Question 16

The passage is mainly discussing the Mississippi River's width.

The primary focus of the passage is on the varying widths of the Mississippi River at different points along its course, particularly contrasting its expansive width near Alton, Illinois, with its much narrower width near its source.

A) depth

This option is incorrect as the passage does not provide any information regarding the depth of the Mississippi River. It strictly discusses the widths at different locations, making depth irrelevant to the main topic.

B) length

Length is not addressed in the passage. The discussion is centered around the width of the river at specific locations rather than providing any details or comparisons regarding how long the river is.

C) width

This option is correct because the passage explicitly compares the widths of the Mississippi River at two different locations, highlighting the significant difference in width as a central theme of the text.

D) location

While the passage mentions specific locations, it does not primarily focus on the locations of the Mississippi River. Instead, it emphasizes the width of the river at these locations, making this option incorrect.

Conclusion

The correct answer is C, as the passage centers on the widths of the Mississippi River at two distinct points. The other options fail to capture the main idea presented, which is the comparison of the river's width, rather than its depth, length, or general location.