Let's solve each paragraph and identify the
main idea — the most important point the author is trying to convey. The main idea is not just a detail, but the overall message or central thought of the paragraph.
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Paragraph 1:
> *I have a dog named Boots. I taught him lots of tricks. When I tell him to, Boots will sit or lie down. He can also wave his paw to greet people. When I say, "Dance, Boots," he will stand up on two legs and walk. I don't know of many dogs that can do such amazing tricks.*
Options:
a. Boots is my dog.
b. Boots can sit.
c. Boots is very smart.
d. Most dogs can't dance.
✔ Correct Answer: c. Boots is very smart.
Explanation:
While options a and b are true, they are too narrow. Option d is a detail mentioned in the last sentence, but it's not the main idea. The entire paragraph focuses on how Boots can do many impressive tricks — sitting, lying down, waving, dancing — which shows that he is unusually intelligent or clever. So, the
main idea is that
Boots is very smart.
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Paragraph 2:
> *Yesterday was my birthday. When I woke up, I noticed my brother Todd hung up a big sign that said, "Happy Birthday, Joey!" Mom made spaghetti for dinner. It's my favorite food in the whole world. My friend Dave came over and handed me a wrapped gift. I wondered what it was. It was a new basketball! I had a great day.*
Options:
a. Todd had a great birthday.
b. Joey had a great birthday.
c. Todd got lots of gifts.
d. Joey got lots of gifts.
✔ Correct Answer: b. Joey had a great birthday.
Explanation:
The paragraph is written from
Joey’s perspective. Everything described — the sign, spaghetti dinner, gift from Dave, and the conclusion “I had a great day” — centers around
Joey’s experience on his birthday. While Todd hung a sign and Joey got a gift, the focus is on
Joey’s happy birthday, making
b the best choice.
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Paragraph 3:
> *Peter's parents bought a new carpet for the living room. Now, he has to take his shoes off when he enters the house. He's also not allowed to eat or drink in the living room any more. Peter's furry dog isn't allowed to play ball in there either. When his parents got the new carpet, there were lots of new rules.*
Options:
a. Peter cannot go in the living room.
b. Peter's parents don't like the carpet.
c. Peter likes to make a mess.
d. Peter's parents made new rules so the new carpet stays clean.
✔ Correct Answer: d. Peter's parents made new rules so the new carpet stays clean.
Explanation:
The paragraph explains that after the new carpet was installed, several rules were added (shoes off, no eating/drinking, no dog playing). These all relate to
protecting the new carpet. Option d captures the
central reason behind all these changes. The other choices are either false (a), unsupported (b, c), or too narrow.
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✔ Final Answers:
1.
c. Boots is very smart.
2.
b. Joey had a great birthday.
3.
d. Peter's parents made new rules so the new carpet stays clean.
These answers reflect the
main idea of each paragraph — the overarching point, not just a detail.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of main idea details worksheet and key.
