Inferencing & Main Idea

What is the best question to ask yourself when you are trying to find the main idea?

• Who is the main character?
• What is the main event?
• What is one important detail?
• What point is the author trying to make?

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.5.8

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?

• Weekends are times to travel.
• The author enjoys spending time with her family.
• The author's grandparents live far away.
• The author is sad to leave her cousins.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Which sentence best describes the main idea of this paragraph?
You might not know what a mascot is, but you've probably seen one. Some mascots are for products. Tony the Tiger is an example. He sells cereal. Schools also have mascots. Baseball teams, hockey teams and other sports teams have mascots. A mascot helps get the crowd involved. They entertain the crowd when the players are not playing. Mascots are fun!

• You might not know what a mascot is.
  
• Tony the Tiger is a mascot that sells cereal.
  
• There can be mascots for products, schools and sports teams.
  
• Some schools don't have mascots.
  

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

One the most popular musical instruments is the piano. In the traditional musical instrument classification system of string, woodwind, percussion and brass, the piano falls into two categories. It is considered a string instrument because the sound comes from the strings inside the piano. It is also considered a percussion instrument, since the player strikes the keyboard, which signals an internal hammer to strike the strings.
What is the author main point?

• The piano is both a string and percussion instrument.
• The piano is a string instrument.
• The piano is a popular instrument.
• The strings of a piano makes the sound.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.2

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.
Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

• Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is
• Pictures help weather reporters get information out in a fast way
• Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short
• They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area

Rachel was on her way to volunteer at the animal shelter.  She was very excited!  She really liked dogs.  Her brother was allergic to dogs, however, so she was rarely around them.  Rachel had a lot of fun playing with the puppies.  But after her shift, itchy bumps appeared on her arms.
It is likely that:

• Mosquitoes bit Rachel
• Rachel is allergic to dogs, too
• Rachel fell in poison ivy

Cassie rolled over in her bed as she felt the sunlight hit her face. The beams were warming the back of her neck when she slowly realized that it was a Thursday, and she felt a little too good for a Thursday. Struggling to open her eyes, she looked up at the clock. “9:48,” she shouted, “Holy cow!” Cassie jumped out of bed, threw on the first outfit that she grabbed, brushed her teeth in two swipes, threw her books into her backpack, and then ran out the door. What is Cassie's problem?

• She is late for work
• She will miss her flight at the airport
• She is late for school
• She is hungry

Grandpa sees that his chocolate cake is all gone.  Brad has crumbs on his mouth. What do you think happened?

• Brad baked his own cake.
• Brad needs to brush his teeth better.
• Brad ate Grandpa's chocolate cake.
• Brad ate Grandpa

Many breeds of dogs are used for work. In many cultures dogs are used to herd sheep. The dogs keep the flock from being attacked by animals such as wolves. They also keep sheep from wandering off. Sheepdogs are known for their loyalty and gentleness. Based on your reading of the text, you can INFER that:

• Sheepdogs are not very smart dogs.
• Sheepdogs are gentle and loyal.
• There are many breeds of dogs.
• Wolves are afraid of sheepdogs.

Alex shut the lid to his laptop with a loud clap.  Some of the people sitting at the tables near him looked up from their books and gave him annoyed looks.  Alex realized that he had disturbed them and held up his hand apologetically.  The librarian turned toward him and shushed him loudly, perhaps louder than the noise that he had made.  Alex put the laptop in his bag and began walking toward the door.  He held his head down low.
Which of the following choices is evidence that the setting is a library?

• He held his head down low.
• Alex shut the lid to his laptop with a loud clap
• Alex realized that he had disturbed them and held up his hand apologetically. 
• The librarian turned toward him and shushed him loudly, perhaps louder than the noise that he had made.