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. 2.

• A. besides
• B. on top
• C. above
• D. under

Answer 1

Answer:

D. under

To find the correct word for blank (2), we need to understand the idiomatic expression related to farming and history: The Idiom: The phrase "to put land under the plow" is a common expression in English. It means to start using land for farming or agriculture by plowing it. Why "Under" (D): The plow (or plough) is a tool that cuts into the soil. When land is "under the plow," it signifies that the soil is being actively turned over for cultivation. Why the others don't fit: Besides (A): Means "next to" or "in addition to," which doesn't make sense in a farming context. On top (B): This would imply the land is sitting on top of the tool, which is physically impossible. Above (C): Similar to "on top," this does not describe the relationship between the land and the act of plowing.