Mastering the Main Idea and Details

After reading a passage about the water cycle, which of the following would be the main idea?

• The process of evaporation and condensation

• The importance of water conservation

• The stages of the water cycle

• The types of clouds in the sky

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

What is the best way to identify the main idea of a paragraph?

• Look for the first sentence of the paragraph

• Find the most repeated word in the paragraph

• Determine the most important point the author is trying to make

• Focus on the last sentence of the paragraph

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

When analyzing details in a text, what should you be looking for?

• Interesting facts only

• Pieces of information that support the main idea

• Descriptions of the characters or setting

• The author's opinion on the topic

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

In a story about a boy who learns to overcome his fear of heights, what detail would be least important?

• The boy's feelings when he climbs a tall ladder

• The color of the ladder

• How the boy's friend encouraged him

• The boy's sense of accomplishment after climbing

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

Which of the following questions would NOT help in finding the main idea of a text?

• What is the author trying to tell me?

• What are the interesting facts mentioned?

• What is the topic of the text?

• Why did the author write this text?

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

A passage describes the diet of giant pandas. Which detail would be most relevant to the main idea?

• The color of the pandas

• The amount of bamboo pandas eat daily

• The number of zoos that have pandas

• The history of pandas in ancient China

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

What is the purpose of supporting details in a text?

• To provide entertainment

• To give examples of the main idea

• To introduce new topics

• To fill space on the page

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

If a paragraph is discussing the causes of climate change, which of the following would be an irrelevant detail?

• The increase in greenhouse gas emissions

• The deforestation of rainforests

• The migration patterns of birds

• The use of fossil fuels

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

When trying to find the main idea in a complex text, what strategy should you use?

• Skim the text quickly for names and dates

• Read the first line of every paragraph

• Summarize each paragraph in your own words

• Focus on the images and captions only

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

In a biography about a famous scientist, which detail would most likely support the main idea that the scientist was a pioneer in their field?

• The scientist's favorite food

• The scientist's early education

• The awards and recognition the scientist received

• The scientist's hobbies outside of work

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1