(1) When selecting her ingredients, a chef has a seemingly small—but nonetheless consequential—choice: she can patronize a conventional grocery store, or she can turn to a nearby farm. (2) While a store may provide benefits such as a broad range of options, a local farm can offer major advantages of its own. (3) When chefs and other consumers choose local products rather than goods that have been transported across long distances to chain stores, they can enjoy better prices while supporting the local economy. (4) Shoppers buying locally can often reap the benefits of competitive prices on goods due to reduced transport costs. (5) For example, one researcher found that the ingredients of a common Swedish breakfast—consisting of items like bread, coffee, and orange juice—were probably shipped a distance roughly equivalent to Earth’s circumference, and shipping can be costly. (6) On the other hand, buying ingredients from local farms may reduce transportation costs significantly, thereby increasing savings for the consumer. (7) Research also suggests that small local farms collectively can produce a large quantity of food; a big supply can, in turn, translate into lower prices. (8) Small farms gain these yields in part through efficient land use. (9) One study found that in Brazil, nearly five million small farms—which occupy only about 30 percent of the country's total agricultural land—are able to produce most of the beans the country needs. (10) The law of supply and demand suggests that if local farmers can produce more food than large farms, consumers may pay less. (11) Lower prices are not the only potential advantage of buying locally. (12) When consumers shop nearby, they are helping to ensure that local farms and businesses thrive. (13) The Brazilian bean farmers, for example, can continue to build strong local economies and do not have to migrate to commercial farms to find work. (14) What will our chef choose? (15) Deciding where to shop can be enigmatic, as both the store and the farm have their attractions. (16) The local option often makes the most sense, however. (17) It is good for the chef’s wallet, the neighborhood farmer’s bottom line, and, in the end, the community’s economic vigor.
To make the third and fourth paragraphs most logical, sentence 12 should be placed:
- A. where it is now
- B. after sentence 8
- C. after sentence 9
- D. after sentence 13
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Placing sentence 12 after sentence 13 enhances the flow by effectively connecting the ideas presented in the preceding sentences. This positioning allows for a smooth transition, maintaining coherence in the narrative. Option A retains sentence 12 in its current position, disrupting the logical progression of the paragraphs. Option B, placing it after sentence 8, creates a gap in context, as the ideas would not align well. Option C, following sentence 9, also fails to provide the necessary linkage, leaving the reader confused about the relationship between the concepts. Thus, option D is the most logical choice for clarity and coherence.
Placing sentence 12 after sentence 13 enhances the flow by effectively connecting the ideas presented in the preceding sentences. This positioning allows for a smooth transition, maintaining coherence in the narrative. Option A retains sentence 12 in its current position, disrupting the logical progression of the paragraphs. Option B, placing it after sentence 8, creates a gap in context, as the ideas would not align well. Option C, following sentence 9, also fails to provide the necessary linkage, leaving the reader confused about the relationship between the concepts. Thus, option D is the most logical choice for clarity and coherence.
Other Related Questions
In the passage, the author refers to the photography technique of double exposure primarily to:
- A. Explain that Rodriguez frequently uses that technique to create eerie and distorted representations of city life
- B. Illustrate how Rodriguez's innovative use of double exposure inspired other photographers to do so as well
- C. Provide an example of how Rodriguez explored the tension between his identity as a photographer and as a scholar
- D. Set up a metaphor comparing that technique to the way Rodriguez's work depicts the duality of Los Angeles
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The reference to double exposure serves as a metaphor for the duality of Los Angeles, highlighting the complexity and contrasting elements within the city. This choice effectively encapsulates Rodriguez's artistic vision, illustrating how his work reflects both the vibrant and shadowy aspects of urban life. Option A inaccurately suggests a focus on Rodriguez's frequent use of the technique rather than its metaphorical significance. Option B misinterprets the intent, as the passage emphasizes Rodriguez's personal exploration rather than his influence on others. Option C, while relevant, does not capture the primary purpose of the metaphor, which centers on the depiction of duality rather than identity tension.
