Question

select the correct answer.
read paragraph 1 from the passage.
(1) after wwii, new technology led to the development of all-terrain vehicles. death valley and joshua tree were seen as playgrounds for recreation. at the same time, population exploded in the metropolitan areas of los angeles and las vegas. city dwellers wanted alternatives from overcrowdedness and rising costs. they found them in small desert outposts, where living was less expensive. the lack of regulations due to the remoteness, gave them a sense of freedom. at the time, deserts were seen as places to dump waste or test atomic bombs. there was a lack of understanding about protecting natural and cultural resources.
which detail from the paragraph best supports the passages central idea?
a. that lack of regulations in the deserts gave people a sense of freedom
b. the suggestion that overcrowdedness and rising costs forced most people out of the cities
c. that most people were only interested in californias deserts for recreation
d. that interest in californias deserts began in the 1940s

Explanation:

The passage discusses the post - WWII era when deserts like Death Valley and Joshua Tree became significant. It mentions that city dwellers from Los Angeles and Las Vegas (due to overcrowding and rising costs) moved to small desert outposts. The lack of regulations in deserts (because of their remoteness) gave them a sense of freedom. This detail ties into the overall theme of how deserts were perceived and used during that time.

• Option B: The text says “city dwellers wanted alternatives” not that most people were forced out.
• Option C: The deserts were also for living (as city dwellers moved there), not just recreation.
• Option D: The passage starts with “after WWII” (which ended in 1945), so it's not clear if interest began in the 1940s specifically.

Answer:

A. that lack of regulations in the deserts gave people a sense of freedom