Question

Read this excerpt from Wheels of Change by Sue Macy.

That said, it's hard to grasp the full extent of the bicycle's impact on Americans in the late 19th century—particularly female Americans. Imagine a population imprisoned by their very clothing; the stiff corsets, heavy skirts, and voluminous petticoats that made it difficult to take a deep breath, let alone exercise. Add to that the laws and social conventions that cemented a man's place as head of the household and holder of the purse strings. How suffocated women must have felt. And how liberated they must have been as they pedaled their wheels toward new horizons.

What is the central idea of the excerpt?

The introduction of bicycles offered women relief from their oppressive restrictions.
In the late nineteenth century, Americans could not grasp the significance of the bicycle.
Women were forced to wear restrictive clothing that made bicycle riding a challenge.
Men and women forgot societal rules about proper behavior when they rode their bicycles.

Answer 1

The first option: The introduction of bicycles offered women relief from their oppressive restrictions.

Explanation: The passage contrasts restrictive clothing and social rules that "suffocated" women with the freedom and liberation they experienced when they rode bicycles.