Which sentence best states the theme of a passage?

• A. The sentence that expresses a universal message or insight about life.
• B. The sentence with the most adjectives.
• C. The sentence that mentions the setting.
• D. The sentence concluding the plot.

Answer: (C)

Theme is the idea about life or human nature that a story is trying to communicate. The sentence that best states the theme is the one that expresses a universal insight—something readers can apply beyond the story itself. That kind of broad, lasting message captures the central idea the author wants readers to take away. A sentence about the setting describes where and when the events happen, which provides context but doesn’t express the story’s underlying idea. A sentence that concludes the plot focuses on what happened, not the larger message those events illustrate. A sentence with many adjectives emphasizes description, not the message the work conveys.