Those in the retail industry that are successful in digitally transforming will be ones that leverage technology to innovate around an immersive and disruptive customer experience. These “lighthouse” retailers are the ones driving innovation, adopting emerging technologies early, and showing the industry what works and is possible. They are the ones experimenting with new models and store formats, playing with recombinations/reconfigurations of scale, assets, product, place, and people. The “store of the future” is the keystone of this effort.

-------------------

The store of the future will combine multiple formats to deliver an immersive and unique experience across all customer touchpoints online and in the store. It will be heavily instrumented for operational efficiency and digitally connected end-to-end to leverage a single view of customer, product, and order. The store of the future – despite its reliance on sophisticated technology and infrastructure – will be trying to look smaller and less intimidating, more personalized, and frictionless.

-------------------

The deployment of these and other digital technologies in disruptive ways can turn visitors into shoppers and shoppers into brand-loyal customers. However, understanding which consumers want personalization and which want contextualized and relevant experiences, while protecting everyone’s privacy, has grown more difficult. With so much at stake, data privacy has become a challenge for every party involved.

-------------------------------

Which of the following statements is correct?

Those in the retail industry that are successful in digitally transforming will be ones that leverage technology to innovate around an immersive and disruptive customer experience. These “lighthouse” retailers are the ones driving innovation, adopting emerging technologies early, and showing the industry what works and is possible. They are the ones experimenting with new models and store formats, playing with recombinations/reconfigurations of scale, assets, product, place, and people. The “store of the future” is the keystone of this effort.

-------------------

The store of the future will combine multiple formats to deliver an immersive and unique experience across all customer touchpoints online and in the store. It will be heavily instrumented for operational efficiency and digitally connected end-to-end to leverage a single view of customer, product, and order. The store of the future – despite its reliance on sophisticated technology and infrastructure – will be trying to look smaller and less intimidating, more personalized, and frictionless.

-------------------

The deployment of these and other digital technologies in disruptive ways can turn visitors into shoppers and shoppers into brand-loyal customers. However, understanding which consumers want personalization and which want contextualized and relevant experiences, while protecting everyone’s privacy, has grown more difficult. With so much at stake, data privacy has become a challenge for every party involved.

-------------------------------

What is the subject of the passage?

The United Nations predicts Earth will have to feed another 2.3 billion people by 2050, mostly concentrated in urban centers far from farmland. Conventional agriculture may not be able to meet that demand, but luckily NASA has been working for decades to tackle food production both on Earth and in space. Feeding astronauts during long-term space exploration means stretching resources to grow plants in space—including minimizing water use and energy consumption and eliminating soil.

-------------

NASA initially pioneered these techniques on the ground by building the country’s first vertical farm. Inside a decommissioned hypobaric chamber left over from testing the Mercury space capsule, technologists stacked rows of hydroponic trays like bookshelves against the walls. Then systems for lighting, ventilation, and circulating water were added using off-the-shelf parts. Various crops were planted on the stacked trays to test how well they would grow in water and without the benefit of sunlight or open air. This innovative approach to farming created a foundation for the industry of controlled environment agriculture, or CEA.

--------------

CEA combines plant science and environmental control to optimize plant growth and maximize efficiency, frequently incorporating vertical growth structures. Technology enables the filtering of contaminants from crop water and delivers precise nutrient balances. Artificial lighting provides only the necessary wavelengths at the right time, intensity, and duration, while environmental controls maintain ideal temperature and humidity. This approach could help feed burgeoning future generations, said Nate Storey, chief science officer at Plenty Unlimited, one of several companies building on NASA’s plant-growth research.

-----------------------------------

It is stated in the passage that …

The United Nations predicts Earth will have to feed another 2.3 billion people by 2050, mostly concentrated in urban centers far from farmland. Conventional agriculture may not be able to meet that demand, but luckily NASA has been working for decades to tackle food production both on Earth and in space. Feeding astronauts during long-term space exploration means stretching resources to grow plants in space—including minimizing water use and energy consumption and eliminating soil.

-------------

NASA initially pioneered these techniques on the ground by building the country’s first vertical farm. Inside a decommissioned hypobaric chamber left over from testing the Mercury space capsule, technologists stacked rows of hydroponic trays like bookshelves against the walls. Then systems for lighting, ventilation, and circulating water were added using off-the-shelf parts. Various crops were planted on the stacked trays to test how well they would grow in water and without the benefit of sunlight or open air. This innovative approach to farming created a foundation for the industry of controlled environment agriculture, or CEA.

