Main Idea and Summarizing — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Fossils show that dinosaurs lived millions of years ago. Scientists study fossils to learn about ancient climates and ecosystems. What is the main idea?
A) Dinosaurs were very large reptiles.
B) Fossils help scientists understand life and conditions on Earth long ago.
C) Some fossils are found in rocks.
D) Scientists work in museums.
The correct answer is B) Fossils help scientists understand life and conditions on Earth long ago. Both sentences describe how fossils reveal information about the past, so the main idea ties them together: fossils are tools for understanding ancient life.
2. Which is the best one-sentence summary of a passage about how earthquakes happen?
A) Earthquakes are scary and cause damage.
B) The ground shakes sometimes.
C) Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates shift suddenly, releasing energy that shakes the ground.
D) Scientists use seismographs to record vibrations.
The correct answer is C) Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates shift suddenly, releasing energy that shakes the ground. This choice names the cause (shifting plates), the process (releasing energy), and the effect (shaking), which covers the key information in one sentence.
3. A passage explains that Benjamin Franklin was an inventor, a writer, and a leader during the American Revolution. Which is the main idea?
A) Benjamin Franklin invented bifocal glasses.
B) Benjamin Franklin was a talented person who contributed to many fields.
C) The American Revolution happened in the 1770s.
D) Writers publish books and newspapers.
The correct answer is B) Benjamin Franklin was a talented person who contributed to many fields. The passage lists inventor, writer, and leader as examples, and the main idea ties them all together by calling him a person who contributed to many fields.
4. A classmate's summary reads: "Wolves are cool because they howl at the moon and run really fast." What should be improved?
A) The summary should include the author's name.
B) The summary should replace personal opinions with factual main points from the passage.
C) The summary is already perfect.
D) The summary needs more adjectives.
The correct answer is B) The summary should replace personal opinions with factual main points from the passage. Calling wolves "cool" is a personal opinion, and a summary should stick to the author's factual main points instead.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Paraphrasing means restating information in different words while keeping the same meaning.
The answer is "different." Paraphrasing requires using different words so you show you truly understand the idea rather than just copying the author's exact language.
2. An author may state the main idea directly or leave it for the reader to figure out.
The answer is "directly." Some authors write the main idea in a clear sentence, while others imply it, leaving the reader to figure it out from the details.
3. Before summarizing, it helps to read the passage more than once to make sure you understand it.
The answer is "read." Reading the passage more than once helps you catch details you missed the first time and understand the full meaning before you try to summarize.
4. A summary that changes the author's meaning is called an inaccurate summary.
The answer is "inaccurate." If a summary changes what the author meant, it gives the reader wrong information, which makes it inaccurate.
5. The title of a passage often hints at the main idea before you start reading.
The answer is "title." Authors choose titles that preview the main idea, so reading the title gives you a head start on understanding the passage.