What is the author's primary purpose in the coastal erosion passage?

• A. To inform readers about erosion and potential remedies.
• B. To persuade residents to abandon the town.
• C. To criticize engineers for overbuilding near shorelines.
• D. To discuss climate change skepticism.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is understanding what the author is trying to achieve. The passage centers on coastal erosion by explaining what erosion is, what causes it, and the remedies or management strategies that can lessen its impact. That focus on presenting information and options for understanding and addressing erosion signals an informative purpose. If you look for signs of persuasion, a call to abandon the town, blame on engineers, or discussion of climate-skeptic views, you won’t find them—the text isn’t advocating action, assigning blame, or debating climate science. So the best answer is that the author aims to inform readers about erosion and potential remedies.