Main idea and details

Questions

1. What is the main idea of a paragraph?

   • A small fact that appears only once
   • The first word of the paragraph
   • The key point the whole paragraph is about
   • The name of the person who wrote it
   Show answer

   The key point the whole paragraph is about

2. Bees pollinate flowers, make honey and help crops grow. What is the main idea?

   • Bees are small insects
   • Bees are very useful
   • Flowers grow in spring
   • Honey tastes sweet
   Show answer

   Bees are very useful

3. The main idea is always the first sentence of a paragraph. (True or false?)

   Show answer

   False

4. A text explains how penguins huddle, and have thick feathers and fat. Best title?

   • A Day at the Zoo
   • Birds That Cannot Fly
   • How Penguins Stay Warm
   • Penguins Eat Fish
   Show answer

   How Penguins Stay Warm

5. Dogs guide, herd and rescue. In a few words, what is the main idea? (Answer out loud)

   Show answer

   Dogs do useful jobs for people (dogs help people)

6. What do supporting details do in a text?

   • They change the topic
   • They explain or prove the main idea
   • They only make the text longer
   • They replace the main idea
   Show answer

   They explain or prove the main idea

7. Main idea: Exercise is good for you. Which is a supporting detail?

   • Football began long ago
   • Healthy food can be tasty
   • It makes your heart stronger
   • Most people sleep at night
   Show answer

   It makes your heart stronger

8. A detail that has nothing to do with the main idea supports it well. (True or false?)

   Show answer

   False

9. Main idea: Recycling helps the planet. Which detail supports it?

   • It reduces the rubbish we throw away
   • My neighbour has two bins
   • Paper is sold in many shops
   • Plastic comes in many colours
   Show answer

   It reduces the rubbish we throw away

10. Main idea: Camels suit the desert. Give one detail that supports it. (Answer out loud)

    Show answer

    Any: they store fat in humps, go long without water, wide feet for sand

11. Which describes a good summary?

    • A copy of every sentence
    • Full of your own opinions
    • Longer than the original text
    • Short and in your own words
    Show answer

    Short and in your own words

12. A good summary leaves out small, unimportant details. (True or false?)

    Show answer

    True

13. Ana lost her key, searched everywhere, then found it in her coat. Best summary?

    • Ana found her lost key in her coat
    • Ana likes wearing her coat
    • Ana was late for school
    • Keys are made of metal
    Show answer

    Ana found her lost key in her coat

14. Which should be left out of a summary?

    • Minor details, like the colour of a bag
    • The final outcome
    • The key events
    • The main idea
    Show answer

    Minor details, like the colour of a bag

15. Which phrase most often signals a summary of the text?

    • For example
    • In short
    • Meanwhile
    • Once upon a time
    Show answer

    In short

16. Sum up in about six words: A fox hid in the barn until the storm passed. (Answer out loud)

    Show answer

    A fox sheltered from the storm (similar short summary)

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