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Part 2  Identifying Main Ideas The main ideas of the following paragraphs appear at different locations. Identify each main idea by filling in its sentence number in the space provided. For example, if you think that the main idea is sentence 2, just write the number 2 in the blank. 1Most non-human mammals demonstrate only a passing interest in the dead of their own species. 2Lions will generally sniff or lick another dead lion before beginning to eat the body; chimpanzees will keep trying to interact with their dead friends and relatives until the bodies start to decompose. 3Elephants, however, are unique among non-human mammals in that they appear to actually mourn their dead. 4When presented with the dead body of another elephant, elephants will generally become agitated and upset, and caress the carcass with their trunks and feet. 5 In experiments in which elephants have been shown the skulls of a rhinoceros, a buffalo, and another elephant, they have demonstrated interest in only the elephant skull, gently touching and investigating it with their trunks and feet in much the same way they would a living elephant. 6They also appear to be able to distinguish even very small pieces of ivory (elephant tusk) from other substances, such as wood and rocks; when presented with all three substances, elephants are overwhelmingly drawn to, and become agitated over, the ivory. 7Animal scientists interpret these patterns of behavior as evidence that elephants are in mourning.

Part 2  Identifying Main Ideas The main ideas of the following paragraphs appear at different locations. Identify each main idea by filling in its sentence number in the space provided. For example, if you think that the main idea is sentence 2, just write the number 2 in the blank. 1Born to a wealthy German American family in 1856, L. Frank Baum grew up in upstate New York. 2His father had made a great deal of money from the oil industry, particularly Pennsylvania gushers that yielded a distinctive emerald-green oil. 3The younger Baum was drawn to what he called the “dream life,” with its guilt-free indulgence in pleasure. 4Together with his wife, he founded a theater troupe that toured the Midwest in the 1880s. 5There, he also became editor of a town newspaper, the Aberdeen Saturday Pioneer. 6Baum eventually moved his family to Chicago, where he embarked on a career as a department-store window designer. 7He founded the National Association of Window Trimmers in 1898 and started a trade magazine, The Show Window. 8The magazine encouraged designers to strive for a “sumptuous display” of goods and to highlight their rich textures and colors. 9Baum went on to become a popular writer of children’s fiction. 10First published in 1900 as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Baum’s brilliantly imaginative book placed ordinary Midwesterners in a magical setting. 11An accomplished and successful showman, L. Frank Baum understood that Americans were eager to buy fantasy wherever they could find it: in a theater, department store, or children’s book.

Match the main idea (Column A) with the most relevant supporting detail (Column B).

Many students make mistakes in summaries because they focus on details instead of the author’s main idea.

In the image below, identify the body cavity labeled “D”. _______

The Norfolk Prison Colony was exemplary because of: A. its strong emphasis on rehabilitation. B. its unusually large library. C. the quality of instructors in the prison school. D. all of the above

According to the passage, including personal opinions is an essential part of writing summaries.

Which sentence does NOT support the main idea: “Deforestation leads to significant environmental consequences”? a) Large-scale logging disrupts wildlife habitats and endangers species.b) The Amazon rainforest has lost approximately 17% of its forest cover in the last 50 years.c) Governments have implemented stricter policies to regulate deforestation.d) Trees play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide and mitigating climate change.

Which of the following sentences is a supporting detail for the main idea: “Climate change is causing more extreme weather patterns”? a) Some scientists believe in climate change while others do not.b) Rising global temperatures have led to stronger hurricanes and prolonged droughts.c) People need to reduce their carbon footprint by driving less.d) Climate change is an important topic in political debates.

The last day to drop the course is November 16, 2026.