Reading comprehension on vadu mangai: why do local markets get only a small portion of the mango harvest?

Introduction / Context:
This reading comprehension question asks you to identify the reason why only a small portion of the vadu mangai mango harvest reaches local markets. The passage describes how the mangoes are grown, how they are bought by different buyers, and how they finally appear in local street markets. The task is to locate the specific cause mentioned by the author and distinguish it from other incidental details in the passage.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The passage explains that there are two varieties of vadu mangai near Coimbatore.
• Representatives from commercial pickle brands buy these mangos in large lots directly from wholesalers.
• Only a small portion of the yearly harvest trickles down to local markets.
• Small vendors then bring sacks of these tender mangoes to a particular street corner during the season.
• Local markets operate during fixed morning hours depending on how quickly the stock is sold.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea is to focus on the sentence that directly explains why the local markets receive limited quantities. Many reading comprehension options include statements that are true but not the main cause. The correct approach is to find the explicit cause and effect structure in the passage, usually signalled by words like "because", or by two consecutive sentences where one states a fact and the next describes its result.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Locate the line that mentions "Only a small portion of the year's harvest trickles down to the local markets." Step 2: Read the preceding sentence: it says that representatives from commercial pickle brands whisk these mangos away in big lots directly from the wholesalers. Step 3: Understand the connection: large commercial buyers purchase much of the harvest in bulk, leaving only a limited quantity available for local markets. Step 4: Evaluate the options and see which one captures this reason most accurately. Step 5: Identify that option A, about commercial pickle companies buying the mangoes in huge quantities, directly matches the cause stated in the passage.

Verification / Alternative check:
Check whether the other options genuinely explain why the local markets receive only a small portion of the harvest. The passage does mention that vendors may leave early if their produce is sold quickly, but this describes the selling pattern at the market, not the limited inflow. There is no mention of the number of vendors being only three, and the fact that sellers are small vendors does not, by itself, explain why the harvest reaching them is small. Only the bulk buying by commercial pickle brands clearly accounts for the reduced volume in local markets.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B: Early selling times, such as finishing by 9.00 am, show high demand and quick sales but do not explain why the total quantity reaching the market is small. Option C: The passage never states that there are only three vendors, so this option is invented and unsupported. Option D: Describing the sellers as small vendors is a background detail and not presented as a reason for limited supply.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake in such questions is confusing consequences with causes. Students see that mangoes sell quickly and think that is the main reason for scarcity in markets, but the passage clearly explains that the scarcity originates earlier in the supply chain, at the wholesaler level. Always identify whether the option describes a cause or merely a related fact. Stick closely to the passage and do not guess.

Final Answer:
Local markets get only a small portion of the mango harvest because commercial pickle companies buy the mangoes in huge quantities, which is stated in option A.