The Rhine-Ruhr area became the greatest industrial region of Germany, because it had at its heart the great coalfield of the Ruhr. Mining is now almost entirely northeast and westwards across the Rhine. The region contains the greater part of the German iron, steel and heavy engineering industries. The great integrated iron and steel plants mostly cluster on the Rhine waterway. Specialized steel plants and engineering works are more widespread. With a decline in coalmining and the dismantling after World War II of certain steel plants, some of the older Ruhr towns have diversified their industries considerably: vehicles, electrical goods and clothing are now being produced.
It is pointed out in the passage that, following World War II, _____.
the electrical industry throughout the Ruhr area of Germany became economically as important as the steel industry itself
the increase in coal production gave a new impetus to the steel industry in the towns of the Ruhr area
new types of industry, such as textiles and car manufacturing, replaced the former steel industry in certain parts of the Ruhr area
the towns in the Ruhr area rapidly achieved a high level of prosperity through improvements in the steel industry
all the steel plants in the Ruhr area had to be closed down to avoid the pollution of the towns
The writer of the passage makes the point that the major part of the iron and steel industry of Germany ____.
has come into being since World War II
is located on either side of the Rhine
has basically remained unchanged during the last hundred years
is the major source of the country's prosperity
no longer depends on coal as its main source of power
It is clear from the passage that the immense coal deposits of the Ruhr ____.
were once regarded as inexhaustible even in the face of such intense mining
have been almost completely used up by the iron and steel industry
turned the Rhine-Ruhr into Germany's major industrial area
have had adverse effects upon the older towns of the area