Vertical farms grow crops in stacked layers inside climate-controlled buildings, using artificial lighting and hydroponic systems. A single acre of vertical farm can produce the equivalent of 10-20 acres of traditional farmland. However, the energy costs for lighting and climate control can make the produce significantly more expensive than conventionally grown food.
Based on the passage, it can be inferred that
vertical farming has no advantages over traditional methods
vertical farms require no energy to operate
agricultural innovations may involve trade-offs between efficiency and cost
all future farms will be vertical
Correct Answer: C
Choice C is the best answer. Vertical farms are more land-efficient but more expensive.
- Context clues: 10-20x land efficiency benefit; "significantly more expensive" drawback.
- Meaning: Gaining one advantage comes with a corresponding disadvantage.
- Verify: The comparison between efficiency and cost illustrates a classic trade-off.
💡 Strategy: When a passage presents both advantages and disadvantages, infer the existence of trade-offs.
Choice A is incorrect because land efficiency is a clear advantage. Choice B is incorrect because energy costs are explicitly mentioned as high. Choice D is incorrect because high costs may limit adoption.