SAT OwlQuestion bank / Central Ideas and Details
For centuries, people in the dry regions of western India built stepwells, deep stone structures with long flights of stairs leading down to groundwater. Because the water level rose during the rainy season and fell during the dry months, the stairs allowed people to reach the water at any time of year. Many stepwells were also decorated with carved pillars and shaded galleries, and the cool air near the water made them popular places to gather and rest.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
Stepwells in western India were used mainly for religious ceremonies held during the rainy season.
Stepwells were difficult to build because groundwater was hard to find.
Stepwells gave people year-round access to water and also served as places to gather.
Most stepwells were abandoned once the rainy season ended.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C
The text explains that the stairs let people reach water whether the water level was high or low, and that the cool, shaded stepwells were popular places to gather and rest. Choice C combines both points.
Choice A may seem reasonable because of the carved pillars, but the text never mentions religious ceremonies.
Why the other choices are wrong
- A. The text describes practical uses and gathering, not ceremonies. The carved pillars alone don't show a religious purpose.
- B. The text says nothing about how hard groundwater was to find. It explains how the stairs reached water as the level changed.
- D. The stairs let people reach water "at any time of year," which contradicts the idea that stepwells were abandoned after the rains.
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