Which statement best states the main idea of a paragraph about the butterfly life cycle?

Which statement best states the main idea of a paragraph about the butterfly life cycle?

• A. Butterflies are colorful creatures with varied wings.
• B. The life cycle includes egg, larva, chrysalis, and butterfly.
• C. Butterflies migrate across continents.
• D. Butterflies feed on nectar.

Answer: (B)

When a paragraph explains how something develops in stages, the main idea is the overall point that ties all the details together. The statement that lists egg, larva, chrysalis, and butterfly does exactly that—it names the essential stages in order and shows the development the paragraph is about. It summarizes the topic in one concise idea, which is what the main idea should do. The other statements focus on a trait like color, a behavior like migration, or a feeding detail; these are specific facts, not the single idea that unifies a paragraph about the life cycle.

When a paragraph explains how something develops in stages, the main idea is the overall point that ties all the details together. The statement that lists egg, larva, chrysalis, and butterfly does exactly that—it names the essential stages in order and shows the development the paragraph is about. It summarizes the topic in one concise idea, which is what the main idea should do. The other statements focus on a trait like color, a behavior like migration, or a feeding detail; these are specific facts, not the single idea that unifies a paragraph about the life cycle.