One thousand years ago, less than 4 percent of habitable land was used for agriculture. Today, approximately 50 percent is used for agriculture. Which statement best explains why this large change occurred?(1 point)
Responses
Humans developed new agricultural practices which allowed the expansion of agriculture.
Humans developed new agricultural practices which allowed the expansion of agriculture.
The human population increased rapidly, which caused a subsequent increase in the demand for food.
The human population increased rapidly, which caused a subsequent increase in the demand for food.
Most humans live in urban areas, so rural areas are heavily developed to provide food for those densely populated urban areas.
Most humans live in urban areas, so rural areas are heavily developed to provide food for those densely populated urban areas.
As human population grows, more food is produced, causing soil quality to decline, so more land is needed to grow the same amount of crops.
The human population increased rapidly, which caused a subsequent increase in the demand for food.
The statement that best explains why there has been a large change in the amount of land used for agriculture is:
- Humans developed new agricultural practices which allowed the expansion of agriculture.
- The human population increased rapidly, which caused a subsequent increase in the demand for food.
- Most humans live in urban areas, so rural areas are heavily developed to provide food for those densely populated urban areas.
- As human population grows, more food is produced, causing soil quality to decline, so more land is needed to grow the same amount of crops.
The statement that best explains why the change occurred is: "Humans developed new agricultural practices which allowed the expansion of agriculture."
To understand why this statement is the best explanation, let's break it down:
1. Humans developed new agricultural practices: Over time, humans have invented and improved various techniques and technologies for farming. These advancements include irrigation systems, crop rotation, mechanization, genetic modification, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides. These practices have significantly increased crop yields and made it possible to grow crops in previously unsuitable areas.
2. Expansion of agriculture: The development of new agricultural practices has enabled farmers to cultivate more land and increase productivity. This expansion is essential to meet the growing demands of an increasing global population.
Although the other statements also contain elements of truth, they do not fully explain the significant increase in the amount of land used for agriculture:
- The statement about the human population rapidly increasing and creating a higher demand for food is related to the expansion of agriculture. However, it does not directly address the reasons behind the increase in land use for agriculture.
- The statement about urban areas heavily developed to provide food for densely populated urban areas is partially accurate. Urbanization has led to increased demand for food, but it does not explain why more land is being used for agriculture.
- The statement about soil quality declining due to population growth and the need for more land for the same crop production is not the main reason for the significant increase in agricultural land. While soil degradation is a concern in some areas, the primary factor driving the expansion of agriculture is the development of new agricultural practices.
In summary, the development of new agricultural practices that allow for increased productivity and the ability to cultivate previously unused land is the most plausible explanation for the large change in the amount of land used for agriculture.