The main idea is what the whole passage is mostly about. Details support it.
To infer, put clues from the text together with what you already know.
A good summary gives the main idea and the key details in a few words.
Example: Kenji draws a cake with candles on a card for his grandmother and wraps a present. What is the occasion most likely? Clues: a cake with candles, a card, a present. Those clues usually go with one kind of party. Answer: his grandmother’s birthday
Question 1
What was the problem in the story?
The Rainy-Day Plan
Priya and Leo had planned a lemonade stand to raise money for the animal shelter. On Saturday morning, dark clouds rolled in and rain began to pour.
Leo groaned. “Nobody will buy lemonade in the rain.” Priya looked out at the wet street, then grinned. “Then let's sell something warm.”
With permission, they set up a table in the lobby of the community centre. They sold warm cocoa and oatmeal cookies to people coming in from the storm. By the afternoon, they had raised more money than they had hoped.
Rain spoiled their plan for a lemonade stand
The animal shelter was closed
They ran out of cookies
Leo forgot the lemons
Rain spoiled their plan for a lemonade stand
Hint: The problem usually shows up early in a story. Look at the first paragraph.
Question 2
Why did people want to buy cocoa and cookies?
The Rainy-Day Plan
Priya and Leo had planned a lemonade stand to raise money for the animal shelter. On Saturday morning, dark clouds rolled in and rain began to pour.
Leo groaned. “Nobody will buy lemonade in the rain.” Priya looked out at the wet street, then grinned. “Then let's sell something warm.”
With permission, they set up a table in the lobby of the community centre. They sold warm cocoa and oatmeal cookies to people coming in from the storm. By the afternoon, they had raised more money than they had hoped.
The treats were free
They wanted something warm on a cold, rainy day
It was lunchtime at school
Leo said the rain would stop soon
They wanted something warm on a cold, rainy day
Hint: Think about the weather. What would you want after coming in from a storm?
Question 3
“Leo groaned.” What does this tell you about how Leo felt?
The Rainy-Day Plan
Priya and Leo had planned a lemonade stand to raise money for the animal shelter. On Saturday morning, dark clouds rolled in and rain began to pour.
Leo groaned. “Nobody will buy lemonade in the rain.” Priya looked out at the wet street, then grinned. “Then let's sell something warm.”
With permission, they set up a table in the lobby of the community centre. They sold warm cocoa and oatmeal cookies to people coming in from the storm. By the afternoon, they had raised more money than they had hoped.
He felt excited
He felt disappointed
He felt sleepy
He felt proud
He felt disappointed
Hint: A groan is a low sound people make when something goes wrong. Read what Leo says next.
Question 4
Why were Priya and Leo selling things?
The Rainy-Day Plan
Priya and Leo had planned a lemonade stand to raise money for the animal shelter. On Saturday morning, dark clouds rolled in and rain began to pour.
Leo groaned. “Nobody will buy lemonade in the rain.” Priya looked out at the wet street, then grinned. “Then let's sell something warm.”
With permission, they set up a table in the lobby of the community centre. They sold warm cocoa and oatmeal cookies to people coming in from the storm. By the afternoon, they had raised more money than they had hoped.
to win a contest
to buy new bikes
to pay for a trip
to raise money for the animal shelter
to raise money for the animal shelter
Hint: The very first sentence tells you why.
Question 5
What happens when beavers build a dam?
Nature's Engineers
Beavers are sometimes called nature's engineers. An engineer is someone who designs and builds things, and beavers are amazing builders.
Using their strong front teeth, beavers cut down small trees and branches. They pile the wood across a stream and pack the gaps with mud and stones. This dam slows the water and makes a deep pond.
In the pond, beavers build a home called a lodge. Its entrance is underwater, which helps keep the family safe from predators such as wolves.
Beaver ponds help other living things, too. Ducks, frogs, fish and moose often visit or live in the wetlands that beavers create.
The water slows down and forms a deep pond
The trees grow faster
The fish swim away to the ocean
The stream dries up forever
The water slows down and forms a deep pond
Hint: This is cause and effect. Find the sentence that starts with “This dam…”.
Question 6
Why is an underwater entrance useful for a beaver lodge?
Nature's Engineers
Beavers are sometimes called nature's engineers. An engineer is someone who designs and builds things, and beavers are amazing builders.
