The Appalachian Trail is a hiking path in the eastern United States. Much of the 2,000 mile trail passes through wilderness
areas. In order to ______ those areas, the United States Congress passed the National Trails System Act in 1968, ensuring
that the trail would not be sold or commercially developed.
borrow
postpone
protect
decorate
Choice C is the best answer. "Protect" means "preserve" or "keep safe from." By ensuring that the wilderness areas along the
Appalachian Trail can’t be sold or developed, the National Trails System Act protects them.
Choice A is incorrect. "Borrow" means "to take something with intent to return it." The text doesn’t say anything about taking
and returning the wilderness that surrounds the Appalachian Trail. Choice B is incorrect. "Postpone" means "to put off until
later." Nothing in the passage suggests that Congress wants to "postpone" the wilderness areas (and that doesn’t make
sense anyway—they can postpone doing something to the wilderness areas, but they can’t postpone the areas themselves).
Choice D is incorrect. "Decorate" means "to adorn" or "add extra items or pictures to make more attractive." No details in the
text suggest that Congress wishes to make the trail fancier or more attractive.