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Information and IdeasHardMain idea about an unintended benefit

Information and Ideas practice question

The town planted plane trees along its main road in 1890 purely for shade. A century later, air-quality sensors found that the road, despite heavy traffic, had lower levels of fine particles than any other street in the town — the leaves, it turned out, trap the dust. The Victorians had solved a problem they did not know existed.

Which choice best states the main idea of the text?

  1. A. Trees planted for shade turned out, a century later, to be cleaning the air as well.Correct
  2. B. The town's main road has the worst air in the town.
  3. C. The Victorians planted the trees to trap dust.
  4. D. The trees were removed in 1990.

Answer: A. Trees planted for shade turned out, a century later, to be cleaning the air as well.

Planted for shade; found to trap particles; a problem solved unknowingly.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. The town's main road has the worst air in the town.
The road had the lowest levels.
C. The Victorians planted the trees to trap dust.
They planted 'purely for shade'.
D. The trees were removed in 1990.
The trees are still there.

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