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Difficulty: EasyIdentification of Main Idea and Supporting Details

Read the passage below carefully and answer the question that follows.

Urban green spaces, such as public parks and tree-lined avenues, are increasingly recognized as vital infrastructure in rapidly expanding West African cities. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these natural areas play a fundamental role in mitigating the urban heat island effect by lowering ambient temperatures through shading and evapotranspiration. Additionally, urban trees absorb significant quantities of atmospheric pollutants, thereby improving air quality and reducing respiratory illnesses among city dwellers. During heavy rainfall, root systems and unpaved soil enhance water infiltration, which buffers urban communities against destructive flash floods. Despite these immense environmental and public health benefits, municipal planners frequently prioritize concrete commercial developments over green space preservation. Protecting urban ecosystems is therefore essential for sustainable city development in the region.

Which of the following statements best expresses the main idea of the passage?

  1. A
    Tree roots and unpaved soil help prevent destructive flash floods during periods of heavy rainfall.
  2. Urban green spaces provide vital environmental and public health benefits essential for sustainable city development.Answer
  3. C
    Commercial concrete developments should be completely banned across all West African municipalities.
  4. D
    Municipal planners currently prioritize environmental protection over commercial building projects.

Answer

Urban green spaces provide vital environmental and public health benefits essential for sustainable city development.
The correct answer captures the central thesis of the passage, which argues that urban green spaces are vital infrastructure offering environmental and health advantages necessary for sustainable urban development.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage structure to distinguish between specific examples and the central argument.
The text provides specific examples of benefits (cooling, air filtering, flood mitigation) to demonstrate why urban trees are important.
Identifying individual facts helps separate supporting evidence from the overall message.
2
Examine the concluding sentence to locate the main thesis.
The author concludes that protecting urban ecosystems is essential for sustainable city development.
The conclusion brings together the main evidence to restate the primary message of the text.
3
Match the synthesized thesis with the corresponding choice.
The statement highlighting the environmental and public health importance of green spaces for sustainable growth reflects the main idea.
The main idea must cover the whole text rather than focusing on a single supporting detail or an unsupported conclusion.

Key Concept

Identification of Main Idea and Supporting Details
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Topics

Identification of Main Idea and Supporting Details

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