For those of us who wish to preserve the planet’s diversity of species, high-tech, chemically assisted agriculture is an environmentalist’s best friend. That’s right. Soaring growth in human population threatens to destroy most of the world’s remaining rainforests, wetlands, and mountain ecosystems, drastically reducing species diversity. Despite advances in chemical-free farming techniques, overreliance on these practices will result in the plowing down of forests to feed a global population that is estimated to reach 9.6 billion people by 2050. Environmentalists must face the fact that unless high-yield crop varieties, pesticides, and fertilizers are widely used in developing nations, the world’s food supply will be outstripped by spiraling demand. This will mean more forests falling under the plow. I couldn’t agree more that it’s crucial to step up agricultural productivity to feed a spiraling global population. My quarrel is with how to intensify agriculture, not whether it should be intensified. The paramount concern must be to increase crop yields in environmentally sensitive ways that protect human health and the soil and water that are agriculture’s very foundation. Heavy use of agrochemicals can bring high yields in the short run, but the cumulative damages may be considerable. Those of us whose research demonstrates that resource-conserving farming practices can be just as productive as the chemical-intensive kind contend that the goal should be efficient use of chemicals, not wide use.
The author of Passage 1 uses the phrase 'That's right' in order to:
- A. acknowledge that a claim may be surprising
- B. confirm that a prediction was accurate
- C. concede that a criticism has merit
- D. emphasize that a debate has been settled
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
The phrase "That's right" is used to acknowledge a statement or claim, often indicating that it may be unexpected or surprising to the audience. This aligns with option A, as it highlights an awareness of the potential shock value of the claim. Option B is incorrect because confirming a prediction implies certainty and agreement with a prior statement, which is not the intent of the phrase. Option C misinterprets the phrase's meaning; conceding a criticism suggests acceptance of fault, which does not fit the context. Option D also misses the mark, as emphasizing a settled debate would imply finality, whereas "That's right" suggests an ongoing dialogue rather than closure.
The phrase "That's right" is used to acknowledge a statement or claim, often indicating that it may be unexpected or surprising to the audience. This aligns with option A, as it highlights an awareness of the potential shock value of the claim. Option B is incorrect because confirming a prediction implies certainty and agreement with a prior statement, which is not the intent of the phrase. Option C misinterprets the phrase's meaning; conceding a criticism suggests acceptance of fault, which does not fit the context. Option D also misses the mark, as emphasizing a settled debate would imply finality, whereas "That's right" suggests an ongoing dialogue rather than closure.
Other Related Questions
In the second sentence of the passage ('a giant Saturn moon rocket dismantled into pieces for tourists to inspect, like lengths of fossilized bone from a mythic biotech dragon'), the simile primarily emphasizes the rocket's:
- A. dominance
- B. obsolescence
- C. superior engineering
- D. appeal to newcomers
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
The simile compares the dismantled rocket to "fossilized bone from a mythic biotech dragon," highlighting its obsolescence. This imagery suggests that the rocket, once a marvel of technology, now resembles relics of a bygone era, evoking a sense of nostalgia rather than functionality. Option A, dominance, does not apply here, as the imagery does not convey power or superiority. Option C, superior engineering, is contradicted by the notion of the rocket being dismantled and inspected, which implies it is no longer operational. Option D, appeal to newcomers, is less relevant; the focus is more on the rocket's past significance than its current allure.
The simile compares the dismantled rocket to "fossilized bone from a mythic biotech dragon," highlighting its obsolescence. This imagery suggests that the rocket, once a marvel of technology, now resembles relics of a bygone era, evoking a sense of nostalgia rather than functionality. Option A, dominance, does not apply here, as the imagery does not convey power or superiority. Option C, superior engineering, is contradicted by the notion of the rocket being dismantled and inspected, which implies it is no longer operational. Option D, appeal to newcomers, is less relevant; the focus is more on the rocket's past significance than its current allure.
