Question

autobiography of an ex - colored man (chapter 1 excerpt)
james weldon johnson
i know that in writing the following pages i am divulging the great secret of my life, the secret which for some years i have guarded far more carefully than any of my earthly possessions; and it is a curious study to me to analyze the motives which prompt me to do it. i feel that i am led by the same impulse which forces the un - found - out criminal to take somebody into his confidence, although he knows that the act is likely, even almost certain, to lead to his undoing. i know that i am playing with fire, and i feel the thrill which accompanies that most fascinating pastime; and, back of it all, i think i find a sort of savage and diabolical desire to gather up all the little tragedies of my life, and turn them into a practical joke on society.
and, too, i suffer a vague feeling of unsatisfaction, of regret, of almost remorse, from which i am seeking relief, and of which i shall speak in the last paragraph of this account.
i was born in a little town of georgia a few years after the close of the civil war. i shall not mention the name of the town, because there are people still living there who could be connected with this narrative. i have only a faint recollection of the place of my birth. at times i can
which statement best represents a central idea in the passage?
a one should never begin a journey without enough money to cover expenses.
b imagination and innovation are just as important as precision and perfection.
c family is more important than any opportunity that forces you to leave them behind.
d teachers have never valued the imagination of their students.

Explanation:

The passage from The Autobiography of an Ex - Colored Man focuses on the narrator's exploration of his motives for writing, which involves a sense of thrill and a desire to analyze these motives. Option B, "Imagination and innovation are just as important as precision and perfection", aligns with the idea of the narrator's creative and analytical exploration (imagination and innovation in the act of writing, and the precision in analyzing motives). Option A is about financial preparation for a journey, which is not related. Option C is about family vs. opportunities, not relevant. Option D is about teachers and students' imagination, which is not the focus of the passage.

Answer:

B. Imagination and innovation are just as important as precision and perfection.