Question 121·Easy·Central Ideas and Details
The following text is from Above the Streets, a memoir by naturalist Lea Hamilton, who recalls her first visit to a city rooftop garden.
The elevator doors slid open and I stepped into what felt like an entirely different world. Gone was the traffic’s anxious drone; in its place rose the gentle whir of bees weaving through marigolds. Tomato vines clambered up bamboo poles, their green fruit still shy of ripening, while pots of mint released a cool scent each time the breeze brushed their leaves. I had expected a token patch of soil—a gesture toward greenery to soothe city dwellers’ consciences—but instead discovered a living, breathing ecosystem hovering eight stories above asphalt. I knelt to inspect a ladybug balanced on a lettuce leaf and realized, with a jolt of delight, that the city’s concrete shell could indeed cradle wildness.
Which choice best states the main idea of the passage?
For SAT main-idea questions on short passages, first read the whole passage without the choices and ask yourself in one simple sentence, “What happens here, and how does the narrator feel about it?” Pay special attention to the beginning (what situation or expectation is set up) and the end (what realization or feeling the narrator ends with). Then go to the choices and eliminate any that (1) contradict key lines, (2) introduce motives or details not mentioned, or (3) focus on minor details instead of the central contrast or change. Choose the option that best captures both the main event and the overall tone.
Hints
Focus on the narrator’s feelings
Reread the first and last sentences of the passage. How does the narrator feel when the elevator doors open, and how does she feel after she looks closely at the garden?
Look for expectation versus reality
Find the sentence that starts with “I had expected…” and compare it to what she actually finds. What does this contrast tell you about the main point of the passage?
Decide if the tone is positive or negative
Ask yourself: Is the narrator pleased, disappointed, or annoyed in this scene? Eliminate any answer choices that suggest a feeling that does not match the tone of the descriptions.
Check each choice against specific lines
For each option, find a line in the passage that clearly supports it. If you cannot find support—or if the passage says the opposite—cross that option out.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what changes from beginning to end
Look at the first and last sentences. The first sentence—“The elevator doors slid open and I stepped into what felt like an entirely different world”—shows that the scene on the roof contrasts strongly with what the narrator just left. The last sentence—“I knelt to inspect a ladybug… and realized, with a jolt of delight, that the city’s concrete shell could indeed cradle wildness”—shows her emotional reaction and new understanding.
Notice the narrator’s expectations versus reality
In the middle, the narrator says she “had expected a token patch of soil—a gesture toward greenery to soothe city dwellers’ consciences.” That means she thought the garden would be small and mostly symbolic. Instead, she “discovered a living, breathing ecosystem hovering eight stories above asphalt.” This contrast (small token patch vs. full ecosystem) shows she found much more life and richness than she anticipated.
Determine the overall attitude and main point
The sensory details—“gentle whir of bees,” “marigolds,” “tomato vines,” “cool scent” of mint—are vivid and positive. Words like “living, breathing ecosystem” and “jolt of delight” show she feels pleasantly surprised and excited. The main point is not just that the garden exists, but that it is unexpectedly full of life and changes how she views the city.
Eliminate choices that contradict the passage
Choice B focuses on being overwhelmed by city noise, but the passage says “Gone was the traffic’s anxious drone,” meaning the city noise is absent on the roof. Choice C says she is disappointed, but she feels a “jolt of delight,” the opposite of disappointment. Choice D says she went there to harvest vegetables for dinner, but the passage never mentions that motive; instead, she is observing nature like a naturalist.
Match the remaining choice to the passage
The remaining choice, A) The narrator is startled to find an unexpectedly vibrant and lively garden on a city rooftop, fits the evidence: she expected only “a token patch of soil” but instead finds a “living, breathing ecosystem” and reacts with “a jolt of delight.” This best states the main idea of the passage.