Common Core: Kindergarten English Language Arts : Identify the Main Topic and Retell Key Details of a Text: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.K.2
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: Kindergarten English Language Arts
All Common Core: Kindergarten English Language Arts Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Reading: Informational Text
Text 1
Pets are animals that live with people. Pets are fun to have. There are many types of pets that people have.
A gold fish is a type of pet. Gold fish live in fish tanks filled with water. Gold fish use fins to swim in fish tanks.
A cat is another type of pet. Cats can live outside or inside. Cats walk and run on four legs.
A dog is another type of pet. Dogs can be big or small in size. Like cats, dogs walk and run on four legs.
There are many other animals that people could have as a pet. But, fish, cats, and dogs are what most people have as pets.
Text 2
Dogs are great pets to have. Dogs can be big or small, but they all have fur and walk and run on four legs.
When dogs are first born they are called puppies. Once a puppy gets older it’s only called a dog.
Dogs can learn many tricks. Dogs can learn to sit, lay down, and shake. Most people give dogs treats when they are teaching them tricks.
Most dogs like to be around people. If you plan to get a dog as a pet, be ready to love the dog, because the dog will love you!
What is the main topic of Text 2?
Dogs as a pet
Tricks that dogs can learn
Dogs are called puppies
Dogs walk on four legs
Dogs as a pet
The main topic of a text is what the text is about. We don't want to confuse this with a detail found directly in the text. Text 2 is about dogs as pets. Text 2 provides details about dogs, but remember a detail is not the main topic. The fact that dogs can learn tricks, have four legs, and are called puppies when they are born are all details.
Example Question #2 : Reading: Informational Text
Grow Flower, Grow by Marie Smith
A flower starts out as a very small seed.
The seed gets planted in the dirt.
The seed needs lots of water to help it grow.
Soon, a green stem and green leaves will poke out of the dirt.
Then, a flower will start to bloom.
Water and sunlight are a flower's food.
So, water and sunlight will help keep a flower alive.
What is the main topic of this text?
Taking care of grass
Different types of flowers
Growing grass
A seed growing into a flower
A seed growing into a flower
This passage is about how a flower starts out as a seed, and then grows into a flower. This passage does not talk about grass or different types of flowers, it just talks about flowers in general.
The correct answer is "A seed growing into a flower".
Example Question #3 : Reading: Informational Text
Text 1
Pets are animals that live with people. Pets are fun to have. There are many types of pets that people have.
A gold fish is a type of pet. Gold fish live in fish tanks filled with water. Gold fish use fins to swim in fish tanks.
A cat is another type of pet. Cats can live outside or inside. Cats walk and run on four legs.
A dog is another type of pet. Dogs can be big or small in size. Like cats, dogs walk and run on four legs.
There are many other animals that people could have as a pet. But, fish, cats, and dogs are what most people have as pets.
Text 2
Dogs are great pets to have. Dogs can be big or small, but they all have fur and walk and run on four legs.
When dogs are first born they are called puppies. Once a puppy gets older it’s only called a dog.
Dogs can learn many tricks. Dogs can learn to sit, lay down, and shake. Most people give dogs treats when they are teaching them tricks.
Most dogs like to be around people. If you plan to get a dog as a pet, be ready to love the dog, because the dog will love you!
What is the main topic of Text 1?
How fish swim
How cats walk
The sizes of dogs
Types of pets
Types of pets
The main topic of a text is what the text is about. We don't want to confuse this with a detail found directly in the text. Text 1 is about different types of pets. It specifically talks about cats, dogs, and gold fish. Text 1 provides details about each of these animals, but remember a detail is not the main topic.
The size of dogs, how cats walk, and how fish swim are all details found in the text. The main topic of the text is types of pets.
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All Common Core: Kindergarten English Language Arts Resources
