Question 39·Hard·Central Ideas and Details
Historians have long argued that the fall of the Classic Maya city-states was primarily the result of protracted warfare among rival kingdoms. However, using lake-sediment cores to reconstruct regional rainfall patterns, Carly Rice and her team showed that between 750 and 900 CE the Yucatán Peninsula experienced its three longest droughts in two millennia. When the researchers compared the drought timeline with dated inscriptions that record conflicts, they found that wars actually peaked during brief wet periods, not during the droughts. Rice argues that while war may have hastened some collapses, widespread drought undermined agricultural output and population health to such a degree that even victorious cities could not endure.
Which choice best states the central idea of the passage?
For central idea questions, first ignore the choices and quickly summarize the passage in 1–2 sentences: identify the old idea (if any), the new idea, and the author’s overall conclusion. Then eliminate options that (1) focus only on a single detail (dates, methods, one example), (2) mention something the passage only hints at or doesn’t say, or (3) leave out a key part of the author’s main claim, like the contrast between an old view and new evidence. Choose the answer that best captures the full scope of your own short summary.
Hints
Restate the passage in one sentence
Before looking at the choices, try to say in your own words what the author wants you to believe about why the Classic Maya city-states fell.
Notice the contrast between old and new views
Pay attention to how the passage contrasts what historians long argued with what Rice’s study suggests—this contrast is key to the main idea.
Distinguish main point from supporting details
Ask yourself which parts of the passage are supporting details (like specific dates, methods, or patterns in warfare) and which part is the overall conclusion about the cause of the collapse.
Check for over‑narrow answers
Eliminate options that focus only on one detail (for example, just the timing of wars or just the methods used) rather than the full explanation of why the cities collapsed.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the task: central idea
The question asks for the central idea of the passage, so you need the answer that captures the author’s overall main point, not a smaller detail, example, or just the research method.
Summarize the passage in your own words
Briefly paraphrase the passage:
- Historians used to think the Maya fell mainly because of long wars.
- Rice’s team used lake-sediment cores to reconstruct rainfall and found three long droughts between 750–900 CE.
- Comparing this with conflict inscriptions, they saw wars peaked in wet periods, not during droughts.
- Rice concludes that drought severely damaged farming and health, so even winning cities could not survive.
Overall: the passage contrasts the old warfare-only explanation with a new explanation where drought is a fundamental cause (with war still playing a role).
Match answer choices to that overall message
Now check each option against your summary:
- The best choice should mention both the previous belief about warfare and the new conclusion about drought’s key role in the collapse.
- Eliminate choices that only mention a detail (like timing of wars), only the method, or that twist what the passage says about agriculture and health.
Select the answer that includes the shift from old to new explanation
Only “Newly analyzed climate data reveals that extended droughts played a fundamental role in the downfall of the Mayan city-states, challenging the prevailing view that warfare was the primary cause.” clearly captures:
- the old view (warfare as primary cause), and
- the new, central claim (extended droughts were fundamental to the collapse based on new climate data).
Therefore, that choice is the best statement of the passage’s central idea.