Main Idea and Details

An octopus isn't fast enough to swim after a fish. The octopus must wait for a fish to swim by.  When the fish comes within reach, the octopus whips out his long arm to grasp it.  Then the octopus has a tasty meal.  What is the main idea?

• How much fish an octopus eats

• Why the octopus likes to eat

• How an octopus gets its food

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?

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.

What is a main idea? 

• The purpose of the passage

• A minor detail

• It is the same as the topic

• the most important idea about a topic that a particular text or paragraph conveys

Which is the main idea?

• The farms needed the rain.

• The thunder hurt the people’s ears.

• Lightning made the sky bright.

• The storm was very strong.

Which are the details? Choose 3.

• The clouds were dark purple.

• The storm was very strong.

• Thunder became louder and louder.

• The raindrops one after another.

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?

What is the main idea of the following passage? 'The sun is a star at the center of our solar system. It provides the light and heat necessary for life on Earth. Without the sun, our planet would be a frozen, lifeless rock.'

• A) The sun is a star.

• B) The sun is necessary for life on Earth.

• C) The Earth is a frozen rock.

• D) The solar system is vast.

Which sentence best supports the main idea that 'Exercise is beneficial for health'?

• A) Many people exercise daily.

• B) Exercise can improve cardiovascular health.

• C) Some people dislike exercising.

• D) Exercise is a popular activity.

Identify the main idea of this sentence: 'Reading regularly can improve vocabulary and comprehension skills.'

• A) Reading is a fun activity.

• B) Vocabulary is important.

• C) Reading improves language skills.

• D) Comprehension is difficult.