Question

Paragraph 5 Even with these USDA guidelines, however, “organic” may not always mean what everyone thinks. Today, many of the organic products found on supermarket shelves aren’t produced on family-owned farms at all. Instead, they are produced by large agribusinesses that bought up those farms once it became clear how lucrative the organic market was becoming. In 2010, consumers spent nearly $27 billion on organic food and drink. That means that shoppers who opt to purchase organic yogurt or granola bars are giving their money to the same corporations as those who choose to eat heavily processed snack foods or soda. Such products, concocted of a brew of unhealthy and artificial ingredients, are not the kind of products most shoppers who are seeking organic foods want to support. Read the sentence from paragraph 5.

Instead, they are produced by large agribusinesses that bought up those farms once it became clear how lucrative the organic market was becoming.

Which phrase in the paragraph provides the best context clue to explain the meaning of lucrative?

A.
these USDA guidelines

B.
consumers spent nearly $27 billion

C.
family-owned farms

D.
heavily processed snack foods or soda

Answer 1

B. consumers spent nearly $27 billion — this phrase shows large amounts of money being made, which indicates "lucrative" means profitable.