You cant chop vegetables, slice meat, or whip up a cake batter if you

Question

You can’t chop vegetables, slice meat, or whip up a cake batter if you can’t even fit a cutting board or a mixing bowl on your counter, so take a good look at your countertops. What’s on them?  Coffeemakers, blenders, food processors, racks of spice jars or canisters of flour and sugar, stacks of bills, permission slips, and grade school art projects?  Is your countertop doubling as a magazine rack, plant holder, or wine rack? Consider this: Your kitchen counters aren’t meant to be storage units. They are meant to be food preparation areas. A clean, clear counter space can inspire the creation of a great meal. A cluttered one is more likely to inspire a call to the pizza delivery guy.

If your kitchen counter is cluttered with paraphernalia beyond usefulness, that’s a problem you can fix. The ultimate test for whether something should be allowed valuable countertop real estate is how often you use it. If you use an appliance or food ingredient (like coffee or flour) almost every day, then go ahead and give it hallowed ground. Otherwise, stow it. Be ruthless. Put away the mixer, the food processor, the bread machine, and the rice cooker. Away with the herb and spice rack, the bottles of nut oil and fancy vinegar. Find a better spot for the mail and the bills. As you rid your counters of this clutter, you also get rid of your excuses for not having the space to cook dinner.    1 
 1. The  Highlighted ] sentence in the passage is included for what likely purpose?

(A) The author is suggesting appropriate items to keep on your countertop.
(B) The author is mocking American capitalism and the overwhelming amount of stuff many people own.
(C) The author is pointing out common safety hazards in the kitchen.
(D) The author is gently teasing readers about the items that they might be storing on their kitchen counters instead of using the counters for cooking.
(E) The author has created a list of unneeded items that should be disposed of immediately.

2 
 2. Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

(A) Here Are the Basics You Need to Start Cooking
(B) Coffee and Flour are the Building Blocks of the Kitchen
(C) Cleaning Off Your Counter Gets Your Ready to Cook!
(D) No One Considers the Lowly Kitchen Counter
(E) Let’s Get Your House Organized!

3 
 3. The second paragraph of the passage would be most likely to be helpful to someone who is

(A) Trying to give up coffee.
(B) Unsure about whether to keep their deep fryer on their kitchen counter, even though it is only used once a month.
(C) Looking for an organizational system to corral all of their loose papers.
(D) Remodeling their kitchen.
(E) Not sure if they want to cook at home more often or not.

4 
 4. Based on the passage, it can reasonably be inferred that the authors approve of which of the following ideas?

(A) Planning a monthly menu.
(B) Shopping for produce and other ingredients locally.
(C) Keeping a kitchen spice collection down to a half-dozen instead of twenty or more spices.
(D) Encouraging families to cook together.
(E) Maintaining a clutter-free kitchen so it is usable whenever cooking inspiration strikes.

5 
 5. According to the passage, where do the mail and bills belong?

(A) On the kitchen counter
(B) On the dining room table
(C) Neatly sorted
(D) Not specified, but not on a kitchen counter
(E) They should be recycled as soon as possible

RC Butler 2022  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 208 Date: 24-May-2022
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2022 .  Click here for Details

Cooking Basics For Dummies  by Bryan Miller & Marie Rama

localjules · Answer

Sub 600, respectfully

Although this is a welcome confidence booster

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Difficulty Tag updated.

PS: Question #3 is not sub-600 level though.

adityashikhar4 · Answer

I don't quite get why the answer to the 4th question is option e given the fact that no inspiration to cook is being talked about here instead the author argues for a decluttered kitchen which makes option c more appropriate. Kindly explain.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Option (E)  is correct because it aligns with the main argument and message of the passage. The passage emphasizes the importance of having a clean and clutter-free kitchen countertop, specifically highlighting that countertops are meant to be food preparation areas, not storage units. It suggests that a clean and clear counter space can inspire the creation of a great meal, while a cluttered one hinders cooking.

Option (E)  states the idea of maintaining a clutter-free kitchen so it is usable whenever cooking inspiration strikes. This directly reflects the passage's emphasis on the benefits of having a clean and clear countertop for food preparation. It supports the idea that a clutter-free kitchen allows for the efficient use of space and facilitates cooking. Therefore,  option (E)  is the most appropriate inference that can be made from the passage.

Pinurba · Answer

Please help me to explain Q1) The   sentence in the passage is included for what likely purpose?
(B) The author is mocking American capitalism. How does "American capitalism" mean? How does it become the right answer? thank you

Sajjad1994 · Answer

The quoted sentence highlights various items that people might have cluttering their kitchen counters, such as coffeemakers, blenders, food processors, spice jars, bills, permission slips, and grade school art projects. The tone of the sentence is not overly critical or serious but rather humorous and gently teasing. The author is drawing attention to the potential clutter on kitchen counters and playfully suggesting that if these items are taking up space, it might be hindering the ability to use the counter for its intended purpose, which is food preparation. The mention of magazine racks, plant holders, or wine racks further emphasizes the humorous tone and suggests that people may be using their countertops for various purposes other than cooking. (B) is incorrect.

VerbalBot · Answer

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You cant chop vegetables, slice meat, or whip up a cake batter if you

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You cant chop vegetables, slice meat, or whip up a cake batter if you

Prep Toolkit

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