Question 65·Medium·Central Ideas and Details
Although often overshadowed by more celebrated members of the Harvard College Observatory, Scottish-born astronomer Williamina Fleming made lasting contributions to the field. Hired initially as a maid, Fleming rose to supervise the group of women known as "computers" who analyzed photographic plates of the night sky. Over the course of her career, she cataloged more than 10,000 stars, developed a system for classifying stellar spectra, and discovered the Horsehead Nebula. Her meticulous work ultimately laid the foundation for the Henry Draper Catalogue, a reference still consulted by astronomers today.
Which choice best states the central idea of the passage?
For central idea questions, first read the whole passage, then quickly restate its main point in your own words in 5–10 seconds. Check the first and last sentences, since they often frame that main point. Eliminate choices that focus on just one detail, add information not in the passage (like conflicts or rankings), or exaggerate one example as “the most” important. Finally, pick the option that best matches your own summary of what the entire passage is mostly about, not just what is mentioned somewhere in it.
Hints
Start and end of the passage
Look carefully at the first and last sentences. What do they say about Fleming’s importance and how her work is viewed?
Details vs. main point
Ask yourself: Is the passage mainly about one specific discovery or issue, or is it describing Fleming’s overall career and impact?
Watch for ideas not in the passage
Check whether any answer choices introduce conflict, debate, or rankings (like “most” important) that the passage never mentions.
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify what the question is asking
The question asks for the central idea of the passage. That means you need the answer that sums up what the entire passage is mainly about, not just one detail or example. Keep in mind that strong central-idea answers usually reflect ideas found in both the beginning and the end of the passage.
Look at the beginning and end of the passage
Read the first and last sentences closely:
- First sentence: Fleming was "often overshadowed" but "made lasting contributions" to astronomy.
- Last sentence: Her work "laid the foundation" for an important catalogue that is "still consulted" today.
Together, these show that the author sees Fleming as very important to astronomy, with work that still matters, even though she did not get much recognition.
Check what the middle details are doing
The middle sentences tell us that she:
- Started as a maid and rose to supervise other women "computers"
- Cataloged more than 10,000 stars
- Developed a system for classifying stellar spectra
- Discovered the Horsehead Nebula
These are all examples supporting the idea that she made major contributions. They add evidence, but none of them alone is the main point; instead, they build up the bigger idea about her overall impact.
Match that overall idea to the best answer choice
Now compare the choices to the overall message: Fleming’s career is described as full of careful, innovative work that had lasting impact, yet she was "often overshadowed." Only the choice that says Fleming's diligent work and innovations made her a pivotal yet underrecognized figure in astronomical research captures both her importance and the fact that she did not receive as much recognition as others, so that is the best statement of the central idea.