Question

passage
natural beauty abruptly lost its claim
on human affection.
i cant help thinking that the virus
was supplying something the tulip
needed, just the touch of abandon
the flowers chilly formality called for.
maybe thats why the broken tulip
became such a treasure in
seventeenth - century holland: the
wayward color loosed on a tulip by a
good break perfected the flower,
even as the virus responsible set
about destroying it.
on its face the story of the virus and
the tulip would seem to throw a
question 6 of 7
according to the passage, in the
seventeenth century, the fact that broken
tulip bulbs tended to produce fewer and
smaller offsets compared to typical tulip
bulbs resulted in:
○ a decrease in the demand for broken
tulips.
○ a fear among growers that broken
tulips were diseased.
○ an increase in prices for broken tulips.
○ a desire among growers to plant a
wider variety of crops.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the passage and options. The passage says the broken tulip (due to virus) became a treasure in 17th - century Holland. If broken tulip bulbs produce fewer/smaller offsets, their supply is limited. In economics (a sub - field of Business), limited supply with high demand (since it's a treasure) leads to higher prices.

• Option A: The passage implies broken tulips were desired, so demand for them wouldn't decrease. Eliminate A.
• Option B: The passage presents the virus - caused broken tulip as a treasure, not a disease - related fear. Eliminate B.
• Option C: Since broken tulips are rare (fewer/smaller offsets) and desired (a treasure), their prices would increase. This matches economic principles of supply and demand.
• Option D: The passage focuses on tulips, not a desire to plant other crops. Eliminate D.

Answer:

C. an increase in prices for broken tulips