Question the-fo
The following text is adapted from Edgar Allan Poe’s 1849 story “Landor’s Cottage.”
During a pedestrian trip last summer, through one or two of the river counties of California, we found myself, as the day declined, somewhat embarrassed about the road we was pursuing. The land undulated very remarkably; and my path, for the last hour, had wound about and about so confusedly, in its effort to keep in the valleys, that we no longer knew in what direction lay the sweet village of B——, where we had determined to stop for the night.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
The narrator remembers a trip he took and admits to getting lost.
The narrator recalls fond memories of a journey that he took through some beautiful river counties.
The narrator describes what he saw during a long trip through a frequently visited loion.
The narrator explains the difficulties he encountered on a trip and how he overcame them.
The following text is adapted from Edgar Allan Poe’s 1849 story “Landor’s Cottage.” During a
Hard-difficulty · SAT Reading & Writing · Central Ideas and Details — Identify the central idea or thesis. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.
Answer explanation
Choice A is the best answer. The narrator is “embarrassed” about the route he took, which ends up leaving him lost and confused about how to get to his destination for the evening.
Choice B is incorrect. This choice doesn’t match the passage. The narrator is embarrassed, rather than fond, and he doesn’t describe the beauty of the place. Choice C is incorrect. This choice doesn’t match the passage. We don’t know from this excerpt whether or not the narrator has visited this part of California multiple times. Choice D is incorrect. This choice doesn’t match the passage. The narrator doesn’t explain how he overcame being lost in this excerpt.
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