Question

read the passage.
roach robots to the rescue
when buildings collapse, it is extremely difficult to safely locate and rescue people trapped inside. victims may be wedged into small spaces, and unstable rubble could collapse on rescue workers. an alternative to human rescue workers may be robotic cockroaches. real cockroaches are protected by strong yet flexible exoskeletons. they can also flatten their bodies through tiny cracks. a robotics researcher from harvard university and a biomechanics expert from the university of california, berkeley, were inspired to create mini robots that have the same features. the roach robots can squeeze through small spaces and skitter over unstable environments. fitted with cameras and microphones, they could be used in disasters to locate victims.
what is the main, or central, idea of the passage?
inspired by the strength and quickness of cockroaches, researchers created robots with the same characteristics.
cockroach - like robots can fit through small cracks and move through unstable rubble.
it is dangerous to search inside collapsed buildings, but cockroach - like robots can go places where human searchers cant or shouldnt.

Explanation:

The passage mainly discusses cockroach - like robots. It mentions that when buildings collapse, human rescue workers face difficulties (trapped victims in small spaces, unstable rubble). Inspired by cockroaches' strength and quickness, researchers created robots with similar characteristics. These robots can fit through small cracks, move through unstable rubble, and are equipped with cameras and microphones to locate victims in disaster situations.

Answer:

Cockroach - like robots inspired by cockroaches' strength and quickness can fit through small cracks, move through unstable rubble, and are used in disasters to locate victims with cameras and microphones.