It was backward day at school. The students had to do things backwards. Some of them wore their t-shirt backward.

They took a test before they studied the lesson! Dessert was served first instead of last at lunch. They tried to walk home backward, but they kept bumping into each other and fell down. What is the main idea in this paragraph? A) Students had a backwards day. B) Dessert is supposed to come last. C) It is hard to do things backwards. D) Students failed their test.

Jon held the ball in his hands. He bounced it slowly on the ground. Once. Twice. He crouched low and then jumped. The ball flew into the air. Up, up, up it went. Then down, down, down into the basket. "Yes!" he yelled. "Nothing but the net!" What is the main idea in this passage? A) How to throw a basketball. B) Jon makes a basket. C) Jon likes basketball. D) Jon can jump high.

Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal servants. They will look and behave much like real humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers and they will be able to respond in kind! Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier. What is the main idea in this paragraph? A) We will be able to talk to robots and they will be able to respond. B) Someday we will have robots that will be our personal servants. C) Robots will look and behave much like real humans. D) Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience.

The frog sat on the side of the pond. He was very still. His green color made him hard to see. A bug flew near him. His tongue zipped out, and he gobbled it up. Then the frog was still again. He waited for the next bug. What is the main idea in this paragraph? A) Frogs are green. B) Frogs do not move. C) Frogs eat bugs and sit on lily pads. D) Frogs live in ponds.

Please come home soon! I miss you so much Maria. I can't sleep when you are gone. I need to hear your soft sweet voice and see your quiet brown eyes. I miss the special way you like to eat your spaghetti with your fingers. Please come home soon! What is the main idea in this paragraph? A) Maria, I have lost my appetite. B) Maria, I miss you. C) Maria, you need to clean your room. D) Maria, you have bad manners. The first people to wear sunglasses were the Inuit (Eskimos) in North America. They needed sunglasses because the sun and the snow were too bright for their eyes. They made them out of the skin and bones of animals. What is this passage mainly about? A) Eskimos B) The History of Sunglasses C) Inuits D) Islanders

Patty loves to play games. Her favorite game is Chess because it requires a great deal of thought. Patty also likes to play less demanding board games that are based mostly on luck. She prefers Monopoly because it requires lusk and skill. if she's alone, Patty likes to play action videos as long as they aren't too violent. What is this paragraph mainly about? A) Patty loves to play monopoly the most B) Patty loves to play games C) Patty likes action videos as long as they aren't too violent D) Patty likes games that require lusk

Sonny watches too much television. A toddler shouldn't spend hours sitting in front of a television screen. Worse yet, some of his wild behavior has been inspired by those awful cartoons he watches. His parents should spend more time reading or playing games with him and pull the plug on the TV! A baby needs more attention than just keeping them occupied and quiet. What is the main idea of this paragraph? A) Books are good to read to a toddler. B) All cartoons are bad. C) Watching a lot of television is bad for Sonny. D) Watching a lot of television is good for a baby.

Many people claim that they do not have time to work exercise into their daily schedules. However, exercise can be easily worked ones daily routine. For instance, one can do stretches while taking a shower. While standing in line at the grocery store, one can flex the abs or clench the rear. One can even do calf raises while talking on the phone. More ideas: try walking around the building during lunch breaks and always take the stairs. What is the main idea in this passage? A) Many people claim that they do not have time to work exercise into their daily schedules. B) Exercise is good for you C) One can even do calf raises while talking on the phone D) Exercise can be easily worked into ones daily routine

There are a number of activities that can be used to enhance your emotional growth. First, you can keep a daily journal. Writing down thoughts is an effective way of achieving better self-understanding. Second, you can join a support group. Sharing experiences creates an environment that will support your efforts to grow as a more interesting person. Third, take an assertiveness training course. Last, seek counseling. What is the main idea of this paragraph? A) Writing down thoughts is an effective way of achieving better self-understanding. B) There are a number of activities that can be used to enhance your emotional growth. C) Sharing experiences creates an environment that will support your efforts to grow as a more interesting person. D) Third, take an assertiveness training course.

