Question

read the passage. the stinky durian fruit the durian is an asian fruit that is known for its incredible stench. food writer richard sterling describes its odor as \turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock.\ in 2012, a group of scientists analyzed an extract taken from thai durians to determine what causes the fruit to smell so bad. the researchers identified fifty different compounds, including some that are found in a variety of other substances and others that had never been identified before. individually, these chemicals have their own characteristic smells, such as onion, garlic, cheese, honey, yeast, metal, rubber, and skunk. no wonder the durian has such a unique, disgusting stink! what is the main, or central, idea of the passage? scientists analyzed a sample taken from thai durians to find out why the fruit has such a powerful odor. scientists found that a combination of different chemicals is responsible for the durians powerful odor. scientists identified some chemicals in durians that had never been found anywhere else.

Explanation:

The passage first mentions the durian's stench, then details a scientific analysis. It concludes that a combination of different chemicals causes the strong odor. The first option only focuses on the analysis process, and the third option only highlights the discovery of new - found chemicals. The main idea is about what causes the odor, which is best captured by the second option.

Answer:

Scientists found that a combination of different chemicals is responsible for the durian's powerful odor.