Main Idea and Summarizing — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A paragraph that describes three ways animals survive winter has the main idea that animals adapt to cold weather.
When three supporting details all show different survival strategies, the main idea is that animals adapt to winter.
2. To find the main idea, ask yourself what one point ties all the details together.
The main idea is the one central point that all supporting details connect back to and support.
3. A summary of a biography should mention the person's name, what they did, and why it mattered.
A biography summary includes the person's identity, achievements, and significance — why they matter historically.
4. Details about color, size, and shape in a passage about butterflies support the main idea.
Physical description details in a nature passage support the main idea by providing observable evidence.
5. If you remove a sentence and the paragraph still makes sense, that sentence is probably a minor detail.
Minor details don't affect the paragraph's overall meaning — removing them doesn't change understanding of the main idea.
6. The main idea of a how-to article about baking bread is that following the steps produces a good loaf.
How-to texts are organized around steps or procedures — their main idea focuses on following the process correctly.
7. A good summary is brief enough to fit in just a few sentences.
Brevity is a key quality of a summary — it condenses the original text into a few essential sentences.
8. Identifying the main idea helps you remember what you read more quickly.
Focusing on main ideas rather than every detail improves retention and memory of what was read.
9. When two paragraphs share the same topic, their main ideas may still be different.
Paragraphs about the same topic can have different main ideas — the topic is what it's about, the main idea is the central point.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
An article about the benefits of reading every day
→ Daily reading improves vocabulary, focus, and critical thinking.
Apollo 11 astronauts made history by walking on the Moon in 1969.
A passage about how bridges are built
→ Engineers use cables, beams, and concrete to construct safe bridges.
Many rain-forest species face extinction due to habitat loss.
A report on endangered rain-forest animals
→ Many rain-forest species face extinction due to habitat loss.
Engineers use cables, beams, and concrete to construct safe bridges.
A chapter about the first moon landing
→ Apollo 11 astronauts made history by walking on the Moon in 1969.
Daily reading improves vocabulary, focus, and critical thinking.
Reading benefits → improves vocabulary/focus; Bridge building → engineers use cables/beams; Endangered animals → extinction due to habitat loss; Moon landing → Apollo 11 astronauts.