Here's how to solve the problem step by step:
---
1. Understand the Task
You are given a short passage titled “Dogs” and two questions:
-
Question 1: Write the main idea of the story.
-
Question 2: Color one detail that supports the main idea. (There are three options listed.)
The goal is to identify the central message of the paragraph and then pick a supporting detail from the choices.
---
2. Read the Passage Carefully
> *Dogs make great pets. They are very loyal animals. Dogs love to be around humans as much as humans love to be around dogs. They will sit with you and keep you company. Dogs are also fun to play with. They love to play fetch and go on walks. No wonder dogs are called ‘man’s best friend’!*
Key points:
- Dogs = great pets
- Loyal
- Love being with humans
- Fun to play with
- Called “man’s best friend”
---
3. Answer Question 1: Main Idea
The
main idea is the most important point the author wants you to understand — usually the topic + what the author says about it.
In this case, the whole paragraph explains
why dogs make great pets — through their loyalty, companionship, and playfulness.
✔ So, a good answer for Question 1 is:
>
Dogs make great pets because they are loyal, loving, and fun companions.
*(You could also say: “Dogs are wonderful pets and man’s best friend.” — as long as it captures the overall message.)*
---
4. Answer Question 2: Choose the Supporting Detail
You must pick
one of these three sentences that
supports your main idea:
-
✘ “Cats are better than dogs.” → This contradicts the main idea. Not correct.
-
✘ “They dig in the mud.” → This is not mentioned in the passage and doesn’t support the idea that dogs are great pets.
-
✔ “They are very loyal animals.” → YES! This is directly stated in the passage and supports why dogs make great pets.
This detail is explicitly mentioned and reinforces the main idea.
✔ So, you should
color the sentence:
>
They are very loyal animals.
---
Final Answers:
1. Main Idea:
*Dogs make great pets because they are loyal, loving, and fun to be around.*
2. Supporting Detail to Color:
✔ *They are very loyal animals.*
---
💡
Why this works: The main idea summarizes the entire paragraph. The supporting detail is a specific fact from the text that helps prove or explain the main idea. “Loyalty” is a key reason dogs are great pets — so it directly supports the main idea.
Let me know if you’d like to rephrase the answers for different grade levels!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of first grade main idea worksheet.
