Explanation
Correct answer: D.
Choice D is the best answer because it best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole. The text begins by noting that companies increasingly depend on automation to improve production efficiency. The text then presents Granulo and colleagues’ finding that consumers think it’s preferable for one category of products (those “with higher symbolic value”) to be human made rather than machine made. The underlined sentence highlights a practical consequence of that finding: companies, especially those specializing in such products, should balance the efficiency of automation against consumer preferences. Thus, the underlined sentence emphasizes that the research finding has practical implications that are especially relevant for businesses making a certain class of product.
Why the other choices are wrong
Choice A
Choice A is incorrect. Although the text indicates that among products with high symbolic value, people prefer those made by humans over those made by machines, it doesn’t address whether products with high symbolic value are preferred over those with low symbolic value.
Choice B
Choice B is incorrect because rather than reiterate the finding in the previous sentence—that people tend to prefer “products with higher symbolic value” that are human made over those that are machine made—the underlined sentence instead makes a recommendation to companies that sell such products to carefully consider a potential drawback of making their products with machines.
Choice C
Choice C is incorrect because nothing in the underlined sentence or the text as a whole suggests that additional research is needed to evaluate Granulo and colleagues’ claim. Moreover, the researchers’ finding is that consumers prefer “products with higher symbolic value” to be human made, not that automation affects consumers’ ratings of how unique products are.