What is the main idea?

What is the main idea?

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This task is about identifying the main idea. 
 
Five statements follow each text. Choose the one statement that is the main idea of each text.

Question

Keeping New Zealand Pest-free
The importation to New Zealand of all flora – plants, flowers, fruit, seeds, and cuttings – is subject to strict quarantine regulations.  Officials of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) carefully examine any plant matter brought into the country by overseas travellers.  Anything may either be ordered into quarantine for treatment or destroyed.  The object of these regulations is to help keep foreign pests and diseases, which have caused havoc in other countries, out of New Zealand. 

    • Overseas travellers bring plant matter into the country.

    • Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry officials examine plants at ports and airports.

    • Foreign pests and diseases are a danger to our farm livestock.

    • Quarantine regulations apply to all flora brought into New Zealand.

    • Pests and diseases have caused havoc in other countries.

Question

Jean Batten: New Zealand Aviator
 

Jean Gardner Batten, or as she was better known, Jean Batten, was born in Rotorua on 15 September 1909.  She attended school in Auckland.  When she grew up, her ambition was to be the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia.  After two failed attempts, she was successful in 1934.  During the next three years she undertook a series of record-making flights, the most notable being those from Australia to England and England to Brazil in 1935, England to New Zealand in 1936, and New Zealand to Australia in 1937.  She was awarded many trophies and honours for her pioneering flights.  Many of her life's most interesting experiences are recorded in her two books Solo Flight (1934), and My Life (1938).

    • Jean Batten was born in Rotorua but she went to school in Auckland.

    • As a child Jean Batten's ambition was to fly solo from England to Australia.

    • In 1935 Jean Batten undertook two of her famous record-making flights.

    • Jean Batten was recognised for her many pioneering flights.

    • Jean Batten's two books Solo Flight and My Life record many of her experiences.

Question

Mmmm, honey!
In New Zealand, honey is such a popular food that each person eats, on average, nearly 2 kg a year.  Nectar is the raw material from which honey is made. One important source of nectar in New Zealand comes from the white clover plant.  Honey made from this nectar is white, mild-flavoured, and very popular. Mānuka, rātā, pōhutukawa, and rewarewa are important native trees which also supply nectar.  Some introduced weeds like dandelion, Scotch thistle, and blackberry are other sources of nectar.  Each year, nectar from plants such as these is turned into about 9,000 tonnes of commercially produced honey.  That's a lot of honey!

    • On average, New Zealanders eat nearly 2 kg of honey each year.

    • Nectar, the raw material of honey, comes from a variety of plants growing in New Zealand.

    • Nectar from white clover makes the best honey.

    • Native trees are the chief source of nectar for our honey.

    • About 9, 000 tonnes of honey is produced commercially each year.

Task administration: 
This task can be completed using pen and paper or online (with auto marking).
Copyright: 
Jean Batten at Rongotai Airport
Photo source: Jean Batten at Rongotai Airport, Wellington. circa 1930.
Reference No. 1/2-C-010529-F, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.

 

Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
English, Making meaning, Reading
Key Competencies: 
Thinking
Keywords: 
comprehension, main idea, retrieve, inference
Description of task: 
Students read three texts and select the statement that identifies the main idea of each text.
Curriculum Links: 
Links to the Literacy Learning Progressions for Reading:
This resource helps to identify students’ ability to:
  • use comprehension strategies
as described in the Literacy Learning Progressions for Reading at: http://www.literacyprogressions.tki.org.nz/The-Structure-of-the-Progressions.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Making sense of text: processing system, sets 6-7
within the Reading Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
  Y10 (07/2003)
a) D easy
b) D moderate
c) B moderate
Diagnostic and formative information: 
  Common responses
a) 13% of students selected A.
b)

20% of students selected B.
15% of students selected A.
c)

25% of students selected E.
11% of students selected C.