Question
Gardening as a Family Activity
A. Gautam
In today’s fast-paced world, there are few activities families do together in a laid-back manner. One of the best activities that is good for the planet, family health, and mental well-being is starting and maintaining backyard garden.
Health benefits
Dr. Helen Delichatsios, a Massachusetts doctor, claims that backyard gardening can inspire people to take an interest in the origins of their food. Generally, people do not think a lot about their food purchases. With gardening, people care about what they put in their plate. When a family does this together, very young children can develop lifelong connection with good food and health.
Children become less picky eaters when they try the fresh and homegrown food that is packed with extra taste and flavor. More colorful fruits and vegetables become a part of the family diet. Because home gardeners are less likely to use chemicals and fertilizers, the produce is healthier.
Less waste
One of the biggest takeaways of backyard gardening is the consciousness of waste. Gardening teaches young people the effort it takes to grow food. Therefore, they are less likely to waste food. If children are allowed to choose the seeds they can plant, they will be more willing to take care of the seedlings, the plants, and then the food they grow. Families will waste less food if they eat more homegrown produce.
New adventure
You do not need to be an expert to grow simple produce in backyard garden or even in pots. Even young children can help with gardening tasks like taking the weeds out. Basic kitchen crops like tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, are easy to grow. Packets of seeds come with easy to follow instructions while home improvement stores with gardening sections have experts who can give you advice. Family members can choose their favorites to plant and start a new adventure right at home.
Patience
Gardening is about patience and slowing down. Today’s world of instant gratification and quick access needs the balance of gardening. Children need to know that good things take time. Planting seeds, taking care of the sprouting green at various stages, and reaping the reward after a few months teaches valuable lessons. Family members can be together while taking care of the plants, adding beauty to their backyard and enjoying the many rewards.
Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging
A. Gautam
Have you heard of the phrase “green thumb”? It is used to refer to someone who is good at gardening. Some people seem to produce fruits, vegetables, and herbs for their family or neighborhood. However, not everyone is capable. Gardening takes knowledge, practice, and lots of patience. Not to mention, it takes a lot of time and expense. There are many obstacles to overcome in order to become a successful gardener.
Expense
Not everyone has a big, sunny backyard. Even pots and soil are expenses that not everyone can afford. If one is to garden in a raised bed, extra expenses occur. Regardless, rich organic topsoil is necessary for crops to grow well. Think about whether the expense you put into gardening is worth the produce you can get. Not everyone can afford to waste time and cash in gardening.
Commitment
Plants do not grow like in the story of Jack and the beanstalk. Seeds need to be carefully planted. Weekly planting, thinning, weeding, harvesting, and pruning is needed. Depending on the climate, plants need to be watered daily or twice a day. The time commitment should be taken into consideration before committing to a garden. Remember that water bill also adds up. Besides, taking long vacations without arranging for a neighbor to water your plants can result in the death of plants and waste of all the hard work.
Disappointment
Gardening should be seen as a hobby. You shouldn’t expect much from the first-time efforts. This way, various stages of failure wouldn’t result in too much disappointment. For example, even after you grow tomatoes, birds will eat your hard work. Snails and other insects will get to fruits of your labor before you know it.
Knowledge
Starting a small garden without proper knowledge or guidance is a terrible idea. You need to know about what grows well in your area and how to grow it well. You will need information about growing season, how to best plant, like in rows or with trellises, when to water, where to place the seedlings, etc. You cannot plant without preparation and expect results days, weeks, or even months later. Gardening is not for just anyone.
How is the concept of gardening treated differently in the two passages?
Responses
A “Gardening as a Family Activity” offers suggestions for activities for a family while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” discourages families to take on challenges as activities. “Gardening as a Family Activity” offers suggestions for activities for a family while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” discourages families to take on challenges as activities.
B “Gardening as a Family Activity” offers solutions to the problems of gardening while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” offers ideas for simple and small-scale gardening. “Gardening as a Family Activity” offers solutions to the problems of gardening while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” offers ideas for simple and small-scale gardening.
C “Gardening as a Family Activity” presents the advantages of gardening as a family while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” emphasizes on the difficulties of backyard gardening. “Gardening as a Family Activity” presents the advantages of gardening as a family while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” emphasizes on the difficulties of backyard gardening.
D “Gardening as a Family Activity” refers to experts and local gardeners for a family while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” claims that expert guidance is not enough.
A. Gautam
In today’s fast-paced world, there are few activities families do together in a laid-back manner. One of the best activities that is good for the planet, family health, and mental well-being is starting and maintaining backyard garden.
Health benefits
Dr. Helen Delichatsios, a Massachusetts doctor, claims that backyard gardening can inspire people to take an interest in the origins of their food. Generally, people do not think a lot about their food purchases. With gardening, people care about what they put in their plate. When a family does this together, very young children can develop lifelong connection with good food and health.
