Some economical archivists____that late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century households in the United Kingdom experienced an economy of scale when it came to food purchases—they assumed that large households spent less on food per person than did small households. Economist Trevis Richard showed, however, that a close look at the available data disproves this supposition.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A short passage helps to draw a conclusion from the given passage.

The details and facts help to draw the main idea of the passage.

Can you summarize what you’ve understood in the above steps?

Choice A is incorrect because the text indicates that it’s Richard and not the economic archivists who “questioned,” or doubted, the assumption that large and small households in the late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-centuries spent different amounts on food per person; the economic archivistss are the ones who made that assumption to begin with.

questioned

Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century household food purchases. In this context, “surmised” means forming an idea or assumption with little evidence.

surmised

Choice C is incorrect. In this context, “manufactured” would mean brought about or created through trickery. The text simply suggests that they made an assumption about those behaviors that another archivist believes isn’t supported by the available data.

manufactured

Choice D is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that some economic archivists “regretted,” or felt sad or remorseful about, the food purchasing behaviors of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century households.

regretted

Correct sentence

The text with the most logical and precise word for the passage - Surmised

Option

B

Can you summarize what you’ve understood in the above steps?