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Grade 12 Main Idea & Supporting Details Worksheet with Answers

Grade 12 (US) · Year 13 (UK) · Class 12 (India) · English

Unit 5: Reading Informational TextCentral IdeasCCSS RI.11-12.2

Finding the main idea of a short passage and the details that support it. This free high school worksheet has 11 questions and a full answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF — every answer is checked by code, not guessed.

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Main Idea & Supporting Details

Grade 12 · English

Score___ / 11

Name

Class

Date

Learning goal: Central Ideas · CCSS RI.11-12.2

Directions: This worksheet has 2 parts. Read the instructions at the start of each part.

RememberMain idea and details

Main idea: what the whole text is mostly aboutDetail1Detail2Detail3Details hold up the main idea, like legs hold up a table.
Part A

Read each short text. What is the main idea?

  1. 1

    Some volcanoes erupt with fiery lava. Others release ash clouds. A few sleep for thousands of years before waking.

  2. 2

    Penguins cannot fly, but they swim very fast. Their wings work like flippers in the water.

  3. 3

    Dogs can guard homes, guide people who are blind and find lost hikers. Dogs do many important jobs.

  4. 4

    The Great Wall stretches over 13,000 miles. Workers built it over many centuries to protect China from invaders.

  5. 5

    Recycling saves trees, uses less energy and keeps trash out of landfills.

  6. 6

    Sleep helps your body grow, your brain remember and your mood stay calm.

  7. 7

    Bees make honey. They also carry pollen that helps plants grow. Bees are very helpful insects.

  8. 8

    Apples can be red, green or yellow. Some are sweet and some are sour. There are many kinds of apples.

Part B

Answer each question. Use full sentences where you can.

  1. 9

    Which sentence is a supporting detail for the main idea 'Exercise keeps you healthy'? (a) Exercise strengthens your heart. (b) My shoes are blue.

  2. 10

    What is the difference between the main idea and a supporting detail?

  3. 11

    Where is the main idea of a paragraph often found?

★ Challenge corner for fast finishers

Unscramble the letters: EIRGT (clue: a striped big cat)

How did I do?

Teacher's comments

Free printable worksheets with answer keys · aethelsystems.com/worksheets/english/12/main_idea

Answer key (click to show)
  1. 1.volcanoes behave in different ways
  2. 2.penguins are fast swimmers even though they can't fly
  3. 3.dogs do many important jobs
  4. 4.the Great Wall is huge and was built over centuries for protection
  5. 5.recycling helps the environment
  6. 6.sleep is important for your body and mind
  7. 7.bees are helpful insects
  8. 8.there are many kinds of apples
  9. 9.(a) Exercise strengthens your heart.
  10. 10.the main idea is the most important point; details explain or prove it
  11. 11.in the topic sentence, often the first sentence
  12. ★tiger (challenge corner)

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