READING SKILLS QUIZ:

Author’s Purpose, Main Idea, and Inferences

SECTION 1: AUTHOR’S PURPOSE AND MAIN IDEA

Read each paragraph. Then select the answer that best describes the author’s purpose and main idea.

Sir Isaac Newton was contemplating the universe in his garden one day in 1665 when he
noticed an apple fall from a tree. Newton wondered to himself, “Why should the apple
always fall to the ground? Why does it not go sideways or upwards but directly toward
the Earth’s center?” After much contemplation Newton concluded that objects are
pulled to the Earth through a force that he called gravity, which means heaviness in
Latin. On July 5th, 1687 Newton formally expressed his law of universal gravitation in a
series of books called The Principia.

1. The author’s purpose is to…

a. Explain how Newton came up with the law of universal gravitation.
b. Describe Newton’s fascination with the idea of how apples always fall towards the Earth’s center.
c. Compare the way apples fall to the ground to the law of universal gravitation.

2. What is the main idea of this passage?

a. All apples fall directly towards the Earth’s center because there is a force called gravity that pulls them
down.
b. The Principia is a series of books in which Newton formulated his law of universal gravitation.
c. A falling apple inspired Newton to think about gravity.

Counterfeiting is the act of making phony money that looks official. It is a very old crime
but recent advances in printing have made it possible for even amateurs to produce
decent counterfeits. Fortunately, there are some ways that you can detect counterfeits.
The first and most telling inspection is to pay attention to how the money feels. It is
difficult to reproduce the texture of real money. If the money feels suspicious, look
carefully at the microprinting on the bill. Many features along the portrait and border of a
genuine bill contain writing that is too small to reproduce in most printers. If you are still
suspicious, hold the bill up to the light and look for the strip that says the value of the
bill. With a little diligence, you can keep yourself from becoming a victim of this rising
trend.

3. The author’s purpose is to...

a. Describe the characteristics of a genuine bill.
b. Explain how to detect a counterfeit bill.
c. Compare the real money with the counterfeit bill.

4. What is the main idea of this passage?

a. Counterfeiting has become more popular due to recent advances in printing.
b. A counterfeit bill can be identified by its texture, microprinting, and strip.
c. Despite recent advances in printing, a counterfeit bill still can’t print a very small writing and can’t
reproduce the texture of real money.
 In the summer of 1939, a few months before World War II started, Albert Einstein and a
group of Hungarian scientists wrote to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In this letter they
warned Roosevelt that the Nazi’s were conducting atomic research and that the
consequences would be dire if the Nazis were to win the race to build an atom bomb.
They recommended that the U.S. become involved in uranium research. As a result of
this letter, the U.S. joined the atomic race and poured billions of dollars into the
development of weaponry. The U.S. won the race and became the first country to build
an atomic bomb. The bomb was then used in Japan, killing hundreds of thousands of
civilians. In 1954, a year before his death, Einstein would refer to the moment that he
signed the letter to President Roosevelt as the greatest mistake of his life.

5. The author’s purpose is to...

a. Explain the reader about the greatest mistake that Einstein made in his life.
b. Inform the reader about why the atomic bomb was created in the U.S.
c. Describe the reader about how the atomic bomb was created.

6. What is the main idea of this passage?

a. The atomic bomb was created in the U.S. thanks to Albert Einstein and a group of hungrian scientists.
b. The U.S. was able to defeat Japan due to the atomic bomb that Einstein and a group of hungrian
scientists suggested.
c. Albert Einstein lived to regret recommending that the U.S. develop atomic bombs.

For most of human history, people thought that the Earth was the center of the universe.
Nicolaus Copernicus changed how people understood the universe when he theorized
that it was heliocentric, or sun-centered. Interestingly, Copernicus had most of this
theory worked out some time before 1514, and his work was fully articulated by 1532, yet
publication of this text was not completed until 1543 as he lay dying. Some scholars
believe that Copernicus delayed publishing this work because it contradicted the
Catholic Church’s view that the Earth was at the center of the universe. Copernicus may
have been smart in doing so because the Church did not formally accept his view of the
universe until 1822, almost 300 years later.

