Question

Difficulty: MediumIdentification of Main Idea and Supporting Details

Read the passage below carefully:

In Kigali, Rwanda, architectural firms are increasingly turning to locally harvested bamboo as a primary structural material to mitigate the environmental footprint of rapid urban expansion. While conventional concrete production contributes significantly to carbon emissions and relies heavily on costly imported raw materials, engineered bamboo offers a carbon-negative alternative with high tensile strength. Beyond its ecological benefits, bamboo construction supports local rural supply chains by generating reliable income for farmers in hilly provinces where bamboo cultivation prevents soil erosion. However, urban planners note that widespread adoption still faces regulatory hurdles, as current building codes prioritize steel and concrete. To overcome this, environmental advocacy groups and research institutes are lobbying for updated building standards that recognize bamboo's structural integrity. Ultimately, integrating bamboo into urban development represents a transformative shift toward sustainable, climate-resilient African architecture.

Statement: The main idea of the passage is that bamboo construction in Kigali primarily serves to provide economic income for rural farming communities in Rwanda.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False. The statement misidentifies a supporting detail regarding rural income generation as the primary argument of the passage.
The statement is false because generating income for rural farmers is presented as a secondary supporting point rather than the main focus of the passage. The central thesis asserts that bamboo construction represents a transformative shift toward sustainable, eco-friendly urban development.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage to establish the overall argument.
The passage opens and closes by emphasizing bamboo's role in mitigating urban environmental footprints and creating sustainable, climate-resilient architecture.
Identifying the overarching argument is necessary to evaluate statements about the main idea.
2
Locate the reference to rural farmers' income within the passage structure.
Rural income generation is introduced in the third sentence as a supplementary benefit ('Beyond its ecological benefits...').
Determining the structural placement of a claim reveals whether it is a core thesis or supporting evidence.
3
Compare the statement with the identified main idea.
The statement claims that rural income is the primary focus, which confuses supporting evidence with the central thesis.
Misinterpreting a supporting detail as the main idea makes the statement false.

Key Concept

Distinguishing Main Idea from Supporting Details
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