Main Idea & Supporting Details — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The main idea is the biggest part of a story.
The main idea is the biggest part of a story because it is the most important message everything else supports.
2. Details are the small parts that tell more.
Details are the small parts of a story that tell more about the main idea. They add extra information and examples.
3. A story about the park has the park as its topic.
If a story is about the park, then the park is its topic. The topic is the subject the author chose to write about.
4. We use clues to figure out the main idea.
We use clues like the title, pictures, and important words to figure out the main idea of a passage.
5. The title often tells the main idea.
The title often tells the main idea because authors pick titles that hint at the most important message of the story.
6. Each detail helps explain the big idea.
Each detail helps explain the big idea by giving a specific fact, example, or reason that connects to the main message.
7. A story about fish might tell where fish live.
A story about fish might tell where fish live because stories include details that connect to the topic.
8. Supporting details give extra information.
Supporting details give extra information that helps the reader understand the main idea more fully.
9. Finding the main idea helps you understand a story.
Finding the main idea helps you understand a story because it tells you the most important message the author is sharing.
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 story about school
→ Kids learn to read
Kids learn to read
A story about the farm
→ Cows eat hay
Cows eat hay
A story about the zoo
→ Lions roar loud
Lions roar loud
A story about winter
→ Snow falls down
Snow falls down
Each story topic matches a detail that fits it. A story about school might say kids learn to read, and a story about a farm might say cows eat hay.