"From Seed to Feed" - LEAP Prep

16. Part A

The author uses the analogy of a race throughout the text. In what way can the process of growing and delivering strawberries be considered a race?

• A. Each farmer has limited time to determine the best way to produce strawberries.

• B. There is competition between farmers to see who can most quickly produce

  strawberries.

• C. Each farmer has limited time to ensure their strawberries are fresh when they

  finally reach their destination.

• D. There is competition between farmers to see who can produce the freshest

  strawberries.

Answer explanation

Part A

A

Incorrect. Farmers must consider the best way to produce strawberries, but

the analogy of the race shows the limited time farmers have to get fresh

fruit to market, so this idea does not give the best explanation of the

analogy.

B

Incorrect. While it is true that races are usually competitive in nature and

that there are many farmers all striving for the same goal, the race to get

strawberries to market is a race between an individual and time. It does not

necessarily pit farmer against farmer, so this idea fails to give the best

explanation of the analogy.

C*

Correct. This explanation offers the best explanation of the analogy.

Comparing the production of strawberries to a race develops the idea that

farmers have a limited time to ensure their berries are fresh when delivered

to market. This idea, initiated in paragraph 1, is elaborated upon throughout

the rest of the passage with descriptions of how the berries are planted and

grown and explanations of how they are harvested, processed, and

delivered to markets.

D

Incorrect. Although farmers may feel economic competition to produce

fresh fruit, the “race” in the analogy has to do with a race against the clock

for each farmer to see that the fragile fruit arrives at markets still relatively

fresh. This fails to clearly explain the race analogy.

16. Part B

Which quote from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

(In what way can the process of growing and delivering strawberries be considered a race?)

• A. “Farmers study the growth patterns of different kinds of strawberries . . .”

  (paragraph 2)

• B. “Strawberry plants keep blooming and producing strawberries all season . . .”

  (paragraph 5)

• C. “Refrigerated airplanes and trucks quickly transport padded cartons of

  clam boxes . . .” (paragraph 8)

• D. “. . . to get the best quality fruit at the lowest possible price.” (paragraph 9)

Answer explanation

Part B

A

Incorrect. It is true that studying growth patterns may help in determining

the best way to produce strawberries, which supports A in Part A, but this

option does not support the answer that adequately explains the analogy.

B

Incorrect. This evidence might suggest the need for ongoing urgency of

production throughout a season, which would support B in Part A, but it

would not explain fully how the process is like a race.

C*

Correct. This evidence about rapid transportation of the fruit to ensure

freshness offers the best explanation of the analogy and support for the correct answer because it shows how different kinds of transportation and packaging are used to ensure strawberries arrive at markets as quickly as possible.

D

Incorrect. This evidence suggests competitiveness with its references to

“best quality . . . lowest price” and could support D in Part A; however,

option D fails to give an accurate explanation of the analogy

17. Part A

How does the first sentence of paragraph 2 most help develop a central idea in the article?

• A. It introduces the idea that most farmers enjoy gambling with their crops.

• B. It explains why there are fewer individual farmers today than there were

  years ago.

• C. It illustrates why farmers should be respected for their knowledge in a variety

  of areas.

• D. It reinforces the idea that farming in the modern era is a complex process.

Answer explanation

Part A

A

Incorrect. The first sentence of paragraph 2 introduces the idea of farmers

as gamblers, but this is only one attribute they bring to their work, so this

answer would not be the one that most helps develop a central idea of the

article.

B

Incorrect. The fact that farming is difficult is implied in the sentence, but

there is nothing in the sentence that suggests the number of farmers today

is fewer than in the past, so this is not the best answer.

C

Incorrect. The first sentence of paragraph 2 suggests that farmers have a

wide range of skills, but in this context, it is more a statement of fact than a

persuasive point about why farmers deserve respect.

D*

Correct. The list of skills needed by farmers in the first sentence of paragraph 2 emphasizes the idea that farmers must have a wide-ranging skill set and that farming in the modern era is a complex process. This

statement, therefore, offers the best support for this central idea.

17. Part B

Which set of paragraphs from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

(How does the first sentence of paragraph 2 most help develop a central idea in the article?)

• A. paragraphs 3 and 5

• B. paragraphs 4 and 7

• C. paragraphs 6 and 9

• D. paragraphs 10 and 11

Answer explanation

Part B

A

Incorrect. Paragraph 3 simply describes why farmers might be called

“gamblers,” and paragraph 5 describes a normal bloom/fruit cycle of

farming. These paragraphs might support A in Part A, but they are not the

best support for the idea that modern farming is highly complex.

B*

Correct. Paragraphs 4 and 7 offer the best support for the correct answer

in Part A because they develop the idea that strawberry farmers need a wide range of knowledge. These paragraphs explain how modern farmers have to operate in worlds of science and commerce.

C

Incorrect. Paragraphs 6 and 9 focus mainly on the commercial aspect of strawberry farming. These paragraphs would possibly give partial support to C in Part A.

