PARCC - Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers Reading Main Idea 7

Question 1

A student reads a paragraph about dolphins. The first sentence says, 'Dolphins are highly intelligent marine animals.' The remaining sentences give examples of dolphins solving puzzles, communicating with each other, and learning tricks. What role does the first sentence play?

Accepted Answer

It is the main idea that the rest of the paragraph supports

Answer

The first sentence states the central point — that dolphins are highly intelligent — and all other sentences provide specific examples that support this claim, making it the main idea.

Question 2

Which of the following is the best way to check whether you have correctly identified the main idea of a passage?

Accepted Answer

See if the other sentences in the passage support or explain your chosen main idea

Answer

A true main idea is supported by the other sentences in the passage; if the details logically connect to and explain your chosen idea, you have identified it correctly.

Question 3

A passage has five paragraphs. Each paragraph discusses a different challenge faced by sea turtles, such as pollution, habitat loss, and fishing nets. What is most likely the main idea of the entire passage?

Accepted Answer

Sea turtles face many serious threats to their survival

Answer

Since every paragraph focuses on a different challenge or threat, the unifying main idea is that sea turtles face many serious threats — this idea ties all the paragraphs together.

Question 4

What is the difference between a topic and a main idea?

Accepted Answer

A topic names what the passage is about; a main idea states a specific point about that topic

Answer

The topic is the broad subject (e.g., 'recycling'), while the main idea makes a specific claim about that subject (e.g., 'Recycling helps reduce waste and protect the environment').

Question 5

A student reads a passage and notices that most paragraphs give reasons why reading every day improves vocabulary, comprehension, and academic performance. Which of the following would be the best main idea statement for this passage?

Accepted Answer

Reading every day has many important benefits for students

Answer

Because all the paragraphs focus on benefits of daily reading, the main idea must capture that overarching point — that reading every day provides multiple important advantages.

PARCC Practice Test

PARCC Practice Test

PARCC - Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers Reading Main Idea 7