Question 166·Easy·Central Ideas and Details
In a 2010 report, Riverbend City officials highlighted the success of their decade-long "Shade for All" program, which involved planting more than 50,000 trees along streets and in public parks. The report notes that summer temperatures in the city’s downtown had been consistently 3°F cooler than before the program began. Lower temperatures, the authors argue, translate into reduced energy use for air-conditioning and lower utility bills for residents. Although the report lists additional benefits—greater visual appeal, improved habitat for songbirds, and higher adjacent property values—the authors emphasize that the program was launched primarily to combat excessive heat in the densely built urban core.
According to the report, what was the primary goal of the "Shade for All" tree-planting program?
For questions asking about the primary goal or main purpose, first underline the words in the question that signal you need the central reason (like "primary," "main," or "according to the passage"). Then scan the passage for those same signals—especially contrast words like "although" or phrases like "primarily" or "the main purpose was." Use those sentences as your evidence, and choose the answer that paraphrases that central reason, eliminating choices that match details or extra benefits instead of the stated main goal.
Hints
Locate key words about purpose
Look for words like "primary," "primarily," or "goal" in the passage. These usually point directly to the sentence that answers this kind of question.
Separate main purpose from side benefits
Notice the sentence that lists several good outcomes—visual appeal, songbird habitat, and higher property values. Ask yourself: are these described as the reason the program was started, or as extra advantages that came along with it?
Focus on the contrast in the last sentence
In the final sentence, pay attention to the structure starting with "Although" and then "the authors emphasize." What do the authors say the program was launched to address most of all?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the question wants
The question asks for the primary goal of the "Shade for All" program, according to the report. "Primary goal" means the main reason the program was started, not just good side effects that happened later.
Find where the passage states the main reason
Scan the passage for language that signals the main purpose. Near the end, look for the words "primarily" and "emphasize" in the sentence that begins with "Although the report lists additional benefits." That sentence contrasts extra benefits with the main reason the program was launched.
Identify the main goal and match it to a choice
In that key sentence, the report says that the program "was launched primarily to combat excessive heat in the densely built urban core." Combating excessive heat means making the city cooler during hot weather, especially in summer. Among the choices, only “To lower summertime temperatures in the city” expresses this idea, so that is the correct answer.