PARCC Reading Main Idea Practice Questions Story 5

5. What is the main idea of this passage?

A. The creation of raisins in America was an accident.

B. The process of raisin development requires multiple steps.

C. Raisins on the grocery store shelf undergo a brief fermentation process.

D. Raisins are cleaned thoroughly at the packing plant.

E. California has been the leader in American raisin development.

Correct! Wrong!

5. B: The multiple steps required in the process are outlined throughout the passage. The introductory statement that the industry began by accident (A) is a detail, not the main idea. Shelf fermentation (C) is never mentioned. A water bath is mentioned, not thorough cleaning (D), and is a detail, regardless. California is only mentioned as the location of the first raisin crop but never identified as raisin development's leader (E).