Question

which statement best describes the central idea of the passage?

a quicksand is a mixture of sand and water that is not as dangerous as people may think.

b escaping from quicksand can be a challenging ordeal that creates a large mess for its victims.

c movies often portray quicksand as something that can quickly pull a person under the surface.

d people will rise to the top of quicksand if they are able to free their feet from the sand at the bottom.

Explanation:

To find the central idea, we analyze each option:

• Option a: States quicksand (a sand - water mixture) is less dangerous than perceived. This is a broad statement about quicksand's nature and danger level, which is likely the central idea as it encompasses what quicksand is and a common misconception about it.
• Option b: Focuses on the mess of escaping quicksand, which is a minor detail, not the central idea.
• Option c: Only talks about how movies portray quicksand, which is a secondary point, not the main idea of the passage about quicksand itself.
• Option d: Describes a specific way to rise in quicksand, which is a detail about escaping, not the central idea.

Answer:

a. Quicksand is a mixture of sand and water that is not as dangerous as people may think.