PSAT Reading Question 264: Answer and Explanation

Question: 264

Which choice best describes a main theme of the passage?

• A. Trusting a friend may be wise, even when it goes against reason.
• B. Victory comes from hard work.
• C. Competition brings out the best in each competitor.
• D. It is best to be cautious when the outcome is uncertain.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

A

The question asks about a main theme of the passage. Since this is a general question, it should be answered after the specific questions. The passage is a story about the narrator and his friend, Hassan. The narrator states in the second paragraph, Over the years, I had seen a lot of guys run kites. But Hassan was by far the greatest kite runner I'd ever seen, and the majority of the passage gives a specific example of Hassan's expertise during a kite-fighting tournament. The narrator follows Hassan, even though it appears that Hassan is running the wrong way to catch the kite. At the end of the passage, Hassan catches the kite, which shows that the narrator was right to trust Hassan. Eliminate answers that don't match the prediction. Keep (A) as it matches the prediction. Eliminate (B) because the passage doesn't focus on hard work; it focuses on Hassan's talent and on the relationship between Hassan and the narrator. Eliminate (C) because only Hassan is successful in catching the kite; the passage does not mention the other competitors doing their best. Therefore, the passage does not focus on competition bringing out the best in each competitor. Choice (D) matches the narrator's initial uncertainty, but since Hassan is successful, the passage indicates that the narrator was right to trust Hassan, rather than to be cautious. Eliminate (D). The correct answer is (A).