Main Idea Study Guide

Which sentence supports the following main idea?

There are enough funny and strange holidays to fill each day of the year.

• The best holiday is Thanksgiving because people eat good food and watch football.

• April 5 is Rubber Eraser Day, while National Play-Doh Day is September 18th.

• I like to celebrate my birthday by going to play miniature golf with my friends.

• Teachers and students get to take time off from school for major holidays.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Sunlight helps a plant make food. The plant takes in sunlight through its leaves. The sunlight is energy for the plant. Then, the plant uses that energy to make sugar. This is the plant's food. Water is also important to a plant. Water makes the plant's roots grow. The roots can dig deeper into the soil that way. The deeper the roots go, the healthier the plant is.

Which topic sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph above?

• Sunlight is not important for a plant's growth.
• Plants need sunlight to make sugar.
• Water helps plants grow deeper roots.
• Sunlight and water are important for a plant's growth and food production.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Antarctica

(1) For centuries, little was known about Antarctica. It was thought of as a distant, dangerous, frozen wasteland. It was the last continent to be discovered. No one sighted it until the early 1800s. Before that time, many explores had sailed south in an attempt to visit the ice-covered land. In those days, their trips were as famous a those of the first astronauts.

(2) Even before the land was discovered, stories were told about it. The ancient Greeks thought there was a land at the bottom of the world. Over the years some of the world's greatest sailors tried to find it. In 1772, the famous Captain James Cook made the trip.

(3) Captain Cook was the first sailor to make it all the way to the ice cap. The ice surrounds Antarctica in the winter. Cook sailed all the way around the continent but was blocked from getting too close by the ice. Captain Cook went farther south than anyone had ever gone. His record stood for 50 years.

(4) In the 1820s, a different type of sailor was setting sail toward Antarctica. Seal hunters and whale hunters made the journey. A young American names Nathaniel Palmer was probably the first person to see Antarctica. He and other adventures were sailing through uncharted ocean in search of seals. In doing so, they became explores as well as hunters.

What is the main idea of the article?

• The ancient Greeks knew about Antarctica for centuries.

• Antarctica was the last continent to be discovered.

• Nathanile Plamer was the first person to see Antarctica.

• Antarctica has fascinated people for many centuries.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Antarctica

(1) For centuries, little was known about Antarctica. It was thought of as a distant, dangerous, frozen wasteland. It was the last continent to be discovered. No one sighted it until the early 1800s. Before that time, many explores had sailed south in an attempt to visit the ice-covered land. In those days, their trips were as famous a those of the first astronauts.

(2) Even before the land was discovered, stories were told about it. The ancient Greeks thought there was a land at the bottom of the world. Over the years some of the world's greatest sailors tried to find it. In 1772, the famous Captain James Cook made the trip.

(3) Captain Cook was the first sailor to make it all the way to the ice cap. The ice surrounds Antarctica in the winter. Cook sailed all the way around the continent but was blocked from getting too close by the ice. Captain Cook went farther south than anyone had ever gone. His record stood for 50 years.

(4) In the 1820s, a different type of sailor was setting sail toward Antarctica. Seal hunters and whale hunters made the journey. A young American names Nathaniel Palmer was probably the first person to see Antarctica. He and other adventures were sailing through uncharted ocean in search of seals. In doing so, they became explores as well as hunters.

What is the main idea of paragraph 3?

• The ancient Greeks knew about Antarctica for centuries.

• Captain Cook made it close to Antarctica, but could not reach it due to ice.

• Nathanile Plamer was the first person to see Antarctica.

• Antarctica has fascinated people for many centuries.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Rosa Parks: An American Hero

Rosa Parks has been called heroic, strong, and dedicated. Do you know why? She did something amazing on December 1, 1955. It happened in the African American community of Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Parks, who was African American, was riding a city bus. She sat in a seat in the front of the bus. At the time, African Americans were allowed to sit only in the back of the bus. The bus driver told her to give her seat to a white passenger. When Rosa Parks refused, she was arrested. After that, thousands of people stopped riding buses in Montgomery. What happened next? On November 13, 1956, the United States Supreme Court rules that buses that separated people based on race was illegal. Rosa Parks won!

Based on the title, this passage will be about?

