positive technological and connectivity benefits from an innovation perspective, while the child development expert focuses on potential developmental concerns from a health and wellbeing perspective.