Question 115·Easy·Central Ideas and Details
The following text is from a newsletter written by Mr. Hernandez, a middle-school science teacher, to parents.
This spring we will turn the unused corner of the school courtyard into a student-run garden. Over the past few years, many of my students have read about photosynthesis and soil nutrients but have never planted a seed themselves. Working the garden beds will let them see classroom concepts come alive, from measuring rainfall to tracking plant growth. Just as important, each homeroom will be responsible for watering and weeding its own plot, giving students daily practice in cooperation and care. By harvest time, I hope every student will have gained not only fresh vegetables but also a deeper respect for living systems and for one another.
According to the text, what is Mr. Hernandez’s primary purpose for creating the garden?
For questions about an author’s primary purpose, first read the entire passage and then ask, “If I had to sum up why the writer is doing this in one simple sentence, what would it be?” Underline or mentally note any phrases that clearly state goals or hopes (like “will let them…” or “I hope…”). Then, eliminate any answer choices that introduce ideas not mentioned in the passage (such as tests or decoration here). Finally, pick the choice that best combines the main repeated ideas, even if other options sound nice or could be true in real life but are not supported by the text.
Hints
Focus on reasons, not setting
Reread the sentences that start with “Working the garden beds will…” and “Just as important…” What reasons does Mr. Hernandez give there for having a garden?
Watch for repeated ideas
Notice which ideas come up more than once: is he talking mostly about how the garden looks, about relaxation, about test scores, or about what students will learn and practice?
Eliminate unsupported options
Cross out any answer choices that mention goals the passage never talks about, such as specific types of tests or changes to the courtyard’s appearance.
Step-by-step Explanation
Restate what the question is asking
The question asks for Mr. Hernandez’s primary purpose for creating the garden. That means we need the main reason he gives in the paragraph, not a side benefit we might imagine.
Identify the reasons he gives in the passage
Look for places where Mr. Hernandez explains what the garden will do for students:
- “Working the garden beds will let them see classroom concepts come alive, from measuring rainfall to tracking plant growth.” This is about applying science concepts, especially about plants.
- “Just as important, each homeroom will be responsible for watering and weeding its own plot, giving students daily practice in cooperation and care.” This is about responsibility and working together.
- At the end, he wants them to gain “a deeper respect for living systems and for one another,” which connects to both science understanding and respect/responsibility.
Match those key ideas to the answer choices
Now compare the real reasons from the text to the choices:
- None of the sentences say the garden is meant as a “relaxing break,” even if it might sometimes feel that way.
- He never mentions “standardized test scores.”
- He briefly mentions the “unused corner of the school courtyard,” but does not say the goal is to make it more attractive. We need the choice that includes both learning science (especially about plants) and developing responsibility/cooperation.
Select the answer that captures the main purpose
Only choice C) To teach students about plant science and shared responsibility directly matches the reasons Mr. Hernandez gives: connecting classroom plant science to real-life gardening and giving students practice in cooperation, care, and respect.