Question

read the passage.
the roman empire left a lasting mark on the modern world. the romans spoke latin, which influenced many modern languages, including english. they were also great builders who developed many building styles still used today. modern sports stadiums, for example, share many similarities with the famous roman colosseum. the romans also developed a system of government that influenced many later countries. in fact, the united states senate is partly modeled after the roman senate. in addition, artists around the world have created statues and paintings based on the work of early roman artists. the ancient empire is really all around us.
what is the main, or central, idea of the passage?
a. the roman empire had a strong influence on modern culture.
b. the roman empire was shaped by many of the cultures it conquered.
c. the roman senate was partly based on the united states senate.
d. the romans were the first people to build sports stadiums.

Explanation:

The passage details how the Roman Empire impacted modern languages, architecture, government, and even modern art, all of which are parts of Western culture. The other options are either incorrect (the US Senate was modeled after Rome, not the reverse; the passage doesn't say Rome was shaped by conquered cultures; it doesn't claim Romans were the first to build arches) or only cover a small part of the passage, while the first option captures the overarching theme.

Answer:

The Roman Empire had a strong influence on Western culture.