The following text discusses food system sustainability.
Local food movements promote direct connections between producers and consumers, shortening supply chains and supporting regional economies. However, the environmental case for local food is more complicated than intuition suggests. Transportation typically represents a small fraction of food's total carbon footprint; production methods matter more. A locally produced item grown in heated greenhouses may have higher emissions than one shipped from favorable climates.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
It presents a movement, then complicates common assumptions about its benefits.
It provides recipes for locally sourced meals.
It argues that all food should be imported from distant regions.
It compares local food movements across different countries.
Correct Answer: A
Choice A is the best answer. The text presents local food movements, then complicates environmental assumptions (transportation vs. production, greenhouses vs. shipping).
- Evidence: The text presents the movement: "Local food movements promote direct connections." It complicates it: "However, the environmental case... is more complicated." It gives a counter-intuitive fact: "Transportation typically represents a small fraction."
- Reasoning: The structure introduces a popular idea and then challenges the simple assumptions behind it.
- Conclusion: This matches "presents a movement, then complicates common assumptions."
💡 Strategy: Summarize: Local is good? Maybe not always (Greenhouses vs. Shipping).
Choice B is incorrect because recipes aren't provided. Choice C is incorrect because importing isn't universally advocated. Choice D is incorrect because countries aren't compared.