Question 55·Easy·Central Ideas and Details
Historian Lara Chen analyzed more than two hundred personal diaries written by 19th-century factory workers in northern England. She discovered that entries about evening concerts, weekend cricket matches, and neighborhood festivals far outnumbered notes on workplace grievances such as low pay or long hours. On this basis, Chen argues that labor history should widen its lens beyond strikes and wage disputes to include the recreational lives of workers.
Which choice best states the central claim of the passage?
For central claim questions, first read the whole short passage, then immediately restate in your own words what the author is arguing should be believed or done. Pay special attention to the final sentence, which often contains the main claim, and to transition phrases like "On this basis" or "therefore" that signal a conclusion. Then eliminate answer choices that (1) contradict clear facts in the passage, (2) focus only on a minor detail, or (3) introduce new ideas or motives not mentioned; finally, choose the option that best paraphrases the author’s overall argument, not just the supporting evidence.
Hints
Find where the author states their argument
Look closely at the last sentence, which begins with "On this basis, Chen argues that..." That is where Chen directly states what she wants labor historians to change or focus on.
Separate evidence from conclusion
The first part of the passage describes what Chen finds in the diaries. The last sentence explains what she thinks historians should do because of those findings. Focus on that conclusion when choosing the central claim.
Check for contradictions and extra ideas
Ask yourself: Do the diaries mention leisure more or less than workplace complaints? Does Chen ever say diaries are unreliable, or discuss factory owners' motives? Eliminate any answer that contradicts these basic facts or adds new ideas not in the passage.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the question is asking
The question asks for the central claim of the passage. That means you need the author's main argument or main point, not just a detail or an example.
So you should ask: What is Chen ultimately arguing for, based on the diary evidence?
Locate the author’s main argument in the passage
In short passages like this, the central claim is often in the last sentence. Reread:
"On this basis, Chen argues that labor history should widen its lens beyond strikes and wage disputes to include the recreational lives of workers."
This sentence tells you exactly what Chen wants historians to do differently: not focus only on strikes and wage disputes, but also include workers’ recreational lives.
Connect the argument to the supporting evidence
Look at the evidence given in the first two sentences:
- Chen analyzed over 200 diaries.
- Entries about concerts, cricket matches, and festivals far outnumbered notes about grievances like low pay or long hours.
This shows that leisure activities took up a large part of workers’ attention and experiences. On this basis (because of this evidence), she argues that labor history should pay attention to workers’ leisure too.
Match the central claim to the best answer choice
Now compare your understanding of the central claim with each option:
- Eliminate choices that say the opposite of the passage’s facts.
- Eliminate choices that introduce ideas not mentioned (like diaries being unreliable or owners’ motives).
- Keep the one that says historians should pay more attention to workers’ leisure because the diaries show leisure was a major part of workers’ lives.
The choice that does this is: "Chen argues that labor history should include workers’ leisure because the diaries emphasize recreation."