Part A: Which of the following best describes a central idea of the text? A. Revenge is a moral and legal crime. B. Revenge and justice are the same thing; what we call it depends on the situation. C. If the law cannot guarantee justice, then it is up to the injured party to seek reparation. D. To dwell on revenge is to dwell in the past, never moving forward, and therefore overall not worth the effort

D. To dwell on revenge is to dwell in the past, never moving forward, and therefore overall not worth the effort.

Explanation:

The given question refers to the essay Of Revenge written by Francis Bacon, an English philosopher and statesman from the 16th and 17th centuries. In his essay, he tells about his opinion on revenge. He believes that people are not supposed to take revenge on others, but turn to the law. It's up to the law to decide what punishment someone who has harmed us deserves. He states that a person who forgives and doesn't take revenge is morally superior and more likely to heal and move on.

The central idea of the text is that revenge is a thing of the past. To dwell on revenge is to dwell in the past, never moving forward, and therefore overall not worth the effort. We can make this conclusion based on the following line: That which is past is gone, and irrevocable; and wise men have enough to do with things present and to come: therefore they do but trifle with themselves, that labour in past matters.  

This is why option D is the correct one.