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English · Reading comprehension

Main idea

Find the sentence that says what the passage is about.

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What is the main idea?

Every passage is about something. The main idea tells you the most important point. It is what the whole passage is really about. Other sentences give details that support the main idea.

How to find the main idea

Read the whole passage carefully. Ask yourself: what is this mostly about? Look for a sentence that covers everything, not just one small part. Details are interesting, but they are not the main idea.

Watch out for details

A detail tells you one fact or example. The main idea is bigger. It connects all the details together. If a sentence only talks about one thing, it is probably a detail.

Put it all together

Read the passage. Think about what it is mostly about. Find the sentence that sums up the whole passage. That sentence is the main idea.

Worked examples

  1. 1. Penguins live in cold places. They have thick feathers to keep warm. Penguins cannot fly, but they are excellent swimmers. Which sentence tells the main idea? A) Penguins live in cold places. B) This passage tells about penguins and their features.

    1. Read the whole passage. It talks about where penguins live and what they can do.
    2. Option A is just one detail about where they live.
    3. Option B covers the whole passage: penguins and their features.
    4. The main idea is B because it tells what the passage is about.

  2. 2. Bees collect nectar from flowers. They use it to make honey. Bees work together in hives. Which sentence tells the main idea? A) Bees collect nectar from flowers. B) This passage describes how bees live and work.

    1. The passage talks about what bees do and how they live.
    2. Option A is only one detail about collecting nectar.
    3. Option B covers everything: how bees live and work.
    4. The main idea is B because it sums up the whole passage.

  3. 3. Tigers have orange fur with black stripes. They are strong hunters. Tigers live mostly in Asia. Which sentence tells the main idea? A) This passage is about tigers. B) Tigers have orange fur with black stripes.

    1. The passage gives facts about tigers: their fur, hunting, and where they live.
    2. Option B is just one detail about their fur.
    3. Option A tells what the whole passage is about: tigers.
    4. The main idea is A because it covers the whole passage.

Try it yourself

Spiders spin webs to catch insects. They have eight legs. Most spiders are harmless to humans. Which sentence tells the main idea? A) Spiders spin webs to catch insects. B) This passage gives information about spiders.

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