Reading Main Idea 1 Flashcards
6 cards from real PARCC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Reading Main Idea 1 flashcards as text
Which of the following best describes a supporting detail in a passage?
Answer: A specific fact or example that backs up the main idea
Supporting details are specific facts, examples, or explanations that develop and reinforce the main idea rather than stating what the whole passage is about.
A student reads a passage about exercise. Each paragraph explains a different health benefit of staying active. What is most likely the main idea of the passage?
Answer: Regular physical activity improves overall health
Since every paragraph discusses a different benefit of staying active, the unifying main idea is that regular physical activity improves overall health — the point all the details support.
Which sentence in a paragraph is most likely to state the main idea?
Answer: A broad sentence that the other sentences explain or support
The main idea is usually expressed in a broad, general sentence — often the topic sentence — while the other sentences provide examples, details, or evidence to support it.
After reading a passage, a student cannot find one sentence that states the main idea. What should the student do?
Answer: Combine the key points from each paragraph to figure out the implied main idea
When a main idea is implied rather than directly stated, readers must synthesize the key points across paragraphs to infer what the overall passage is about.
A passage has the following sentences: 'Wolves hunt in coordinated packs. Each wolf plays a specific role during a hunt. Pack members communicate using howls and body language.' What is the main idea?
Answer: Wolves use teamwork and communication to hunt successfully
All three sentences describe aspects of how wolves cooperate — coordination, roles, and communication — making teamwork and communication during hunting the unifying main idea.
Which title best reflects the main idea of a passage that describes the history of the printing press, how it spread literacy, and its effect on science and religion?
Answer: How the Printing Press Changed the World
The passage covers the printing press's broad historical impact on literacy, science, and religion, so 'How the Printing Press Changed the World' captures that overarching main idea best.