The final paragraph suggests that seeing the woman has caused the narrator to:
- A. face the negative feelings she has about her new home
- B. realize that she misses her mother more than she admits
- C. think about her own feelings about her family and background
- D. remember the reason she moved away from her home country
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The final paragraph emphasizes the narrator's introspection triggered by seeing the woman, leading her to reflect on her own feelings about family and background. This deep connection to identity is central to her experience. Option A misinterprets the focus; while negative feelings may exist, the emphasis is on personal reflection rather than facing negativity. Option B suggests a specific emotion related to her mother, which is not explicitly indicated in the text. Option D implies a recollection of her reasons for moving, but the paragraph centers more on her current emotional state rather than past motivations.
The final paragraph emphasizes the narrator's introspection triggered by seeing the woman, leading her to reflect on her own feelings about family and background. This deep connection to identity is central to her experience. Option A misinterprets the focus; while negative feelings may exist, the emphasis is on personal reflection rather than facing negativity. Option B suggests a specific emotion related to her mother, which is not explicitly indicated in the text. Option D implies a recollection of her reasons for moving, but the paragraph centers more on her current emotional state rather than past motivations.
When the author writes that Chilesaurus diegosuarezi “should have been a meat-eater,†she most likely means that the species:
- A. would have been healthier if it had eaten meat
- B. would have grown even larger if it had eaten meat
- C. had the head, neck, and teeth of a meat-eater
- D. had body features similar to those of its meat-eating relative
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The statement implies that Chilesaurus diegosuarezi possesses physical characteristics akin to those of carnivorous dinosaurs. Option D accurately reflects this by highlighting that its body features resemble those of its meat-eating relatives, suggesting an evolutionary expectation based on morphology. Option A incorrectly assumes a health benefit from a meat-based diet, which is not the focus of the author's observation. Option B speculates on size without evidence, as diet does not directly correlate with growth potential in this context. Option C, while partially true about its head and teeth, overlooks the broader comparison to body features, making D the most comprehensive choice.
The statement implies that Chilesaurus diegosuarezi possesses physical characteristics akin to those of carnivorous dinosaurs. Option D accurately reflects this by highlighting that its body features resemble those of its meat-eating relatives, suggesting an evolutionary expectation based on morphology. Option A incorrectly assumes a health benefit from a meat-based diet, which is not the focus of the author's observation. Option B speculates on size without evidence, as diet does not directly correlate with growth potential in this context. Option C, while partially true about its head and teeth, overlooks the broader comparison to body features, making D the most comprehensive choice.
Which of the following statements does the passage most directly counter?
- A. Having a non-arts job stifles and detracts from an artist's creative work
- B. For people working in non-arts professions, art is more than just an entertaining distraction
- C. The poetry of William Carlos Williams exemplifies autobiographical poetry
- D. Work and art cannot meaningfully complement each other
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Option D is effectively countered by the passage, which likely illustrates how work and art can coexist and enhance each other, suggesting that they can provide mutual inspiration and growth. Option A misrepresents the relationship between non-arts jobs and creativity, as the passage may argue that such jobs can actually foster artistic development rather than hinder it. Option B acknowledges the significance of art in non-arts professions, which aligns with the idea that art can coexist with other careers, rather than opposing them. Option C focuses on a specific aspect of poetry that is unrelated to the broader theme of work and art's relationship, making it less relevant to the passage's main argument.
Option D is effectively countered by the passage, which likely illustrates how work and art can coexist and enhance each other, suggesting that they can provide mutual inspiration and growth. Option A misrepresents the relationship between non-arts jobs and creativity, as the passage may argue that such jobs can actually foster artistic development rather than hinder it. Option B acknowledges the significance of art in non-arts professions, which aligns with the idea that art can coexist with other careers, rather than opposing them. Option C focuses on a specific aspect of poetry that is unrelated to the broader theme of work and art's relationship, making it less relevant to the passage's main argument.