Children become less picky eaters when they try the fresh and homegrown food that is packed with extra taste and flavor. More colorful fruits and vegetables become a part of the family diet. Because home gardeners are less likely to use chemicals and fertilizers, the produce is healthier.
Less waste
One of the biggest takeaways of backyard gardening is the consciousness of waste. Gardening teaches young people the effort it takes to grow food. Therefore, they are less likely to waste food. If children are allowed to choose the seeds they can plant, they will be more willing to take care of the seedlings, the plants, and then the food they grow. Families will waste less food if they eat more homegrown produce.
New adventure
You do not need to be an expert to grow simple produce in backyard garden or even in pots. Even young children can help with gardening tasks like taking the weeds out. Basic kitchen crops like tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, are easy to grow. Packets of seeds come with easy to follow instructions while home improvement stores with gardening sections have experts who can give you advice. Family members can choose their favorites to plant and start a new adventure right at home.
Patience
Gardening is about patience and slowing down. Today’s world of instant gratification and quick access needs the balance of gardening. Children need to know that good things take time. Planting seeds, taking care of the sprouting green at various stages, and reaping the reward after a few months teaches valuable lessons. Family members can be together while taking care of the plants, adding beauty to their backyard and enjoying the many rewards.
Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging
A. Gautam
Have you heard of the phrase “green thumb”? It is used to refer to someone who is good at gardening. Some people seem to produce fruits, vegetables, and herbs for their family or neighborhood. However, not everyone is capable. Gardening takes knowledge, practice, and lots of patience. Not to mention, it takes a lot of time and expense. There are many obstacles to overcome in order to become a successful gardener.
Expense
Not everyone has a big, sunny backyard. Even pots and soil are expenses that not everyone can afford. If one is to garden in a raised bed, extra expenses occur. Regardless, rich organic topsoil is necessary for crops to grow well. Think about whether the expense you put into gardening is worth the produce you can get. Not everyone can afford to waste time and cash in gardening.
Commitment
Plants do not grow like in the story of Jack and the beanstalk. Seeds need to be carefully planted. Weekly planting, thinning, weeding, harvesting, and pruning is needed. Depending on the climate, plants need to be watered daily or twice a day. The time commitment should be taken into consideration before committing to a garden. Remember that water bill also adds up. Besides, taking long vacations without arranging for a neighbor to water your plants can result in the death of plants and waste of all the hard work.
Disappointment
Gardening should be seen as a hobby. You shouldn’t expect much from the first-time efforts. This way, various stages of failure wouldn’t result in too much disappointment. For example, even after you grow tomatoes, birds will eat your hard work. Snails and other insects will get to fruits of your labor before you know it.
Knowledge
Starting a small garden without proper knowledge or guidance is a terrible idea. You need to know about what grows well in your area and how to grow it well. You will need information about growing season, how to best plant, like in rows or with trellises, when to water, where to place the seedlings, etc. You cannot plant without preparation and expect results days, weeks, or even months later. Gardening is not for just anyone.
How is the concept of gardening treated differently in the two passages?
Responses
A “Gardening as a Family Activity” offers suggestions for activities for a family while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” discourages families to take on challenges as activities. “Gardening as a Family Activity” offers suggestions for activities for a family while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” discourages families to take on challenges as activities.
B “Gardening as a Family Activity” offers solutions to the problems of gardening while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” offers ideas for simple and small-scale gardening. “Gardening as a Family Activity” offers solutions to the problems of gardening while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” offers ideas for simple and small-scale gardening.
C “Gardening as a Family Activity” presents the advantages of gardening as a family while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” emphasizes on the difficulties of backyard gardening. “Gardening as a Family Activity” presents the advantages of gardening as a family while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” emphasizes on the difficulties of backyard gardening.
D “Gardening as a Family Activity” refers to experts and local gardeners for a family while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” claims that expert guidance is not enough.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The best response to describe how the concept of gardening is treated differently in the two passages is:
**C**: “Gardening as a Family Activity” presents the advantages of gardening as a family while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” emphasizes the difficulties of backyard gardening.
This option accurately captures that the first passage focuses on the benefits and positive aspects of gardening together as a family, including health benefits, reduced waste, adventure, and the patience learned through the process. In contrast, the second passage discusses the challenges and difficulties associated with gardening, such as expense, commitment, disappointment, and the necessity of knowledge.
**C**: “Gardening as a Family Activity” presents the advantages of gardening as a family while “Why Maintaining a Garden is Challenging” emphasizes the difficulties of backyard gardening.
This option accurately captures that the first passage focuses on the benefits and positive aspects of gardening together as a family, including health benefits, reduced waste, adventure, and the patience learned through the process. In contrast, the second passage discusses the challenges and difficulties associated with gardening, such as expense, commitment, disappointment, and the necessity of knowledge.