Mount Rushmore is a huge carving in the side of a stone cliff. The carving is of four U.S. presidents. The presidents are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The main idea of this story is? A) Where Mount Rushmore is B) What Mount Rushmore is C) The name of the presidents D) How many presidents the U.S. has had

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick? What is the Main Idea of this alliteration? A) Who is Peter Piper B) Why is Peter Piper picking peppers C) Picking Peppers D) What an alliteration is

Mercury is one of the planets in our solar system. Mercury moves around the sun like the other planets. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. It is very hot there. What is the main idea of this passage? A) Mercury is very hot B) What Mercury is like C) The planets of the solar system D) Mercury is the closest planet to the sun.
In parts of California the fall is very hot. Often hot winds blow. If someone starts the smallest fire these winds will make the small fire become a large fire. Because of tall weeds these fires spread very quickly. What is this paragraph about? A) Hot winds B) California's dry season C) Fighting forest fires D) Fires in California

Immigrants are people who come to another country to live. In the late 1800s, many immigrants came to the U.S. They came to build a better life for their family. What is the main idea of this passage? A) The U.S. is a new country B) Immigrants coming to the U.S. C) The late 1800s D) Building new homes
As young child we all enjoy reading about the adventures of Arthur. These wonderful stories were written by Marc Brown. Mr. Brown bases his characters on people he knows. The character D.W. and Francine are like his sisters. What is the main idea? A) Why Arthur is an aardvark. B) Why Marc Brown's books have so many characters. C) Where Marc Brown gets the ideas for his characters. D) How Marc Brown started writing Arthur books.

Girls all over the world enjoys playing with dolls. Dolls serve as playmates, and an outlet for many emotions. This toy is made to look like human beings to help children identify with the doll. What is the main idea of the story? A) Dolls look like people. B) The size of dolls. C) When dolls were made. D) Girls enjoy playing with dolls.
Dr. Seuss was an American writer and illustrator. He was best known for his children books. We have all enjoy the clever rhymes, and wonderful creatures. Dr. Suess's invented silly words have often delighted young readers. What is the main idea? A) Dr. Seuss's silly words. B) Dr. Seuss' rhymes. C) Dr. Seuss' birthday. D) Dr. Seuss was an American Writer and Illustrator.

10,000 settlers pitched tents in the center of Oklahoma in the year of 1889. The city of Oklahoma City was formed. Soon after building were built and it was named as the state capital of Oklahoma. What is the main idea of this passage? A) The United States of America. B) When Oklahoma City was settled. C) 10,000 settlers living in tents. D) The year 1889.

Stegosaurus was an unusual looking dinosaur. It had a very small head. Along the back of the stegosaurus was large triangle shaped plates. What was the main idea of this passage? A) Triangle shaped plates. B) Stegosaurus was an unusual dinosaur. C) A dinosaur with a small head. D) The back of the stegosaurus.

Ages ago living things like bugs and leaves got trapped in soft tree resin. The resin hardened into what we know as amber. It kept the trapped bugs and leaves in perfect shape. Now scientists are learning much about the distant past from amber samples. Some scientists say they are more useful than fossils. What is the topic of this paragraph? A) Soft tree resin B) Fossils C) Bugs and leaves D) Amber samples
Every year hungry deer do millions of dollars' worth of damage to young pine trees. Scientists in Washington have found a way to protect the trees. They use a substance called selenium. Selenium produces a bad smell when dissolved. A bit of this element is put in the ground near trees. Rain dissolves the selenium, and the trees absorb it. The bad smell keeps the deer away until the trees are fully grown. What is the main idea in this passage? A) why deer eat pine trees B) how much damage deer do to trees C) what selenium is D) how trees can be protected from deer

