Question

there seems to be no limit to what dogs will do to lend us a helping paw. our four - legged friends guard homes and businesses, assist police officers and firefighters, and even sniff out diseases that we may not know we have. now add another skill to the canine can - do list - gardening! thanks to a team of seed - spreading pooches, a park in england is sprouting new (grass and wildflowers. the dogs, however, received no special horticultural training. all they had to do was be their frisky, frolicking selves.
the park in the railway land local nature reserve, a 25 - acre (101 - hectare) stretch of protected wet woodland and grassland located in the town of lewes. the reserve is a popular spot for the townspeople, including the many dog walkers who use it daily to exercise their pets. because of all the heavy foot and paw traffic, the reserve developed large, unsightly patches of earth where wildflowers and grass once grew. so, in early 2024, reserve officials implemented a solution to refresh park grounds.
the officials recruited a small team of neighborhood dogs and fitted them with saddlebags filled with grass and wildflower seeds mixed with sand. small holes had been cut into the saddlebags for the seeds to come out gradually. the sand helped the seeds spread farther. the pooches were brought to wooded areas of the reserve that most needed new vegetation. the dog walkers then did something they normally werent permitted to do - set their dogs free.
once unleashed, the dogs pranced and roved, spreading seeds and sand in their wake. they tromped down the hard - to - get - to nooks and crannies that human walkers wouldnt have been able to reach. the sand served an important purpose after the dogs were done. reserve attendants followed the sand trails and pruned the surrounding areas so that the seeds would get plenty of sunshine.
were the dogs successful? about five months later, reserve officials reported that \many small green shoots had begun to appear on the forest floor. however, it will take some time until the plants fully grow.\
question 1
which of these sentences states the main idea of the article?
a. dogs are being used to spread seeds at the railway land local nature reserve.
b. dogs are being let off their leashes at the railway land local nature reserve.
c. dogs help people by guarding their homes and businesses.
d. dogs assist police officers and firefighters while they work.

Explanation:

The article details how dogs are used to spread seeds at the Railway Land Local Nature Reserve. It mentions the process of seed - spreading, the role of dog walkers, and the impact on the reserve's vegetation. Options B, C, and D are details rather than the main idea. Option A encompasses the overall concept of using dogs for seed - spreading at the reserve.

Answer:

A. Dogs are being used to spread seeds at the Railway Land Local Nature Reserve.