7/25/2019 Main Idea and Supporting Details Practice Exercises

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Main Idea and Supporting Details Practice Exercises

Practice 1: A Musical Mouse

Read the selection, and then answer the questions that follow.

(1) There are many different kinds of mice. Some are good swimmers; others like to

swing from trees by their tails. And one kind, the white-footed mouse, is not only a

good swimmer and tree climber, but it's also quite musical

(2) This minute, furry creature's body is about ! inches "#$ cm% long, with a tail of

another & inches ".( cm%. )t weighs only about $.! ounces "#& g%. )t's been around

*orth America for a long time; scientists ha+e found $- million-year-old fossils ofthe tiny creature's ancestors

(3) Some eole call the white-footed mouse the wood mouse because it li+es in so

many wooded areas throughout *orth America. /ther eole call the white-footedmouse the deer mouse. /ne reason is that its fur is the same colors as a deer's0soft brown on its back; white on its underside. Another reason is that the mice carry

deer ticks that sread 1yme disease.

(4) The whitefoot makes its nest almost anywhere. )t likes a home that is warm anddry, like a hollow tree or emty bird's nest. 2ut most of the time the whitefoot runs

along the ground looking for food. )t eats seeds, nuts, lea+es, bark, and insects. )t

slees by day and looks for food at night0its long whiskers and big ears hel it

find its way in the dark.

(5) 3oes the whitefoot really make music4 )n a way, it does because it often makes a

humming sound. And it tas its little aws +ery fast on a dead leaf or hollow log to

make a bu55ing, drumming sound Scientists aren't sure why the mouse is adrummer; it 6ust is

(6) So the ne7t time you're in the woods, walk quietly. There might be a white-footed

mouse nearby, and you wouldn't want to interrut a mouse in the middle of its song. . . would you4

1. 8hat is the main idea of this selection4

a. 3eer are brown and white.

b. The white-footed mouse tas its aws in a drumming sound.

c. The woods of *orth America are full of mice.

d. Scientists study the habits of mice.

2. 8hich is a suorting detail for that main idea4

a. The white-footed mouse is also known as the wood mouse.

b. The deer mouse may carry ticks that transmit a disease.

c. The mouse tas on a dead leaf or hollow log.

d. The white-footed mouse isn't +ery big.

3. 8hich would make the best substitute title for this selection4

a. 9ow to 2uild a 2etter :ousetra

b. oncert in the 8oods

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c. aution< 1yme 3isease Ahead

d. All about Rodents

4. 8hat is the main idea of aragrah #4

a. The white-footed mouse li+es in anada.

b. The white-footed mouse is also called the wood or deer mouse.

c. The white-footed mouse hums.

d. The white-footed mouse is +ery small.

5. 8hich detail in aragrah # is interesting, but not needed to find the main idea of

that aragrah4

a. )ts tail is & inches ".( cm% long.

b. Scientists found $-million-year-old fossils of its ancestors.

c. )t weighs $.! ounces "#& g%.

d. )ts body is about ! inches "#$ cm% long.

Practice 2: Dietar Details

Read the selection, andthen answer the questions that follow.

(1) =+eryone needs food as fuel for his or her body. 2ut kids esecially need the right

fuel to kee their bodies going as they're growing. To hel e+eryone figure out

which foods suly the energy needed, the >.S. 3eartment of Agriculture">S3A% de+eloed a new ?ood @uide yramid in #$$(. 1ook at the +isual.

(2) Bou robably remember the old yramid, with hori5ontal layers of blocks like the

ancient yramids. 8ell, this new yramid has si7, tall, +ertical stries instead. =achstrie reresents one source of nutrition. There are hori5ontal stes on the side of

the yramid, but they signify the need for e7ercise as well as good food0&$

minutes of e7ercise a day0to create a healthy you(3) This new yramid is called :yyramid, because it's suosed to hel meet the

needs of each indi+idual. Bour food needs are based on your age, if you're a girl or

boy, and how acti+e you are. Bou can go to the >S3A website at

htt

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(4) =ach strie on :yyramid is a different color