Question

Comprehension: In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Erosion of America's farmland by wind and water (1)_____ a problem since settlers first put the prairies and grasslands (2)______ the plow in the 19th century. By the 1930s, more than 282 million acres of farmland were (3)______ by erosion. After 40 years of conservation efforts, soil erosion has (4)________ due to new demands placed (5)____ the land by heavy crop production. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 3.

• A. improved
• B. damaged
• C. developed
• D. purified

Answer 1

Answer:

B. damaged

To find the correct word for blank (3), we must look at the cause-and-effect relationship described in the sentence: Contextual Logic: The sentence discusses "erosion," which is the wearing away of topsoil by natural forces. In an agricultural context, erosion is a negative process that destroys the quality and usability of the land. Why "Damaged" (B): Since erosion is a destructive force, it "damages" the farmland. By the 1930s (the era of the famous "Dust Bowl"), millions of acres had been rendered unproductive because of this physical harm. Why the others don't fit: Improved (A): This means to make something better. Erosion does not make farmland better. Developed (C): This implies growth or intentional construction. Erosion is an uncontrolled natural degradation. Purified (D): This means to make something clean or pure. Erosion actually strips away the nutrient-rich layers of soil.