Question

the characteristics of a hurricane are powerful winds, driving rain, and raging seas. although a storm must have winds blowing at least 74 miles an hour to be classified as a hurricane, it is not unusual to have winds above one hundred and fifty miles per hour in a major hurricane. the entire storm system can be five hundred miles in diameter, with lines of clouds that spiral toward a center called the \eye.\ within the eye itself, which is about 15 miles across, the air is actually calm and cloudless. but this eye is enclosed by a towering wall of thick clouds where the storms heaviest rains and highest winds are found. what is the central idea presented in this paragraph?
a. the eye of a hurricane is about 15 miles across
b. hurricanes have winds of at least 74 miles an hour
c. hurricanes are more destructive than tornadoes
d. hurricanes have very dangerous characteristics

Explanation:

The paragraph describes the characteristics of a hurricane, including its wind speed, structure (eye, eye wall), and destructive nature. Option A is incorrect as the eye is about 15 miles across. Option B is incorrect as the wind speed for classification is at least 74 miles per hour, not the wind speed within the hurricane. Option C is incorrect as there is no comparison with tornadoes in the paragraph. Option D is correct as the overall description implies hurricanes have dangerous characteristics (powerful winds, driving rain, raging seas etc.).

Answer:

D. Hurricanes have very dangerous characteristics