Native Americans dried strips of meat, pounded it into a paste, and then mixed it with fat. Sometimes they added berries and sugar. Then they pressed it into small cakes. They called these cakes pemmican. Pemmican didn't spoil, and it provided lots of energy for people traveling or going hunting. Today explorers still carry and eat this food. What is the topic of this paragraph? A) Pounded Meat B) Explorers today C) Native Americans D) Pemmican

Air plants, such as mosses and lichens, grow on buildings and stones and get their food and water from the air around them. Other plants such as mistletoe get their food and water from the trees they live on. Sometimes these trees die if the plants take away too much food or water. What is the main idea in this passage? A) how mosses and lichens get food and water B) what kind of plants grow on buildings C) why mistletoe sometimes kills trees D) how some plants don't live in soil

The harmless hog-nose snake is a champion bluffer. When this snake is threatened, it hisses and acts as if it will bite. If you don't run away, the hog-nose snake "plays dead." It rolls over on its back, wiggling around as if it's in distress. Then it "dies" with its mouth open and tongue hanging out. If you turn it on its stomach, the snake will roll over on its back again. What is the main idea in this passage? A) where the hog-nose snake is found B) how dangerous the hog-nose snake is C) what things frighten the hog-nose snake D) how the hog-nose snake bluffs

There are many fun things to do at the beach. Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach. Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed. Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun. It is also fun to look for shells. Some people simply like to sunbathe. What is the main idea in this passage? A) There are many fun things to do at the beach. B) Some people simply like to sunbathe. C) Snorkeling can be enjoyed at the beach. D) Playing beach volleyball at the beach is fun.

Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer. Soccer players learn how to dribble and pass the ball. They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score. Most importantly, soccer players learn how to work together with their teammates. What is the main idea in this passage? A) They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score. B) Soccer players learn how to dribble. C) Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer. D) Soccer players learn how to work together with their teammates.

The rain forest is home to many creatures. Monkeys, toucans and macaws live in the rain forest. Blue Morpho butterflies and anteaters also live in the rain forest. What is the main idea in this passage? A) Monkeys, toucans and macaws live in the rain forest. B) The rain forest is home to many creatures. C) Anteaters also live in the rain forest. D) Macaws live in the rain forest.

My mother is a very elegant and unique person. She loves to collect different pieces of jewelry. Every time she goes to the store, she buys a special piece of jewelry to add to her collection. Her favorite piece of jewelry are necklaces. I believe my mother will collect jewelry for the rest of her life. What is the topic of this paragraph? A) Her favorite piece of jewelry are necklaces B) My mother loves jewelry C) Mother's jewelry collection D) My mother likes unique pieces of jewelry
David wants to buy a Christmas present for a very special person, his mother. David's father gives him $5.00 a week pocket money and David puts $2.00 a week into his bank account. After three months David takes $20.00 out of his bank account and goes to the shopping mall. He looks and looks for a perfect gift. David decides to wait a few days to look for his mother's gift again. What is the topic of this passage? A) David's mother B) The money C) Finding the perfect Christmas present D) David's father

Babies use both hands. But babies use one hand more than the other. This hand may become the preferred one. How can you tell? Lay a baby on its back. Notice which side the baby faces. If the baby looks to the right most of the time, it will probably be righthanded. What does it mean if the baby faces left more often? The baby will most likely be left-handed. A) how to tell right- from left-handed babies B) that babies use their hands for many things C) that there are more left-handed babies

Do you ever wonder how you taste things? You owe your sense of taste to your taste buds. We have nine thousand taste buds just on the tongue alone. There are also taste buds on the roof of your mouth. You even have taste buds on the back of your throat. A) why we can taste only sweet things B) that we taste through our nose C) where taste buds are found

Goldilocks had nothing to do. Her friends were busy, so she decided to take a walk in the woods alone. She noticed a house. She knew it was a strangers house, but she still entered. There was not anyone home; therefore, she decided to eat some food and take a nap in the strangers home. A) Walking can be an adventure. B) Goldilocks didn't follow safety procedures. C) It is okay to do the wrong things as long as it isn't hurting anybody.

