Main Idea - Implied
Objectives
Student will be able to:
understand the implied main idea and supporting details of a story or passage.
use supporting details to determine the implied main idea.
Introduction
Each paragraph in the passage below is organized around a main idea. The
main idea
indicates what the paragraph is about. Sometimes, the writer expresses this general idea without stating it explicitly. If the main idea is not explicitly stated, we say that the main idea is implied. You can use
supporting details
within the story or passage to find the
implied main idea
.
Exercises
Read "Colors," and then answer the questions that follow. As you read, be sure to look for the main idea and supporting details.
1.
Write a statement that expresses the main idea of this passage.
Student responses may vary. Acceptable answers include:
Colors can impact our lives in either a positive or a negative way.
Our lives can be affected by color.
1
.
Correct
Incorrect
Not Assigned
2.
Circle the letter of the detail that would support the main idea of the passage.
a.
Today, most people use computers at work.
b.
Freshly painted walls boost the confidence of office workers.
c.
Drivers should not ignore the yellow caution light at intersections.
d.
Typically, a person's heart rate slows down in a pink room.
d. Typically, a person's heart rate slows down in a pink room.
2
.
Correct
Incorrect
Not Assigned
3.
The main idea of paragraph 2 is that studies show that colors can influence physical health.
a.
true
b.
false
b. false
3
.
Correct
Incorrect
Not Assigned
4.
Write a topic sentence for the second paragraph.
Student responses may vary. Acceptable answers include:
Colors have different effects on our moods.
We can use color to change our mindsets.
4
.
Correct
Incorrect
Not Assigned
Exhibit Preview
Close
1) Did you know that the walls of jails are sometimes painted pink to calm violent prisoners? Football teams, to sedate the opposing team, have also used this peaceful color. They believed that by painting the walls of the visiting team's locker room, they would remove the fight from their competition. Studies have shown that the proper use of color can actually raise motivation, concentration, and learning retention up to 78 percent.
2) Purple is supposed to be relaxing; blue promotes problem solving; red symbolizes courage; yellow adds to friendly feelings; green eases stress; and orange relieves anxiety. For example, people who work in green environments suffer from fewer stomachaches.
3) From an early age, we learn that green means
go
and red means
stop
. Ignoring the color red can cause an accident. Colors can also contribute to sickness and problems on the job. A person who spends hours working on a computer may experience headaches from the glare of the monitor or from the color of the wall. A factory worker reaching for an emergency lever could cause a major accident if the machine is incorrectly color-coded. How does color affect your life?