Main Idea Practice

The main idea of a text is....

• what the text is a little bit about

• what the text is sometimes telling you

• what the text is never about

• what the text is mostly or mainly about

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's main point?

• The piano is both a string and percussion instrument.

• The piano is a popular instrument.

• The piano is a string instrument.

There are many fun things to do at the beach.  Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach.  Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed.  Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun.  It is also fun to look for shells.  Some people simply like to sunbathe.

What is the main idea?

• There are many fun things to do at the beach.

• Some people simply like to sunbathe.

• Going to the beach to swim can be fun.

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

• Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short

• Pictures help weather reporters get information out in a fast way

The earth's surface is constantly changing.  All over the world everyday there are earthquakes, floods and volcanoes that quickly change our world. Some changes are too small to see; others cause tremendous damage and costs millions of dollars to clean up.

What is the main idea?

• It is expensive to clean up the damage

• The Earth's surface is always changing.

• Sometimes we can't see the changes. 

Have you ever wondered where chalk comes from?  Tiny animals called foraminifera live in the sea.  Each of these small living animals makes a tiny shell out of lime.  When they die, their shells remain.  With time, these shells become layers of white rock which we call chalk.  Chalk is often found in places that were once underwater.

What is the main idea?

• Chalk is found in the ocean

• Real chalk is made by a small sea animal.

• Chalk is soft stone that is used on blackboards

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?

• Sometimes people feel sad.

• We're not always happy.

• There are many ways to make yourself feel better. 

Robots are being used in sumo wrestling contests. Sumo wrestling is a sport that started in Japan.

It takes place in a ring. Two players try to score points by holding each other down or pushing each

other out of the ring. Robot sumo uses robots instead of humans. The robot that scores the most

points wins.

Which of the following is a supporting detail of this paragraph?

• Robots are being used in sumo wrestling contests.

• Robot sumo uses robots instead of humans.

• Robot sumo contests are better than human sumo contests.