Main Idea

Category 1

100

How much wool does a lamb grow every year? About seven pounds altogether. That’s enough to make two warm coats or four pairs of pants.

Which is the main idea?

a. Making warm coats
b. A seven pound lamb
c. The wool from a lamb

c. The wool from a lamb

200

Does your cat like to chew gum? My orange striped cat, Rufus, loves pink Snap-Happy Gum. His best trick is blowing a bubble that looks like an elephant!

Which is the main idea?

a. Blowing up elephants
b. Teaching a cat a trick
c. A very silly cat

c. A very silly cat

300

Dreams can take you places you have never been before. You can go by plane, on a bike, or even ride a cloud. Tonight let’s go to the City of Ditty. Bring your banjo. The people play music there all night long.

Which is the main idea?

a. Dreaming about planes
b. Moving far away
c. Taking a trip in a dream

c. Taking a trip in a dream

400

Kim was so excited when she saw her name on Mrs. Evans’ class list. She had hoped all summer to be in her 2nd grade class. Kim knew that this was going to be the best year ever.

Which is the main idea?

a. Kim has a brother.
b. Mrs. Evans teaches 2nd grade.
c. Kim is a good student.
d. Kim wants Mrs. Evans as a teacher.

d. Kim wants Mrs. Evans as a teacher.

500

Mother’s Day is a special day. There are many things you can do for your mother. You can make a pretty card or cook a nice meal. You can help clean the house or wash the clothes. It is a time to show your mother that you care.

Which is the main idea?

a. You can cook a meal.
b. You can make a card.
c. You can help clean the house.
d. Mother’s Day should be a special day.

d. Mother’s Day should be a special day.

Category 2

100

Did you know the peanut is not really a nut? It looks like one, but it’s not. Peanuts are the seeds of a plant and belong to the pea family. Another name for peanut is a “goober.”

Which is the main idea?

a. Peas in a pot
b. A story about peanuts
c. Planting seeds

b. A story about peanuts

200

How many things can your tongue do? It can taste your food, lick your lips, say all your L’s, and tickle the top of your mouth.

Which is the main idea?

a. How a tongue tastes
b. Good things a tongue can do
c. Tasting food

b. Good things a tongue can do

300

Do you know what your name means? “Richard” means “brave” and “Dorothy” means “gift.” Every name has its own special meaning.

Which is the main idea?

a. A birthday gift
b. The meaning of names
c. Names for boys

b. The meaning of names

400

Jo is watching too much television. A child shouldn’t be spending hours staring at a screen. Some of her behavior has been caused by those cartoons she watches. She needs to spend more time reading books and pull the plug on the TV!

Which is the main idea?

a. Watching a lot of television isn’t good for Jo.
b. Books are good.
c. All cartoons are bad.
d. Some cartoons are bad for Jo.

a. Watching a lot of television isn’t good for Jo.

500

The winter in New York in 1994 was one to remember. There was a lot of snow. This made it hard for people to get around. Many schools were closed. It was also very cold. People were glad when the winter was over.

Which is the main idea?

a. The winter of 1994 was bad.
b. Many school had to close.
c. People were sick.
d. It was hard to get around.

a. The winter of 1994 was bad.

Category 3

100

The first time you hear your own voice on tape you might be very surprised. You probably won’t even know it’s you! The sound you hear from your voice when you talk is different from the sound your friends hear.

Which is the main idea?

a. Talking on a tape
b. The sound of your voice
c. Hearing friends talk

a. Talking on a tape

200

Crickets don’t make their chirping sounds with their voices. They just rub their wings together. It looks like they are playing the violin.

Which is the main idea?

a. How crickets chirp
b. Wings that won’t fly
c. A violin that chirps

a. How crickets chirp

300

The students were making pictures in art class. Some students used crayons to draw. Other students used watercolors to paint. The teacher put all of the pictures on the wall for everyone to see.

Which is the main idea?

a. The students drew and painted pictures in art class.
b. Some students used crayons to draw.
c. The teacher put the pictures on the wall.
d. Some students used watercolors.

a. The students drew and painted pictures in art class.

