Question 46·Easy·Central Ideas and Details
In 1847, Maria Mitchell pointed her handmade telescope toward the night sky and discovered a previously unrecorded comet. The discovery won her a gold medal from the king of Denmark and instant international fame, making Mitchell the first American woman to receive such recognition in astronomy. Soon after, she was appointed professor of astronomy at the newly founded Vassar College, where her visibility encouraged many young women to pursue scientific studies.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
For main idea questions, first read the entire passage or paragraph, then briefly summarize it in your own words in one sentence before looking at the choices. Next, eliminate any choices that focus on a single detail, add information not in the passage, or ignore key outcomes or effects the passage emphasizes. Finally, pick the option that best paraphrases your summary and captures the passage as a whole, not just one part of it.
Hints
Look at the beginning and the end of the passage
Reread the first and last sentences. What happens at the start, and what is the outcome described at the end?
Ask what the author emphasizes most
Does the passage seem more focused on a single fact (like the medal, the telescope, or the job title), or on the overall impact of Mitchell’s discovery and career?
Eliminate answers that are too narrow or off-topic
Cross out any choice that focuses on only one small detail from the passage or brings in an idea that is not clearly supported by the text.
Check that the choice covers the whole passage
Make sure the answer you pick reflects both what happened to Maria Mitchell and how it affected others, not just one of those pieces.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what a “main idea” question asks
The question asks which choice "best states the main idea of the text." This means you need an answer that sums up the entire passage, not just one detail from it.
Summarize the key points of the passage
Scan each sentence and note the most important information:
- First sentence: In 1847, Maria Mitchell used a handmade telescope and discovered a previously unrecorded comet.
- Second sentence: This discovery won her a gold medal and international fame, and she became the first American woman to get such recognition in astronomy.
- Third sentence: Soon she became a professor of astronomy at Vassar College, and her visibility there encouraged many young women to pursue scientific studies. Taken together, the passage focuses on her discovery, the fame it brought, and its effect on other women.
Decide what the passage is mostly about overall
Ask yourself: If I had to explain this short passage in one sentence, what would I say? The comet discovery is important, but the author spends just as much time on what the discovery led to—recognition (medal and fame) and her role in inspiring young women to study science. So the best main idea must mention both her acclaim and her influence.
Match your summary to the answer choices
Now compare your one-sentence summary to the choices:
- Some choices mention only one detail (the medal, the job at Vassar, or the handmade telescope) and leave out the broader impact.
- Only one choice mentions that the discovery brought her recognition AND that it helped inspire other women to study astronomy. That choice is: Maria Mitchell’s comet discovery brought her notable acclaim and helped inspire other women to study astronomy.