Read the following passage about the purpose of laws in protecting citizens and their property. Then answer the question. The sentence in the passage says that laws are made to secure the property of citizens against theft and damage. What does this statement mean in practical terms?

Introduction / Context:
The passage explains why laws are made and how they protect individuals and communities. One important point is that laws secure the property of citizens against theft and damage. The question asks what this phrase really means. To answer correctly, we need to decide whether the phrase mainly refers to prevention, recovery after loss, or punishment alone. In reading comprehension, interpreting the purpose clause of a sentence is a common task, and here the focus is on the protective and preventive function of law.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Laws are created to secure personal safety and to prevent murder and violent crime.
• Laws also secure the property of citizens against theft and damage.
• They protect the rights of communities and social groups as long as these rights do not violate the rights of others.
• The passage contrasts good citizens, who obey laws willingly, and bad citizens, who obey because they fear punishment.
• The force that enforces the laws acts to compel bad citizens to behave like good citizens.

Concept / Approach:
The key verb in the statement is secure. When laws secure property against theft and damage, this usually refers to protection and prevention. Laws set rules, penalties, and enforcement mechanisms that discourage crime and protect property from being stolen or harmed. While recovery of stolen property and punishment of offenders can also happen through law, the phrase in the passage is framed as a general purpose of law, which is primarily preventive. Therefore, we must choose the option that best reflects this preventive protection of property.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Look at option A. It focuses on recovery after property has been stolen. While laws can help recovery, this is not the main idea of securing property against theft and damage. Step 2: Consider option B. This option emphasises assistance after the property is already stolen or destroyed. Again, this is reactive, not preventive. Step 3: Consider option C. It mentions initiation of legal process against offenders. Legal action is one aspect of law enforcement, but the phrase secure against theft and damage suggests more than just reaction after harm is done. Step 4: Examine option D. It states that the law aims to safeguard possessions so that they are not stolen or damaged in the first place. This clearly expresses a preventive and protective role, which matches the meaning of secure in the passage. Step 5: Option E incorrectly narrows the function of law to punishment only, which contradicts the broader protective purpose described in the passage.

Verification / Alternative check:
A simple check is to paraphrase the original line from the passage: laws are made so that citizens can feel safe, knowing that rules and enforcement help protect their belongings from theft and destruction. This paraphrase emphasises prevention. Among the options, only option D brings out this idea clearly and directly, so it matches the intended meaning of the sentence in context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is wrong because it restricts the role of law to post theft recovery and ignores preventive protection. Option B is wrong because it describes assistance after loss, while the passage stresses securing property from theft and damage in advance. Option C is wrong because legal proceedings are only one part of the overall system and do not fully capture the idea of security against theft and damage. Option E is wrong because the passage clearly shows that laws aim to protect life, property, and rights, not only to punish criminals.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse the protective function of laws with the enforcement actions that occur after a crime has happened. It is easy to focus on punishment and court cases, but the wording secure against theft and damage carries a preventive sense. Another pitfall is to pick an option that sounds serious and legal without verifying whether it matches the core idea of protection and prevention in the passage.

Final Answer:
The statement means that the law aims to safeguard the possessions of citizens so that they are not stolen or damaged in the first place.