400

Sam and Dad were in the backyard. Sam and Dad had special tools so that they could build the best tree house in town. Sam’s job was to hold the wood while Dad cut and hammered it. They finished in time to eat dinner in the new tree house.

Which is the main idea?

a. Sam has a dad.
b. Sam and Dad built a tree house.
c. There is a tree house in the backyard.
d. It’s fun to play outside.

b. Sam and Dad built a tree house.

500

One day Gray Cat saw another cat. It was black. The two cats chased the leaves that blew around the yard. They played all morning.

Which is the main idea?

a. A cat was black.
b. Cats climb trees.
c. Leaves fell from the trees.
d. Two cats were playing.

d. Two cats were playing.

Category 4

100

Tomorrow is Turn-Around-Day at school. Everyone gets a turn to go to another class and teach something to the children. I’m going to the fourth grade and show them how to make ice cream. They will want me to be their teacher forever.

Which is the main idea?

a. Turning around in circles
b. Teacher for a day
c. How to make ice cream

b. Teacher for a day

200

How do I know fall is coming? I can tell because my mom takes my bathing suit and puts it in a cardboard box. Outside the air is getting colder, and next week we will attend the Clemson football game.

Which is the main idea?

a. Packing up
b. A Clemson football game
c. How to tell when it’s fall

c. How to tell when it’s fall

300

The class took a field trip to the zoo. They saw many animals. Their favorite animals were the elephants and monkeys. When it was time to leave, they rode the yellow bus back to school.

Which is the main idea?

a. The class rode a yellow school bus.
b. The class had fun.
c. They saw lots of animals.
d. The class went on a field trip.

d. The class went on a field trip.

400

Many people play soccer. It is played in every country. Soccer has been around for almost 3,000 years. Some people played soccer in China a long time ago. Then people started to play it in other countries. Soon, it was played all around the world.

Which is the main idea?

a. Soccer has been played for almost 3,000 years.
b. Soccer is played by people all over the world.
c. Some people played soccer in China.
d. People started to play soccer in other countries.

b. Soccer is played by people all over the world.

500

There are many kinds and sizes of sharks. Some are larger than elephants. Some are only about four inches long. They can see for great distances. Sharks are meat eaters that can swim very fast.

Which is the main idea?

a. sizes of sharks
b. sharks
c. food for sharks
d. where sharks are found

b. sharks

Category 5

100

There is someone behind me that has been following me around all day long. He is much bigger than I am but I’m not afraid. When I eat he sits on the floor. When I go to bed he sleeps on the wall. He is my shadow. Look around—you might have one too.

Which is the main idea?

a. Afraid of shadows
b. Someone who follows me
c. Sleeping on the floor

b. Someone who follows me

200

My friend Taylor told me a secret. He said not to tell anyone. I’m the best person to tell a secret to, because the very next day I can’t remember the secret. A secret is safe with me.

Which is the main idea?

a. The best secret keeper
b. Remembering late at night
c. Whispering secrets

a. The best secret keeper

300

A young girl went with her dad to the circus. They saw lots of clowns. Their favorite trick was when the seal put a ball on its nose. The young girl’s dad gave her a balloon when it was time to go home.

Which is the main idea?

a. They saw lots of clowns.
b. Their favorite animal was the seal.
c. The dad gave a balloon to his young girl.
d. The young girl and her dad went to the circus.

d. The young girl and her dad went to the circus.

400

Hiking is a wonderful way for you to have fun. All you need is a good pair of shoes. You can hike in many places, such as the woods or a valley. You can walk for a long or short time. Hiking is even better if you go with your friends.

Which is the main idea?

a. You need good hiking shoes.
b. You will have a good time hiking.
c. Hikes can be long or short.
d. You can hike in the woods.

b. You will have a good time hiking.

500

Becky was busy making a puppet for her friend. Her friend likes squirrels, so Becky made a squirrel puppet. She painted a smile on it. “That’s good,” she said. “Ann will like this.”

Which is the main idea?

a. Smiling Puppet b. Becky Likes Squirrels c. A Puppet for Ann d. A Sick Friend

c. A Puppet for Ann