• Rosa Parks and her heroic actions
• The impact of Rosa Parks' actions on the African American community
• The United States Supreme Court's ruling on bus segregation
• The history of Montgomery, Alabama

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Rosa Parks: An American Hero

Rosa Parks has been called heroic, strong, and dedicated. Do you know why? She did something amazing on December 1, 1955. It happened in the African American community of Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Parks, who was African American, was riding a city bus. She sat in a seat in the front of the bus. At the time, African Americans were allowed to sit only in the back of the bus. The bus driver told her to give her seat to a white passenger. When Rosa Parks refused, she was arrested. After that, thousands of people stopped riding buses in Montgomery. What happened next? On November 13, 1956, the United States Supreme Court rules that buses that separated people based on race was illegal. Rosa Parks won!

What is the topic of this passage?

• The United States Supreme Court
• The history of Montgomery, Alabama
• The African American community in Montgomery
• Rosa Parks and her act of defiance on a city bus

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Rosa Parks: An American Hero

Rosa Parks has been called heroic, strong, and dedicated. Do you know why? She did something amazing on December 1, 1955. It happened in the African American community of Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Parks, who was African American, was riding a city bus. She sat in a seat in the front of the bus. At the time, African Americans were allowed to sit only in the back of the bus. The bus driver told her to give her seat to a white passenger. When Rosa Parks refused, she was arrested. After that, thousands of people stopped riding buses in Montgomery. What happened next? On November 13, 1956, the United States Supreme Court rules that buses that separated people based on race was illegal. Rosa Parks won!

What is the main idea of this passage?

• Rosa Parks was a strong and dedicated American hero.

• Rosa Parks

• Rosa Parks was an African American.

• African Americans.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Rosa Parks: An American Hero

Rosa Parks has been called heroic, strong, and dedicated. Do you know why? She did something amazing on December 1, 1955. It happened in the African American community of Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Parks, who was African American, was riding a city bus. She sat in a seat in the front of the bus. At the time, African Americans were allowed to sit only in the back of the bus. The bus driver told her to give her seat to a white passenger. When Rosa Parks refused, she was arrested. After that, thousands of people stopped riding buses in Montgomery. What happened next? On November 13, 1956, the United States Supreme Court rules that buses that separated people based on race was illegal. Rosa Parks won!

Which of the following details supports the main idea, "Rosa Parks was a strong and dedicated American hero."?

• Rosa Parks was a strong and dedicated American hero.

• Rosa Parks gave up her seat to a white passenger.

• She refused to give her seat to a white passenger.
• The United States Supreme Court ruled that buses could not separate people because of their race.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.1

A Tasty Treat

(1) Popcorn has been around for over 5,000 years. Popcorn is made from corn. Corn was first grown  in Mexico. The Mexicans and Native Americans enjoyed trading items. Popcorn may have been a trade item. That is one way it could have spread from one culture to another.

(2) Native Americans used two methods to pop corn. One way was to heat it in clay pots that had lids. Some tribes placed a clay pot next to their cooking fire to heat the kernels. Other tribes heated a layer of sand in the bottom of the pot. When the sand was hot enough the kernels were added so that they could pop on top of the hot sand.

(3) The second method was used by the Winnebago tribe and did not involve clay pots. The tribe members simply rubbed oil on the corn cob. Then they poked a long stick into one end, and held the cob over the fire until the kernels popped. Oddly enough, the kernels stayed on the cob instead of flying off.

(4) When the colonists came to America, the Native Americans introduced them to popcorn. There is a popular story about the brother of a Wampanoag chief. He brought popcorn to the first Thanksgiving. Most historians think it is only a story. There is no mention of the event in documents from Colonial times. Native Americans did bring popcorn to autumn gatherings planned by colonists. They also taught the colonists other ways of eating popcorn. One of their most popular dishes was popcorn soup.

 (5) Popcorn became a favorite treat for the colonists. Each family grew their own crop of corn. One of their favorite ways of eating popcorn was to pour cream and sugar over it and eat it for breakfast.

(6) The colonists also began making the first metal popcorn poppers. One style of popper was made from thin metal rolled into a cylinder. It was put on an axis¹ and rotated by hand. The corn popped over the fire. Another popper was made from heavy wire mesh. It was rectangular. It had a long handle so the popper could be held and shaken over the fire during popping.

(7) Today, popcorn is still a favorite snack for many. People eat popcorn at sporting events, carnivals, and many other places. The tasty treat that came from Mexico has become a food that equals fun.

¹axis: a straight line on which a body or geometric object rotates

Which statement best summarizes the main idea of Paragraph 4?

