Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
The tale, the parable and the fable are all common and popular modes of conveying instruction - each being distinguished by its own special characteristics.
The tale is the narration of a story either founded on facts, or created solely by the imagination, and not necessarily associated with the teaching of any moral lesson. A parable is a short story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson and it comes from a Greek word meaning ‘comparison’. The fable, a short fictional story, partly agrees with, and partly differs from both of these. It will contain, like the tale, a short but real narrative; it will seek, like the parable, to convey a hidden meaning, and that not so much by the use of language, as by the skillful introduction of fictitious characters; and yet unlike both the tale or parable, it will ever keep in view, the great purpose of instruction, and will necessarily seek to inculcate some moral maxim, social duty, or general truth.
The purpose of a fable is to convey moral messages to the readers and this objective is usually achieved through animals, birds or trees that behave and speak as human beings. As the story conveyed through the fable progresses, the reader becomes appreciative of all that is pure, honourable and praiseworthy, and critical of all that is low, dishonourable and unworthy. In a fable, the reader receives advice without perceiving the presence of the adviser and it is for this reason that the advice finds greater acceptance. The true fabulist (a writer of fables) therefore, is all of these- a teacher, a corrector of morals, a commender of virtue and a censor of vice. It is in this that the fable scores a point over the tale and the parable.
Solution
To answer the "main idea" of the passage, we must skim through and especially focus on the first and the last paragraphs, and try to compare options and then choose the best fit.
Option B: Correct. "It is in this that the fable scores a point over the tale and the parable...." This is directly mentioned in the passage and it says that fable is superior to tale and parable, preceded by an explanation for the same. The other parts of the passage talk about the qualities of a fable after introducing what tales, parables and fables are. Hence, the passage builds up to the main idea of how fables are better.
Option A: Incorrect. The passage does indirectly imply that each of these formats is distinguished, creative pursuits and hence should be respected. But, it is not explicitly mentioned, and hence it cannot be the "main idea".
Option C: Incorrect. The purpose of a fable is to convey moral messages to the readers ...it is mentioned that conveying moral messages is in fact purpose of a fable and that these messages maybe hidden is not stated in the passage. Moreover, this is not the main idea of the passage. As the passage is more focused on the "qualities of the fable".
Option D: Incorrect. The main idea of the passage is not to highlight the main difference between the three modes. They are introduced to build to the fact that how fables are better. Moreover, the difference between the three is not in the portrayal of characters but in their objectives and styles.
