Explanation
Correct answer: C.
Choice C is the best answer. The text tells us that lemons—an expensive imported product—feature in Dutch paintings of the period more frequently than dairy products do. Since it’s unlikely lemons were eaten more often than dairy, this fact casts doubt on the theory that these paintings realistically depicted Dutch diets.
Why the other choices are wrong
Choice A
Choice A is incorrect. In fact, the text suggests the opposite: it says that dairy products were a "major component of the Dutch diet," while lemons were an expensive import item, so we can infer that lemons were eaten much more rarely than dairy products.
Choice B
Choice B is incorrect. The passage doesn’t mention painters from other countries, so there’s no basis to make this inference.
Choice D
Choice D is incorrect. In fact, the text suggests that Dutch painters do have reasons for depicting foods other than to show what Dutch people typically ate. For example, lemons in a painting could indicate wealth or prosperity.
Student discussion
marcosat 1 likes
Im Actually DUMB BRO. I correctly understood that, plausibly, foods must have had a symbolic purpose in paintings, given that lemons where EXPENSIVE to buy and ILLUSTRATED more OFTEN. Therefore, the cheese wheels could were in the paintings for symbolic purposes rather than for merely illustrative objectives. BUT BUT BUT BUT. The final sentence of the passage says "thereby CASTING DOUBT on the idea that, ___" Well, of course it is the idea that the foods where illustrated for eating habits. But as I found a correct inference, I fell for the trap.