PSAT Reading Question 21: Answer and Explanation

Question: 21

According to the passage, agriculture has led to an increase in the

• A. flow of Europe's drinkable river water.
• B. cost of postharvest perishable goods.
• C. strain placed on the environment.
• D. number of people suffering from hunger.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

C

The question asks what has increased as a result of agriculture. This is the first question in a paired set, but it is easy to find, so it can be done on its own. Use lead words and the order of the questions to find the window. Q10 asks about line 2, so the window for Q11 most likely begins after that line. Look for the lead word agriculture. Lines 4–9 state that agriculture already represents one of the greatest threats to planetary health. It is responsible for 70 percent of the planet's freshwater withdrawals, 80 percent of the world's tropical and subtropical deforestation, and 30 to 35 percent of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, agriculture has led to an increase in environmental problems. Eliminate the answers that don't match this prediction. Choice (A) is a Right Answer, Wrong Question trap answer: the passage does mention the flow of a European river, but it is not mentioned as something that increased due to agriculture, so eliminate (A). The passage doesn't discuss the cost of goods, so eliminate (B). Keep (C) because it matches the prediction. Choice (D) is a Right Answer, Wrong Question trap answer: the passage mentions the number of people who suffer from hunger, but it does not say the number increased as a result of agriculture; eliminate (D). The correct answer is (C).