Main Idea & Supporting Details — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Penguins live in cold places. They have feathers to stay warm. They swim well. They eat fish.
1. What is the main idea of the passage?
A) Penguins eat fish.
B) Penguins swim well.
C) Penguins live in cold places.
D) Penguins have feathers.
The correct answer is C) Penguins live in cold places..
2. Which detail tells HOW penguins stay warm?
A) They swim well.
B) They eat fish.
C) They live in cold places.
D) They have feathers.
The correct answer is D) They have feathers..
3. Which sentence would NOT belong in this passage?
A) Penguins waddle when they walk.
B) Penguins eat fish.
C) Lions live in Africa.
D) Penguins have black and white feathers.
The correct answer is C) Lions live in Africa..
4. What is the passage mostly about?
A) Fish
B) Cold weather
C) Penguins
D) Feathers
The correct answer is C) Penguins.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word on the line.
1. The main idea is what the whole passage is mostly about.
The correct answer is 'mostly'. The main idea is what the whole passage is mostly about.
2. In the penguin passage, the supporting details all describe penguins.
The correct answer is 'penguins'. In the penguin passage, the supporting details all describe penguins.
3. A detail that does not support the main idea does not belong in the passage.
The correct answer is 'does not belong'. A detail that does not support the main idea does not belong in the passage.
4. Good readers look for the main idea to understand the purpose of the text.
The correct answer is 'purpose'. Good readers look for the main idea to understand the purpose of the text.
5. When all the details describe the same topic, that topic is the main idea.
The correct answer is 'main'. When all the details describe the same topic, that topic is the main idea.