Read the unseen prose excerpt below carefully:
"Every evening, Mama Folake set up her small kerosene lamp beside the railway tracks of Offa station. For thirty years, while steam engines gave way to diesel locomotives and passengers transformed from quiet rural traders into hurried city commuters clad in synthetic suits, her fried bean cakes remained unchanged in taste and texture. She watched young boys board the night train to Lagos with cardboard suitcases and boundless expectations, only to see a few return years later with hollow eyes and quiet steps. Though the town around her expanded with concrete structures, her small wooden tray remained the steady anchor of the old quarter."
What is the central theme explored in the passage above?
- The persistence of traditional cultural anchors amidst societal modernizationAnswer
- BThe total economic collapse of rural Nigerian railway towns
- CThe inevitable failure and financial ruin of all youths migrating to big cities
- DThe narrator's personal regret over never leaving Offa station for Lagos
Answer
The central theme explored in the passage is the persistence of traditional cultural anchors amidst societal modernization.
The correct answer accurately synthesizes the passage's main focus: the contrast between relentless urban and technological changes over thirty years and the steady, enduring presence of traditional community elements symbolized by Mama Folake's tray.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Identifying Theme and Main Idea in Unseen Prose Excerpts