Question

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15. The writer wants to illustrate the point made in sentence 5 (reproduced below) by adding evidence to the end of the sentence, adjusting the punctuation as needed.
In addition, palm oil production is inexpensive.
Which choice best accomplishes this goal?
A. with the cost of production being “far less than any [comparable] vegetable or animal fat,” according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Council.
B. with the best plantations yielding tons of palm oil per hectare, and with some palms “that can give almost double” the oil of others, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board.
C. and thus many people do not care where the palm oil comes from, which means in those places “there’s not much incentive to change,” according to Neil Blomquist.
D. and now many places use palm oil, with Asia representing 40 percent of all palm oil consumption, having replaced soy oil with palm oil.
E. and some credit this lower cost with the prevalence of palm oil in consumer products, with one estimate placing palm oil in 70 percent of personal care products.

16. Which of the following changes to the underlined portion of sentence 7 (reproduced below) most effectively expresses the relationship between ideas in the sentence?
Forests must be cleared to make way for the planting of new palm trees, and the budding development of palm oil plantations has led to tropical rainforest deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia.

A. Forests must be cleared to make way for the planting of new palm trees;
B. Forests must be cleared to make way for the planting of new palm trees; additionally,
C. Even though forests must be cleared to make way for the planting of new palm trees,
D. Because forests must be cleared to make way for the planting of new palm trees,
E. Forests must be cleared to make way for the planting of new palm trees, yet

17.The writer wants to change sentence 10 (reproduced below) to qualify the paragraph’s claim in less absolute terms by adding a modifier and showing a differing viewpoint.
Palm oil plantations constantly destroy the habitats of endangered species, such as orangutans.
Which of the following best accomplishes this goal?
A. While the plight of animals might not be important to everyone, it is important to note that plantations consistently destroy the habitats of endangered species, such as orangutans.
B. As with other industries that take advantage of the abundant natural resources found in rainforests, plantations destroy the habitats of all endangered species, such as orangutans.
C. Given that plantations consistently destroy the habitats of endangered species, it is no surprise that plantations are responsible for a decline in biodiversity.
D. Although a few non-threatened species have actually benefited from palm oil plantations, these plantations frequently destroy the habitats of endangered species, such as orangutans.
E. As with companies that demolish other types of old-growth forests, companies that grow plantations continue to destroy the habitats of endangered species living on the land.

18. If added after sentence 13, which of the following claims would best expand on the concession that palm oil production does not have only negative implications?

A. Palm oil also has health benefits; it helps millions of people around the world avoid trans fats.
B. Many people in Indonesia and Malaysia earn a living thanks to palm oil production.
C. However, the negative effects of palm oil production continue to outweigh the benefits.
D. Many people around the world swear by the myriad benefits of palm oil in their everyday lives.
E. In spite of this, we can no longer overlook the serious consequences of increased palm oil production.

Answer 1

Answer: 15. A. with the cost of production being “far less than any [comparable] vegetable or animal fat,” according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Council.

Explanation: Option A provides evidence to support the point made in sentence 5, which is that palm oil production is inexpensive. The phrase "far less than any [comparable] vegetable or animal fat" adds specific details to the claim and provides a source, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, to give credibility to the information.

16. D. Because forests must be cleared to make way for the planting of new palm trees,

Explanation: Option D effectively connects the two ideas in the sentence by showing the causal relationship between clearing forests and planting new palm trees. The conjunction "because" makes it clear that one event is the reason for the other.

17. A. While the plight of animals might not be important to everyone, it is important to note that plantations consistently destroy the habitats of endangered species, such as orangutans.

Explanation: Option A qualifies the statement made in sentence 10 by acknowledging that not everyone might have the same concern for animal habitats. The phrase "while the plight of animals might not be important to everyone" shows that the statement is not absolute. The writer then goes on to provide specific evidence of the negative impact of palm oil plantations on endangered species, such as orangutans.

18. B. Many people in Indonesia and Malaysia earn a living thanks to palm oil production.

Explanation: Option B expands on the concession in sentence 13 by providing an example of a positive aspect of palm oil production. The phrase "many people in Indonesia and Malaysia earn a living" shows that palm oil production has a real-world benefit for people, not just negative consequences.