Question

"It wasn't long before John came upon the 150th Pennsylvania Infantry. They were moving quickly toward the battlefront when John offered his services to Major Thomas Chamberlain, the first officer he saw. Although the major eyed him doubtfully, he directed John toward his commander, Colonel Langhorne Wister. As John made his way to the man in charge, many of the privates laughed at the old man's getup: yellow vest, brass-buttoned blue coat, and silk hat. Even though the air was thick with tension over the coming fight, the men could not take John seriously. However, the soldiers would soon learn that the man who wore the unusual outfit was someone to respect, Which best retells the central idea of this excerpt?

A. John Bums wore old-fashioned clothing, but his fellow soldiers learned that he was still strongly devoted to the Union.
B. John Burns was not permitted to join the Union army because commanders did not understand his outfit
C. John Bums was silly looking, and he was therefore unable to help the Union army at Gettysburg.
D. John Burns wore an old-fashioned uniform, and the other soldiers were jealous of his attire. "

Answer 1

The central idea is that despite John Burns' old-fashioned clothing, his fellow soldiers recognized his dedication to the Union, corresponding to option A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The central idea of this excerpt is that John Burns, despite his old-fashioned clothing and the initial mockery he faced, was soon to be respected by his fellow soldiers for his commitment to the Union cause. This aligns with option A, which states that John Burns wore old-fashioned clothing, but his fellow soldiers learned that he was still strongly devoted to the Union.

This excerpt illustrates the importance of not judging individuals solely based on their appearance, a recurring theme in military history where uniforms have often been a symbol of discipline and unity. However, the respect and recognition of a soldier's value come from their actions and dedication, as opposed to their attire.