Reading Comprehension
Learn how to find the main idea, make inferences, and identify supporting details when you read.
Finding the Main Idea
The main idea is what a text is mostly about. It is the most important message the author wants you to understand. Think of it as the "big picture" — if you could sum up the whole passage in one sentence, that would be the main idea.
Example Passage
"Koalas spend most of their time sleeping in eucalyptus trees. They can sleep for up to 22 hours a day! This is because eucalyptus leaves do not give them much energy, so they need to rest a lot to save what little energy they have."
Main idea: Koalas sleep most of the day because their food does not give them much energy.
Tip: How to Find the Main Idea
Ask yourself: "What is this passage mostly about?" and "What is the author trying to tell me?" The main idea is often (but not always) in the first or last sentence.
Making Inferences
An inference is when you work out something that is not directly stated in the text. You use clues from the text plus what you already know to figure it out. It is like being a detective!
"Sarah pulled her coat tighter and shivered as the icy wind blew."
It is cold outside. (The text does not say "it was cold" but we can work it out from the clues — coat, shivered, icy wind.)
Remember This Formula
Clues in the text + What I already know = My inference
Supporting Details
Supporting details are the facts, examples, and pieces of information that back up the main idea. They answer questions like who, what, when, where, why, and how.
Example
"Wombats are incredible diggers. They have strong, muscular legs and sharp claws that help them tunnel through the earth. A single wombat burrow can be up to 200 metres long!"
Main idea: Wombats are incredible diggers.
Supporting detail 1: They have strong legs and sharp claws.
Supporting detail 2: Their burrows can be up to 200 metres long.
Tip: Spotting Supporting Details
Once you find the main idea, ask: "What facts or examples does the author give to prove this point?" Those are your supporting details.
Practice Passage
Read this passage carefully, then answer the questions below.
The platypus is one of the most unusual animals in Australia. It has a bill like a duck, a tail like a beaver, and webbed feet that help it swim. Unlike most mammals, the female platypus lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young.
Platypuses live near rivers and streams, where they hunt for insects, worms, and small shellfish. They are most active at dawn and dusk, spending much of their time in the water. The male platypus also has a venomous spur on each hind leg, making it one of the few venomous mammals in the world.
Knowledge Check
Answer the following questions about the passage and the skills you have learnt.
Question 1
What is the main idea of the passage?
Question 2
Which is a supporting detail for the main idea?
Question 3
Based on the passage, we can infer that platypuses are:
Question 4
What does the word "venomous" most likely mean in the passage?
Question 5
What is an inference?
Question 6
When are platypuses most active?
Question 7
Read: "Jake grabbed his umbrella and rushed out the door." What can you infer?
Question 8
Where is the main idea most often found in a paragraph?
Question 9
Which question would not be answered by a supporting detail?
Question 10
Read: "The classroom was empty. Chairs were stacked on desks and the lights were off. A clock on the wall showed 5:30 pm." What can you infer?
Key Concepts Summary
- ●The main idea is what the passage is mostly about — the big picture.
- ●An inference is something you work out using text clues + your own knowledge.
- ●Supporting details are facts and examples that back up the main idea.
- ●Good readers ask who, what, when, where, why, and how as they read.