7. The author’s purpose is to...

a. Explain the role of the Catholic Church in astronomy.
b. Introduce Copernicus as the creator of the heliocentric theory.
c. Describe the ignorance of people regarding astronomy.

8. What is the main idea of this passage?

a. The Catholic Church did not accept Copernicus’ theory.
b. People thought that the Earth was the center of the universe.
c. Copernicus figured out that the Earth revolved around the sun but was too scared to talk about it.

Currencies have changed and developed over the course of history, but one of the
newest forms of payment doesn't even exist in the physical world. Bitcoin is an entirely
digital currency. Users of Bitcoin send payments to one another over computer
networks. These payments are nonrefundable. In other words, once the money is sent,
you can't get it back. The value of a Bitcoin has risen rapidly since its introduction in
2009, when each Bitcoin was worth around 30 cents. At the time of this writing, it would
cost you around 7400 U.S. Dollars to get one Bitcoin. That's quite a jump. On the
downside, if the value of Bitcoin ever crashes, you won't be able to heat your home by
burning it.
9. The author’s purpose is to...
a. Describe a new form of electronic currency called Bitcoin.
b. Criticize the use of electronic currency.
c. Convince people to buy Bitcoins.

10. What is the main idea of this passage?

a. Bitcoins are a dangerous investment.

b. Bitcoins are replacing physical payments.
c. Bitcoins are an entirely digital currency that has progressively increased its value.

Galileo Galilei was an influential scientist and one of the early developers of the
refracting telescope. In 1632 Galileo published a book called Dialogue Concerning the
Two Chief World Systems, in which he compared the Copernican view of a heliocentric
universe, one where the sun is at the center, with the geocentric view, one in which the
Earth is at the center. The Church took offense as to how Galileo portrayed the
geocentric view using a character named Simplicio, which has undertones of simpleton
in the Italian language, and he was put on trial before the Roman Inquisition. The
Inquisition ordered Galileo to recant his ideas, his book was banned, he was forbidden
from publishing anything else, and he was sentenced to house arrest for the rest of his
life. I guess it’s not just what you say that’s important but how you say it.

11. The author’s purpose is to...

a. criticize the Copernican view of a heliocentric universe.
b. criticize the geocentric view of the universe.
c. criticize the lack of freedom of speech with regards to science.

12. What is the main idea of this passage?

a. Galileo was punished severely by the Church for the tone that he used in a book on Astronomy.
b. Galileo’s telescope was a very important innovation for Astronomy.
c. Galileo’s book criticized the Copernican view of a heliocentric universe.

Hyperinflation refers to when the value of money drops rapidly. During World War I,
Germany paid for the war by borrowing. The German Mark steadily lost value as the war
went on and German people could buy less and less. After losing the war, Germany was
required to make large payments to the Allies. They paid all the debts that they could by
printing more money. Soon the German Mark was worthless. When the war had started,
the U.S. Dollar was worth around four German Marks. By November of 1923, one U.S.
Dollar was worth 4,210,500,000,000 German Marks. At this point the money had more
value as a fuel than as a currency, and people burned it to stay warm.

13. The author’s purpose is to...

a. Describe hyperinflation in Germany after World War I.
b. Introduce the role of Germany in World War I.
c. Explain the suffering of Germans during World War I.

