Belize is the less populated country in Central America with approximately 321,000 people. The population grow each year at a rate of about 2.05 percent. Belize, who was known as British Honduras, was a British colony from 1862 to 1981 when it assumed its independence. The county is divided in six districts and many of the citizens live in the district’s main town. Although many Belizeans find work abroad and send money home to their families because wages are low.
The country of Belize’s economy is fueled greatly by foreign aid because it is based on an agrarian economy. Around 10 percent of the labor force work in agricultural production. Unemployment is considered to be a problem even though inflation is considerably low. Belize grows four main crops: cacao, sugar, bananas and citrus fruits. Main cash crop for Belize was sugar, but in recent years, citrus fruits have become the leading source of crop income. Timber was a valuable source of income until the amount of accessible timber began to decline.
In Belize tourism has become one of the fastest growing sources of employment and income. Thousand of new visitors come to the country each year. Many factors, including the climate, fishing, the Mayan’s ruins, and the world’s second longest barrier reef support the growth of tourism. Building infrastructure and developing oil reserves is becoming increasingly important to the economy. Another important source of income is the influx of money from the Belizeans that work abroad.
What is the main idea of this passage?
Explanation
Answer [B]: The main idea of this passage is that Belize is a small Central American country that supports itself with agriculture, tourism, and developing oil reserves. While it is true that Belize is poor and many citizens leave to work in other nations, the country is supported by a combination of foreign aid, agriculture, tourism, and oil reserves are that just beginning to be developed. Unemployment is high in the nation, and some residents leave, but that is not the main idea of the passage. That information supports the other information about the development of the economy.
