Examkin

Question

Difficulty: Very hardIdentification of Main Idea and Theme in Unseen Prose

Read the prose extract below carefully:

"For three decades, Maama Tari had sat at the edge of the creek, weaving raffia mats with fingers deformed by decades of relentless labor. Around her, the modern dredge boats churned the riverbed, spewing thick black oil into the once-clear waters that had nourished generations of fishermen. Her grandson, Tega, urged her daily to relocate to the glittering high-rises of the city, promising comfort and medical care. Yet every morning, she returned to the foul-smelling shore, casting her gaze over the dying mangroves. To Maama Tari, the unraveling river was not merely a damaged ecosystem to be abandoned; it was the repository of her ancestral lineage, and leaving it meant surrendering the last quiet whisper of her identity."

Which of the following best expresses the central theme of the passage?

  1. The tension between modern displacement and ancestral heritage, demonstrating how cultural identity can resist physical degradation.Answer
  2. B
    The inevitable defeat of traditional rural economies by modern industrial technological advancement.
  3. C
    The moral corruption and financial greed of younger generations who abandon ancestral lands for city life.
  4. D
    The severe physical health risks posed by oil pollution to elderly mat weavers in riverine areas.

Answer

The central theme of the passage is the tension between modern displacement and ancestral heritage, demonstrating how cultural identity can resist physical degradation.
The passage highlights Maama Tari's refusal to leave her polluted ancestral home because it forms the core of her identity and lineage. The option emphasizing the tension between modern displacement and ancestral heritage accurately captures this main idea without overgeneralizing or focusing solely on literal details.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the subject and core conflict of the excerpt.
The protagonist, Maama Tari, remains at a polluted riverbank despite her grandson's offers of city life and comfort.
Identifying the central character's choices reveals what drives the narrative focus.
2
Examine the climax of the excerpt's reflection (the concluding thesis sentence).
The text directly states that the river represents 'the repository of her ancestral lineage' and 'her identity.'
In prose analysis, the author's explicit characterization of emotional meaning frequently crystallizes the central theme.
3
Distinguish the overarching theme from specific plot details and overgeneralized claims.
Environmental damage and urban migration are context elements, while the core message centers on preserving identity and ancestral ties against displacement.
A theme encapsulates the unifying conceptual message rather than localized plot points or sweeping global assertions.

Key Concept

Identifying Main Idea and Theme in Unseen Prose
Rate this question

Topics

Identification of Main Idea and Theme in Unseen Prose

More questions from this topic