Question

read the passage and then answer the question.
peanut allergy is one of the most prevalent food allergies in the united states. more than three million people in the united states are allergic to peanuts, and that number is only increasing. for those with peanut allergy, exposure to peanuts results in mild to severe allergic reactions, including swelling, itching, shortness of breath, and nausea.
people with peanut allergy must be extremely vigilant, paying close attention to everything they eat in order to avoid accidentally eating peanuts. packaged foods often have labels that state whether they were prepared in facilities that also process peanuts. this information helps protect against the accidental consumption of peanuts.
what is the meaning of prevalent as used in the passage?
widespread
notorious
recognized
uncommon

Explanation:

The passage states over three million people in the U.S. have peanut allergy, showing it is common. "Prevalent" here means existing widely. Among the options, "widespread" matches this meaning; "notorious" refers to being known for bad things, "recognized" means acknowledged, and "uncommon" is the opposite.

Answer:

widespread