Answer Keys: Central Idea & Supporting Details

Grade 3 Reading | FAST Success Kit

Teacher/Parent Resource: This page contains all answers. Keep separate from student materials.
Student Concept Worksheet Answers (Dolphins)
1. Topic
Dolphins
2. Central Idea
Dolphins are one of the smartest animals in the ocean.
3. Best supporting detail
B. Scientists have taught dolphins to solve puzzles. This directly proves their intelligence.
4. How mirrors detail supports central idea
Recognizing yourself in a mirror shows intelligence because very few animals can do it. This proves dolphins are very smart.
Practice Worksheet Answers
Passage 1: Recycling
1. Topic
Recycling (or "Recycling helps the Earth")
2. Central Idea
B. Recycling is one of the best ways to help the Earth.
3. Best supporting detail
A. Recycling uses less energy than making new products. This shows HOW recycling helps.
4. How plastic detail supports central idea
This detail supports the central idea because recycling plastic keeps it out of the ocean, which protects sea animals - another way recycling helps the Earth.
Passage 2: Ants
5. Central Idea
Ants are some of the hardest working creatures on Earth. (Every ant has a job and they never stop working.)
6. Detail supporting hard work
B. Worker ants can carry 50 times their body weight. This shows how hard they work.
7. Two supporting details
Accept any two: They find food all day; some are farmers who grow mushrooms; others are soldiers protecting the colony; they carry 50 times their weight; every ant has a job.
Passage 3: Sleep
8. Central Idea
B. Getting enough sleep is very important for kids.
9. Detail NOT supporting central idea
C. Doctors are people who help us stay healthy. This is true but doesn't relate to why sleep is important.
10. Sleep = food comparison
This comparison supports the central idea by showing that sleep is necessary for your body, just like food is necessary. It emphasizes how important sleep is.
Passage 4: Octopus
11. Central Idea
The octopus has many ways to protect itself from predators. (Or: The octopus is a master of survival.)
12. Sentence stating central idea
A. "The octopus has many ways to protect itself from predators."
13. How color change supports central idea
Changing colors helps the octopus blend in with rocks and coral, which protects it by making it hard for predators to see.
14. Three details proving survival
1. Can squirt ink to confuse enemies; 2. Can change colors to blend in; 3. Can squeeze into tiny spaces (no bones); 4. Can break off arm and grow new one
FAST Practice Quiz Answers (Honeybees)
1
B. Honeybees
The topic is the subject in 1-2 words.
2
B. Honeybees are important because they help plants grow and produce food.
This is the main point - the other answers are details or partial ideas.
3
B. "They are some of the most important insects..."
This sentence directly states the main point about bees' importance.
4
B. About one-third of the food we eat depends on bees.
This statistic directly proves bees' importance for food.
5
A. show examples of foods that need bees to grow
The list provides specific evidence of bees' importance.
6
C. Pesticides are one thing hurting bees.
This is about threats TO bees, not about why bees are IMPORTANT.
7
B. Bees are in danger and need our help.
Paragraph 3 focuses on threats to bees and what we can do.
8
B. It gives examples of foods and materials that need bees.
Paragraph 2 supports the central idea by listing what depends on bees.
9
Sample: Detail 1: Bees spread pollen that helps plants make seeds. This supports the central idea because it shows HOW bees help plants grow. Detail 2: One-third of our food depends on bees. This shows how much we need bees for our food supply.
10
Sample: The central idea is that honeybees are very important because they help plants grow and produce food that we need. For example, about one-third of the food we eat depends on bees, including apples and almonds.

Scoring Guide

Assessment Total Points Proficient (70%+) Focus Area if Struggling
Student Concept Worksheet 4 points 3+ correct Practice topic vs. central idea
Practice Worksheet 14 points 10+ correct Focus on "how does this support..."
FAST Practice Quiz 10 points 7+ correct Practice finding relevant details

Common Errors: Confusing topic (1-2 words) with central idea (complete sentence); choosing interesting but irrelevant details; not explaining HOW details support the central idea.

FAST Success Kit | Grade 3 | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.3.R.2.2