A honeybee that finds flowers dances in a figure eight back at the hive. The angle of its waggle tells the other bees which way to fly. The length of the waggle tells them how far. What is the main idea of this passage?

Sea otters live along the rocky Pacific coast. They have the densest fur of any animal. They often float on their backs to eat. Without otters, urchins strip the kelp bare. Which detail best supports that otters protect kelp?

Each October, monarchs leave Canada and fly thousands of kilometers to the mountains of central Mexico. They cluster there on fir trees. Later they head north, laying eggs on the way, and several generations finish the trip. Which is the best summary?

The female emperor penguin lays one egg, passes it to the male, and walks to the sea to feed. He balances the egg on his feet through the dark Antarctic winter, eating nothing for about two months. What is the main idea of this passage?

Beavers drag heavy branches into a stream. The mud and branches slowly form a pond. The pond hides their lodge from wolves and coyotes. Wet soil near it becomes a frog and duck marsh. Which detail shows that beaver ponds help other animals?

The Venus flytrap grows in sandy bog ground that holds little nitrogen. Each leaf ends in two hinged halves lined with trigger hairs. When an insect brushes them twice, the halves snap shut. Which is too broad to be the main idea of this passage?

A statement that names only the topic of a passage, without saying what the passage shows about it, is called too ___.

Louis Braille lost his sight as a small child. As a teenager in Paris he invented a code of raised dots that blind readers feel with their fingertips. Each letter fits in a cell of six dots. Main idea: Braille invented a raised-dot code for blind readers.

People once believed camels store water in their humps. A hump is really packed with fat that feeds the camel when food is scarce. A camel does drink deeply, but it keeps that water in its blood and tissues. What is the main idea of this passage?

Coast redwoods are the tallest trees on Earth, over 100 meters high. They grow in a narrow strip near the Pacific where fog rolls in on summer days. Their needles catch the fog, and the water drips to their roots. Which is the best summary of this passage?

Mang Tomas builds bancas from bamboo. Fishing taught him how a hull tips in rough water. He now shapes outriggers that keep boats steady in waves. His boats rarely capsize. Which detail explains how he knows what his boats need?

An owl hunts at night by listening. Most birds' wings whoosh, but an owl's feathers have soft, comb-like edges that break up the rushing air. The owl flies almost silently and can hear a mouse in the grass. What is the main idea of this passage?

Every Saturday, families in Barangay Malinis sweep the road. Teenagers clear plastic from the canals. The captain lends rakes and sacks. By noon the whole street is clean. What is the topic of this passage?

Aling Rosa reaches the palengke at four in the morning. She washes the galunggong and lays them on ice. She calls out prices all morning. By ten her table is empty. What is the main idea?

A jeepney's signboard tells riders where it goes. The board names the streets along the route. Barkers shout for passengers. Riders pass their fare forward to the driver. Which detail supports the idea that the signboard guides riders?

Mangroves grow in salty mud along the coast. Their tangled roots hold the soil in place during storms. Small fish and crabs hide among the roots. What is the main idea of this passage?

In June, farmers soak rice seeds and raise seedlings. Weeks later they move them into flooded paddies. They watch the water until the grains turn gold. In October they harvest and dry the palay. Which is the best summary?

Our school holds a Reading Buddies hour every Friday. Grade 6 pupils read picture books with Grade 1 pupils. The younger pupils pick the books. More of them now borrow from the library. Which is too broad to be the main idea?

In the habagat months, dark clouds build up by afternoon. Rain can fall for days. Low streets fill with water and classes are suspended. Which detail best supports the idea that heavy rain upsets daily life?

Aling Neneng's sari-sari store opens at six. Neighbors buy coffee, eggs and cellphone load. She sells shampoo in small sachets so families can pay day by day. Which phrase names the topic of this passage?