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Difficulty: MediumIdentification of Main Idea and Supporting Details

Read the passage below carefully:

Over the past decade, Kenya has aggressively expanded its geothermal energy capacity along the Great Rift Valley to shift away from climate-vulnerable hydroelectricity. By tapping into the immense subterranean thermal energy beneath the valley floor, the nation now generates over forty percent of its grid electricity from renewable geothermal sources, drastically reducing carbon emissions and lowering power generation costs. Although the initial capital outlay for exploratory drilling remains exceedingly high and poses a financial risk for investors, geothermal power offers a stable baseload supply unaffected by erratic rainfall patterns. Furthermore, the localized industrial parks established near geothermal wells utilize direct steam heat for food processing and flower drying, boosting local employment. Ultimately, geothermal energy infrastructure serves as the cornerstone of Kenya's strategic transition toward economic self-reliance and sustainable green industrialization.

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

  1. Geothermal energy development serves as the foundational driver of Kenya's transition toward sustainable green industrialization and energy security.Answer
  2. B
    Direct steam heat from geothermal wells is primarily used to power localized industrial food processing and flower drying.
  3. C
    Exploratory drilling in the Great Rift Valley has caused severe financial losses for international energy investors.
  4. D
    Kenya has completely eliminated hydroelectric power from its national electricity grid.

Answer

Geothermal energy development serves as the foundational driver of Kenya's transition toward sustainable green industrialization and energy security.
The correct answer accurately synthesizes the core message of the passage. The text details Kenya's expansion of geothermal energy along the Rift Valley, highlights its strategic benefits, and concludes by describing it as the cornerstone of Kenya's green industrialization and economic self-reliance.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage structure to separate the primary thesis from secondary arguments and supporting examples.
Identified that while the text mentions specific benefits (forty percent grid capacity, steam heat for industrial parks) and challenges (high initial capital cost), these serve as evidence leading to the main takeaway.
Main ideas synthesize the whole passage rather than focusing on a single sentence or supporting detail.
2
Examine the conclusion of the passage for explicit statements of overarching purpose.
The final sentence explicitly frames geothermal infrastructure as the cornerstone of Kenya's strategic transition toward economic self-reliance and green industrialization.
Concluding statements in analytical passages often synthesize the central argument.
3
Evaluate the options against the primary thesis statement.
The statement emphasizing geothermal energy as the foundational driver of Kenya's transition toward green industrialization accurately captures the overall scope and emphasis.
It encapsulates the full passage context without narrowing down to specific secondary details or making unsupported claims.

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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