Main Idea & Supporting Details — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Main idea: Rabbits are great at staying safe. Which detail best supports this?
A) Rabbits eat carrots.
B) Rabbits have long ears to hear danger.
C) Rabbits are soft and fluffy.
D) Rabbits live in many countries.
Long ears help rabbits hear danger coming, which supports the idea that rabbits are great at staying safe.
2. A passage says: Bananas are yellow. They grow in bunches. Pizza is delicious. Bananas are full of vitamins. Which sentence does NOT belong?
A) Bananas are yellow.
B) They grow in bunches.
C) Pizza is delicious.
D) Bananas are full of vitamins.
The passage is about bananas. The sentence about pizza is off-topic and does not belong.
3. Main idea: Birds build nests to keep their babies safe. Which detail supports this?
A) Some birds are blue.
B) Nests are made with twigs, grass, and mud.
C) Birds can fly south in winter.
D) Parrots can learn to talk.
This detail explains how birds build nests, which supports the main idea about keeping babies safe.
4. A passage says: The library has many books. You can borrow books for free. The park has swings. A librarian can help you find a book. Which sentence does NOT belong?
A) The library has many books.
B) You can borrow books for free.
C) The park has swings.
D) A librarian can help you find a book.
The passage is about the library. The sentence about the park is off-topic and does not belong.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A detail that does not match the main idea is called off-topic.
An off-topic detail does not relate to or support the main idea of the passage.
2. Rabbits use their long ears to listen for danger.
Rabbits have long ears that help them hear predators and stay safe.
3. Birds build their nests with twigs, grass, and mud.
Birds use twigs, grass, and mud as materials to build their nests.
4. At the library, a librarian helps you find books.
A librarian is a person who works at the library and helps people find books.
5. A passage about bananas should NOT include a sentence about pizza.
Pizza is off-topic in a passage about bananas and does not support the main idea.