Main Idea and Summarizing — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
A good summary of a chapter about volcanoes should list every fact about lava temperature.
Corrected: A good summary of a chapter about volcanoes should tell the key points about how volcanoes form and erupt.
The corrected sentence is: "A good summary of a chapter about volcanoes should tell the key points about how volcanoes form and erupt.". The original sentence "A good summary of a chapter about volcanoes should list every fact about lava temperature." contained an error that needed to be fixed.
2. Fix the sentence:
The main idea of an article about healthy eating is that apples have vitamin C.
Corrected: The main idea of an article about healthy eating is that a balanced diet keeps your body strong.
The corrected sentence is: "The main idea of an article about healthy eating is that a balanced diet keeps your body strong.". The original sentence "The main idea of an article about healthy eating is that apples have vitamin C." contained an error that needed to be fixed.
3. Fix the sentence:
A summary should be longer than the original passage so no information is left out.
Corrected: A summary should be shorter than the original passage and include only the key information.
The corrected sentence is: "A summary should be shorter than the original passage and include only the key information.". The original sentence "A summary should be longer than the original passage so no information is left out." contained an error that needed to be fixed.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A summary is a short retelling of the most important parts of a text.
A summary condenses a longer text into a brief statement of the key points.
2. The main idea can often be found in the first sentence of a paragraph.
The topic sentence — usually the first sentence — often states the main idea directly.
3. Minor details are interesting but not essential to the main idea.
Minor details add color but are not essential to understanding the main point — they are omitted in summaries.
4. Key details help support or explain the main idea of a passage.
Key details support the main idea by providing evidence and examples that develop the central point.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. What should you leave out when writing a summary?
Sample answer: You should leave out minor details, repeated information, and personal opinions that do not support the main idea.
Effective summaries omit trivial details, repetition, and personal reactions to stay focused on the text's key information.
2. Where in a paragraph can you usually find the main idea?
Sample answer: The main idea is often in the first or last sentence of a paragraph, but sometimes you must figure it out from all the details together.
The main idea most commonly appears in the topic sentence (first) or clincher sentence (last), but may also be implied.