Question

which sentence states a central idea of the article?
a the first attempts at settling alaska were met with great danger and difficulty.
b the russians had to work closely with the natives in order to form american alaska.
c peter the great was responsible for the expansion to russian territory
d the bering strait is named after vitus bering, who was born in denmark, not russia

Explanation:

To determine the central idea, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Discusses the challenges of early Alaska settlement, which is a broad theme fitting a central idea.
• Option B: The claim about Russians working with natives to form American Alaska is historically inaccurate (Alaska was purchased by the US from Russia, and native - Russian interactions were complex but not for "forming American Alaska") and too specific/narrow.
• Option C: Focusing on Peter the Great's role in Russian territory expansion is a detail, not a central idea about Alaska's settlement.
• Option D: Information about the Bering Strait's naming is a minor detail, not a central idea.

So, Option A best states a central idea about the early settlement of Alaska.

Answer:

A. The first attempts at settling Alaska were met with great danger and difficulty.