Question

Highlight key words in the passage that lead you to understand the central idea of the passage. to speak truly, few adult persons can see nature. most persons do not see the sun. at least they have a very superficial seeing. the sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child. — nature, ralph waldo emerson

Answer 1

The key words in the passage that lead to understanding the central idea are 'few adult persons can see nature' and 'the sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child.' The central idea of the passage is that most adults have a superficial understanding of nature, while children have a deeper connection and appreciation for it.

Step-by-step explanation:

The key words in the passage that lead to understanding the central idea are:

• few adult persons can see nature: This suggests that most adults lack the ability to truly see and appreciate nature.
• the sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child: This highlights the difference in perception between adults and children when it comes to experiencing nature.

Overall, the central idea of the passage, written by Ralph Waldo Emerson, is that most adults have a superficial understanding of nature, while children have a deeper connection and appreciation for it.

Answer 2

The passage from Emerson's 'Nature' highlights the contrast in perception of nature between adults and children, indicating that children have a deeper, heartfelt connection to nature.

Step-by-step explanation:

The central idea of the passage from Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay Nature is the notion that adults and children perceive nature differently.

The key words that lead to this understanding are 'few adult persons can see', suggesting that adults have lost the ability to truly perceive the natural world, and 'the sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child', emphasizing that children have a deeper, more heartfelt connection to nature.

Emerson contrasts a superficial worldly perception with the profound, intuitive insight of a child, arguing for a return to a more innocent and pure way of experiencing the world.