Which one of the following sentences from paragraph 1 of “The Fourth of July” article is a major supporting detail? a) “At least that’s what they said to us all at graduation from eighth grade.” b) “My sister Phyllis graduated at the same time from high school.” c) “I don’t know what she was supposed to stop being.” d) “The first time I went to Washington, D.C., was on the edge of the summer when I was supposed to stop being a child.”
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is d) “The first time I went to Washington, D.C., was on the edge of the summer when I was supposed to stop being a child.”
This sentence serves as a major supporting detail because it provides a pivotal moment in the narrative, offering context for the author’s experiences and emotions. It introduces a key idea in the article — the transition from childhood to adolescence — and it sets the stage for the events that follow. The sentence explains the significance of the trip to Washington, D.C., as it marks a turning point in the author’s life, highlighting the personal growth they were about to experience. The use of the phrase “on the edge of the summer” evokes a sense of liminality, implying that the author was at a threshold between childhood and adolescence, which is a crucial emotional and developmental moment.
In contrast, the other sentences listed are not as central to the main idea of the passage:
- a) “At least that’s what they said to us all at graduation from eighth grade.” This sentence is a reflection on what others said, but it does not directly support the major theme of personal growth or the trip to Washington, D.C. It offers background information, but it does not provide a deeper insight into the author’s experience.
- b) “My sister Phyllis graduated at the same time from high school.” This sentence introduces a secondary character (the sister) but does not contribute significantly to the main theme of the article.
- c) “I don’t know what she was supposed to stop being.” This sentence presents uncertainty but is more of a personal reflection rather than a major supporting detail for the article’s central theme.
Overall, sentence d stands out because it directly connects to the author’s transition from childhood and sets the stage for the personal experiences and reflections that follow, making it a key supporting detail in the paragraph.