Determine the main idea of a passage
key notes:
The main idea is what a text is mostly about. Usually, it is the key point that the author wants the reader to remember. The details in a text support, prove, or show the main idea.
Learn with an example
😆Read the passage.
What Would Life Be Like Without Gravity?
Gravity is the force that makes things fall to Earth. You can’t see or touch it, but without gravity, life on Earth would be quite different. Everything would simply float away. If you jumped up, you would fly off into space. If you threw a ball, it would never come down. Gravity is also the force that keeps Earth orbiting around the sun. So, without gravity, Earth might float away, too.
What is the main idea of the passage?
- Without gravity, Earth wouldn’t orbit the sun.
- Life on Earth would be different without gravity.
The main idea of the passage is Life on Earth would be different without gravity.
Most of the details describe several normal things that would be different without gravity. This tells you that the main idea is about how life would be different without gravity.
😆Read the passage.
It’s Simple! It’s Magic!
A good magic trick makes people believe they are seeing something amazing. But magic doesn’t have to be hard to look real. One easy trick is to ‘bend’ a spoon. First, hold the spoon’s handle inside your hands with the end of the handle under your thumbs. Push the spoon’s bowl down on the table. Next, let the handle slide down inside your hands. Since your hand is covering part of the handle, it will look like the spoon is bent.
What is the main idea of the passage?
- All magic tricks can be easy.
- It’s easy to make a spoon appear to bend.
The main idea of the passage is It’s easy to make a spoon appear to bend.
The title suggests that magic can be simple. The details in the passage tell about how to do one magic trick. This tells you that the main idea is about doing one easy magic trick.
😆Read the passage.
Baby Kangaroos
A female kangaroo has a special fold of skin that forms a pouch. The pouch is like a large pocket on its stomach. When a baby kangaroo, or joey, is born, it climbs into its mother’s pouch. At birth, a joey is only about two and a half centimetres long. It needs to stay in the pouch so it can grow more. After several months, the joey has grown enough to leave the pouch for short periods of time. By the time the joey is ten months old, it is ready to leave the pouch for good.
What is the main idea of the passage?
- A baby kangaroo stays in its mother’s pouch until it’s strong enough to live on its own.
- Female kangaroos have pouches on their bellies for carrying their young.
The main idea of the passage is A baby kangaroo stays in its mother’s pouch until it’s strong enough to live on its own.
Notice the words at birth and after several months. They suggest that the text is describing things that happen in a certain order. Here, the main idea is about how young kangaroos grow over time until they no longer need their mothers’ pouches.
let’s practice!
Read the passage.
What Would Life Be Like Without Gravity?
Gravity is the force that makes things fall to Earth. You can’t see or touch it, but without gravity, life on Earth would be quite different. Everything would simply float away. If you jumped up, you would fly off into space. If you threw a ball, it would never come down. Gravity is also the force that keeps Earth orbiting around the sun. So, without gravity, Earth might float away, too.
