Question 64·Easy·Central Ideas and Details
In many cities, vacant lots have been transformed into community gardens. While these gardens do supply residents with fresh produce, urban planner Maya Ortiz argues their greatest value lies elsewhere. In her survey of ten neighborhoods, participants repeatedly mentioned that tending shared plots introduced them to neighbors they had never met, leading to informal seed swaps, block-cleanup days, and weekly potlucks. Ortiz concludes that community gardens function primarily as hubs of social connection that strengthen neighborhood cohesion.
Based on the passage, what does Ortiz identify as the primary value of community gardens?
For questions about an author’s primary value, main idea, or central claim, first locate signal words like “argues,” “concludes,” “primarily,” or contrast words like “while” and “however,” which often introduce the main point. Briefly restate that key idea in your own words before looking at the answer choices, then eliminate options that focus on secondary details, bring in new information not in the passage, or contradict explicit statements. This keeps you anchored to the text and speeds up choosing the best paraphrase of the author’s conclusion.
Hints
Locate the key contrast
Find the sentence that starts with “While these gardens do supply residents with fresh produce…” and notice what Ortiz says comes after that contrast.
Focus on Ortiz’s conclusion
Look for words like “concludes” or “primarily” — they usually signal the author’s main point about the topic.
Paraphrase before looking at choices
In your own words, say what Ortiz thinks is the main role of community gardens, then pick the choice that best matches your paraphrase.
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify what the question is asking
The question asks for the primary value of community gardens according to Ortiz. That means you must focus on Ortiz’s main point, not just any benefit mentioned in the passage.
Find Ortiz’s statement about the gardens’ greatest value
Look at the key sentence: “While these gardens do supply residents with fresh produce, urban planner Maya Ortiz argues their greatest value lies elsewhere.” This contrast (“while … greatest value lies elsewhere”) signals that fresh produce is not what she considers most important.
Read how Ortiz explains that ‘greatest value’
Right after that, the passage describes how people met new neighbors, started seed swaps, cleanup days, and potlucks. Then it says: “Ortiz concludes that community gardens function primarily as hubs of social connection that strengthen neighborhood cohesion.” This is her conclusion about what matters most.
Match the conclusion to the answer choice
The choice that best restates “hubs of social connection that strengthen neighborhood cohesion” is “They serve as gathering places that help build stronger neighborhoods.”, so that is the correct answer.