DIVISION SDO Laguna GRADE LEVEL
Getting the Main
Idea and
Reading Skill
Supporting
Details
Project REACH
https://www.landmarkoutreach.org/strategies/finding-
Reading Material main-idea/
Reading Material
No. 1
Reference:
English IV Textbook, 1st Ed (1992), Reprinted (1997), Quezon
City: Brown Madonna Press Inc. p. 90, p. 231, p. 234
Your guide to Getting the Main Idea and Supporting
Details
How Can I Locate the Main Idea?
Once you can find the topic, you are ready to find the main
idea. The main idea is the point of the paragraph. It is the
most important thought about the topic.
To figure out the main idea, ask yourself this question:
What is being said about the person, thing, or idea (the
topic)?
The author can locate the main idea in different places
within a paragraph. The main idea is usually a sentence, and
it is usually the first sentence. The writer then uses the rest of
the paragraph to support the main idea. Let’s use the
paragraph below as an example. First find the topic, then look
for the main idea.
Summer is a wonderful time to spend at West Beach.
It is a beach with light- colored, soft sand. The coastline
goes on for a long way and many people enjoy walking
along it. Children like to play in the surf and walk along the
rocks that are visible at low tide. This is a fun beach for
people of all ages.
In this paragraph:
• the topic is West Beach
• the main idea (what the writer is saying about the
topic) is that summer is a wonderful time at West
Beach
While the main idea is usually in the first sentence, the
next most common placement is in the last sentence of a
paragraph. The author gives supporting information first and
then makes the point in the last sentence. Here’s a paragraph
we can use as an example. Try to locate the topic and the
main idea.
Most teenagers and young adults do not know what
they want to do for the rest of their lives. It is a big decision.
There are a number of things you can do to narrow the
choices. For example you can take an interest test, do
some research on your own about a career, try volunteer
work in the field in which you are interested, or “job-
shadow”, in which you spend a day with a person who is
working in a field that interests you. These are just a few
helpful ideas as you begin to choose a career.
In this paragraph:
• the topic is jobs or career choices
• the main idea is a few ideas to help the reader
choose a career
Finally, an author might put the main idea in the middle of
a paragraph. The author will spend a few sentences
introducing the topic, present the main idea, then spend the
rest of the paragraph supporting it. This can make the main
idea more difficult to find. See if you can find the topic and
main idea in the paragraph below.
The United States seems to be in love with the idea of going
out to eat. Because of this, a real variety of restaurants has come
about specializing in all kinds of foods. McDonald’s is the king of
a subgroup of restaurants called fast-food restaurants. Chances
are, no matter where you live, there is a McDonald’s restaurant
near you. There are even McDonald’s in the Soviet Union. Now
McDonald’s is trying something new. It is called McDonald’s
Express and there is a test site in Peabody, Massachusetts. It is
part of a Mobil gas station. This allows you to fill up with gas and
fill up on food at the same time. What will they think of next?
In this paragraph:
• the topic is McDonald’s
• the main idea is in the middle of the paragraph, in the
third sentence: McDonald’s is the king of
fast food
SDO LAGUNA-Project REACH Full Implementation Material_SY 2021-2022
Grade 11
Inclusive Date January 10-11, 2022
Get Ready!
Directions: Read the selection, then answer the
questions that follow. Write your answer on the
answer sheet.
On Taking Examinations
Most of us dread examinations. Even long
before the examination we are apprehensive
about the coverage of the test and we get
worried over the types of questions that will be
asked. We wonder as we ask ourselves, “Have I
studied what they will ask or are they going to
ask what I left out or glossed over in my review?”
During the examination itself when we finally lay
our eyes on the questions, our tension
increases. Some of us suffer mental blackout
and in the process forget even the little that we
know. And after the test is over, our tension still
lingers on. It does not leave us as we ask
ourselves, “Did I make the grade or did I flunk the
test? Did I come through with flying colors?” It is
only when papers have been corrected and
finally returned that we can breathe a sigh of
relief that the ordeal is over at last.
What is my profile as an examinee? How
do I prepare for a test? What do I do as I take it?
And when it is over, do I do anything about the
results?
Questions to Answer
_____1. Which is the main idea in this reading
selection?
A. Some of us suffer mental blackout and in
the process forget even the little that we know.
B. Even long before the examination we are
apprehensive about the coverage of the test
and we get worried over the types of
questions that will be asked.
C. It is only when papers have been corrected
and finally returned that we can breathe a sigh
of relief that the ordeal is over at last.
_____2. Which is the proper sequence of the
supporting details in the reading text?
1. During the examination itself when we finally
lay our eyes on the questions, our tension
increases.
2. We wonder as we ask ourselves, “Have I
studied what they will ask or are they going to
ask what I left out or glossed over in my review?”
3. And after the test is over, our tension still
lingers on…“Did I make the grade or did I flunk
the test? Did I come through with flying colors?”
1
 DIVISION SDO Laguna GRADE LEVEL Grade 11

