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Difficulty: EasyMain Idea and Central Theme Identification

Read the following passage carefully:

Linguistic diversity represents an irreplaceable repository of human knowledge, cultural memory, and localized ecological wisdom. Across many post-colonial nations, formal education systems have historically prioritized standardized national languages to foster national integration and administrative efficiency. While this linguistic consolidation facilitated state-building and streamlined public service delivery, it systematically marginalized regional indigenous languages, accelerating their endangerment. In recent decades, sociolinguistic research has demonstrated that mother-tongue-based multilingual education in early childhood significantly improves cognitive development, enhances literacy acquisition, and fosters equitable civic engagement. Furthermore, preserving indigenous languages is directly linked to safeguarding traditional ecological knowledge embedded within native nomenclature and oral traditions. Consequently, modern public policy must move beyond viewing linguistic homogenization as a necessary prerequisite for national unity. A progressive state policy framework ought to integrate local indigenous languages into primary education curricula and public administration, recognizing that protecting linguistic pluralism does not undermine national cohesion, but rather enriches democratic governance and strengthens socio-cultural resilience. Thus, the overarching task of public policy is the harmonious reconciliation of administrative unity with the active promotion of linguistic diversity.

Which of the following best reflects the central message intended by the author in the passage above?

  1. Public policy should harmonize administrative cohesion with the structural integration of indigenous languages to foster democratic governance and resilience.Answer
  2. B
    Historical state-building efforts through standardized national languages completely failed to deliver administrative efficiency or public service improvements.
  3. C
    Early childhood mother-tongue education is proven to guarantee higher economic growth and international trade competency in post-colonial economies.
  4. D
    Standardized national languages must be entirely abolished from primary school curricula to prevent the endangerment of native dialects.

Answer

Public policy should harmonize administrative cohesion with the structural integration of indigenous languages to foster democratic governance and resilience.
The correct option captures the main argument of the passage: while language standardization historically served administrative purposes, modern policy should integrate indigenous languages into education and administration to achieve both unity and socio-cultural resilience.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the author's primary thesis
The author outlines the historical context of language standardization and presents evidence supporting mother-tongue education.
Understanding the structural flow leads to the concluding argument regarding public policy.
2
Analyze the concluding synthesis
The final sentences explicitly state that public policy should move beyond viewing homogenization as a prerequisite for unity and instead reconcile administrative unity with linguistic diversity.
The central message of a passage is summarized by its primary recommendation and core conclusion.

Key Concept

Main Idea and Central Theme Identification
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Topics

Main Idea and Central Theme Identification

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