Question 58·Easy·Central Ideas and Details
The following text is adapted from Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alice has just discovered a tiny bottle on a glass table.
Alice turned the bottle over in her hands and studied the neat paper label that read in large, bright letters “DRINK ME.” She was very curious, but she did not wish to be careless. “Some bottles,” she reminded herself, “contain bitter medicine, and others hold things much worse.” She examined the lid, sniffed the contents, and searched all around for a warning such as “POISON.” Finding none, she smiled, thinking, “If the writers wanted to keep me safe, surely they would have said so.” Even so, she decided to take only a tiny sip first, to be certain.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
For main-idea questions, first quickly paraphrase the passage in 1–2 simple sentences, focusing on what the character consistently does or feels from start to finish. Then test each answer by asking, “Does this describe the whole passage, without adding or contradicting anything?” Eliminate choices that focus on one small detail, add new information not in the text, or directly conflict with what is described, and select the one that best matches your summary.
Hints
Focus on what Alice does, step by step
Underline or note each action Alice takes after she discovers the bottle. What does she do before she drinks anything?
Pay attention to her attitude
Look for words that show how she feels about the bottle—does she seem reckless, scared, cautious, uninterested, or something else?
Match the overall pattern, not one word
Think about the whole sequence of the paragraph and ask: which answer choice describes that full pattern of behavior, from finding the bottle through taking a sip?
Step-by-step Explanation
Restate what the question is asking
The question asks for the main idea of the text—what the whole paragraph is mostly about, not a small detail. You need the answer choice that best sums up Alice’s overall behavior and attitude toward the bottle.
Summarize the passage in your own words
Briefly put the passage into your own words: Alice finds a bottle labeled “DRINK ME.” She is curious, but she does not want to be careless. She thinks about how bottles can contain medicine or worse things, checks the lid, smells the contents, looks for a “POISON” label, and, even after finding no warning, she only takes a tiny sip to test it.
Identify the key pattern in Alice’s behavior
Notice the repeated actions: she turns the bottle over, studies the label, reminds herself of dangers, examines, sniffs, searches for warnings, and finally takes only a tiny sip first. This pattern shows both her interest in the bottle and her desire to avoid danger.
Compare each answer choice to the passage
Now match that pattern to the choices:
- One choice says she acts instantly and without thought.
- One says she cannot read the label and ignores the bottle.
- One says she will not drink any liquids in Wonderland.
- One says she thinks about safety and acts with caution.
Only the third description matches the careful checking and testing shown in the passage, so the correct answer is C) Alice carefully considers whether it is safe to drink from the bottle.