ENGLISH TENTH GRADE

TENTH GRADE

MAIN IDEA

Module 2 Lesson 3

The main idea is the point a writer wants to make in a story. The main idea of a story tells what it is about. The other sentences add details to the main idea. Often the main idea is stated in the first or last sentence of the paragraph. Sometimes you may find the main idea in the middle of the paragraph.

Example:

Jazz is an American form of music. Jazz was first based on the work songs of slaves. It began in the South and spread to other parts of the country.

~The main idea is the first sentence. All the other sentences are details. They give more facts about jazz.

Jazz was first based on the work songs of slaves. It began in the South and spread to other parts of the country. Jazz is an American form of music.

~The main idea is the last sentence.

The main idea is often someone’s opinion, not a fact. A writer uses details to convince a reader that his or her opinion is the correct one.

Sometimes a story does not have a main idea sentence. You can figure out the main idea by reading the details.

Main idea

Practicing exercise

I. Write the main idea of the paragraph and then underline the details that support the main idea.

When scientists explore a sea vent on the ocean floor, what are they looking for? Far below the surface, the atmosphere is dark, hot, and under a lot of pressure. Not only that, sea vents expel toxic chemicals that would kill ordinary sea creatures. So, what are they looking for? Life forms. That's right - they are looking for unusual forms of life that thrive on sulfur. Explorers find Jericho worms, orange worms, red palm worms, and giant tube worms living, and growing at an amazingly fast speed, around sea vents.

The main idea in this passage is:

What in the world is aerodynamics? It has something to do with air. The root word dynamic means it has something to do with action or motion. That's it! Aerodynamics is the study of air in motion. For instance, it is about what air does when it hits an airplane wing. The Wright brothers knew about aerodynamics. That's how they did what they did.

The main idea in this passage is:

3.	The orchard was on the top of a low, wooded mountain. The road wound back and forth as they slowly climbed to the top. Charlotte even saw five big, wild turkeys. This was really being in the country. Finally, they arrived. The main idea in this passage is:

Memorial Day - it's a great holiday! It assures us that summer is just around the corner. Of course, Memorial Day was first celebrated for a more serious reason. Memorial Day, begun in 1868, was the day that Civil War soldiers were honored. Later, it became the day to remember all American soldiers who had died in a war.

The main idea in this passage is:

Main idea

Practicing exercise-Answer key

1. The main idea in this passage is:

Possible answer: creatures that live around sea vents
various underlined text to support the main idea

2. The main idea in this passage is:
Possible answer: a definition of aerodynamics
various underlined text to support the main idea

3. The main idea in this passage is:
Possible answer: Going to the apple orchard
various underlined text to support the main idea

4. The main idea in this passage is:
Possible answer: Memorial Day honors fallen soldiers.
various underlined text to support the main idea

Main idea

Quiz

I. Read the paragraph and then write the main idea of the paragraph.

The St. Lawrence Seaway was a joint project of the United States and Canada. Together, the two countries built a series of canals, locks, and channels. They connect the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean by way of the St. Lawrence River. The seaway opened up the central part of North America to shipping to and from Europe. It had been in use since 1959.

The main idea in this passage is:

We often hear about Baghdad, Iraq on the news. As everyone knows, Iraq is the site of the war that America is involved in. But, did you know that it is also the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were located on the Euphrates River near the present day Baghdad. They were beautiful, green, terraced gardens. They must have been a fantastic sight in this desert country.

The main idea in this passage is:

Outside of zoos, Giant Pandas can only be found in China. The forests of central and western China are their home. In these forests they can find bamboo and other plants to eat. These forests, in the mountains of China, are always chilly. In winter the pandas move to the lower parts of the mountains to keep warm. In summer they move to the higher parts to keep cool. As more people move into the area, the Giant Pandas' habitat is shrinking.

The main idea in this passage is:

"Snowball fight!" yelled Pete as he threw a ball of snow at his friend.
John saw it coming just in time. He jumped behind a tree. He reached down and grabbed some snow at his feet. He formed it into a ball. He waited for Pete to throw another snowball.

When the white ball flew past, John jumped out. Pete was bent over making another snowball. John grinned and threw his. It hit Pete on the back of his neck. He stood up. Snow slid down his neck.
"Yeow! That's cold!" he shouted.

