The main idea is the essential message of a passage. It is a general idea that is supported by specific details. Sometimes the main idea is stated in a passage, meaning you can actually put your finger on a sentence expressing the main idea (topic sentence). Other times the main idea is not stated and you have to determine it from the information (the details) in the passage.
FCAT TIPS
When answering questions about main ideas, remember the following tips:
—Before you start reading the passage, preview it and make predictions. (read the title, look at the illustrations, read any introductory information, pay attention to headings, subheadings and words in boldface or italic type).
—As soon as you finish reading, tell yourself what the passage is mostly about.
—Find the answer choice that most closely matches your own statement of the main idea.
—Pick the choice that best sums up the whole passage.
The following are examples of FCAT main idea questions:
—What is the main idea of this article?
—What would be another good title for the article?
—Which sentence gives the best summary?
—Which statement best describes the lesson/moral of this story?
—What is the primary topic in the article?
—What is the essential message in the article/story?
—What is the central idea of the article?
Let’s PracticeRead the paragraph and Identify the Main Idea
—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.
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