14. What is the main idea of this passage?

a. The U.S. Dollar was a stronger currency than the German Mark.
b. Hyperinflation was an important and negative consequence of World War I for Germans.
c. After losing the war, Germany was required to make large payments to the Allies.
 Nikola Tesla was an inventor and physicist who is best remembered for his contributions
to the AC power system and radio, but he may have also built a death ray. At a 1937
luncheon in his honor, Tesla claimed to have created a weapon that could shoot a
concentrated beam of energy capable of bringing down fleets of airplanes. He further
claimed to have built, demonstrated, and used this weapon. When Tesla entered
negotiations with the U.S., the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union to sell his device,
Tesla claimed that one of these parties had sent people to break into his room and steal
his invention, but that this theft was impossible since the blueprint for the weapon was
entirely in his mind. Unfortunately, Tesla died with the blueprint in his mind before
anyone could get one. On second thought, maybe that’s not such a bad thing.

15. The author’s purpose is to...

a. Expose Tesla’s lies.
b. Describe what happened with one of Tesla’s inventions.
c. Criticize the U.S., the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union.

16. What is the main idea of this passage?

a. Tesla may have built a death ray but he died before this idea could be completed (or stolen).
b. The U.S., the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union tried to steal Tesla’s death ray.
c. Tesla was a liar who invented stories to become more famous.

As young Americans mature into adults, they are tempted by the allure of easy credit.
Credit card companies attempt to ensnare young people by giving away "free"
headphones or sports towels in return for completing credit applications. Many of these
young people go on to accumulate debt through undisciplined spending. They pay much
more than the original loan because they are charged a high rate of interest and it takes
them years to repay their debts. It is best to avoid this debt prison altogether.

17. The author’s purpose is to...

a. highlight the attraction that young people feel towards credit cards.
b. criticize young people for their spending habits.
c. Describe how certain young people can become burdened with credit card debt.

18. What is the main idea of this passage?

a. Young people’s temptation towards credit cards leads them to a life filled with debt.
b. Banks are evil corporations that must be stopped.
c. Young people are ignorant and this creates important problems for society.

Marie Curie is not only the first woman to have won a Nobel Prize, she is also the only
person to win a Nobel Prize in two different sciences. Most notably, however, Marie Curie
discovered radiation. She was also the first person to use radiation to treat tumors. Curie
experimented extensively with radioactivity during her scientific career. Unfortunately
the damaging effects of radiation were not known then. Her exposure to radiation most
likely was the cause of her blindness and early death. Still today her scientific papers are
considered too dangerous to handle without protective equipment. These documents
are stored in lead-lined boxes. Even her cookbook is radioactive. She must have made
some really hot food in her lifetime.

19. The author’s purpose is to...

a. Narrate how Marie Curie died.
b. Describe Marie Curie’s great discoveries regarding radiation and how this affected her life.
c. Explain the serious consequences that radiation can have on a person’s health.
20. What is the main idea of this passage?
a. The negative consequences of radiation can last for a very long time.
b. Marie Curie is the only person to have won the Nobel Prize in two different sciences.
c. Marie Curie did amazing work with radiation that caused her health problems later.

Taken and adapted from

https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/reading-worksheets/main-idea-worksheet-5.pdf
https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/reading-worksheets/main-idea-worksheet-4.pdf

SECTION 2: INFERENCES
Read each passage and then respond to the questions. Each question will ask you to make a logical inference based
on textual details.

Ryan was looking forward to sleeping over at his friend Robert's house. Though they had
been classmates for a while, the two had only recently become good friends. Ryan
packed up his sleeping bag, a pillow, and a few of his favorite toys and games, and then
his mom dropped him off at Robert's. Robert met Ryan on the porch and the two did
their secret handshake and started playing right away. First they played pirates in
Robert's tree fort. Next they played ninjas in the driveway. Then it started getting dark
and they went inside of Robert's house. As soon as they walked in the house, Ryan's eyes
started getting red and itchy. He saw a big orange cat sitting on the couch. Then he
started sneezing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, Robert. It's been a lot of fun, but I have to
call my mom."

1. Why do Ryan's eyes get red and itchy when he walks into Robert's house?
a. Ryan has an eye problem.
b. Ryan is getting a cold.
c. Ryan is allergic to cats.

