Read the passage below carefully:
For centuries, traditional pottery makers in Kwara State, Nigeria, have relied on a distinct natural glazing method to enhance the durability of their earthenware. After shaping local clay into water pots and storage vessels, artisans fire the items in open-air kilns fueled by palm fronds. Immediately after firing, while the pots are still red-hot, they are submerged into a concentrated liquid extract made from boiled locust bean pods. The intense heat causes the organic tannins in the pod liquid to instantly bind with the porous clay surface, creating a dark, glossy, and water-resistant sealant. While modern synthetic coatings are widely available today, local potters continue this heritage technique because it remains environmentally harmless, highly economical, and deeply tied to community identity. Ultimately, the survival of Kwara pottery relies on preserving this organic glazing technique, which seamlessly merges indigenous chemistry with functional craft.
Which of the following statements best expresses the main idea of the passage?
- The traditional locust bean pod glazing technique remains essential to Kwara pottery because of its ecological, economic, and cultural significance.Answer
- BOrganic tannins from boiled locust bean pods react with red-hot clay surfaces to form a water-resistant sealant.
- CModern synthetic coatings have completely replaced indigenous earthenware glazing techniques across Nigerian communities.
- DArtisans fire their earthenware inside airtight electrical kilns to prevent palm fronds from burning too rapidly.