The main idea in this passage is:

1. The main idea in this passage is:
Possible answer: the St. Lawrence Seaway
various underlined text to support the main idea

2. The main idea in this passage is:
Possible answer: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
various underlined text to support the main idea

3. The main idea in this passage is:
Possible answer: the Giant Pandas' habitat
various underlined text to support the main idea

4. The main idea in this passage is:
Possible answer: Snowball fight
various underlined text to support the main idea

Main idea

Test

I. Choose the best answer:

1. It was backward day at school. The students had to do things backwards. Some of them wore their t-shirt backward. They took a test before they studied the lesson! Dessert was served first instead of last at lunch. They tried to walk home backward, but they kept bumping into each other and fell down. What is the main idea in this paragraph?

A) It is hard to do things backwards.
B) Dessert is supposed to come last.
C) Students had a backwards day.
D) Students failed their test.

2. Jon held the ball in his hands. He bounced it slowly on the ground. Once. Twice. He crouched low and then jumped. The ball flew into the air. Up, up, up it went. Then down, down, down into the basket. "Yes!" he yelled. "Nothing but the net!" What is the main idea in this passage?

A) Jon makes a basket.
B) How to throw a basketball.
C) Jon likes basketball.
D) Jon can jump high.

3. Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal servants. They will look and behave much like real humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers and they will be able to respond in kind! Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier. What is the main idea in this paragraph?

A) Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience.
B) We will be able to talk to robots and they will be able to respond.
C) Robots will look and behave much like real humans.
D) Someday we will have robots that will be our personal servants.

4. The frog sat on the side of the pond. He was very still. His green color made him hard to see. A bug flew near him. His tongue zipped out, and he gobbled it up. Then the frog was still again. He waited for the next bug. What is the main idea in this paragraph?

A) Frogs eat bugs and sit on lily pads.
B) Frogs do not move.
C) Frogs live in ponds.
D) Frogs are green.

5. Please come home soon! I miss you so much Maria. I can't sleep when you are gone. I need to hear your soft sweet voice and see your quiet brown eyes. I miss the special way you like to eat your spaghetti with your fingers. Please come home soon! What is the main idea in this paragraph?

A) Maria, you have bad manners.
B) Maria, I have lost my appetite.
C) Maria, you need to clean your room.
D) Maria, I miss you.

6. The first people to wear sunglasses were the Inuit (Eskimos) in North America. They needed sunglasses because the sun and the snow were too bright for their eyes. They made them out of the skin and bones of animals. What is this passage mainly about?

A) The History of Sunglasses
B) Eskimos
C) Inuit
D) Islanders

7. Patty loves to play games. Her favorite game is Chess because it requires a great deal of thought. Patty also likes to play less demanding board games that are based mostly on luck. She prefers Monopoly because it requires luck and skill. If she's alone, Patty likes to play action videos as long as they aren't too violent. What is this paragraph mainly about?

A) Patty loves to play games
B) Patty loves to play monopoly the most
C) Patty likes action videos as long as they aren't too violent
D) Patty likes games that require luck

8. Sonny watches too much television. A toddler shouldn't spend hours sitting in front of a television screen. Worse yet, some of his wild behavior has been inspired by those awful cartoons he watches. His parents should spend more time reading or playing games with him and pull the plug on the TV! A baby needs more attention than just keeping them occupied and quiet. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

A) All cartoons are bad.
B) Watching a lot of television is bad for Sonny.
C) Books are good to read to a toddler.
D) Watching a lot of television is good for a baby.

9. Many people claim that they do not have time to work exercise into their daily schedules. However, exercise can be easily worked on daily routine. For instance, one can do stretches while taking a shower. While standing in line at the grocery store, one can flex the abs or clench the rear. One can even do calf raises while talking on the phone. More ideas: try walking around the building during lunch breaks and always take the stairs. What is the main idea in this passage?

A) Many people claim that they do not have time to work exercise into their daily schedules.
B) Exercise is good for you
C) One can even do calf raises while talking on the phone
D) Exercise can be easily worked into on daily routine

10. There are a number of activities that can be used to enhance your emotional growth. First, you can keep a daily journal. Writing down thoughts is an effective way of achieving better self-understanding. Second, you can join a support group. Sharing experiences creates an environment that will support your efforts to grow as a more interesting person. Third, take an assertiveness training course. Last, seek counseling. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

A) There are a number of activities that can be used to enhance your emotional growth.
B) Writing down thoughts is an effective way of achieving better self-understanding.
C) Sharing experiences creates an environment that will support your efforts to grow as a more interesting person.
D) Third, take an assertiveness training course.

Main idea

Test-Answer Key

1.C 2.B 3.D 4.C 5.D 6.A 7.A 8.B 9.D 10.A

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