2. Why does Ryan want to call his mother?

a. Ryan wants to call his mother because he wants to go home.
b. Ryan wants to call his mother because he needs to tell her about his eye problem.
c. Ryan wants to call his mother because he wants to take a cold medicine.

"William, don't forget your towel!" Mom shouted as she applied sunblock on the baby.
William threw the folding chairs in the back of the minivan and shouted through the
garage door, "OK Mom!" He then ran up and grabbed his towel. "Georgie!" William
shouted. There was no response. Mom packed the baby up into the car seat. "William,
can you help me with his umbrella?" William ran down the stairs, almost tripping over a
chew toy, and then he helped his mother load the large umbrella in the minivan. "Mom, I
can't find Georgie," William said. His mother shrugged and replied, "That's OK, William.
He probably shouldn't come with us anyway."

3. Where are Mom and William going?

a. Mom and William are going to the park.
b. Mom and William are going to the beach.
c. Mom and William are going to the hospital.

4. Who is Georgie?
a. Georgie is William’s brother.
b. Georgie is William’s dog.
c. Georgie is William’s father.
 As the teacher brought the class back from the washroom, he noticed that Alvin and
Elijah were nowhere to be seen. He asked the class, "Has anyone seen Alvin or Elijah?"
Most of the students confirmed that they had not seen them, except for Rodney, who
remained silent while tapping his foot on the floor anxiously. The teacher noticed this.
"Rodney, do you happen to know where your best buddies Alvin and Elijah went?"
Rodney looked away and said, "Nah, I haven't seen them." The teacher notified the office
of the missing students. An announcement was made over the PA system and a few
minutes later, Alvin and Elijah returned to class. Both of them were very sweaty and
Elijah was carrying a basketball. "Sorry we took so long. We had to use the bathroom,"
said Elijah. "Yeah," chimed in Alvin, "it took longer than we thought."

5. What were Alvin and Elijah doing while they were gone?
a. Alvin and Elijah were probably looking for the basketball because they lost it at some point.
b. Alvin and Elijah probably found the basketball in the bathroom.
c. Alvin and Elijah were probably playing basketball in the gym or somewhere else.

6. Why was Rodney acting so strangely?

a. Rodney was acting so strangely because he lost his favorite basketball.
b. Rodney was acting so strangely because he got sick.
c. Rodney was acting so strangely because he knew where Alvin and Elijah went.

7. Will the teacher believe Alvin and Elijah's story?

a. The teacher will probably believe Alvin and Elijah.
b. The teacher probably won’t believe Alvin and Elijah.
c. The teacher probably won’t believe Alvin and Elijah, but she will pretend so that they don’t feel bad.

Tony walked out of the shopping mall with his arms full of bags and the sun shining on
him. As he approached his car, he started awkwardly feeling around his pockets with his
arm full of bags. He did not find what he was looking for so he transferred the bags on
one arm to the other arm, which already had bags. Tony had a lot of bags on one arm. He
still couldn't find what he was looking for. Now he dropped the bags and plunged both
hands desperately into all of the pockets on his jeans. With a look of despair, Tony ran to
his car. He tried to open the door, but it was locked. Then he saw something on the
passenger seat of the car. He stopped looking and pulled his phone out of his pocket.

8. Why does Tony get so frantic?

a. Tony realizes that he doesn’t have his car keys.
b. Tony realizes that he lost something from his pockets.
c. Tony realizes that he has a big hole in one of his pockets.

9. What does Tony see on the passenger seat?

a. Tony sees the hamster that he usually takes everywhere.
b. Tony sees his keys on the passenger seat.
c. Tony sees the money that he lost from his pockets.

10. Why is Tony getting on the phone?

a. Tony is contacting an animal rescuer so that this person can help his hamster.
b. Tony is contacting his mother or a friend because he does not have money to pay his parking ticket.
c. Tony is contacting a locksmith, the police, or someone he knows with a spare key.