Getting the Main

Idea and
Reading Skill Inclusive Date January 10-11, 2022
Supporting
Details
Project REACH
https://www.landmarkoutreach.org/strategies/finding-
Reading Material main-idea/
Reading Material
No. 1
Reference:
English IV Textbook, 1st Ed (1992), Reprinted (1997), Quezon
City: Brown Madonna Press Inc. p. 90, p. 231, p. 234

A. 2-1-3 2. The factories and vehicles emit black smoke

B. 1-3-2
C. 3-2-1
_____3. Which is the concluding statement in
this reading article?
A. Most of us dread examinations.
B. It is only when papers have been corrected
and finally returned that we can breathe a sigh
of relief that the ordeal is over at last.
C. Even long before the examination we are
apprehensive about the coverage of the test
and we get worried over the types of
questions that will be asked.
Reading Selection No. 2
(1) Pollution is one of the harmful effects
of industrialization. (2) First, a small and
unindustrialized town enjoys the freshness of its
air and the clearness of its rivers and lakes. (3)
Then, factories and commercial establishments
are built; different means of transportation fill the
streets, while the population steadily grows. (4)
Eventually, the factories and vehicles emit black
smoke while the people in the commercial and
residential areas dump their garbage in rivers
and lakes-resulting in both air and water
pollution. (5) As a result, people are trapped in
an unhealthy and polluted environment that
threatens our life. (6) But we have no one to
blame for all these but ourselves.
Questions to Answer
______4. Which is the main idea in this reading
text?
A. People are trapped in an unhealthy and
polluted environment that threatens our life.
B. The factories and vehicles emit black
smoke while the people in the commercial and
residential areas dump their garbage in rivers
and lakes-resulting in both air and water
pollution.
C. Pollution is one of the harmful effects of
industrialization.
______5. What is the correct order of the
supporting details based on the reading
selection?
1. Factories and commercial establishments are
built; different means of transportation fill the
streets, while the population steadily grows.
while the people in the commercial and
residential areas dump their garbage in rivers
and lakes-resulting in both air and water
pollution.
3. A small and unindustrialized town enjoys the
freshness of its air and the clearness of its rivers
and lakes.
A. 3-2-1
B. 1-2-3
C. 3-1-2
______6. Which is the concluding sentence in
the reading material?
A. People are trapped in an unhealthy and
polluted environment that threatens our life.
B. Pollution is one of the harmful effects of
industrialization.
C. A small and unindustrialized town enjoys
the freshness of its air and the clearness of its
rivers and lakes.
Reading Selection No. 3
The population of the Philippines has grown
tremendously in recent years. When our
population grows, greater demands are also
made on our natural resources to meet the
increasing needs of our population. Thus, more
houses have to be built; more food crops have to
be raised; adequate clothing has to be provided
to millions of Filipinos.
These needs have to be met by accelerated
industrialization of our country which has created
a problem in our environment. More factories
and industrial plants have caused congestion
and pollution of our air, waters, and land. With
more houses to be built, there has also been
unrestricted cutting of our forest, resulting in
floods and droughts.
The government has been alerted to the
alarming pollution of our environment. Logging
laws have been passed to regulate the cutting of
trees in our forests. A systematic reforestation
program has been implemented to restore what
have been once our rich and green mountains
and forests.
While laws against unrestricted logging
have been passed by Congress and a
systematic program for waste disposal has been
undertaken, these steps will offer only short-term
solutions. This problem has to be confronted

