Question 74·Medium·Central Ideas and Details
The following text is adapted from Henry David Thoreau’s 1854 work Walden.
Most people, it seems to me, rush through their days, laboring to acquire possessions they scarcely have time to enjoy. Seeing little sense in such pursuits, I built a modest cabin on the quiet shore of Walden Pond. There I resolved to discover how little a person truly needs in order to live contentedly.
Which choice best states the central claim of the text?
For central-claim questions, first read the entire passage or paragraph and briefly restate its main point in your own words before looking at the choices. Then eliminate answers that (1) focus on a minor detail, (2) add extreme ideas not in the text, or (3) reverse the author’s attitude. Choose the option that best captures both the author’s overall opinion and any key action or decision they describe, without adding or twisting information.
Hints
Look at the whole passage, not just one sentence
Reread the entire passage and ask: What overall point is the author making about how most people live and what he chooses to do instead?
Focus on the author’s attitude
Pay attention to phrases like "rush through their days" and "seeing little sense in such pursuits." Do these sound approving or critical of how people usually live?
Connect the problem to the author’s solution
The first part of the passage describes a problem the author sees in society. The later sentences describe what he decides to do in response. Which answer choice includes both the problem and his response?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the question is asking
The question asks for the central claim of the text, meaning the main point that unifies the whole passage (not a single detail).
Summarize the author’s criticism
In the first sentence, the author criticizes how most people "rush through their days" working to gain possessions they "scarcely have time to enjoy." This shows disapproval of a materialistic, hurried lifestyle.
Summarize the author’s response
In the next sentences, the author explains his response: he built a modest cabin at Walden Pond to discover how little a person truly needs to live contentedly—an experiment in living simply.
Choose the option that includes both parts
The best central claim must include both the critique of chasing possessions and the author’s decision to live simply to learn what is necessary. Therefore, the correct answer is: "Most people hurry to earn possessions they rarely enjoy, and the author wants to learn how little one needs by living at Walden Pond."