Question 109·Easy·Central Ideas and Details
During the early twentieth century, the introduction of inexpensive electric lighting transformed domestic life. Candles and oil lamps, once essential but hazardous and dim, were replaced by brighter, safer bulbs that could be switched on instantly. Extended evening illumination allowed families to read, sew, and socialize after dark with greater ease, and businesses could operate longer hours. Electric lighting thus reshaped daily schedules and increased productivity in homes and workplaces alike.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
For main idea questions, summarize the passage in one sentence that includes the overall topic and the author’s main point. Then choose the option that is broad enough to cover all major parts of the passage (often echoed in the first or last sentence) and eliminate choices that mention only one example or one group.
Hints
Find the topic
Ask yourself: what invention or change is the passage mainly discussing?
Look for the author’s overall point
The passage isn’t just listing benefits; it’s making a broader claim about how life changed. Look especially at the final sentence.
Avoid answer choices that are too narrow
Cross out choices that mention only one example (only homes, only businesses, or only the old lighting methods) rather than the passage’s full scope.
Step-by-step Explanation
Recognize the question type
The question asks, “Which choice best states the main idea of the text?” So you need the option that summarizes what the entire passage is mostly about, not just one detail.
Restate the passage in your own words
The passage explains that inexpensive electric lighting replaced candles and oil lamps. Electric lights were brighter and safer, could be turned on instantly, let families do more after dark, and allowed businesses to operate longer. Overall, it changed daily schedules and increased productivity at home and at work.
Identify the big-picture focus
The passage uses examples (family activities and longer business hours) to support a larger point. The final sentence ties everything together by saying electric lighting reshaped schedules and increased productivity in both homes and workplaces.
Match the choice that covers the whole passage
Eliminate choices that focus only on older lighting, only businesses, or only families. The best main-idea choice is the one that captures the overall improvement to life at home and at work: Inexpensive electric lighting replaced older lamps, making homes and workplaces safer, brighter, and more productive.