Directions: Read the following passage and answer the given questions.

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to sweep across the United States, it is taking an everincreasing toll on public health, as well as numerous other industries and sectors. From travel and tourism to finance and construction – almost every aspect of the U.S. economy has faced a lot of hurdles due to the global pandemic. One industry that has seen particularly noticeable changes over the past few months is e-commerce. As most states have issued stay-at-home orders in an attempt to slow the spread of the disease, many Americans are now self-isolating while turning to technology for work, education, communication, and shopping. One of the most visible shifts in U.S. consumer demand and behavior, however, can be seen in regard to grocery shopping. According to a global survey conducted in April 2020, roughly 30 percent of U.S. consumers spent more than usual on food and drinks due to COVID-19, with packaged foods, alcohol, and nonperishable items most frequently purchased for their long shelf lives. But not only the amount and type of food that U.S. customers buy and sometimes stockpile has shifted in the first quarter of 2020, but also the preferred avenues. Around 74 percent of surveyed shoppers indicated a willingness to visit online grocery platforms during home isolation to avoid trips to the supermarket. In return, orders on online grocery delivery platforms like Postmates and DoorDash are surging, with Instacart, one of the most popular grocery delivery apps in the United States, seeing a 218 percent increase in downloads in March 2020. But while these services offer customers a safe and flexible alternative to jammed grocery stores or restaurants, companies like Instacart are also facing harsh criticism for their treatment of delivery workers. As couriers are hired as gig workers instead of employees, they do not receive sick pay or other health benefits. Seeing that these mediocre contractors work on the frontlines of the pandemic, their lack of financial and physical protection against the coronavirus has been an ongoing point of contention.