Refer to The Mary Celeste: An Unsolved Mystery from History for a complete version of this text.
Part A
Which statement is a main idea of The Mary Celeste: An Unsolved Mystery from History?
It is very uncommon for a crew to rebel against its captain and take over the ship.
The crew that found the Mary Celeste won the trial for the right to claim its cargo.
There are many possible explanations for why the crew of the ship disappeared.
People believe that the Mary Celeste was cursed because of her negative history.
Question 2
Part B
Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
“Salvage money is a payment from the insurers and the owners of the freight, who are—in a way—buying back the ship and cargo from those who found the derelict.”
“Mutinies, though rare, had happened as recently as 1857, on the schooner Walter M. Towgood.”
“Though lots of people have ideas—or theories—about what might have happened, no one is sure.”
“In 1868, she was sold to an American and given a new name: Mary Celeste, possibly as a superstitious way to avoid more tragedy.”
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Part A
The statement that is a main idea of The Mary Celeste: An Unsolved Mystery from History is:
There are many possible explanations for why the crew of the ship disappeared.
Part B
The detail from the text that best supports the answer to Part A is:
“Though lots of people have ideas—or theories—about what might have happened, no one is sure.”
Explanation
The mystery of the Mary Celeste revolves around the unexplained disappearance of its crew in 1872 when the ship was found adrift in the Atlantic Ocean. This central event has sparked a myriad of theories, each attempting to explain the phenomenon, which aligns perfectly with the main idea that there are many possible explanations for the crew’s disappearance.
The detail, “Though lots of people have ideas—or theories—about what might have happened, no one is sure,” encapsulates the essence of the mystery surrounding the Mary Celeste. It highlights the fact that, despite the numerous theories proposed by historians, investigators, and the public, a definitive explanation remains elusive. This ambiguity contributes to the intrigue and sustained interest in the case, as people are drawn to speculation and conjecture surrounding the incident.
Other statements, while potentially relevant to specific aspects of the story, do not capture the overarching theme of uncertainty and speculation that characterizes the mystery of the Mary Celeste. For instance, the statement about crew mutinies or the details regarding salvage rights focuses on specific historical contexts rather than the broader inquiry into the fate of the ship’s crew.
In summary, the mystery of the Mary Celeste endures largely because it invites multiple interpretations and explanations, thereby making it an engaging subject for analysis and discussion in history, maritime lore, and popular culture. The absence of a definitive answer serves to perpetuate interest and speculation surrounding this historical enigma.