3. In context, which of the following is best to do with sentence 9 (reproduced below)? They say we could save a great deal of energy by addressing the problem of food waste.
Answer: A
Replacing 'They say' with 'Researchers assert that' improves clarity and authority.
This change provides a more formal attribution to the claim regarding energy savings from reducing food waste, enhancing the credibility of the statement.
A) Replace 'They say' with 'Researchers assert that'
This option is correct because it strengthens the statement by specifying that the assertion comes from researchers, thereby lending greater authority and objectivity to the claim about energy savings related to food waste.
B) Insert 'probably' before 'save'
This option is incorrect as it introduces uncertainty into the statement. The original sentence makes a direct claim about the potential energy savings, and adding "probably" would dilute the impact of that assertion, making it less compelling.
C) Replace 'by addressing' with 'if we would address'
This option is also incorrect because it changes the original meaning of the sentence. The phrase 'if we would address' implies a conditional situation rather than a direct action, which weakens the clarity of the statement regarding the energy savings achievable through addressing food waste.
D) Replace 'problem' with 'problems'
This choice is incorrect since it does not accurately reflect the context of the original sentence. The term 'problem' singularly encapsulates the issue of food waste, while 'problems' may imply multiple unrelated issues, which could confuse the reader and detract from the focus on food waste.
Conclusion
Option A is definitively the best choice as it clarifies the source of the assertion about saving energy by addressing food waste, thus enhancing the statement's credibility. All other options either introduce ambiguity or alter the intended meaning, making them less effective in the context of the passage.