Question

later that morning, as marco gazed out the window, something small caught his eye: a puddle in the street reflected the neon sign of a storefront. marco set up his easel by the window. after studying the puddle, noticed that the puddle captured not only the neon sign but also the steel - colored sky and a leafless tree branch. marco noted the richness of the paint colors as he mixed different grays. bright orchards and sunny beaches were a familiar challenge, but there were no sharp contrasts in the dark, watery world in that puddle. it was hard at first, but marco’s brushstrokes grew more confident as the morning wore on. soon he had developed the right techniques for creating the misty shadows and fuzzy neon light. hours passed before marco realized how immersed he was. after he had finished the scene and the paint had dried, he hung the canvas on his wall. the new painting added depth to his collection, and even more depth to his pride as an artist. which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story? stick to doing what you know. it’s good to tackle new challenges.

Explanation:

The story is about Marco, an artist, who tackles a new painting challenge (capturing the puddle's reflection with its unique visual elements like misty shadows, fuzzy neon light) and through the process, develops new techniques and gains confidence, adding depth to his work and pride. The options given (from the visible "Stick to doing what you know" vs "It's good to tackle new challenges") – the story shows Marco taking on a new, initially hard, painting task, learning new techniques, and growing, so the theme supports "It's good to tackle new challenges" as he steps out of his comfort zone (vs sticking to what he knows) and benefits from it (new skills, deeper collection, more pride).

Answer:

It's good to tackle new challenges.