#1 - Global Reference, Main Point

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is (C).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice.

Answer choice (D):

Answer choice (E):

This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[coffee123]

I think I see why "C" is correct, but would you be able to elaborate more on why "A" is wrong? Since the author seemed to discuss the importance of preserving these heirloom varieties in parallel to their importance to North American Indigenous cultures in the last paragraph, why is this not considered part of the "main point"? Thank you!

[Luke Haqq]

Hi coffee123!

The last sentence of the passage seems especially key to its overall main point: "These recent developments have made clear that immediate steps must be taken to preserve indigenous knowledge systems and integrate them with programs for the conservation of diverse crop genetics, thus bolstering the long-term sustainability of the continent's agricultural systems."

A problem with answer choice (A) is that I don't see mention anywhere of protecting North American cultures. Thus even if the first half of this answer choice looks okay, it can be eliminated in the end.

By contrast, answer choice (C) captures that final sentence and seems to address the entire passage. It covers the problem of an eroding crop genetic base introduced in the first paragraph, it captures the wide variety of heirlooms from the second paragraph, and it returns to that conclusion about what should be done about the problem that is in the final paragraph.