Have you ever heard the expression too much of a good thing"? Consider, for example, the fragrant water lily. This beautiful flowering plant grows in lakes and ponds. Native to the eastern United States, the plant was introduced to some western states during the late 1800s. Though
people in western states enjoy this nonnative plant', they are discovering that it can also be "too much of a good thing."
The fragrant water lily has white or pink flowers that float on the surface of the water. The flowers are surrounded by large, round leaves
that are almost a foot in diameter. The leaves are attached to underwater stalks. in areas where it is not native, the plant can spread quickly. When
this happens the lilies can crowd out native plants. Eventually, the lilies may cover the entire surface of a lake. Then people can no longer use the
lake for swimming, fishing, or boating. The crowded water lilies also affect the quality of the water. They can reduce the amount of oxygen in the
water
For this reason, it is important to keep the spread of nonnative fragrant water lilies under control. In some areas, people manage the plants
by cutting them several times a year. Other methods for controlling water lilies include using fabric to block light from the plants. When properly
managed, nonnative fragrant water lilies are a beautiful addition to lakes and ponds.
nonnative plant a type of plant that is introduced to an area where the plant does not normally grow
Which statement best describes the central idea of the passage?
O 1. Fragrant water lilies are not native to the western United States.
2. Fragrant water lilies can grow and spread quickly in lakes and ponds.
03. Fragrant water lilies can cause problems in areas where they are not native.
4. Fragrant water lilies have beautiful white or pink flowers and large, round leaves.