The main idea of a passage is what the passage is mostly about. Passages may have a main idea and additional key ideas that develop it. The details in a passage support the main idea and/or key ideas. This means they give the reader moreinformation about these important ideas.
When you read, try to identify the mainpoint the author is trying to make—this is the main idea. Then, try to find the keyideas and/or details the author uses to add more information about the main idea.
Read the following paragraph. Try to determine its mainidea. What keyideas and details support the main idea? When you're ready to continue, click the button.
Owls' nearly silent flight helps them locate and capture their prey. Normally, flapping wings create a lot of noise. This noise can interfere with hearing and scare away prey. However, owls have features that allow them to fly very quietly. First, they have large wings for their body size. This allows them to glide slowly. They don't have to flap their wings as much as other birds. Additionally, owls' feathers have a soft, velvety texture. As air moves over their feathers, the softness dampens the sound. Also, on the wing feathers of these silent hunters are two special features — combs and fringes. The front edges of their wings have comb-like structures, and the back edges have soft fringes. These structures break up the air flow and soften the sound. In combination, an owl's wing size, soft feathers, and the combs and fringes on its wing feathers allow it to be a very stealthy predator.
MainIdea: Owls hunt well because they have features that allow them to fly silently.
KeyIdea: Owls have large wings for their body size.
KeyIdea: Owls’ feathers have a soft, velvety texture.
KeyIdea: Owls’ wing feathers have combs and fringes.