Question

use the paragraph to answer the question.
marcus was always boasting about his ability to play the piano. \im the best there is!\ hed insist. however, when his music teacher finally insisted that marcus take a seat on the piano bench and show off his abilities, the truth was revealed. marcus had no idea how to play the piano! the experience was so embarrassing that marcus decided to start taking lessons. in time, he actually became as good as hed told everyone he was. however, no one believed him.
which statement describes the theme of this paragraph?
(1 point)
hard work always pays great rewards.
people are not likely to trust someone who lies.
a boy does not know how to play the piano.
learning new things can be difficult.

Explanation:

The paragraph focuses on Marcus lying about his piano skills, then improving, but no one believes him. The core takeaway is the consequence of lying on trust. The first option is incorrect because his hard work did not result in a positive reward (no one believed him). The third option is just a plot detail, not a theme. The fourth option is not supported, as the text does not emphasize difficulty of learning.

Answer:

People are not likely to trust someone who lies.