D

Incorrect. Because paragraphs 10 and 11 are mainly about

sales/consumption, they might be seen to support B in Part A and suggest the decline in the number of modern farmers, but this is not the correct

answer.

18. Part A

Which statement about the author’s claim that farmers are “high-stakes gambler[s]” is most accurate?

• A. The claim is valid because despite farmers’ best efforts, certain factors cannot be completely controlled.

• B. The claim is not valid because farmers take precautions to ensure they have successful crops.

• C. The evidence for the claim is less relevant because farmers have discovered methods to lessen the impact of certain factors on crop development.

• D. The evidence for the claim is sufficient because the author thoroughly describes

  how certain factors impact a farmer’s ability to control the quality of the end

  product.

Answer explanation

Part A

A*

Correct. The claim that farmers are “high-stakes gamblers” is valid because it is supported with information in the article showing that certain

factors, such as weather or crop damage, cannot be controlled, despite

farmers’ best efforts.

B

Incorrect. The article does point out that farmers can take precautions to

ensure they have successful crops, precautions such as chemical testing of

soil and even using satellite images to help determine good planting and watering times; however, they still must endure unforeseen risks.

C

Incorrect. Although farmers have discovered methods to lessen the impact

of certain factors, such as using plastic sheeting for pest prevention

(paragraph 4), this does not obscure the fact that they must still take chances to be successful.

D

Incorrect. This answer does not accurately explain how farmers are like

gamblers. While it is true certain factors impact a farmer’s ability to control the end product, this information does not support the notion of a farmer as

a gambler.

18. Part B

Which detail from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

(Which statement about the author’s claim that farmers are “high-stakes gambler[s]” is most accurate?)

• A. “Knowing about the biology and behavior of helpful or harmful insects prevents crop loss.” (paragraph 2)

• B. “. . . pitting their knowledge and experience against the misfortunes of bad

  weather, crop disease, and time.” (paragraph 3)

• C. “. . . seeds are planted in trays of dirt in huge greenhouses.” (paragraph 4)

• D. “Workers use plastic sheeting to protect the young plants from birds and

  harmful insects.” (paragraph 4)

Answer explanation

Part B

A

Incorrect. This evidence would support B in Part A, which is incorrect,

because it only suggests farmers take precautions to ensure successful

crops and fails to account for the risks inherent in modern farming.

B*

Correct. This is the best evidence to support the “high-stakes gambler” claim because factors such as the weather cannot be completely controlled, despite farmers’ best efforts.

C

Incorrect. This evidence suggests farmers have discovered methods to

lessen the impact of certain factors on crop development, which supports A or C in Part A.

D

Incorrect. This evidence would support A or C in Part A because it suggests

that farmers try to reduce negative impacts on crops.

19. Part A

What is the author’s main purpose for writing the article?

• A. to highlight the chances farmers take when growing strawberries

• B. to examine the science behind growing and shipping strawberries

• C. to describe the challenge of providing high-quality strawberries to consumers

• D. to encourage consumers to be selective about the strawberries they eat

Answer explanation

Part A

A

Incorrect. Although the author discusses the risks involved in strawberry farming, risks are only part of the process of providing high-quality

strawberries to consumers, so this is an incomplete answer.

B

Incorrect. The author explains some of the science behind growing and

shipping strawberries, but the science is only one aspect of the whole process, so this answer is incomplete.

C*

Correct. The author’s main purpose for writing the article is to describe the breadth of the challenges, from growing to shipping, of providing high-quality strawberries to consumers.

D

Incorrect. Only the very beginning and end of the article have to do with the consumer angle, and there is very little the author says that implies he is

trying to persuade consumers.

19. Part B

Which evidence from the article best supports the answer to Part A?

(the author’s main purpose for writing the article)

• A. “Yum! Fresh, sweet-tasting, juicy red strawberries . . .” (paragraph 1)

• B. “. . . getting those delicious berries from a farmer’s field to your dinner table

  isn’t easy . . .” (paragraph 1)

• C. “Chemical testing shows what nutrients must be added to the soil.” (paragraph 2)

• D. “Farmers play a risky game with Mother Nature and luck every year . . .”

  (paragraph 3)

Answer explanation

A

Incorrect. This evidence suggests that consumers would prefer a certain

kind of strawberry, which would support D in Part A.

B*

Correct. The author makes it clear that strawberry farming is complex and

fraught with difficulties for even the best farmer to provide high-quality

strawberries to consumers, so this evidence offers the best support of the author’s main purpose.

C

Incorrect. This evidence suggests that science helps farmers grow

strawberries, which would support the idea that the purpose is to focus only

on the science (B in Part A), but this is only part of the author’s purpose.

D

Incorrect. The article makes it clear that farmers take chances when

growing strawberries, which supports A in Part A, but pointing out the risks

is only one part of the topic the article cover