To protect themselves when being attacked, hagfish-jawless marine animals that resemble eels-will release large quantities of slimy, mucus- like threads. Because these threads are unusually strong and elastic, scientist Atsuko Negishi and her colleagues have been trying to recreate them in a lab as an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based fibers that are often used in fabrics. The researchers want to reproduce the threads in the lab because farming hagfish for their slime would be expensive and potentially harmful to the hagfish. Which choice best states the text's main idea? Choose 1 answer: A Hagfish are not well suited to being raised in captivity. B The ability of hagfish to slime their attackers compensates for their being jawless. C Hagfish have inspired researchers to develop a new petroleum- based fabric. D The slimy threads that hagfish release might help researchers create a new kind of fabric.

## Step 1<br />The first step in solving this problem is to understand the main idea of the text. The text discusses the unique ability of hagfish to release slimy, mucus-like threads when attacked. These threads are strong and elastic, which has inspired scientists to try to recreate them in a lab as an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based fibers.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />Next, we need to match the main idea of the text with the given options. The text does not primarily discuss the suitability of hagfish for captivity (Option A), nor does it focus on the ability of hagfish to slime their attackers (Option B). It also does not mention hagfish inspiring researchers to develop a new petroleum-based fabric (Option C).<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The text does, however, discuss the potential of the slimy threads that hagfish release to inspire researchers to create a new kind of fabric (Option D). This aligns with the main idea of the text.