Are organically grown foods the best food choices? The advantages claimed for

            such foods over conventionally grown and marketed food products are now being

            debated. Advocates of organic foods ― a term whose meaning varies greatly ―

 Line     frequently proclaim that such products are safer and more nutritious than others.

 (5)           The growing interest of consumers in the safety and nutritional quality of the

            typical North American diet is a welcome development. However, much of this

            interest has been sparked by sweeping claims that the food supply is unsafe or

            inadequate in meeting nutritional needs. Although most of these claims are not

            supported by scientific evidence, the preponderance of written material advancing

 (10)      such claims makes it difficult for the general public to separate fact from fiction.

            As a result, claims that eating a diet consisting entirely of organically grown foods

            prevents or cures disease or provides other benefits to health have become widely

            publicized and form the basis for folklore.

                Almost daily the public is besieged by claims for "no-aging" diets, new vitamins,

 (15)      and other wonder foods. There are numerous unsubstantiated reports that natural

            vitamins are superior to synthetic ones, that fertilized eggs are nutritionally superior

            to unfertilized eggs, that untreated grains are better than fumigated grains, and the like.

                One thing that most organically grown food products seem to have in common is

            that they cost more than conventionally grown foods. But in many cases consumers are

 (20)      misled if they believe organic foods can maintain health and provide better nutritional

            quality than conventionally grown foods. So there is real cause for concern if consumers,

            particularly those with limited incomes, distrust the regular food supply and buy only

            expensive organic foods instead.

            23. The word "Advocates" in line 3 is closest in meaning to which of the following?

                (A) Proponents

                (B) Merchants

                (C) Inspectors

                (D) Consumers

            24. In line 4, the word "others" refers to

                (A) advantages

                (B) advocates

                (C) organic foods

                (D) products

            25. The "welcome development" mentioned in line 6 is an increase in

                (A) interest in food safety and nutrition among North Americans

                (B) the nutritional quality of the typical North American diet

                (C) the amount of healthy food grown in North America

                (D) the number of consumers in North America

            26. According to the first paragraph, which of the following is true about

              the term "organic food"?

                (A) It is accepted by most nutritionists.

                (B) It has been used only in recent years.

                (C) It has no fixed meaning.

                (D) It is seldom used by consumers.

            27. The word "unsubstantiated" in line 15 is closest in meaning to

                (A) unbelievable

                (B) uncontested

                (C) unpopular

                (D) unverified

            28. The word "maintain" in line 20 is closest in meaning to

                (A) improve

                (B) monitor

                (C) preserve

                (D) restore

            29. The author implies that there is cause for concern if consumers with

              limited incomes buy organic foods instead of conventionally grown foods

              because

                (A) organic foods can be more expensive but are often no better than

                  conventionally grown foods

                (B) many organic foods are actually less nutritious than similar conventionally

                  grown foods

                (C) conventionally grown foods are more readily available than organic foods

                (D) too many farmers will stop using conventional methods to grow food crops

            30. According to the last paragraph, consumers who believe that organic foods

              are better than conventionally grown foods are often

                (A) careless

                (B) mistaken

                (C) thrifty

                (D) wealthy

            31. What is the author's attitude toward the claims made by advocates of health

              foods?

                (A) Very enthusiastic

                (B) Somewhat favorable

                (C) Neutral

                (D) Skeptical

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