Question

Read the excerpt from the introductory note of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.

Abel
"Benjamin Franklin was born in Milk Street, Boston, on January 6, 1706. His father, Josiah Franklin, was a tallow
chandler (candle maker) who married twice, and of his seventeen children Benjamin was the youngest son. His
schooling ended at ten, and at twelve he was bound apprentice to his brother James, a printer, who published
the 'New England Courant.' To this journal he became a contributor, and later was for a time its nominal editor.
But the brothers quarreled, and Benjamin ran away, going first to New York, and thence to Philadelphia, where
he arrived in October, 1723."
What is a central idea of this excerpt?
O Benjamin Franklin's father was a candle maker named Josiah.
O Benjamin Franklin stopped in New York before moving to Philadelphia.
O Benjamin Franklin held different jobs for the "New England Courant."
O Benjamin Franklin was the youngest son of seventeen children.

Answer 1

Benjamin Franklin held different jobs for the "New England Courant."

Step-by-step explanation:

• Benjamin Franklin's father was a candle maker named Josiah.

This is not the central point of the excerpt, as it is only mentioned in one part, and is not explored deeply as an idea.

• Benjamin Franklin stopped in New York before moving to Philadelphia.

This is not the central point of the text as the stop in New York is only mentioned and not deeply explored.

• Benjamin Franklin held different jobs for the "New England Courant."

This is the central idea of the excerpt. The work Franklin did for "New England Courant" has been mentioned in a few sentences, and his jobs have been explained throughout the excerpt. This idea is also key to the rest of the text, Franklin’s quarreled with his family and his moving through the country, and therefore the key idea explored in this excerpt.

• Benjamin Franklin was the youngest son of seventeen children.

This is not the central idea, as the fact that Franklin was the youngest has been mentioned only once and has not been deeply explored in the rest of the text.