Read the following passage and answer the given question. The concept of cloud…
2025
Read the following passage and answer the given question.
The concept of cloud kitchens, also known as virtual or ghost kitchens, has become one of the fastest-growing trends in the food industry. Unlike traditional restaurants, cloud kitchens operate without a dine-in facility, focusing entirely on online orders and delivery services. This model has gained momentum due to changing consumer habits, technological integration, and the growing demand for convenience. One of the most significant economic advantages of cloud kitchens is cost efficiency. By eliminating the expenses of prime-location rentals, heavy décor, and customer service staff, businesses can focus resources on food quality, marketing, and delivery logistics. For many entrepreneurs, launching a restaurant earlier seemed like an elusive dream, but cloud kitchens have made it possible with lower investment and quicker setup. The global growth of cloud kitchens is impressive. In Britain, the industry witnessed a dramatic transformation in 2023, expanding nearly threefold compared to previous years. Much of this growth has been driven by the popularity of food delivery apps where customers need to tap once on their screens to get a meal delivered. Similarly, the United States has set an ambitious target, aiming to generate around $27 billion from cloud kitchen operations between 2027 and 2032. Such projections underline the crucial role cloud kitchens will play in the food economy of the future. Beyond profits, cloud kitchens contribute positively to the overall economy by creating jobs in cooking, packaging, logistics, and technology support. They also encourage collaborations with delivery platforms and boost allied sectors like packaging manufacturing and food supply chains. Much of this work is quietly done __________________, yet it strengthens multiple layers of the economy. However, this rapid growth has raised concerns. While governments have issued regulations concerning hygiene, licensing, and safety standards, many restaurants operating as cloud kitchens fail to comply strictly with these rules. The lack of regular inspections and the rush to meet demand often lead to corners being cut, raising questions about consumer safety and long-term sustainability. In conclusion, cloud kitchens represent a transformative shift in the food and service industry. They are cost-effective, scalable, and job-generating, making them vital for economic growth. Yet, their true potential will only be realized when strict adherence to regulations ensures that quality and safety are never compromised.
Which of the following situations best explains the concern highlighted in the passage?
- A.
A cloud kitchen receives a five-star rating for speedy delivery despite complaints about poor food quality.
- B.
A traditional restaurant installs a robot chef to improve efficiency and reduce labor costs.
- C.
A local food vendor switches to cloud kitchen services and increases profits.
- D.
A delivery app offers discounts to promote lesser-known cloud kitchens.
- E.
A food safety authority mandates regular inspections for dine-in restaurants only.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept
A reading-comprehension "concern" question asks you to identify the single problem the author treats as a worry, not the benefits the author praises. The strategy is to locate the passage's pivot word — here the "However" paragraph — because the writer's main concern is stated there, and then pick the scenario that is a concrete instance of exactly that worry.
Applying it to this passage
The pivot paragraph says that although hygiene, licensing and safety regulations exist, many cloud kitchens fail to comply, that a lack of regular inspections and the rush to meet demand lead to "corners being cut," and that this raises questions about consumer safety. So the author's concern is: speed and demand are being prioritized over food quality and safety.
The scenario that matches is a cloud kitchen that earns a five-star rating for speedy delivery even though customers complain about poor food quality. It shows fast service being rewarded while the quality and safety the regulations are meant to protect are neglected — a direct, concrete illustration of corners being cut.
Why the other scenarios do not fit
A traditional restaurant adding a robot chef to cut labor costs is about efficiency and automation, not about safety being compromised by cloud kitchens.
A local vendor switching to cloud kitchen services and earning higher profits is a positive economic outcome — one of the benefits the passage praises, not a worry.
A delivery app discounting to promote lesser-known kitchens is a marketing and growth point, again a benefit rather than a concern.
A food safety authority ordering inspections for dine-in restaurants only describes a regulatory scope detail; it does not depict cloud kitchens cutting corners on quality and safety, which is the concern raised.
Hence the situation about a high rating for speed despite poor food quality best explains the concern.