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Main Idea & Details

Grade 4 · On-level practice · 8 questions · Version PG-3CJ-1PYJ

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1.Read: “The council's first traffic plan shortened car trips but removed a busy crosswalk. After residents objected, the revision restored the crossing and added a protected turn lane.” What is the main idea?
2.Read: “The first model predicted flooding from rainfall alone. A revised model also included soil saturation and paved surfaces, and its predictions matched later storms more closely.” What is the main idea?
3.Read: “Solar panels produced the most electricity at midday, but household use peaked after sunset. A battery stored the midday surplus for evening use.” What is the main idea?
4.Read: “The town planted native grasses beside the river. Their deep roots held soil during storms, and the water became less muddy.” What is the main idea?
5.Read: “Two teams tested paper airplanes. One changed the wing shape; the other changed both the wings and the paper weight, making its results harder to explain.” What is the main idea?
6.Read: “Keiko read two reports about the same storm. One used measurements from weather stations; the other relied on a single person's memory.” What is the main idea?
7.Read: “A museum displayed a sailor's diary beside a modern historian's article. The diary captured firsthand feelings, while the article connected records from many sources.” What is the main idea?
8.Read: “During drought, the farm watered every field equally and several crops wilted. The next season, soil sensors directed water only where moisture was low.” What is the main idea?

How to use this skill

Grade 4 main idea & details practice with original, difficulty-matched questions.

Worked example

State what the whole passage is mostly about, then point to a supporting detail.

Common mistake

Choosing one interesting detail instead of the idea supported by the whole text.

Helpful hint

Ask what most sentences have in common.

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