SDO LAGUNA-Project REACH Full Implementation Material_SY 2021-2022

2
 DIVISION SDO Laguna GRADE LEVEL Grade 11

Getting the Main

Idea and
Reading Skill Inclusive Date January 10-11, 2022
Supporting
Details
Project REACH
https://www.landmarkoutreach.org/strategies/finding-
Reading Material main-idea/
Reading Material
No. 1
Reference:
English IV Textbook, 1st Ed (1992), Reprinted (1997), Quezon
City: Brown Madonna Press Inc. p. 90, p. 231, p. 234

through a coordinated effort of all government once our rich and green mountains and
agencies in each region to avoid a fragmented forests.
solution to the problem.
Questions to Answer
______7. Which is the Thesis Statement of this (may detach the answer sheet and reuse the
reading text? questionnaire)
A. The population of the Philippines has
grown tremendously in recent years. Project REACH (Reading Empowerment
B. When our population grows, greater Asserting Connection @ Home)
demands are also made on our natural
resources to meet the increasing needs of our Name :
population. Grade & Section :
C. These needs have to be met by Date :
accelerated industrialization of our country Reading Material No.:
which has created a problem in our Reading Skill : Getting the Main Idea
environment. and Supporting Details
______8. Which is the General Statement in
paragraph 1? Write your answers here:
A. When our population grows, greater
demands are also made on our natural 1. __________
resources to meet the increasing needs of our 2. __________
population. 3. __________
B. More houses have to be built; more food 4. __________
crops have to be raised, adequate clothing 5. __________
has to be provided to millions of Filipinos. 6. __________
C. The population of the Philippines has 7. __________
grown tremendously in recent years. 8. __________
______9. Which is the correct order of the 9. __________
supporting details of this text? 10. __________
1. A systematic reforestation program has been
implemented to restore what have been once our
rich and green mountains and forests.
2. A systematic program for waste disposal has
been undertaken.
3. With more houses to be built, there has also
been unrestricted cutting of our forest, resulting
in floods and droughts.
A. 3-1-2
B. 2-1-3
C. 1-2-3
______10. Which is the concluding statement of
this reading text?
A. This problem has to be confronted through
a coordinated effort of all government
agencies in each region to avoid a fragmented
solution to the problem.
B. Laws against unrestricted logging have
been passed by Congress
C. A systematic reforestation program has
been implemented to restore what have been

SDO LAGUNA-Project REACH Full Implementation Material_SY 2021-2022

3
 DIVISION SDO Laguna GRADE LEVEL Grade 11

Getting the Main

Idea and
Reading Skill Inclusive Date January 10-11, 2022
Supporting
Details
Project REACH
https://www.landmarkoutreach.org/strategies/finding-
Reading Material main-idea/
Reading Material
No. 1
Reference:
English IV Textbook, 1st Ed (1992), Reprinted (1997), Quezon
City: Brown Madonna Press Inc. p. 90, p. 231, p. 234

Project REACH (Reading Empowerment

Asserting Connection @ Home)

Name :
Grade & Section :
Date :
Reading Material No.:
Reading Skill : Getting the Main Idea
and Supporting Details

ANSWER KEY

1. B
2. A
3. B
4. C
5. C
6. A
7. B
8. C
9. A
10. A

SDO LAGUNA-Project REACH Full Implementation Material_SY 2021-2022

4