Question

The problem began simply enough. In the 1950s, plans to

build a canal were abandoned due to political red tape. The
half-finished canal then became a dumping ground for
garbage. Chemical waste was deposited there and buried.
Two decades later, heavy rains and shifting soil caused
some of the chemical containers to leak. The chemicals
leached into the soil and contaminated the water supply.
Within months, the area had to be evacuated.
Which statement best describes the main idea of this passage?
O
A. Careless disposal of chemicals can lead to major problems over
time
O
B. Without a fresh supply of clean water, humanity cannot survive.
O
C. Government slowdowns can lead to environmental disasters.
O
D. People should not live in close proximity to garbage dumps,


Apex

Answer 1

"Careless disposal of chemicals can lead to major problems over time" (A) best describes the main idea of this passage.

The author is trying to draw the reader's attention to the repercussions of depositing chemical waste in unstable areas. Indeed, the main idea is that the unfinished canal was a wrong place to drop dangerous waste in, because it is:

• exposed to uncontrollable weather conditions ("heavy rains and shifting soil") which directly affect the waste ("caused some of the chemical containers to leak");
• close to where the population finds its consumable resources ("the chemicals leached into the soil and contaminated the water supply").

Here, the major consequence is that "the area had to be evacuated."