IXL | Identify and analyze the main idea of a passage

Read the passage.

The Dead Sea

Found in southwestern Asia, the Dead Sea isn't a sea at all. It is a salty lake, and it is much saltier than the ocean. In fact, the Dead Sea is so salty that no animals or plants can live in it. When fish are carried from the Jordan River into the Dead Sea, they die right away. The water is even too salty for plants. In fact, there are only a few plants that can grow in the salty dirt near the lake. The Dead Sea certainly does live up to its name!

What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?

Any fish that enter the Dead Sea are killed right away.

The Dead Sea is too salty to support plant or animal life.

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Learn with an example

question

Read the passage.

A Woman of Firsts

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first woman to be elected as the leader of an African country. As president of Liberia, she made huge improvements in peoples' lives. Before Johnson Sirleaf became president in 2005, Liberia was in debt, and most people didn't have jobs. The country had also been divided by a long war. After Johnson Sirleaf entered office, she asked other countries for help with the debt. She made it possible for more girls to go to school. She also worked for peace in Liberia. Because of the important work she did in Liberia, she won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.

What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf worked to give girls the opportunity to go to school.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's work made the lives of many people in Liberia better.

key idea

A main

idea,

or central

idea,

is what a text is mostly about. It is the key point that the author wants the reader to remember. You can think of it as an "umbrella" statement that covers all the smaller details in the passage.

Sometimes, the title of a text can give you a clue about its main idea.

In informational texts, the author organizes facts, definitions, and examples to explain a topic clearly. These texts often follow a clear structure. For example, they may include:

an introduction that presents the topic,
facts and details that explain or support it, and
a concluding sentence that summarizes the key point.

Understanding how a text is organized can also help you figure out the main idea.

The facts and details in a text are called supporting

evidence.

They help prove, explain, or show why the main idea is true.

For example, look at this main idea:

Rainforests are important to the planet.

Supporting evidence for this main idea could include facts like these:

They provide oxygen.

They are home to thousands of animal species.

Each fact supports the author's message and helps the reader understand why rainforests

matter.

To figure out the main idea, look at the title for clues, notice how the text is structured, and think about the details that explain the author's message.

solution

This is the main, or central, idea of the passage:

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's work made the lives of many people in Liberia better.

The passage has details about the important work that Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was involved in. The passage also gives several examples of how she helped to improve Liberians' lives. These details support the main idea that Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's work made the lives of many people in Liberia better.

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