Which CCSS Reading standard skill involves identifying the central idea and key details in a text?

• A. Analyzing author's purpose and perspective
• B. Determining the central idea and key details (main idea)
• C. Citing Evidence
• D. Determine meaning of words in context

Answer: (B)

The main idea and the supporting details are what you’re identifying here. The best choice is the one that matches determining the central idea—the overall point the author is making—and the key details that back that point up. To spot the central idea, ask what the passage is mainly about and try to summarize it in one sentence. The central idea is that core point, and the key details are the facts, examples, or statements that directly support that point. If a detail doesn’t connect to that main point, it isn’t a key detail. This differs from figuring out why the author wrote the passage or what perspective they have (that’s about purpose and viewpoint), or from figuring out the meaning of individual words in context, or from simply citing quotes as evidence. For example, in a piece about a city building a new park, the central idea might be that adding green space benefits residents, with key details being planned features, budget, and expected community advantages.