Using their strong front teeth, beavers cut down small trees and branches. They pile the wood across a stream and pack the gaps with mud and stones. This dam slows the water and makes a deep pond.
In the pond, beavers build a home called a lodge. Its entrance is underwater, which helps keep the family safe from predators such as wolves.
Beaver ponds help other living things, too. Ducks, frogs, fish and moose often visit or live in the wetlands that beavers create.
It lets sunlight into the lodge
Predators like wolves can't easily get in
It makes the lodge easy to find
It keeps the pond from freezing
Predators like wolves can't easily get in
Hint: Reread the third paragraph. It says the entrance helps keep the family safe.
Question 7
Which animals does the passage say use beaver ponds?
Nature's Engineers
Beavers are sometimes called nature's engineers. An engineer is someone who designs and builds things, and beavers are amazing builders.
Using their strong front teeth, beavers cut down small trees and branches. They pile the wood across a stream and pack the gaps with mud and stones. This dam slows the water and makes a deep pond.
In the pond, beavers build a home called a lodge. Its entrance is underwater, which helps keep the family safe from predators such as wolves.
Beaver ponds help other living things, too. Ducks, frogs, fish and moose often visit or live in the wetlands that beavers create.
cats, dogs and horses
wolves, bears and eagles
whales, seals and otters
ducks, frogs, fish and moose
ducks, frogs, fish and moose
Hint: The last paragraph lists the animals.
Question 8
Which sentence is the best summary of the passage?
Nature's Engineers
Beavers are sometimes called nature's engineers. An engineer is someone who designs and builds things, and beavers are amazing builders.
Using their strong front teeth, beavers cut down small trees and branches. They pile the wood across a stream and pack the gaps with mud and stones. This dam slows the water and makes a deep pond.
In the pond, beavers build a home called a lodge. Its entrance is underwater, which helps keep the family safe from predators such as wolves.
Beaver ponds help other living things, too. Ducks, frogs, fish and moose often visit or live in the wetlands that beavers create.
Wolves live in the forest.
Moose like to visit ponds.
Beavers have teeth.
Beavers build dams and lodges that make ponds, which help many animals.
Beavers build dams and lodges that make ponds, which help many animals.
Hint: A summary covers the important ideas from the whole passage: what beavers build and why it matters.
Question 9
What is this passage mostly about?
The Window Garden
Ana's class wanted to make their classroom brighter. Ana had an idea: they could grow a garden on the wide window ledge.
Each student planted one seed in a paper cup. They set the cups in a sunny row and took turns watering them. Ravi made a chart to track how tall each plant grew.
After three weeks, the ledge was full of green leaves. Some plants even had tiny yellow flowers. The class agreed that the room felt cheerful, and they decided to plant herbs next.
Why yellow flowers are the prettiest
Ravi learns to draw charts
A class grows a garden to brighten their room
How to make a paper cup
A class grows a garden to brighten their room
Hint: The main idea is what the WHOLE passage is about, not just one small part.
Question 10
Why do you think the class put the cups in a sunny row?
The Window Garden
Ana's class wanted to make their classroom brighter. Ana had an idea: they could grow a garden on the wide window ledge.
Each student planted one seed in a paper cup. They set the cups in a sunny row and took turns watering them. Ravi made a chart to track how tall each plant grew.
After three weeks, the ledge was full of green leaves. Some plants even had tiny yellow flowers. The class agreed that the room felt cheerful, and they decided to plant herbs next.
To keep the cups from tipping over
The teacher wanted them out of the way
Plants need sunlight to grow
So the cups would stay cold
Plants need sunlight to grow
Hint: Use what you know: what do plants need to grow? Sunlight is one thing!
More Grade 4 language arts practice, with new questions every time: www.gradelings.com/worksheets/ · Free for 30 days, no card needed.
Answer key
1. Rain spoiled their plan for a lemonade stand
2. They wanted something warm on a cold, rainy day
3. He felt disappointed
4. to raise money for the animal shelter
5. The water slows down and forms a deep pond
6. Predators like wolves can't easily get in
7. ducks, frogs, fish and moose
8. Beavers build dams and lodges that make ponds, which help many animals.
9. A class grows a garden to brighten their room
10. Plants need sunlight to grow
Want more than 10 questions?
In Gradelings the questions change every time and adjust to your child, with hints and kind feedback.