--------------

CEA combines plant science and environmental control to optimize plant growth and maximize efficiency, frequently incorporating vertical growth structures. Technology enables the filtering of contaminants from crop water and delivers precise nutrient balances. Artificial lighting provides only the necessary wavelengths at the right time, intensity, and duration, while environmental controls maintain ideal temperature and humidity. This approach could help feed burgeoning future generations, said Nate Storey, chief science officer at Plenty Unlimited, one of several companies building on NASA’s plant-growth research.

-----------------------------------

Regarding the role of NASA in producing food, we know that …

The United Nations predicts Earth will have to feed another 2.3 billion people by 2050, mostly concentrated in urban centers far from farmland. Conventional agriculture may not be able to meet that demand, but luckily NASA has been working for decades to tackle food production both on Earth and in space. Feeding astronauts during long-term space exploration means stretching resources to grow plants in space—including minimizing water use and energy consumption and eliminating soil.

-------------

NASA initially pioneered these techniques on the ground by building the country’s first vertical farm. Inside a decommissioned hypobaric chamber left over from testing the Mercury space capsule, technologists stacked rows of hydroponic trays like bookshelves against the walls. Then systems for lighting, ventilation, and circulating water were added using off-the-shelf parts. Various crops were planted on the stacked trays to test how well they would grow in water and without the benefit of sunlight or open air. This innovative approach to farming created a foundation for the industry of controlled environment agriculture, or CEA.

--------------

CEA combines plant science and environmental control to optimize plant growth and maximize efficiency, frequently incorporating vertical growth structures. Technology enables the filtering of contaminants from crop water and delivers precise nutrient balances. Artificial lighting provides only the necessary wavelengths at the right time, intensity, and duration, while environmental controls maintain ideal temperature and humidity. This approach could help feed burgeoning future generations, said Nate Storey, chief science officer at Plenty Unlimited, one of several companies building on NASA’s plant-growth research.

-----------------------------------

From the first paragraph, it can be predicted that …

The United Nations predicts Earth will have to feed another 2.3 billion people by 2050, mostly concentrated in urban centers far from farmland. Conventional agriculture may not be able to meet that demand, but luckily NASA has been working for decades to tackle food production both on Earth and in space. Feeding astronauts during long-term space exploration means stretching resources to grow plants in space—including minimizing water use and energy consumption and eliminating soil.

-------------

NASA initially pioneered these techniques on the ground by building the country’s first vertical farm. Inside a decommissioned hypobaric chamber left over from testing the Mercury space capsule, technologists stacked rows of hydroponic trays like bookshelves against the walls. Then systems for lighting, ventilation, and circulating water were added using off-the-shelf parts. Various crops were planted on the stacked trays to test how well they would grow in water and without the benefit of sunlight or open air. This innovative approach to farming created a foundation for the industry of controlled environment agriculture, or CEA.

--------------

CEA combines plant science and environmental control to optimize plant growth and maximize efficiency, frequently incorporating vertical growth structures. Technology enables the filtering of contaminants from crop water and delivers precise nutrient balances. Artificial lighting provides only the necessary wavelengths at the right time, intensity, and duration, while environmental controls maintain ideal temperature and humidity. This approach could help feed burgeoning future generations, said Nate Storey, chief science officer at Plenty Unlimited, one of several companies building on NASA’s plant-growth research.

-----------------------------------

How is the second paragraph related to the first paragraph?

Earthquake is any sudden shaking of the ground caused by the passage of seismic waves through Earth’s rocks. Seismic waves are produced when some form of energy stored in Earth’s crust is suddenly released, usually when masses of rock straining against one another suddenly fracture and “slip.” Earthquakes occur most often along geologic faults, narrow zones where rock masses move in relation to one another. The major fault lines of the world are located at the fringes of the huge tectonic plates that make up Earth’s crust.

------------

Little was understood about earthquakes until the emergence of seismology at the beginning of the 20th century. Seismology, which involves the scientific study of all aspects of earthquakes, has yielded answers to such long-standing questions as why and how earthquakes occur. About 50,000 earthquakes large enough to be noticed without the aid of instruments occur annually over the entire Earth. Of these, approximately 100 are of sufficient size to produce substantial damage if their centers are near areas of habitation. Very great earthquakes occur on average about once per year. Over the centuries they have been responsible for millions of deaths and an incalculable amount of damage to property.

-----------------------------------------

The paragraph following the passage most likely discusses ….

Earthquake is any sudden shaking of the ground caused by the passage of seismic waves through Earth’s rocks. Seismic waves are produced when some form of energy stored in Earth’s crust is suddenly released, usually when masses of rock straining against one another suddenly fracture and “slip.” Earthquakes occur most often along geologic faults, narrow zones where rock masses move in relation to one another. The major fault lines of the world are located at the fringes of the huge tectonic plates that make up Earth’s crust.

