Question

1 it used to be that when you were strolling through the grocery store, you might have looked for labels that advertised foods that were low in calories or sodium. but as our food supply has changed, science plays a bigger role in what we eat. today, one of the biggest controversies in your grocery store is whether that can or box or jar contains genetically modified organisms, or gmos. it is estimated that 60 to 70 percent of all processed foods available on store shelves contain gmo ingredients, particularly corn or high fructose corn syrup, soybeans, and cottonseed or canola oils. if you drink soda or eat snack foods or breakfast cereals, chances are good that youre already eating gmo ingredients.
2 people think of gmo foods with the same suspicion that they have when they hear about cloning animals or drinking milk from cows that were given bovine growth hormone. these things change something that has existed in nature. is this good? is it safer? before you can make up your mind about gmos, especially when it comes to what you eat, lets find out what genetic alteration really is.
3 biotechnology, the science that deals with genetic alteration, is a relatively new discipline that alters a plant on the molecular level. lets get down to this level. dna (short for deoxyribonucleic acid) is one of the basic elements in the
part a
which sentence best states a central idea of the passage?
a since genetically altered plants are a newer creation, there is enough evidence to prove they are safe to eat.
b although gmo products have become more commonplace, their long - term effects are still unknown.
c since genetically altered plants are developed to be sturdier than others, they are a better choice for consumers.
d although some people say gmo products are safe, it is best to avoid eating them when possible.
part b

Explanation:

The passage discusses GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), their prevalence in food supply (e.g., 60 - 70 percent of processed foods have GMO ingredients), and the controversy around them. It also touches on genetic alteration as a scientific concept (related to biotechnology). The central idea should encapsulate the main topic of GMOs and the debate/situation around them.

• Option A focuses on genetically altered plants being a "newer creation" with lack of evidence for safety. But the passage is more about GMOs in general (not just plants) and their commonality/controversy, not just the "newer creation" aspect.
• Option B mentions GMO products being common but long - term effects unknown. This aligns with the passage's points about GMOs being in a large percentage of processed foods (commonplace) and people's concerns (implied by the discussion of what people think about GMOs, which may relate to unknown long - term effects).
• Option C talks about genetically altered plants being sturdier as a better choice. The passage is more about the overall presence and controversy of GMOs, not promoting them as a "better choice".
• Option D is about avoiding GMOs. The passage is more informative about GMOs (their presence, what they are) rather than advocating for avoidance.

Answer:

B. Although GMO products have become more commonplace, their long - term effects are still unknown.