/What is central idea? How can you find it within a text?

I hate to be a prune on a day like today, but I wouldn't pick number 2. What does it mean and can you give an example of one? A scholar might use such terminology, but who else would?

I would pick number 1. It would have been the choice teens would have made  50 - 60 - 70 years ago. During those eras no one thought teens could do anything worthwhile.

Number 3 is mildly worth considering, but it's not very interesting. I will stick with the first one.