Question 73·Easy·Text Structure and Purpose
After decades of being considered a niche hobby, urban gardening is flourishing. Community groups first began converting vacant lots into neighborhood vegetable plots in the late 1970s. By the 1990s, schools were integrating garden programs into science classes. Today, rooftop farms supply produce to restaurants across major cities.
Which choice best describes the progression of the text?
For "progression of the text" questions, first ignore the answer choices and quickly summarize each sentence or paragraph in your own words in the margins (e.g., "1970s: community lots," "1990s: school gardens," "Today: rooftop farms"). Look for signal words that show time (dates, "today"), contrast ("however"), cause-effect ("because," "therefore"), comparison ("similarly," "unlike"), or problem-solution ("problem," "solution"). Then match the pattern you see—chronological, comparison, argument, problem-solution, etc.—to the answer choice that describes that structure, and eliminate any options that mention things the passage never does (like controversy, comparisons, or problems).
Hints
Focus on structure, not details
Instead of focusing on specific facts about urban gardening, think about how the information in each sentence is ordered from the beginning of the passage to the end.
Look for signal words
Underline or note any words or phrases that indicate time, such as specific years, decades, or words like "first" or "today." Ask yourself what pattern those time markers create.
Identify the overall pattern
Once you see the time-related phrases, decide whether the passage is mainly arranging information by time, arguing against something, comparing two things, or presenting a problem and solution.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the question is asking
The question asks for the "progression of the text," which means how the author organizes the information from the beginning to the end. Common patterns are: chronological (over time), cause-and-effect, comparison, problem-solution, or argument with reasons and refutations.
Summarize each sentence in simple terms
Go sentence by sentence:
- First sentence: Urban gardening used to be niche but is now flourishing.
- Second sentence: In the late 1970s, community groups started turning vacant lots into gardens.
- Third sentence: By the 1990s, schools added garden programs to science classes.
- Fourth sentence: Today, rooftop farms provide produce to city restaurants. This shows a movement from past to present.
Notice the time markers and pattern
The passage uses clear time cues: "late 1970s," "By the 1990s," and "Today." These signal that the author is walking through different stages in time. The content in each sentence is another example of how urban gardening appeared or expanded at that stage.
Match the observed pattern to the answer choices
You have identified that the passage moves from earlier decades to the present, showing how urban gardening changed and expanded over time. Among the choices, the only one that matches a chronological description of urban gardening’s development from its beginnings to today is: It traces the evolution of urban gardening over time, moving chronologically from its origins to the present.