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 wrap up in kelp to sleep so they do not drift away. Without otters, urchins strip the kelp bare. Which detail best supports that otters protect kelp?

Each fall, monarchs leave Canada and fly thousands of miles to the mountains of central Mexico. They cluster there on fir trees. In spring 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 Carolina 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?

Kilauea, on Hawaii's Big Island, erupts often. Its lava glows orange at night. Scientists track each eruption. Warnings give nearby families time to leave safely. Which detail shows Kilauea's eruptions are usually not dangerous to people?

An octopus changes its skin's color and texture in under a second, matching nearby rocks or coral so predators swim past. Chromatophores, tiny skin cells, make the fast color change possible. What is the best summary of this passage?

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 350 feet 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?

The Wright brothers ran a bicycle shop in Dayton. Bicycles taught them a rider can balance a machine. They built wings that a pilot could twist to stay level. Their first flight lasted twelve seconds. Which detail links bicycles to their wing design?

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?

Read the passage: Mia planted sunflower seeds in a cup of soil. She watered them and set the cup near a sunny window. After a week, tiny green sprouts pushed up through the soil. What is the main idea?

Read the passage: Carlos helps his little brother after school. He listens while his brother reads, checks his math facts, and helps pack his backpack for the next day. Which detail best supports the main idea that Carlos is helpful?

Leafcutter ants live in huge underground colonies. Their jaws slice tough leaves. They march in long trails carrying leaf bits. Without fungus grown from chewed leaves, the ants would starve. Which detail supports that ants farm fungus for food?

Read the passage: The town library is a busy place on Saturdays. Children choose books, adults use computers, and a librarian leads a story time. What is the best summary?

Read the passage: Sea turtles return to beaches to lay eggs. After the eggs hatch, the baby turtles crawl toward the ocean. Many people help protect nesting areas so the turtles have a better chance to survive. What is the main idea?

Which sentence is most likely a supporting detail for the main idea: Exercise helps people stay healthy?

Solar panels use special cells to turn sunlight into electricity. They still work, more slowly, on cloudy days. Homes and satellites both use them, and they burn no fuel. What is the best summary of this passage?

Read the passage: At the school garden, students pulled weeds, added water, and picked ripe tomatoes. By the end of the morning, the garden looked neat and healthy. Which title best shows the main idea?