A fact is something that can be proved to be true. The month of July has more days than the month of June. This is a fact. It can be proved by looking at a calendar and counting the number of days in each month. An opinion is something that a person believes, thinks, or feels. An opinion cannot be proved true. July is a better month than June for camping. This is an opinion. People may have different opinions about which month is "better" for camping. Which sentence states a fact?

A fact is something that can be proved to be true. The month of July has more days than the month of June. This is a fact. It can be proved by looking at a calendar and counting the number of days in each month. An opinion is something that a person believes, thinks, or feels. An opinion cannot be proved true. July is a better month than June for camping. This is an opinion. People may have different opinions about which month is "better" for camping. Which sentence states a fact?

A fact is something that can be proved to be true. The month of July has more days than the month of June. This is a fact. It can be proved by looking at a calendar and counting the number of days in each month. An opinion is something that a person believes, thinks, or feels. An opinion cannot be proved true. July is a better month than June for camping. This is an opinion. People may have different opinions about which month is "better" for camping. Which sentence states a fact?

Look at these details from a paragraph about the same topic: Before a tornado, the sky may turn very dark and sometimes green. When a tornado is near, you may hear a loud roaring sound that lasts a long time. There can be hail or very heavy rain before a tornado strikes. Choose the main idea that ties all the details together.

Sisters and Writers the Bronte sisters In 1847, Charlotte Brontë and her sister Anne both published their first novels. The following year, their sister Emily also published a first novel. Charlotte's novel, Jane Eyre, was one of the best-sellers of 1847. Emily's novel, Wuthering Heights, was disliked at first but later became highly respected. Annes's first novel did not sell well, but her second novel did. How did three sisters from the same family all become published writers? Their childhood might have had something to do with it. When Charlotte and Emily were young girls, they made up stories about an imaginary land called Angria. They filled notebooks with stories about Angria. When Anne was old enough, she joined in. It could be that their early years helped the girls to develop their creativity and storytelling abilities. What is the main idea of the passage?

A Symbol of Freedom Edouard de Laboulaye Edouard de Laboulaye, a French writer and law professor, admired the freedoms enjoyed in the United States. He supported Abraham Lincoln's freeing of slaves during the Civil War. After the war, in 1865, he suggested that France present a statue to the U.S. The statue was meant to honor Lincoln and American democracy. At that time, the French people had little say in their government. Laboulaye hoped the statue would encourage the French to demand more freedom at home. Work began on the project in 1875. Ten years later, the statue, known as the Statue of Liberty, finally arrived in New York. What is the main idea of the passage?

The Boys' War During the American Civil War, soldiers were supposed to be at least eighteen years old. Because of the great need for soldiers, however, both sides accepted younger people. Thousands of boys between thirteen and seventeen fought for the North and the South. Even boys as young as ten could be drummers or messengers. Drummers used different drum rolls to send messages on the battlefield. Messengers were fast runners who passed messages between officers. In fact, so many boys served in the Civil War that it became known as "The Boys' War." What is the main idea of the passage?

Nuts and Peanuts a bowl filled with a variety of nuts According to many studies, eating nuts may be good for your heart. Nuts contain good fats, vitamin E, and fiber, all of which are heart-healthy. Some people may not buy nuts often because they are expensive. But there are many less expensive foods that have the same health benefits as nuts. Peanuts, for example, are also good for your heart. Despite their name, peanuts are not actually nuts. They're legumes, like beans. In one study, people who ate either true nuts or peanuts were less likely to die of heart disease than people who didn't. Other studies have also suggested that peanuts are good for the heart. What is the main idea of the passage?

The Challenger Explosion the space shuttle Challenger The space shuttle Challenger was supposed to take off on January 22, 1986. Because of bad weather and other problems, though, the launch was put off for several days. When the new launch day arrived, the weather was colder than usual. Some scientists warned that parts of the shuttle might not work well at those temperatures. They were worried about rubber rings, called O-rings, used in the launching rockets. In spite of these warnings, however, Challenger lifted off at 11:39 A.M. on January 28. Less than eighty seconds after liftoff, the shuttle exploded. Later it was found that the O-rings had indeed failed, leading to the explosion. What is the main idea of the passage?

Look at these details from a paragraph about the same topic: Some pets have names that are based on their color, like Snowball. People sometimes name pets because of how they act, like Rascal. A pet can be named after your favorite food, like Nacho. Choose the main idea that ties all the details together.

The Maracanazo a soccer game in a stadium In 1950, the last game of soccer's World Cup was played in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Nearly two hundred thousand people squeezed into Rio's Maracanã stadium. Many expected the home team of Brazil to win easily. In one of the greatest upsets in soccer history, however, Uruguay won 2–1. Soccer is important in Brazil, and many Brazilians felt that losing this game hurt their nation's pride. Thus, the game came to be called the Maracanazo, meaning "the Maracanã blow." The word is still used to mean any game lost to a visiting team. Losing the 1950 World Cup had a lasting effect on the people of Brazil. What is the main idea of the passage?

Putting Code in the Classroom a child typing on a computer keyboard Computer-science skills are important in today's world. In countries such as Britain, China, and Vietnam, most students learn computer programming, also called coding. However, many American schools don't offer computer-science classes. A group called Code.org believes this should be changed. The group provides a first step in bringing computer science to U.S. schools. They offer a service called Hour of Code. Hour of Code gives students one hour of free online computer-science classes. Code.org hopes this program will encourage all schools to teach computer programming. What is the main idea of the passage?

Look at these details from a paragraph about the same topic: Moist forest soil is an ideal place for many mushrooms to grow. Mushrooms often sprout out of wet tree trunks. After a lawn is watered, sometimes mushrooms will grow in the grass. Choose the main idea that ties all the details together.

Small Steps to a Happier Planet someone putting a plastic bottle into a recycling bin Recycling things like paper, plastic, and metal helps the earth by cutting down on trash. Yet many people throw away their newspapers, bottles, and cans instead of recycling them. The question, then, is how to encourage more people to recycle. One way that works is to put recycling containers in more places. Seeing more recycling bins helps people remember to use them. Another way is to teach people why recycling is important. If we make recycling easier and teach people why it matters, more people will join in. What is the main idea of the passage?

When an author uses the word however, the author is trying to show his or her reader...