Final answer:
The best question to ask to determine the main idea of a passage is 'C) What is this passage about?' This question focuses on the central message of the text and is part of a broader analytical framework that may also include the author's purpose, context, and literary techniques.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the main idea of a passage, the best question to ask is C) What is this passage about? This question directs attention towards the central theme or message that the author intends to convey through their writing. It encourages a reader to look for a summary of the overarching concept rather than details such as the author's identity, publication time, or the potential audience's preferences.
While considering the main idea, one might also reflect upon other aspects to gain a deeper understanding of the text, including understanding the author's purpose, context in terms of time and place, and the specific techniques employed to express the central theme. These considerations can provide insights into why the author wrote the piece, what they aim to achieve, and how successful they are with their literary strategies.
The 'Five Ws and One H' approach – who, what, when, where, why, and how – can also be useful in exploring the text more fully. This method includes identifying the characters, plot, setting, and analyzing how these elements work together to reveal the story's themes and the author's intentions. Knowing the author and their background can inform the reader about the possible biases and aims of the piece, but it's the content and treatment of the subject matter that truly spotlight the main idea.