What is the main idea of “Election Year”? A).People who are insecure will sometimes use any means to get what they want.

B).A girl who wins the election for class president is later accused of fraud.

C).A candidate who is unlikely to win stuffs the ballot box to make his opponent look suspicious.

D).An election is determined to be fraudulent because there are more ballots than students.

SELECTION A

State of Mind.1For years the citizens of Charleston had struggled with arguments, disagreeing about everything that affected the city. Nobody remembered exactly how or when it happened, but at some point the city government had arranged for all citizens to “take advantage” of a new invention called the Guided Decision Chip. When implanted in the skulls of the good people of Charleston, the GDC synchronized their brain waves to the same wavelength.
2After that, decisions were made as one unit, and whenever the people voted, there was never an opposing opinion. There were no arguments about how to govern the city because everyone's opinions and views were the same. The few who voiced concerns about the GDC were quickly implanted with the chip to eliminate their protests.
3Norman Hall, a long-time resident of Charleston, could not understand the phenomenon taking place in his city. Why would people want to give up their opinions? He didn't dare express his belief, however. If he were found out, his only choice would be between implantation and imprisonment. He lived a secret life, pretending to think like the masses, living a lie and fearing for his freedom.
4The mysterious developers of the chip, who called themselves TruVoice, began a campaign to use city funds to develop the chip further. The idea was to extend its reach beyond Charleston.
5“It's the solution to world peace,” they'd say on the television. “If everyone thinks the same, there will be no reason to disagree. No war, no fighting, no reason.”
6Norman realized the growing seriousness of the situation and decided to escape while he could. As he reached the edge of Charleston, he was stopped by a police officer.
7“Where do you think you're going?” asked the police officer calmly. “People have been talking, and some say you might have some different ideas about the way we do things here.”
8Norman nervously glanced in his rearview mirror and saw two more police cars approaching.
9“We think you might change your mind if you just hear our side of the story.” The police officer leaned in and immobilized him with a tranquilizer. Norman's world suddenly became dark.
10When he awoke, the back of his head hurt, and a bump now protruded from his skin. “I don't know why I had a problem with the chip before,” he said to himself. “This was a very good idea.”
11The citizens of Charleston existed in their agreeable state of mind for years to come. It was the most harmonious community on Earth, but also the most lifeless. There was never a squabble between siblings, never a stimulating discussion among neighbors, and not one challenge to authority of any kind. No one could say exactly what it was, but the people all sensed in their similar minds that something precious had been lost.
12Of course, no one knew a thing about the power struggles and disagreements that went on behind the closed doors of City Hall. The mayor, the city treasurer, and the sheriff, all founding partners of the TruVoice Company, had never had the chip implanted in themselves. "After all," they often said, "it's the free exchange of ideas and lively debate that make us who we are!"