Part A

Question

Which statement is a main idea of Mesmerized?

Responses

Dr. Mesmer pretends to be mysterious to make his patients like him.
Dr. Mesmer pretends to be mysterious to make his patients like him.

Dr. Mesmer relies on patients’ imaginations to make them believe in his power.
Dr. Mesmer relies on patients’ imaginations to make them believe in his power.

Dr. Mesmer learns from Charles to do most of his work with patients.
Dr. Mesmer learns from Charles to do most of his work with patients.

Dr. Mesmer and Benjamin Franklin are very different people.
Dr. Mesmer and Benjamin Franklin are very different people.
Question 2
Part B

Which key detail from the text best supports the answer in Part A?

Responses

“Ben watched a group of patients being mesmerized by Dr. Mesmer's helper, Charles.”
“Ben watched a group of patients being mesmerized by Dr. Mesmer's helper, Charles.”

“Dr. Mesmer said this force streamed from the stars and flowed into his wand. When he stared into his patients' eyes and waved the wand, things happened."
“Dr. Mesmer said this force streamed from the stars and flowed into his wand. When he stared into his patients' eyes and waved the wand, things happened ."

“Dr. Mesmer was as different from Ben Franklin as a fancy layered torte was from a homemade apple pie.”
“Dr. Mesmer was as different from Ben Franklin as a fancy layered torte was from a homemade apple pie.”

“But soon all of Paris was abuzz about somebody new. Someone remarkable — thrilling — and definitely strange. Someone called... Dr. Mesmer.”
“But soon all of Paris was abuzz about somebody new. Someone remarkable — thrilling — and definitely strange. Someone called... Dr. Mesmer.”

Answer 1

Part A

The main idea of "Mesmerized" is:

Dr. Mesmer relies on patients’ imaginations to make them believe in his power.

Part B

The key detail from the text that best supports the answer in Part A is:

“Dr. Mesmer said this force streamed from the stars and flowed into his wand. When he stared into his patients' eyes and waved the wand, things happened.”

This detail illustrates how Dr. Mesmer uses the concept of a mystical force to engage his patients' imaginations, which supports the main idea.