Main Idea Questions
Learn how to find the main idea of any passage and answer main idea questions correctly on tests like the SAT and ACT.
What is a Main Idea?
The Main Idea is the Big Picture
The main idea is the most important point the author wants you to understand. It's what the whole passage is really about!
When you read a passage, the author is trying to tell you something important. Every sentence and every paragraph works together to share one big message. That message is the main idea.
What Makes a Main Idea?
- It's the ONE big point that connects everything in the passage
- All the other details support or explain the main idea
- It tells you what the whole passage is about, not just one part
- You can usually say it in one sentence
Where to Find Main Ideas
Authors often put main ideas in predictable places. Here's where to look:
First Paragraph
Many authors introduce their main idea right at the beginning
Last Paragraph
Authors often summarize their main point at the end
Topic Sentences
The first sentence of each paragraph often hints at the main idea
Main Idea vs. Supporting Details
Think of the Main Idea as an Umbrella
The main idea is like a big umbrella that covers all the details. If a detail doesn't fit under the umbrella, it's not part of the main idea!
Supporting details are the facts, examples, and explanations that help prove or explain the main idea. They're important, but they're NOT the main idea itself.
Common Question Stems
On tests, main idea questions are asked in different ways. Learn to recognize them!
You'll see questions like:
- "What is this passage mainly about?"
- "The central idea of this passage is..."
- "The author's primary purpose is..."
- "Which sentence best states the main idea?"
- "What is the best title for this passage?"
- "The passage is primarily concerned with..."
Strategy: FIND the Main Idea
Use the FIND Strategy
Four steps to find any main idea
Examples
Let's practice finding main ideas with two passages. Watch how we use the FIND strategy!
Example 1: The Honeybee
Read this passage:
Honeybees are some of the hardest-working creatures on Earth. A single bee may visit up to 2,000 flowers in one day, collecting nectar to bring back to the hive. Inside the hive, bees work together to turn this nectar into honey. They also build intricate wax combs to store the honey and raise baby bees.
But honeybees do more than make honey. As they fly from flower to flower, they carry pollen that helps plants grow. Without bees, many fruits and vegetables we eat every day would not exist. Farmers depend on honeybees to pollinate their crops.
What is this passage mainly about?
Let's use FIND:
F - First, read it all: Done! We read both paragraphs carefully.
I - Identify what keeps coming up: Honeybees appear in every sentence. The passage talks about what they DO.
N - Narrow to the big picture: The passage shows how bees are important - they make honey AND help plants grow.
D - Don't get distracted: "2,000 flowers" and "wax combs" are details, not the main idea.
Example 2: The Library Card
Read this passage:
Getting a library card is like getting a key to a treasure chest. With just this small card, you can borrow books, movies, and music for free. Many libraries also offer free computer access and Wi-Fi, making them valuable resources for students and families.
Libraries have changed a lot over the years. Today, you can download e-books and audiobooks to your phone or tablet without even visiting the building. Some libraries even lend out unusual items like cake pans, telescopes, and fishing poles! The modern library is truly a community hub that offers something for everyone.
What is the author's primary purpose in this passage?
Let's use FIND:
F - First, read it all: The passage covers library cards and modern library services.
I - Identify what keeps coming up: Libraries, what they offer, how valuable they are.
N - Narrow to the big picture: The author wants to show how libraries offer many valuable resources.
D - Don't get distracted: Cake pans and telescopes are fun examples, but they're just details!
Practice
Now it's your turn! Read each passage and answer the main idea question. You'll get instant feedback!
Passage 1: Sleep and Learning
Scientists have discovered that sleep is essential for learning. When we sleep, our brains process and store the information we learned during the day. Students who get enough sleep perform better on tests and remember more of what they studied.
Unfortunately, many young people don't get the sleep they need. Phones, video games, and busy schedules often keep kids awake past their bedtimes. Experts recommend that 5th graders get 9-12 hours of sleep each night for their brains to work their best.
What is this passage mainly about?
Passage 2: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, there's an area twice the size of Texas filled with floating plastic trash. This "garbage patch" formed as ocean currents pushed plastic waste from around the world into one area. Sea turtles, fish, and birds often mistake the plastic for food and eat it, which can make them very sick.
Scientists and volunteers are working to clean up this pollution, but it's a huge challenge. The best solution is to reduce plastic use and recycle more so less trash ends up in the ocean in the first place.
What is the central idea of this passage?
Passage 3: The History of Pizza
Pizza has been around for thousands of years, but it wasn't always the cheesy, saucy treat we know today. Ancient Greeks and Romans ate flatbreads topped with oils and spices. In the 1700s, poor people in Naples, Italy, started adding tomatoes to their flatbread, creating something closer to modern pizza.
Pizza came to America with Italian immigrants in the late 1800s. At first, it was mostly eaten in Italian neighborhoods. But after World War II, American soldiers who had tasted pizza in Italy brought their love for it home, and pizza shops began opening everywhere. Today, Americans eat about 3 billion pizzas every year!
Which sentence best states the main idea of this passage?
Passage 4: Why Dogs Wag Their Tails
When you see a dog wagging its tail, you might think it's happy. But scientists have learned that tail wagging means more than just happiness. Dogs wag their tails to communicate different feelings to other dogs and to people.
A relaxed, wide wag usually does mean a dog is happy and friendly. But a tail held high and wagging stiffly can signal that a dog is alert or even feeling aggressive. A tail tucked between the legs while wagging slowly often means the dog is nervous or scared. By paying attention to how a dog wags its tail, you can better understand what the dog is trying to tell you.
What is this passage primarily concerned with?
Check Your Understanding: Main Idea Master
Test what you've learned with this 6-question challenge. Can you master main ideas?
Main Idea Master
Game Complete!
Next Steps
Remember These Key Points:
- The main idea is the most important point - the "umbrella" that covers all details
- Use the FIND strategy: First read, Identify patterns, Narrow down, Don't get distracted
- Look for main ideas in first/last paragraphs and topic sentences
- Avoid answers that are too specific (just one detail) or too broad (not focused on the passage)
- Practice finding main ideas in books and articles you read
- Before looking at answer choices, try to state the main idea in your own words
- Move on to the next lesson to learn about inference questions