• Native Americans brought popcorn to the first Thanksgiving feast.

• Historians studied how popcorn was used during Colonial times.

• The Colonists served popcorn at many celebrations.

• Colonists learned about popcorn when they came to America.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

The Ellis Island Experience

(1) Ellis island lies in New York Harbor, with a view of the Statue of Liberty and New York City's impressive skyline. Between 1892 and 1954, over twelve million immigrants entered the United States through Ellis Island.

(2) Before they arrived in New York Harbor, immigrants had already made tough decisions. Some decided to leave behind family and friends, perhaps never to see them again, while others sold everything they couldn't carry to pay for their tickets. Most made the long sea trip beneath the deck, in cramped conditions. Immigrants often traveled with the cargo and were included on the ship's cargo list, along with barrels of food and bolts of wool. Immigrants put up with all of this in order to seek out fresh opportunities in a new world.

(3) When they arrived at Ellis Island, all immigrants had one question: Could they begin new lives in the United States, or would they have to get back on a ship and return home? Happiness, hope, and sometimes heartbreak filled the station's rooms as each immigrant waited for the answer to this question. Most made it through the tests; about two percent had to return home.

In the Harbor
(4) Before any ship could dock in New York City, inspectors came on board and checked passengers for illness. Passengers who were ill had to be treated before being allowed to go ashore. Once cleared, first and second class passengers got on a ferry to the city, and then the other passengers from the ship came up on deck, dragging suitcases and trunks heavy with everything they owned. Each person and piece of baggage was tagged with a piece of paper giving the name of the ship and their number on the cargo list. Then the newcomers took a ferry to the Ellis Island station.

In the Baggage Room

(5) At Ellis Island, immigrants were instructed to place their baggage in a pile to spare them from having to drag it through the station during the arrival process. However, some immigrants refused. They feared their baggage- everything they had brought to the new country - would be lost or stolen.

(6) With or without their suitcases, immigrants formed a line and walked up the broad stairs to the Registry Room. As they walked, doctors and inspectors checked them again for illness or other medical problems. Doctors looked at each person's scalp, face, neck, hands, and way of walking. Doctors asked people to remove their hats and unbutton their high collars. This way, doctors could check for problems more easily. Some immigrants found the exam embarrassing. Whenever doctors saw a problem, they took chalk and wrote a code on the person's clothing.

(7) Other doctors checked each person for signs of contagious illness. Some illnesses were so feared that anyone who had them was sent back to the ship immediately. But most illnesses could be treated. The sick were taken to dorms where they stayed until they were will again. Men stayed in one dorm, women in another. It was possible for an entire family to be turned away when one member was ill, especially if the person was a child.

(8) Immigrants also took an intelligence test as they slowly moved up the stairs. This was not easy for some. The questions were in English, and not all immigrants spoke the language well. If they were over fourteen years of age, immigrants were asked to read a short text in their home language.

(9) By the time they reached the top of the stairs, immigrants had passed the first tests.

In the Registry Room

(10) Now immigrants faced legal test to their entry into the United States. Translators helped them understand the questions. Inspectors asked, "Do you have a job waiting for you?" If the answer was "No," the immigrant might be turned away.

(11) Immigrants often had letters from family already in the United States. They might have rail tickets to their new homes. These papers helped greatly. Most people passed the legal test in just a few minutes. They gladly gathered their belongings and took the ferry to New York City.

(12) But some immigrants did not pass the legal test. They had to face more questions. Any woman traveling on her own had to have a family member or sponsor waiting for her. Otherwise, she was sent home. Sadly, now and then, a wife came with her children, only to find her husband could not claim her. When this happened, she had to take her children back to her home country.

(13) The Ellis Island experience was scary for some immigrants. Coming to a new nation was risky. Still, most made it through the station in a day. During the 1920s, immigrants were required to pass all the test before leaving their home port. This saved travelers from getting to America to only have to turn around and make a long and expensive trip back home.

(14) Ellis island closed in 1954. It is now a museum and a monument to the immigrants who chose to become Americans.

Identify two central ideas that are developed in this passage.

• Ellis Island close din 1954.

• Immigrants faced many risks before entering the country.

• Most people were able to pass the legal test in just a few minutes.

• Passengers in first and second class took a ferry from the ship into the city.

• Immigrants had to pass a series of test before leaving the Ellis Island station.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2