Question 60·Hard·Central Ideas and Details
For decades, economists analyzing urban food systems largely focused on large-scale commercial supply chains, relegating home and community gardens to the status of quaint hobbies. However, a growing body of interdisciplinary studies demonstrates that these small parcels collectively provide a substantial portion of fresh produce in many cities, improve nutritional outcomes among low-income households, and buffer communities against disruptions such as pandemics or extreme weather. By mapping harvest volumes across five metropolitan areas, a 2022 study by Morales et al. estimated that if garden cultivation were expanded by just 10%, the cities could meet up to 15% of their annual vegetable demand locally.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
For main-idea questions, briefly paraphrase the passage’s overall point in one sentence, emphasizing any contrast or shift in perspective. Then eliminate choices that are too narrow (only one benefit or one study) or that don’t capture the passage’s full scope, and pick the option that best matches your paraphrase.
Hints
Use the contrast signaled by "However"
Look at the first sentence (how economists used to see gardens) and then the sentence starting with "However." What new point is the author making after this word?
Notice the kinds of benefits described
List the main benefits the passage mentions: amount of produce, nutritional effects, and how gardens help during disruptions. Any correct main idea should cover this broader role, not just one statistic or one type of benefit.
Beware of extreme or overly specific answers
If a choice focuses mainly on a single detail (like one study or one number) or seems narrower than the passage as a whole, it’s probably not the main idea.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the general focus of the passage
Read the whole passage and summarize it in your own words. The author contrasts an older view (gardens seen as quaint hobbies) with newer research showing what these gardens do collectively: they supply a meaningful amount of produce, improve nutrition (especially for low-income households), and help communities handle disruptions like pandemics and extreme weather.
Decide what a good main-idea statement must include
A correct main-idea choice should:
- Reflect the passage’s shift from dismissing gardens to recognizing their importance.
- Cover the broad role gardens play (food supply + nutrition + resilience), not just one benefit.
- Avoid being overly narrow (e.g., focusing mainly on one study or one statistic).
Choose the option that matches the overall message
The only choice that reflects the shift in perspective and summarizes the gardens’ broad contributions to food security and resilience is:
Research increasingly shows that urban home and community gardens, once viewed as marginal, make significant contributions to food security and resilience.