Question

mirrors. others were working from photographs. alla glanced at the incomplete sketches, feeling like a cat in a dog show.
the teacher came up to alla’s easel and sat next to her.
\every portrait begins with a circle,\ he said. \then you create a series of lines.\
to demonstrate, he drew a group of small, quick portraits. he began each one with a circle, some straight lines, and a triangle to determine where the eyes, nose, and chin should go. alla had never thought about it, but the features of everyone’s face were in the same spots.
hesitantly, alla began her own self - portrait. she drew the basic form of a head, the way process took patience and precision. she used lines to plot the features of her face. the measurement could throw off the whole portrait.
alla was surprised by the structure and discipline involved in drawing a portrait. measuring, studying details, revealing the basic nature of something—it reminded her of what she loved about science.
which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?
don’t assume you won’t like something until you try it.
it’s important to know what your strengths are.
keep trying even if you fail the first time.

Explanation:

The story is about Alla learning to draw a portrait and discovering she loves the scientific - like measurement and detail - oriented process of it. The options given (even though not fully visible, from the context of the story's theme) likely relate to the idea of not assuming you won't like something until you try it, or knowing your strengths, or the process of discovering a new interest through trying. Since the question is about the main theme/lesson, and the options include "Don't assume you won't like something until you try it", "It's important to know what your strengths are", "Keep trying even if you fail the first time". From the story, Alla was hesitant but tried portrait drawing and discovered she loved the scientific - like process of it, so the theme of not assuming you won't like something until you try it fits as she tried drawing (a new activity) and found she loved the scientific aspect of it.

Answer:

Don't assume you won't like something until you try it.