Question

Difficulty: EasyIdentification of Main Idea and Supporting Details

Read the short passage below carefully:

Urban rooftop farming has gained significant momentum in modern cities as an innovative approach to sustainable urban development. By utilizing underused spaces on building roofs, city dwellers can cultivate fresh vegetables, reducing reliance on long-distance food transportation and lowering carbon emissions. Additionally, these green roofs help absorb rainwater, mitigating urban flooding during heavy downpours. Although installing rooftop gardens requires initial capital investment for structural reinforcement, the long-term benefits make rooftop farming an essential strategy for green cities.

Match each statement from the passage on the left with its correct structural role in the text on the right.

  • Rooftop farming is an essential strategy for sustainable green cities.Central Main Idea / Primary Thesis
  • Growing vegetables on roofs reduces food transportation distance and emissions.Supporting Detail: Environmental/Emissions Benefit
  • Green roofs absorb rainwater to reduce urban flooding during heavy downpours.Supporting Detail: Infrastructure/Flood Control Benefit
  • Installing rooftop gardens requires initial capital for structural reinforcement.Supporting Detail: Financial/Structural Constraint

Answer

The main thesis stating that rooftop farming is essential for sustainable cities corresponds to the Central Main Idea. The reductions in emissions, flood mitigation, and initial structural costs serve as specific supporting details illustrating environmental benefits, infrastructure benefits, and financial constraints respectively.
The statement expressing that rooftop farming is an essential strategy for green cities functions as the central thesis because it encompasses the overall purpose of the passage. The statements regarding carbon emission reduction, rainwater absorption, and capital costs serve as supporting details that illustrate environmental, infrastructure, and financial dimensions of that central thesis.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the overarching claim of the passage
Recognize that the author's primary argument focuses on rooftop farming being an essential strategy for sustainable urban development.
The main idea encapsulates the entire argument, whereas evidence points support specific aspects of it.
2
Analyze each supporting statement's function
Categorize food transport emission reduction under environmental benefits, rainwater absorption under flood control benefits, and structural reinforcement costs under financial constraints.
Supporting details provide concrete examples, facts, or concessions that bolster or contextualize the main argument.
3
Match left statements with right descriptions
Pair each textual statement directly to its corresponding functional classification.
Ensures accurate distinction between central claims and specific evidence.

Key Concept

Distinguishing between the central thesis of a passage and its supporting evidence
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