------------

Little was understood about earthquakes until the emergence of seismology at the beginning of the 20th century. Seismology, which involves the scientific study of all aspects of earthquakes, has yielded answers to such long-standing questions as why and how earthquakes occur. About 50,000 earthquakes large enough to be noticed without the aid of instruments occur annually over the entire Earth. Of these, approximately 100 are of sufficient size to produce substantial damage if their centers are near areas of habitation. Very great earthquakes occur on average about once per year. Over the centuries they have been responsible for millions of deaths and an incalculable amount of damage to property.

-----------------------------------------

What is the author’s attitude towards the topic of the passage?

Earthquake is any sudden shaking of the ground caused by the passage of seismic waves through Earth’s rocks. Seismic waves are produced when some form of energy stored in Earth’s crust is suddenly released, usually when masses of rock straining against one another suddenly fracture and “slip.” Earthquakes occur most often along geologic faults, narrow zones where rock masses move in relation to one another. The major fault lines of the world are located at the fringes of the huge tectonic plates that make up Earth’s crust.

------------

Little was understood about earthquakes until the emergence of seismology at the beginning of the 20th century. Seismology, which involves the scientific study of all aspects of earthquakes, has yielded answers to such long-standing questions as why and how earthquakes occur. About 50,000 earthquakes large enough to be noticed without the aid of instruments occur annually over the entire Earth. Of these, approximately 100 are of sufficient size to produce substantial damage if their centers are near areas of habitation. Very great earthquakes occur on average about once per year. Over the centuries they have been responsible for millions of deaths and an incalculable amount of damage to property.

-----------------------------------------

What will happen when seismic waves pass through Earth’s rocks?

Forests have the ability to regulate water systems, prevent erosion and flood, and maintain soil fertility. The ability of forests is inseparable from the existence of millions and even billions of trees in a forest area. Trees only store water for their own needs, and the land saves water.

--------

Billions of trees with their wide canopies will hold back rain. In this position, rain water does not directly hit the soil surface, but will fall slowly through the leaves and flow through the tree trunk. Then, the soil surface filled with tree trunks will produce quite a lot of litter originating from organic materials in the forms of leaf and dry twigs. Dramatically, littering is heading towards the decay process. The organic materials are collected on the soil surface.

----------

Litter blocks the water falling from the canopy so it does not directly hit the soil. Litter also functions as a place to live for millions of organisms (e.g. worms). This organism punctures the land as a home and place of life. This organism’s behavior causes the soil surface to become loose and porous. When rain drops from the canopy fall onto the litter, the water slowly flows to the soil surface. The loose and porous top layer of soil will absorb the water and then the water will be stored in the aquifer, the underground river.

-----------

The soil surface in the forest has high capacity to absorb rainwater. As a result, most of the rainwater seeps into the soil; only a little becomes running water. Running water is the water that cannot be absorbed by the soil surface. This water will go down to a lower area. If running water exceeds the carrying capacity of the river, it can certainly cause flood. Most of the rainwater that falls in the forest area will be absorbed by the soil and stored in the aquifer.

-----------

Furthermore, the water stored in the aquifer will come out regularly through springs. From these springs, water flows through rivers that are mostly found in the forest area. In addition, there is also underground water that comes out as a spring in the resident wells.

---------------------------------

The word 'dramatically' in paragraph 2 is best replaced by ....

Forests have the ability to regulate water systems, prevent erosion and flood, and maintain soil fertility. The ability of forests is inseparable from the existence of millions and even billions of trees in a forest area. Trees only store water for their own needs, and the land saves water.

--------

Billions of trees with their wide canopies will hold back rain. In this position, rain water does not directly hit the soil surface, but will fall slowly through the leaves and flow through the tree trunk. Then, the soil surface filled with tree trunks will produce quite a lot of litter originating from organic materials in the forms of leaf and dry twigs. Dramatically, littering is heading towards the decay process. The organic materials are collected on the soil surface.

----------

Litter blocks the water falling from the canopy so it does not directly hit the soil. Litter also functions as a place to live for millions of organisms (e.g. worms). This organism punctures the land as a home and place of life. This organism’s behavior causes the soil surface to become loose and porous. When rain drops from the canopy fall onto the litter, the water slowly flows to the soil surface. The loose and porous top layer of soil will absorb the water and then the water will be stored in the aquifer, the underground river.

-----------

The soil surface in the forest has high capacity to absorb rainwater. As a result, most of the rainwater seeps into the soil; only a little becomes running water. Running water is the water that cannot be absorbed by the soil surface. This water will go down to a lower area. If running water exceeds the carrying capacity of the river, it can certainly cause flood. Most of the rainwater that falls in the forest area will be absorbed by the soil and stored in the aquifer.

