Question

text 1
the famous british street artist banksy burst onto the graffiti scene in the 1990s with a unique combination of serious and humorous imagery. his graffiti art often has powerful political and social messages, usually anti - war and anti - establishment. but banksy also uses humor; he once climbed into the penguin enclosure in the london zoo and wrote, \were bored of fish,\ in seven - foot - high letters.
text 2
although banksy began his career as a graffiti artist, tagging buildings and street signs, he once pulled off what has been called the biggest prank in art history. one of his paintings, girl with balloon, sold for over one million british pounds in 2018. as soon as it was sold, though, it began to pass through a shredder secretly installed in its frame. the shredder destroyed half of the painting and left observers dumbfounded. banksy later said that the entire painting was supposed to be destroyed.
which sentence best combines the main, or central, ideas of both texts?
the artist banksy is widely known for producing humorous political artwork on the sides of office buildings and art galleries.
known both as a serious activist and a humorous prankster, the graffiti artist banksy once created a valuable painting that began shredding itself as soon as it was sold.
the banksy painting girl with balloon was sold for over one million british pounds in 2018, but then it passed through a shredder in its frame, completely destroying itself.

Explanation:

• Analyze Text 1: Banksy is a street artist with serious (political/social messages) and humorous imagery, e.g., zoo prank.
• Analyze Text 2: Banksy, a graffiti artist, pulled off a big art prank with "Girl with Balloon" shredding after sale.
• Evaluate options:
• First option: Focuses on office buildings/galleries, ignores Text 2's prank. Incorrect.
• Second option: Combines his serious (activist) and humorous (prankster) aspects, plus the "Girl with Balloon" prank. Matches both texts.
• Third option: Only about "Girl with Balloon", ignores Text 1's general art style. Incorrect.

Answer:

B. Known both as a serious activist and a humorous prankster, the graffiti artist Banksy once created a valuable painting that began shredding itself as soon as it was sold.