Edible Forests Are Sprouting Up Across America

What is the most likely reason the author includes the information in paragraphs 16 through 19?

• To show that the majority of food forests are unsuccessful due to damage from pests

• To highlight that food forest projects are often fully funded with grants from the government

• To emphasize that even though they are self-sustaining, food forests must be managed well to be successful

• To suggest that because it takes so long for crops to grow, food forests are not a realistic option for most communities

What is the most likely reason the author includes paragraphs 12 through 14?

• To explain the food forest concept and design model

• To encourage nonprofit groups to seek assistance from volunteers

• To highlight existing food forests that have been successful

• To describe how to maximize sustainable agricultural production

What is the best summary of the selection?

• Food forests are self-sustaining gardens that produce various fruits and vegetables. These public areas, which can be found in several cities across the country, are similar to community gardens but offer additional benefits to local residents. Two such food forests are Thorne-Rider Park in Wyoming and Coastal Roots Farm in California.

• Food forests are not a new concept, and many cities have taken advantage of these edible landscapes. However, critics warn that there are many drawbacks that should be considered, such as issues with funding, labor, and pests

• The first food forest was founded in Asheville, North Carolina, in 1997. Since then, organizations across the country have taken note of the permaculture design and have implemented it into similar projects such as Coastal Roots Farm in Encinitas, California, and Thorne-Rider Park in Sheridan, Wyoming.

• Carol LeResche is a food forest coordinator who enjoys creating edible gardens so that local residents can have access to free vegetables such as zucchini and potatoes. She received a grant to begin a food forest at Thorne-Rider Park in Sheridan, Wyoming.

Based on paragraphs 7 through 9, why might people assume that food forests are a “spin-off” of community gardens?

• They both feature crops that do not need much maintenance over time.

• They both provide crops that are shared with local food banks.

• They both offer residents public areas to harvest food.

• They both require residents to make a monetary investment

Which idea does the author highlight throughout the selection?

• People prefer food forests over community gardens.

• Food forests are a valuable asset to communities around the country.

• Some food forests emphasize the plants’ beauty over their practical use.

• Residents are required to maintain food forests in order to gather food from them.

What is the most likely reason the author wrote this selection?

• To describe a unique way that people can get involved in their communities

• To convince community leaders to establish food forests

• To detail an alternative agricultural practice that is becoming more popular

• To expose flaws in the implementation of food forests

Read this sentence from paragraph 6.

“We think it’s important to put public food in public spaces,” she said.

What does this sentence help the reader to understand?

• The main reason the food forest in Thorne-Rider Park was started

• The high level of interest communities have in starting food forests

• The concerns raised by critics about starting a food forest at Thorne-Rider Park

• The motivation behind the rules that govern community gardens

In paragraphs 7 and 8, what is the most likely reason the author contrasts food forests with community gardens?

• To reveal problems caused by the amount of time it takes for community gardens to produce crops

• To give reasons why food forests include more perennials than community gardens

• To note objections to charging residents for use of plots in community gardens

• To highlight distinctions in costs, labor, and plants between food forests and community gardens

The author develops the thesis of the selection mainly by —

• alternating both descriptions and specific examples of food forests with more general information about the reasons behind creating edible forests

• describing a typical day of the food forest coordinator and then explaining how edible forests are primarily funded

• providing a general overview of where edible forests are located and then describing why it is important to have volunteers who are knowledgeable about the care of plants

• listing the requirements residents must meet before foraging in the edible forests and then offering specific examples as to where most edible forests are located