-----------

Furthermore, the water stored in the aquifer will come out regularly through springs. From these springs, water flows through rivers that are mostly found in the forest area. In addition, there is also underground water that comes out as a spring in the resident wells.

---------------------------------

What is the main idea of the passage?

Forests have the ability to regulate water systems, prevent erosion and flood, and maintain soil fertility. The ability of forests is inseparable from the existence of millions and even billions of trees in a forest area. Trees only store water for their own needs, and the land saves water.

--------

Billions of trees with their wide canopies will hold back rain. In this position, rain water does not directly hit the soil surface, but will fall slowly through the leaves and flow through the tree trunk. Then, the soil surface filled with tree trunks will produce quite a lot of litter originating from organic materials in the forms of leaf and dry twigs. Dramatically, littering is heading towards the decay process. The organic materials are collected on the soil surface.

----------

Litter blocks the water falling from the canopy so it does not directly hit the soil. Litter also functions as a place to live for millions of organisms (e.g. worms). This organism punctures the land as a home and place of life. This organism’s behavior causes the soil surface to become loose and porous. When rain drops from the canopy fall onto the litter, the water slowly flows to the soil surface. The loose and porous top layer of soil will absorb the water and then the water will be stored in the aquifer, the underground river.

-----------

The soil surface in the forest has high capacity to absorb rainwater. As a result, most of the rainwater seeps into the soil; only a little becomes running water. Running water is the water that cannot be absorbed by the soil surface. This water will go down to a lower area. If running water exceeds the carrying capacity of the river, it can certainly cause flood. Most of the rainwater that falls in the forest area will be absorbed by the soil and stored in the aquifer.

-----------

Furthermore, the water stored in the aquifer will come out regularly through springs. From these springs, water flows through rivers that are mostly found in the forest area. In addition, there is also underground water that comes out as a spring in the resident wells.

---------------------------------

With the sentence ‘This organism's behavior causes the soil surface to become loose and porous’ in paragraph 3, the writer intends to ....

Forests have the ability to regulate water systems, prevent erosion and flood, and maintain soil fertility. The ability of forests is inseparable from the existence of millions and even billions of trees in a forest area. Trees only store water for their own needs, and the land saves water.

--------

Billions of trees with their wide canopies will hold back rain. In this position, rain water does not directly hit the soil surface, but will fall slowly through the leaves and flow through the tree trunk. Then, the soil surface filled with tree trunks will produce quite a lot of litter originating from organic materials in the forms of leaf and dry twigs. Dramatically, littering is heading towards the decay process. The organic materials are collected on the soil surface.

----------

Litter blocks the water falling from the canopy so it does not directly hit the soil. Litter also functions as a place to live for millions of organisms (e.g. worms). This organism punctures the land as a home and place of life. This organism’s behavior causes the soil surface to become loose and porous. When rain drops from the canopy fall onto the litter, the water slowly flows to the soil surface. The loose and porous top layer of soil will absorb the water and then the water will be stored in the aquifer, the underground river.

-----------

The soil surface in the forest has high capacity to absorb rainwater. As a result, most of the rainwater seeps into the soil; only a little becomes running water. Running water is the water that cannot be absorbed by the soil surface. This water will go down to a lower area. If running water exceeds the carrying capacity of the river, it can certainly cause flood. Most of the rainwater that falls in the forest area will be absorbed by the soil and stored in the aquifer.

-----------

Furthermore, the water stored in the aquifer will come out regularly through springs. From these springs, water flows through rivers that are mostly found in the forest area. In addition, there is also underground water that comes out as a spring in the resident wells.

---------------------------------

What most likely motivates the writer in writing the passage?

TikTok is often applauded for its recommendation system; once it’s finely tuned, the app becomes one of the best scrolling experiences. My personal theory is that’s why TikTok is so addicting—everything is so perfectly curated to your specific interests, it’s hard to put the phone down once you’re sucked in. However, TikTok’s recommendation algorithm still has its own flaws that the company brings up in its new blog post.

---------------

“One of the inherent challenges with recommendation engines is that they can inadvertently limit user experience–what is sometimes referred to as a ‘filter bubble’,” the post reads. It states that by optimizing for personalization and relevance, there is a risk of presenting an increasingly homogenous stream of videos.

---------------

Another issue that TikTok takes seriously is not surfacing dangerous content. This is an issue that YouTube in particular has faced criticism over for many years. According to TikTok, content that has graphic material like medical procedures or “legal consumption of regulated goods,” like alcohol, may not be eligible for recommendation because it could come across as “shocking if surfaced as a recommended video to a general audience”. That’s why many creators on TikTok will upload a video more than once or talk openly about feeling shadow banned over particular content.

------------------------------------

The writer of the passage intends to ...