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Information and IdeasMediumMain idea about a changed unit

Information and Ideas practice question

The Romans defined the mile as a thousand paces — mille passus — with a pace being two steps, which made it about 1,480 metres. The modern mile of 1,609 metres arose in England, where the unit was stretched to fit eight furlongs, a farming measure of the length of a ploughed furrow. The name survived; the length did not.

Which choice best states the main idea of the text?

  1. A. The mile kept its Roman name while its length was changed to fit an English farming measure.Correct
  2. B. The Roman mile was longer than the modern mile.
  3. C. The Romans measured distances in furlongs.
  4. D. The modern mile contains exactly a thousand paces.

Answer: A. The mile kept its Roman name while its length was changed to fit an English farming measure.

Roman origin, English stretching, and the closing line 'the name survived; the length did not' — choice A sums it up.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. The Roman mile was longer than the modern mile.
The Roman mile was about 1,480 metres, shorter than the modern 1,609.
C. The Romans measured distances in furlongs.
Furlongs were an English farming measure, not Roman.
D. The modern mile contains exactly a thousand paces.
The thousand paces defined the ROMAN mile; the modern one was stretched.

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