In the Gold Rush of 1849, some one hundred thousand immigrants were lured to California by the promise of gold. Towns and businesses popped up to accommodate the growing population, but a problem remained: how to communicate across the vast reaches of the United States. Three businessmen thought they had an answer: faster mail delivery via the Pony Express, a relay system of horses and riders. The Pony Express made its first delivery on April 14, 1860. Mail from St. Joseph, Missouri, reached San Francisco in just eleven days, rather than a month or more, which was standard for mail delivery at the time. The Pony Express was a short-lived solution, however. After just eighteen months, it was replaced by a national telegraph wire.
What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?
The Pony Express was a chain of horses and riders across the country used to deliver mail.
The Pony Express allowed for faster communication in the rapidly growing United States.
On April 14, 1860, the Pony Express delivered mail from Missouri to California in just eleven days.
The main, or central, idea of the passage is: The Pony Express allowed for faster communication in the rapidly growing United States.
This statement captures the primary focus of the passage, which discusses the Pony Express as a solution to the communication challenges during the Gold Rush era, highlighting its role in improving mail delivery across the country. While the other options contain factual information, they do not encompass the broader significance of the Pony Express in terms of communication.