(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.
Which choice best replaces the underlined portion of sentence 1 (reproduced below)? 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.
- A. small but nonetheless consequential choice,
- B. small but nonetheless consequential choice:
- C. small-but nonetheless consequential choice;
- D. small but nonetheless, consequential choice,
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Option B effectively uses a colon to introduce the two alternatives, enhancing clarity. The colon indicates that what follows elaborates on the choice being discussed. Option A lacks proper punctuation to separate the phrases, making it less clear. Option C incorrectly uses a semicolon, which is inappropriate here as it suggests a stronger separation between clauses than intended. Option D misplaces the comma, creating an unnecessary pause that disrupts the flow of the sentence. Overall, option B best maintains the sentence's coherence while clearly presenting the alternatives.
Option B effectively uses a colon to introduce the two alternatives, enhancing clarity. The colon indicates that what follows elaborates on the choice being discussed. Option A lacks proper punctuation to separate the phrases, making it less clear. Option C incorrectly uses a semicolon, which is inappropriate here as it suggests a stronger separation between clauses than intended. Option D misplaces the comma, creating an unnecessary pause that disrupts the flow of the sentence. Overall, option B best maintains the sentence's coherence while clearly presenting the alternatives.
Other Related Questions
In context, which is the best version of sentence 1 (reproduced below)? Federico Garcia Lorca was 20th-century Spain’s most famous poet and playwright.
- A. [as it is now]
- B. Federico GarcÃa Lorca, was 20th-century Spain's most famous poet and playwright.
- C. Federico GarcÃa Lorca was, 20th-century Spain's, most famous poet and playwright.
- D. Federico GarcÃa Lorca was 20th-century Spain's, most famous poet and playwright.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Option A maintains clarity and grammatical correctness without unnecessary punctuation. It presents Federico Garcia Lorca's identity straightforwardly, enhancing readability. Option B incorrectly places a comma after "García Lorca," which disrupts the flow of the sentence. Option C misuses commas, creating awkward pauses that confuse the reader and detract from the sentence's coherence. Option D also misplaces a comma after "Spain's," which incorrectly separates the subject from its complement, leading to a fragmented thought. Thus, option A stands out as the most effective choice.
Option A maintains clarity and grammatical correctness without unnecessary punctuation. It presents Federico Garcia Lorca's identity straightforwardly, enhancing readability. Option B incorrectly places a comma after "García Lorca," which disrupts the flow of the sentence. Option C misuses commas, creating awkward pauses that confuse the reader and detract from the sentence's coherence. Option D also misplaces a comma after "Spain's," which incorrectly separates the subject from its complement, leading to a fragmented thought. Thus, option A stands out as the most effective choice.
The main idea of the passage is that some types of poison frogs:
- A. have developed the capacity to protect themselves from the poison they carry in their skin
- B. could eventually produce a natural pain relief option for people who suffer from headaches
- C. combine chemicals from their food to create a toxic substance that keeps them safe from predators
- D. can be grouped based on the changes they've made to their nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Option A highlights the unique adaptation of certain poison frogs, emphasizing their ability to protect themselves from their own toxins. This reflects a key aspect of their survival strategy. Option B, while interesting, suggests a potential human application of frog toxins that is not the main focus of the passage. Option C inaccurately attributes the creation of toxins solely to food sources, overlooking the frogs' inherent toxic traits. Option D focuses on a specific biological mechanism that, while relevant, does not encapsulate the broader theme of self-protection central to the passage.
Option A highlights the unique adaptation of certain poison frogs, emphasizing their ability to protect themselves from their own toxins. This reflects a key aspect of their survival strategy. Option B, while interesting, suggests a potential human application of frog toxins that is not the main focus of the passage. Option C inaccurately attributes the creation of toxins solely to food sources, overlooking the frogs' inherent toxic traits. Option D focuses on a specific biological mechanism that, while relevant, does not encapsulate the broader theme of self-protection central to the passage.
In context, where would the following sentence best be placed? How long did it take sauropods to grow to full adult size?
- A. After sentence 3
- B. After sentence 8
- C. After sentence 9
- D. After sentence 12
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Placing the question "How long did it take sauropods to grow to full adult size?" after sentence 9 is most effective as it follows a discussion about sauropod growth patterns, providing a logical transition into the specifics of their growth duration. Option A, after sentence 3, is too early as it lacks the necessary context about sauropod growth. Option B, after sentence 8, is close but doesn't fully prepare the reader for the specific inquiry about growth duration. Option D, after sentence 12, is too late, as it disrupts the flow by introducing a new question after concluding details about sauropods.
Placing the question "How long did it take sauropods to grow to full adult size?" after sentence 9 is most effective as it follows a discussion about sauropod growth patterns, providing a logical transition into the specifics of their growth duration. Option A, after sentence 3, is too early as it lacks the necessary context about sauropod growth. Option B, after sentence 8, is close but doesn't fully prepare the reader for the specific inquiry about growth duration. Option D, after sentence 12, is too late, as it disrupts the flow by introducing a new question after concluding details about sauropods.
The writer is considering adding the following sentence to the end of the fourth paragraph: 'Surprisingly, according to The Economist, there were 1.6 million commercial farms in Brazil in 2010.' Should the writer make this addition here?
- A. Yes, because it emphasizes the paragraph's focus on the economic power of large farms.
- B. Yes, because it uses concrete data to provide context about local farms and commercial farms.
- C. No, because it is unrelated to the economic challenges small farms may face.
- D. No, because it fails to show a clear connection to the paragraph's focus on supporting local farms.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Adding the sentence enhances the paragraph by providing concrete data, which helps contextualize the discussion about local and commercial farms. It bridges the gap between the economic landscape and the realities faced by different types of farms, enriching the reader's understanding. Option A misinterprets the focus; while large farms are mentioned, the emphasis is on the economic challenges faced by smaller farms. Option C incorrectly suggests that the data is unrelated; understanding the number of commercial farms is essential to discussing the economic landscape. Option D overlooks that the data can indeed support a broader discussion about local farms by contrasting them with commercial operations.
Adding the sentence enhances the paragraph by providing concrete data, which helps contextualize the discussion about local and commercial farms. It bridges the gap between the economic landscape and the realities faced by different types of farms, enriching the reader's understanding. Option A misinterprets the focus; while large farms are mentioned, the emphasis is on the economic challenges faced by smaller farms. Option C incorrectly suggests that the data is unrelated; understanding the number of commercial farms is essential to discussing the economic landscape. Option D overlooks that the data can indeed support a broader discussion about local farms by contrasting them with commercial operations.