Question

mary’s flag
betsy ross is recognized as having sewn the first american flag. but there is another famous american flag maker whose work is also honored in the united states. mary young pickersgill was born on february 12, 1776. her parents were william and rebecca young of philadelphia, pennsylvania. she was the youngest of their five children. as the british were advancing in september 1777, during the revolutionary war, mary’s family was forced to leave their home. she was 18 months old when her family moved to lebanon, pennsylvania, with all their household goods.
mary’s uncle helped her family find a place to live in philadelphia. soon after moving, rebecca young, mary’s mother, advertised her flag - making business in the philadelphia newspapers. during the revolutionary war, she was the only person to advertise as a flag maker. she had made the flag that flew over george washington’s headquarters on january 1, 1776. she was able to support her family with this occupation.
at the age of 19, mary married john pickersgill in baltimore on october 2, 1795. john, a u.s. government employee, traveled to...
what is the main idea of this passage?
○ mary pickersgill made the flag that flew over george washington’s headquarters.
○ during the war, mary pickersgill supported her family by making flags.
○ mary pickersgill made an important contribution to history.
○ during the war, mary pickersgill’s mother was the only person to advertise as a flag maker.

Explanation:

To determine the main idea, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: Focuses only on a specific flag she made, not the main idea of her overall contribution.
• Option 2: Talks about supporting her family, but the passage emphasizes her historical contribution as a flag - maker.
• Option 3: Correctly captures that Mary Pickersgill (the passage's subject) made an important contribution to history (specifically in flag - making during the Revolutionary War).
• Option 4: Incorrectly attributes the flag - making advertisement to her mother, while the passage says her mother advertised the flag - making business.

Answer:

B. Mary Pickersgill made an important contribution to history.