Question

There are very few groups of people today who do not have contact with the outside world. The Sentinelese people on North Sentinel Island are one of these rare groups. North Sentinel Island is located in the Andaman Island chain in the Bay of Bengal, west of Thailand. North Sentinel Island is surrounded by coral reefs, which act as a natural barrier. For centuries, these reefs have discouraged explorers from landing on the island.
The government of India has claimed ownership of North Sentinel Island. In the 1970s, Indian government officials attempted to visit the island. The Sentinelese people were not happy. The Indian government decided to protect the Sentinelese people. In the 1990s, the government passed laws to forbid people from visiting North Sentinel Island. These laws also prohibit people from trying to communicate with the Sentinelese people.
The Indian government is right to leave the Sentinelese people alone. Exposing the Sentinelese to the outside world could cause them to lose their traditional way of life. The Sentinelese people have lived without modern conveniences for centuries. They have managed to survive just fine without the machines and technology of the modern world.
The influence from outsiders could potentially change the Sentinelese way of life and they may not want that. The Sentinelese people have survived on North Sentinel Island without the assistance of the outside world. Any interference from foreigners would change their world permanently. They have made it clear that they want to be left alone. So why don't we do them that kindness?

2
Select ALL the correct answers.
Which two statements best describe the author's purpose for writing the passage?
to provide reasons why native cultures should be protected from outside influences
to emphasize the importance of maintaining a civil relationship with people who share land
to encourage other countries to preserve and protect remote areas from modernization
to highlight the fear felt by the Sentinelese should they be exposed to the outside world
to support the Indian government's current policy that prohibits trespassing on Sentinelese lands

Answer 1

- to provide reasons why native cultures should be protected from outside influences
- to support the Indian government's current policy that prohibits trespassing on Sentinelese lands

Both choices reflect the passage’s main points: it argues for protecting the Sentinelese way of life from outside influence and defends India’s no-contact/no-visit laws.