A Step Back in Time

Question

Elizabeth Mohn

1France is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and I discovered a few of the reasons why so many people visit the country during a recent excursion. While in France, I visited numerous world-famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Élysées. While these sights were breathtaking, they did not capture the top spot in my list of favorite attractions. Instead, the place I found the most enchanting was a mansion called La Grand Maison.

2While pedaling through France's idyllic side streets on my bicycle one day, I overheard a radio advertisement spoken in English. Although I've been working on French language skills, I was still elated to hear something in English:

3Come to La Grand Maison and take a step back in time. This extraordinary home, which was nearly demolished, has been closed to outsiders for one hundred years. During that time, none of the original artifacts—not a single valuable painting or priceless sculpture—were removed or altered. This gargantuan building is thirty thousand square feet, and its historical details allow visitors to travel back to the late 1800s, when the building was first constructed.

4That was all I needed to hear, which was good because as I pedaled on, I could no longer hear the grainy voice on the radio. To begin my journey, I stopped a local café, ate breakfast, and got directions to the mansion. Once I pedaled up to the building, I realized the radio announcer had not been exaggerating the building's enormity. La Grand Maison is one of the most impressive buildings I have ever seen.

5The most extraordinary aspect of the mansion was that it was preserved for more one hundred years in perfect condition. It originally belonged to a French nobleman who adored French culture and history. Upon his death, the nobleman gave his mansion to the town. However, the donation had one stipulation: the mansion had to be turned into a museum, or a musée as the French call it, after one hundred years.

6Therefore, last year the town held a fundraiser to collect funds to restore the mansion's roof, landscaping, and outbuildings. Their efforts paid off, and now the grounds look as they did at the turn of the twentieth century.

7The inside of the home was equally astonishing. I saw marble statues of elegant women, intricate paintings adorning the walls, and furniture covered in fabric that looked as though it had been spun from the highest quality gold. Touring La Grand Maison was the opportunity of a lifetime—it really was as though I taken a step back in time.
Question
Which BEST represents a central idea of the passage?
Responses
A Sometimes the most impressive memories one makes are unexpected ones.Sometimes the most impressive memories one makes are unexpected ones.
B Riding a bicycle is great exercise if you ride far enough in a foreign land.Riding a bicycle is great exercise if you ride far enough in a foreign land.
C France's history is a long and complicated one, with numerous highs and lows.France's history is a long and complicated one, with numerous highs and lows.
D None of these represent a central idea of the passage about a young person's experiences in France.

Answer 1

A. Sometimes the most impressive memories one makes are unexpected ones.

This option aligns with the central idea of the passage, as the author describes a seemingly ordinary bicycle trip leading to an unexpected and enchanting experience at La Grand Maison, which became their favorite attraction.