Question

Which of the following events is MOST LIKELY to cause a rise in the price of oranges?

A
A freeze kills half of the orange crop in Florida.

B
Scientists discover a way to keep oranges fresh longer.

C
Big discount stores begin selling oranges in their produce section.

D
Mexico increases its exports of oranges to the U.S.

Answer 1

A freeze that kills half of the orange crop in Florida would likely cause a rise in the price of oranges due to a decrease in supply. Growers typically protect crops with a freezing water method, but a severe freeze could render this ineffective.

Step-by-step explanation:

The event most likely to cause a rise in the price of oranges is A: A freeze kills half of the orange crop in Florida. This is because the supply of oranges would significantly decrease due to the crop damage, leading to scarcity. The principles of supply and demand indicate that when the supply of a good decreases, the price typically increases if demand remains constant. In real-world scenarios, when growers in Florida are faced with temperatures near the freezing point, they use a method where they spray water on their orange trees, which freezes and releases energy, thereby keeping the oranges at a temperature above freezing to prevent damage. However, if a freeze is severe enough to kill half of the orange crop, this protective measure may not suffice, resulting in a significant loss of produce and an increase in price.

Answer 2

Answer: A. A freeze kills half of the orange crop in Florida.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most likely cause for a rise in the price of oranges is when a freeze kills half of the orange crop in Florida.

This will bring about the reduction in the supply of oranges since there'll be less orange crops. Hence, when this occurs there'll be greater demand and lesser supply of orange. This will ultimately lead to an increase in price since there is shortage of orange.

Therefore, the correct option is A