On March 20, 1966, the solid-gold World Cup trophy was stolen in London, just four months before England was to host the international soccer tournament. Officials began a desperate search but failed to unearth the prize. One night, when a dog named Pickles was taking his evening stroll, he sniffed a package under a car. Unwrapping the package, the dog’s owner discovered the missing World Cup! Pickles became an overnight sensation. He appeared on television and signed a contract to appear in a film, The Spy With the Cold Nose. On July 30, 1966, England beat West Germany 4–2 in the World Cup final. England’s team captain, Bobby Moore, stood on a hotel balcony and held up the trophy—and then Pickles—to thousands of cheering fans.
What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?
In 1966, Pickles became a national hero in England.
In 1966, the World Cup trophy was stolen in London, England.
In 1966, a missing trophy made a dog named Pickles famous.
The main, or central, idea of the passage is: In 1966, a missing trophy made a dog named Pickles famous.
This choice encapsulates the key events described: the theft of the World Cup trophy, Pickles discovering it, and his subsequent rise to fame as a result. While the other options mention important details, they do not fully capture the broader significance of Pickles’ story in the context of the trophy’s recovery and his fame.