Question

eat, drink, shop local
1 buy local campaigns have popped up all over the country, encouraging consumers to support their local community businesses. the movement aims at moving customers away from large, big - box retailers and motivating them to support local business owners, farmers, craftsmen, and other product providers. while buying locally clearly supports ones own community, the value of supporting local businesses goes much further than that. consumers should support local businesses not only to boost the local economy, but also to help cities and towns maintain their own unique identities and cohesive communities.
what is the authors main claim or argument?
people should support local businesses to benefit their communities.
small businesses offer consumers a broad range of locally made products.
local businesses need financial support more than big - box stores and chains.

Explanation:

The passage states that buy - local campaigns encourage consumers to support local businesses. It also explains that supporting local businesses supports the community, boosts the local economy, and helps cities/towns maintain their identities and cohesive communities. The first option "People should support local businesses to benefit their communities" aligns with these points. The second option about the range of products from small businesses is not mentioned in the passage. The third option about local businesses needing more financial support than big - box stores is also not a main point of the passage.

Answer:

People should support local businesses to benefit their communities.