Question

Which of the following statements best describes the central theme of the text?

The text is On Reverence for Parents by Zhao Ban
A. Children owe their parents their devotion because of the great effort required to bear and raise a child.
B. Someone who treats his or her parents well is more likely to be a respectable and morally upright person.
C.Unmarried girls should devote themselves to painstakingly caring for their parents and demonstrating great respect for them.
D. Girls should take care to choose their spouses carefully to ensure that they will maintain a good relationship with their parents.

Answer 1

C. Unmarried girls should devote themselves to painstakingly caring for their parents and demonstrating great respect for them.

Step-by-step explanation:

Zhao Ban's poem "On Reverence for Parents" is an extensive expression of how unmarried women must take care of their parents. The poem 'lists' the ways unmarried girls must take care of their parents to be honorable to their ancestors.

In the poem, the speaker begins by saying "Girls not yet gone out from their homes" should take good care to be of servitude to their parents. She details how they must be of 'use' to their parents and help them navigate their lives. This, according to the speaker, is how "[they] can honor [their] ancestors."

Thus, the correct answer is option C.