Were you born after 1985? If so, how long do you expect to live? Most people born after 1985 can expect to live more than 70 years. Of course, this is just a guess based on past records. By the way, females can expect to live about six years longer than males. Thats taken from past records too! A) why people live to be 70 B) how long you might expect to live C) about the health of females

Farmers in Japan have a problem. There is not much land to farm, and there are many people to feed. Some farmers cut rows in the hillsides and grow crops there. This helps a little, but many kinds of food are shipped to Japan. They can choose anything they want to eat! A) There is little land to farm in Japan; so many kinds of food are shipped to Japan. B) Growing food on the hillside in Japan is hard work. C) The Japanese like getting food from different countries. Juan loves to play games. His favorite game is chess because it requires a great deal of thought. Juan also likes to play less demanding board games that are based mostly on luck. He prefers Monopoly because it requires luck and skill. If hes alone, Juan likes to play action video games as long as they arent too violent. What is the main idea of this paragraph? A) Juan dislikes violence. B) Juan likes to think. C) Juan enjoys Monopoly. D) Juan enjoys playing games.

Maria is watching too much television. A toddler shouldnt be spending hours staring blankly at a screen. Worse yet, some of her wild behavior has been inspired by those awful cartoons she watches. We need to spend more time reading books with her and pull the plug on the TV! What is the main idea of this paragraph? A) Watching a lot of television isnt good for Maria. B) Books are good. C) All cartoons are bad. D) Some cartoons are bad for Maria.

Samantha, I cant eat or sleep when you are gone. I need to hear your scratchy voice and see your lovely toothless smile. I miss that special way that you eat soup with your fingers. Please come home soon! What is the main idea of this paragraph? A) Samantha, you have bad manners. B) Samantha, you should see a dentist. C) Samantha, I miss you. D) Samantha, I have lost my appetite.

A United States astronaut was the first person to set foot on the moon. He was Neil Armstrong. This happened on July 20, 1969 as the world watched on TV. What is the main idea of this paragraph? A) This happened on July 20,1969 as the world watched on TV. B) A United States astronaut was the first person to set foot on the moon. C) He was Neil Armstrong.

Marie likes to play on the playground at school. She likes the swings and the twisting slide. Maries favorite thing to do is climb on the monkey bars. What is the main idea of this paragraph? A) She likes the swings and the twisting slide. B) Marie likes to play on the playground at school. C) Maries favorite thing to do is climb on the monkey bars.

My class always likes to go to the computer lab at our school. When we get there we listen for all of the directions. Sometimes we get to listen to a story then play a game on the computer. What is the main idea of this paragraph? A) When we get there we listen for all of the directions. B) Sometimes we get to listen to a story then play a game on the computer. C) My class always likes to go to the computer lab at our school.

We read a book about dolphins in class. A dolphin is not a fish. A dolphin is a mammal that swims and has fins like fish do. A dolphin does not have gills, they breath with their lungs. What is the main idea of this paragraph? A) We read a book about dolphins in class. B) A dolphin is not a fish. C) A dolphin is a mammal that swims and has fins like fish do.

All plants make their own food. Plants take in air and water. The plants leaves collect energy from the sun. The energy is used to change water and air into food for the plant. What is the main idea of this paragraph? A) The plants leaves collect energy from the sun. B) All plants make their own food. C) Plants take in air and water. Soccer is a tough sport. You have to be in shape so you can run up and down the field. You need to have strong legs to kick the ball and keep it away from others. What is the main idea of this paragraph? A) You need to have strong legs to kick the ball and keep it away from others. B) You have to be in shape so you can run up and down the field. C) Soccer is a tough sport.