Try 2 sample questions on Reading Comprehension: Identification of Main Idea and Supporting Details
Question 1 · 1 mark · Difficulty 1/3
Read the following extract from a newspaper article:
'The Caribbean Sea is facing an unprecedented threat from sargassum seaweed. Massive quantities of this brown algae have been washing ashore across the region, affecting tourism, fishing, and coastal ecosystems. Hotels in Barbados have reported cancellations, while fishermen in Trinidad struggle to launch their boats through the thick mats of seaweed.'
What is the main idea of this passage?
- Hotels in Barbados are losing business due to seaweed
- Sargassum seaweed poses a major threat to the Caribbean region
- Fishermen in Trinidad cannot launch their boats
- The Caribbean Sea contains brown algae
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Sargassum seaweed poses a major threat to the Caribbean region
Award 1 mark for identifying that the main idea encompasses the overall threat of sargassum to the Caribbean. A is incorrect — this is a supporting detail, not the main idea. C is incorrect — this is another supporting detail used to illustrate the main point. D is incorrect — this is a factual detail that does not capture the central concern of the passage.
Question 2 · 1 mark · Difficulty 1/3
A student reads the following passage about Caribbean agriculture:
'Cassava is one of the most important root crops grown in Guyana and other Caribbean territories. It requires little water and can thrive in poor soil conditions. Farmers value cassava because it can be stored in the ground until needed. Additionally, both the leaves and roots are edible, making it a versatile food source.'
Which of the following is a supporting detail in this passage?
- Cassava is an important Caribbean crop
- Cassava can be stored in the ground until needed
- Root crops are grown in the Caribbean
- Caribbean farmers grow many crops
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Cassava can be stored in the ground until needed
Award 1 mark for correctly identifying a specific supporting detail. A is incorrect — this represents the main idea of the passage. C is incorrect — this is a general inference, not a stated supporting detail. D is incorrect — this information is not stated in the passage.
CXC CSEC English Language: Reading Comprehension: Identification of Main Idea and Supporting Details FAQ
How many CXC CSEC English Language questions on Reading Comprehension: Identification of Main Idea and Supporting Details are there on Kramizo?
Kramizo currently has 20 exam-board-aligned practice questions on Reading Comprehension: Identification of Main Idea and Supporting Details for CXC CSEC English Language, with new questions added every week. Each question gives you instant feedback and a full examiner-style mark scheme that tells you exactly what would earn marks on a real CXC paper. The questions span the full difficulty range — from straightforward recall (level 1) right up to multi-step reasoning and evaluation (level 3) — so the bank works for first-pass revision and final exam-week stress testing alike.
Is Kramizo free for CXC CSEC students preparing for English Language?
Yes — completely free. Every student gets 45 questions a day on the free plan, with no card required and no trial countdown. That free quota works across every subject and every topic in our bank, so you can mix Reading Comprehension: Identification of Main Idea and Supporting Details practice with other English Language topics or even switch to a totally different CXC subject without paying anything. Kramizo's optional Pro plan removes the daily cap and adds detailed progress analytics, but the free tier is the real product — used by thousands of GCSE, IGCSE and CSEC students.
Are the Reading Comprehension: Identification of Main Idea and Supporting Details questions aligned to the official CXC CSEC English Language syllabus?
Every question is written against the published CXC CSEC English Language specification, including the exact command words (state, describe, explain, calculate, evaluate, etc.), mark allocations, and difficulty tier you'd see on a real CXC paper. Explanations are written in the style of official examiner mark schemes — they tell you what is being awarded marks and why distractors are wrong, not just whether you got it right. The bank is continually refined to match the latest syllabus updates from CXC.
How is Reading Comprehension: Identification of Main Idea and Supporting Details typically tested on CXC CSEC English Language papers?
Reading Comprehension: Identification of Main Idea and Supporting Details appears across multiple question types on real CXC CSEC English Language papers — most commonly as multiple-choice questions in the objective section, structured short-answer questions in the main paper, and occasionally as part of an extended response. Kramizo's practice bank reflects that mix: 4-option MCQs, true/false statements, fill-in-the-blank key terms, multi-select questions, and ordering questions. Working through the bank gives you exposure to every question style examiners actually use.