Section: Reasoning Through Language Arts A

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Which is the most valid conclusion regarding the theme of the passage?

1. It is a minor feature of the passage.
2. It is not related to the plot.
3. It is related to the topic sentence.
4. It is stated, rather than implied.
5. It is implied, but not stated.

Nowhere is any theme (the essential subject) of the incident stated. The theme—that people, through actions based on rumor and fear, bring about their own destruction—is left to the reader to deduce from the evidence presented by the author.