Finding the Main Idea
This worksheet helps fourth-grade students identify the central idea and supporting details in a text.
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Finding the Main Idea
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Read the passage carefully. Then, answer the questions about the central idea and supporting details.
The Amazing Monarch Butterfly
Monarch butterflies are truly amazing creatures. They are known for their beautiful orange and black wings, but even more for their incredible migration. Every year, millions of monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles from Canada and the United States all the way to Mexico. They fly south to escape the cold winter weather. This long journey is dangerous, and many butterflies do not survive. However, those that do reach Mexico will spend the winter months resting in warm forests before flying north again in the spring to lay their eggs. It takes several generations of butterflies to complete the entire round trip.
1. What is the central idea of the passage?
Monarch butterflies have orange and black wings.
Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico for the winter.
Many butterflies do not survive the migration.
Monarch butterflies lay their eggs in the spring.
2. Which detail supports the idea that the monarch migration is long and difficult?
They have orange and black wings.
They travel thousands of miles.
They rest in warm forests.
They fly north in the spring.
3. The monarch butterflies migrate to to escape the cold winter.
4. It takes several of butterflies to complete the entire round trip.
5. In your own words, explain what the central idea of a passage is.
Use the words below to complete the sentences.
6. The is what the passage is mostly about.
7. Supporting give more information about the central idea.
8. Good readers look for the idea and how other sentences it.
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