OSSLT: Writing: main idea and supporting details

All 14 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

1. Which detail best supports the main idea "Our town's new skate park has been a success"?

   1. Skateboards were invented in California.
   2. Some skaters wear helmets with stickers on them.
   3. The park is next to a gas station on Main Street.
   4. More than 300 people used the park in its first week.

2. (1) Volunteering at the animal shelter taught me more than I expected. (2) I learned how to read a nervous dog's body language. (3) I practised talking to visitors who wanted to adopt. (4) The shelter is painted bright orange. (5) Most of all, I learned that small daily tasks, like refilling water bowls, really matter.

   Which detail would best support the main idea of the shelter paragraph if added?

   1. My friend volunteers at a food bank instead.
   2. Orange is my least favourite colour of all.
   3. The shelter opened about twenty years ago.
   4. I also learned to stay calm when a cat scratched me.

3. Which pair shows a main idea followed by a supporting detail?

   1. Winter driving takes care. Black ice can form on bridges first.
   2. Winter is cold in Canada. Summer is often hot and humid in Ontario.
   3. Black ice is clear and hard to see. Many bridges are made of steel.
   4. Driving is common. Many of the cars in our neighbourhood are blue.

4. Which sentence states a main idea rather than a supporting detail?

   1. Jordan's shift starts at 4 p.m. on Fridays.
   2. Maria learned to count change at her job.
   3. The store gives staff a ten percent discount.
   4. Part-time jobs teach teenagers valuable skills.

5. (1) Cities across Canada are planting more trees along their streets. (2) Trees give shade that keeps sidewalks and buildings cooler in summer. (3) Their roots soak up rainwater that might otherwise flood storm drains. (4) Studies have also linked green streets with calmer, happier residents.

   Which sentence would make the best new first sentence for the paragraph about street trees, stating its main idea?

   1. Some people are allergic to the pollen that trees release.
   2. Street trees bring cities several important benefits.
   3. Planting a young tree takes a crew about one hour.
   4. Maple trees along many streets turn red and orange each fall.

6. A student writes: "Sports are good. They are good for you. Everyone should do sports because they are good." What is the main weakness?

   1. It uses too many specific examples
   2. It repeats the idea without any supporting details
   3. It changes topic in the second sentence
   4. It has spelling errors in every sentence

7. (1) Volunteering at the animal shelter taught me more than I expected. (2) I learned how to read a nervous dog's body language. (3) I practised talking to visitors who wanted to adopt. (4) The shelter is painted bright orange. (5) Most of all, I learned that small daily tasks, like refilling water bowls, really matter.

   What is the main idea of the paragraph about volunteering at the animal shelter?

   1. Shelter dogs are often nervous around visitors
   2. The animal shelter is painted bright orange
   3. Refilling water bowls is the hardest shelter job
   4. Volunteering at the shelter taught the writer many lessons

8. Which sentence should be removed from the paragraph about volunteering at the animal shelter because it does not support the main idea?

   1. Sentence 3
   2. Sentence 2
   3. Sentence 5
   4. Sentence 4

9. Which revision makes the detail "The trip was fun" more specific?

   1. The trip was fun, and it was also quite enjoyable overall.
   2. We canoed across Lake Joseph and saw a loon dive for fish.
   3. The trip was very, very fun for all of us, every single day.
   4. It was a fun trip, like most trips to the lake usually are.

10. A paragraph's main idea is "Learning to cook saves money." Which detail best supports it?

    1. Some recipes call for fresh basil picked from the garden.
    2. Cooking shows have become very popular on television lately.
    3. My grandmother's kitchen has a blue floor and a big window.
    4. A homemade pasta dinner costs about a third of a takeout meal.

11. A paragraph argues that students should learn first aid. Which detail is the strongest support?

    1. Some first aid courses take place on Saturday mornings.
    2. Knowing CPR can keep someone alive until paramedics arrive.
    3. First aid kits are often kept in a red bag near the office.
    4. Many first aid courses are taught at community centres.

12. (1) Cities across Canada are planting more trees along their streets. (2) Trees give shade that keeps sidewalks and buildings cooler in summer. (3) Their roots soak up rainwater that might otherwise flood storm drains. (4) Studies have also linked green streets with calmer, happier residents.

    Which detail is the most specific support for sentence 2 of the street-tree paragraph?

    1. Many people in Canada enjoy the summer more than the winter.
    2. Shade is something that almost everybody appreciates in July.
    3. Trees are very nice to look at on a hot and sunny summer day.
    4. On one Toronto street, shaded sidewalks were several degrees cooler.

13. What should every sentence in a well-written paragraph do?

    1. Introduce a brand-new topic for the reader
    2. Ask the reader a question to keep interest
    3. Connect to and develop the paragraph's main idea
    4. Repeat the topic sentence in the same words

14. In a paragraph about why reading before bed helps sleep, which sentence is off topic?

    1. A regular reading habit signals the body to rest.
    2. Reading a paper book avoids bright screen light.
    3. A calm story helps the mind slow down at night.
    4. My cousin collects comic books from the 1990s.