Main Idea and Summarizing — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A passage about coral reefs describes colorful fish, warm water, and algae because these are key details that support the main idea.
The answer is "key." Colorful fish, warm water, and algae are key details because they each explain something important about how coral reef ecosystems work.
2. The central idea of a passage is another way of saying the main idea.
The answer is "idea." "Central idea" and "main idea" mean the same thing -- both refer to the one big point the passage is built around.
3. When summarizing a nonfiction article, begin with the topic and then add important details.
The answer is "topic." Starting with the topic tells the reader right away what the article is about before you add the important details.
4. An author's purpose for writing a passage can help you understand its main idea.
The answer is "purpose." Knowing whether the author wrote to inform, persuade, or entertain helps you zero in on the main idea they wanted to communicate.
5. A paragraph where every sentence explains how plants make food has the main idea about photosynthesis.
The answer is "photosynthesis." Because every sentence in the paragraph explains how plants make food, the main idea is about photosynthesis -- the process plants use to turn sunlight into energy.
6. You can check your summary by asking whether it covers the most important points.
The answer is "covers." A summary that covers the most important points proves it captured the key information without leaving anything essential out.
7. Graphic organizers help you organize details before writing a summary.
The answer is "organize." Graphic organizers like webs or charts let you sort details into groups so your summary flows logically.
8. Including exact dialogue from a passage is not necessary in a good summary.
The answer is "summary." A good summary retells key events in your own words, so copying exact dialogue is unnecessary and takes up space.
9. A well-written summary helps another reader understand the passage without reading the whole thing.
The answer is "understand." The whole purpose of a summary is to let someone understand the passage quickly without having to read every word of the original.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
A report about how honeybees make honey
→ Bees collect nectar, process it in the hive, and store it as honey.
Rosa Parks helped spark the civil rights movement by refusing to give up her bus seat.
A chapter on the solar system's planets
→ Eight planets orbit the Sun, each with unique size, temperature, and features.
Forests provide oxygen, shelter wildlife, and prevent soil erosion.
A passage about why forests are important
→ Forests provide oxygen, shelter wildlife, and prevent soil erosion.
Eight planets orbit the Sun, each with unique size, temperature, and features.
A biography of Rosa Parks
→ Rosa Parks helped spark the civil rights movement by refusing to give up her bus seat.
Bees collect nectar, process it in the hive, and store it as honey.
Each main idea sums up its passage in one sentence: bees turn nectar into honey through a step-by-step process, eight unique planets orbit the Sun, forests provide oxygen and protect soil, and Rosa Parks sparked the civil rights movement with her courageous refusal.