Digital PSAT Reading and Writing Practice Question 276: Answer and Explanation

Question: 276

They are a common fixture in household kitchens across the United States, but remarkably few of us who use them have any real idea of how our microwave ovens work. Contrary to most other food-heating appliances—the toaster, the convection oven, and the stove, for instance— the microwave itself has no internal heating element: flame,coil, or otherwise. Instead, the microwave oven uses the principle of dipole rotation to________.

Which choice most logically completes the text?

• A. create a healthy alternative to highly processed foods
• B. give consumers an affordable alternative to restaurant meals
• C. generate heat from the molecules within the food itself
• D. provide structural support to the walls of the appliance

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

C. The text indicates that microwaves are different from other food-heating appliances because they do not have an internal heating element. Stating that the microwave generates heat from the molecules in the food would logically complete this text, showing how microwaves can successfully heat food without having an internal heating element. The other options do not focus on the heating of food.