Passage I

As an apple ripens, it undergoes changes in its firmness (the maximum force that can be applied to the apple without puncturing its skin) and in its production of volatile (readily vaporized) compounds. A study examined how the storage time at 1 °C affected the firmness and the volatile abundance (the concentration of volatile compounds produced) of 4 different varieties of apples. Table 1 shows how the average firmness of each variety changed over time at 1 °C. Table 2 shows how the average volatile abundance of each variety changed over time .at 1 °C. (Note: All the apples were of identical maturity at 0 days.)

Tables adapted from Jlnhe Bal et al., "Response of Four Apple Cultlvars to 1-Methylcyclopropene Treatment and Controlled Atmosphere storage." @2005 by the American Society for Horticultural Science.

1. Suppose that a grocery store wants to purchase a variety of apple that will retain as much of its initial firmness as possible when stored at 1 °C for 6 months. Based on Table 1, which of the 4 varieties tested would best meet the store's selection criterion?

Answer and Explanation

Your Answer is

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The question asks to find the apple with the largest firmness in 6 months, so look at the last column in table 1 (6 months equals 180 days), Fuji has the highest firmness