medium · SAT Reading & Writing

Economist Clara Jenkins has noted that while small-scale agricultural subsidies can support local food security, they often have unintended consequences on market diversity. By lowering the cost of staple crops, these subsidies incentivize farmers to abandon less profitable, specialized varieties in favor of a monolithic production model. Over time, this shift leads to a significant loss of genetic diversity in the region's food supply. Which choice most logically completes the text?

1. As a result, staple crops have become the most expensive items in the regional market.
2. In fact, most farmers report that the specialized varieties were already in decline before the subsidies were introduced.
3. Consequently, the short-term benefits of local food security may be offset by a long-term vulnerability to crop failure.
4. Therefore, government agencies should immediately terminate all agricultural subsidies to restore market balance.

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