The reference to double exposure serves as a metaphor for the duality of Los Angeles, highlighting the complexity and contrasting elements within the city. This choice effectively encapsulates Rodriguez's artistic vision, illustrating how his work reflects both the vibrant and shadowy aspects of urban life. Option A inaccurately suggests a focus on Rodriguez's frequent use of the technique rather than its metaphorical significance. Option B misinterprets the intent, as the passage emphasizes Rodriguez's personal exploration rather than his influence on others. Option C, while relevant, does not capture the primary purpose of the metaphor, which centers on the depiction of duality rather than identity tension.
Which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 5 (reproduced below)? However, the fossil evidence suggested that sauropods will have existed, on land, for quite a long time.
- A. (as it is now)
- B. exist,
- C. existed,
- D. will exist.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The choice "existed" accurately reflects the past tense required by the context, indicating that the fossil evidence pertains to a time when sauropods were already present on Earth. Option A, retaining the original phrasing, incorrectly uses "will have existed," which suggests a future perfect tense that does not align with the historical nature of fossil evidence. Option B, "exist," shifts to present tense, failing to convey the past timeframe relevant to the fossils. Option D, "will exist," also implies a future occurrence, which is inconsistent with the established fact that sauropods are known to have lived in the past.
The choice "existed" accurately reflects the past tense required by the context, indicating that the fossil evidence pertains to a time when sauropods were already present on Earth. Option A, retaining the original phrasing, incorrectly uses "will have existed," which suggests a future perfect tense that does not align with the historical nature of fossil evidence. Option B, "exist," shifts to present tense, failing to convey the past timeframe relevant to the fossils. Option D, "will exist," also implies a future occurrence, which is inconsistent with the established fact that sauropods are known to have lived in the past.
The passage indicates that ancient astronomers were 'baffled' because:
- A. Their observations disproved the poetic tales of early cosmologies
- B. They lacked the mathematical sophistication needed to calculate astronomical distances
- C. Their theories of planetary movements were more complicated than the movements themselves
- D. They could not reliably predict observable celestial phenomena
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Ancient astronomers were 'baffled' primarily because they struggled to reliably predict observable celestial phenomena. This unpredictability challenged their understanding and led to confusion in their astronomical models. Option A is incorrect as it implies a conflict with poetic tales, which was not the primary concern of astronomers. Option B misrepresents the issue; while mathematical sophistication was limited, the core problem was not solely about calculations. Option C inaccurately suggests that their theories were overly complex; rather, the issue lay in their inability to accurately forecast celestial events, which is the essence of their bafflement.
Ancient astronomers were 'baffled' primarily because they struggled to reliably predict observable celestial phenomena. This unpredictability challenged their understanding and led to confusion in their astronomical models. Option A is incorrect as it implies a conflict with poetic tales, which was not the primary concern of astronomers. Option B misrepresents the issue; while mathematical sophistication was limited, the core problem was not solely about calculations. Option C inaccurately suggests that their theories were overly complex; rather, the issue lay in their inability to accurately forecast celestial events, which is the essence of their bafflement.
Which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 6 (reproduced below)? More recent discoveries of sauropod fossils in locations around the world have confirmed that these resilient animals, did indeed walk the earth for millions of years.
- A. (as it is now)
- B. that, these resilient animals
- C. that these resilient animals.
- D. that these resilient animals
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Option D is the best choice as it eliminates unnecessary punctuation, creating a smooth and grammatically correct sentence. The phrase "that these resilient animals" flows naturally and maintains clarity. Option A retains the comma, which incorrectly separates the subject from the verb, leading to a fragmented structure. Option B includes an unnecessary comma after "that," disrupting the sentence's flow. Option C, while similar to D, incorrectly ends with a period, making it incomplete and affecting the overall coherence of the sentence.
Option D is the best choice as it eliminates unnecessary punctuation, creating a smooth and grammatically correct sentence. The phrase "that these resilient animals" flows naturally and maintains clarity. Option A retains the comma, which incorrectly separates the subject from the verb, leading to a fragmented structure. Option B includes an unnecessary comma after "that," disrupting the sentence's flow. Option C, while similar to D, incorrectly ends with a period, making it incomplete and affecting the overall coherence of the sentence.