Starting in the sixteenth century, the population of Eurasia (the combined continental landmass of Europe and Asia) began an upward surge that, while the result of many factors, owed much to the new foods just coming out of the New World (the Americas). In China, the arrival of maize and sweet potatoes contributed to an increase in population from 140 million in 1650 to 400 million in 1850. Since maize could be grown in areas that were too dry for rice, and on hillsides that could not be irrigated, it added to the food supply and allowed people to live in new places. The uplands of the Yangtze basin were deforested to make way for the production of indigo and jute (nonfood crops) because the peasants who grew them could live on maize and sweet potatoes, which grew well in the hills. One practice that allowed food production to keep pace with a growing population was that of multiple cropping. When rice is grown in paddies, it absorbs most of its nutrients from water rather than soil, so it can be repeatedly cropped on the same land without the need to leave the land fallow (unplanted) to allow the soil to recover. Farmers in southern China could sometimes produce two or even three crops a year from a single plot of land.
In Europe, meanwhile, the new crops played a part in enabling the population to grow from 103 million in 1650 to 274 million in 1850. During the sixteenth century, Europe’s staple crops, wheat and rye, produced about half as much food per hectare (measured by weight) as maize did in the Americas, and about a quarter as much as rice did in southern Asia. So the arrival of maize and potatoes in Europe provided a way to produce much more food from the same amount of land. The most striking example was that of Ireland, where the population increased from around 500,000 in 1660 to 9 million in 1840-something that would not have been possible without the potato. Without it, the whole country could only have produced enough wheat to support 5 million people. Potatoes meant that there was enough food to support nearly twice this number, even as wheat continued to be grown for export, and potatoes could be grown on European land that was unsuitable for wheat. Being better fed made people healthier and more resistant to disease, causing the death rate to fall and the birth rate to rise. And what potatoes did to the north of Europe, maize did to the south: the populations of Spain and Italy almost doubled during the eighteenth century.
As well as adopting the new crops, European farmers increased production by bringing more land under cultivation and developing new agricultural techniques. In particular, they introduced new crop rotations involving clover and turnips (most famously, in Britain, the “Norfolk four-course rotation” of turnips, barley, clover, and wheat). Turnips were grown on land that would otherwise have been left fallow, and then fed to animals, whose manure enhanced the barley yields the following year. Feeding animals with turnips also meant that land used for pasture could instead be used to grow crops for human consumption. Similarly, growing clover helped to restore the fertility of the soil to ensure a good wheat harvest in the following year. Another innovation was the adoption of the seed drill, a horse-drawn device that placed seeds into holes at a precise depth. Sowing seeds in this way, rather than scattering them in the traditional manner, meant that crops were properly spaced in neat rows, making weeding easier and ensuring that adjacent plants did not compete for nutrients. Again, this helped increase the yields of cereal crops.
By the end of the eighteenth century, however, there were signs that the European surge in agricultural productivity could no longer keep up with population growth. The problem was most noticeable in England, which had been more successful than other European countries in increasing food production and so had difficulty maintaining the pace it had set itself once the population expanded. During the first half of the century, England had exported grain to the rest of Europe; but after 1750 the growing population, and a succession of bad harvests, led to shortages and higher prices.
1
Starting in the sixteenth century, the population of Eurasia (the combined continental landmass of Europe and Asia) began an upward surge that, while the result of many factors, owed much to the new foods just coming out of the New World (the Americas). In China, the arrival of maize and sweet potatoes contributed to an increase in population from 140 million in 1650 to 400 million in 1850. Since maize could be grown in areas that were too dry for rice, and on hillsides that could not be irrigated, it added to the food supply and allowed people to live in new places. The uplands of the Yangtze basin were deforested to make way for the production of indigo and jute (nonfood crops) because the peasants who grew them could live on maize and sweet potatoes, which grew well in the hills. One practice that allowed food production to keep pace with a growing population was that of multiple cropping. When rice is grown in paddies, it absorbs most of its nutrients from water rather than soil, so it can be repeatedly cropped on the same land without the need to leave the land fallow (unplanted) to allow the soil to recover. Farmers in southern China could sometimes produce two or even three crops a year from a single plot of land.
According to paragraph 1, which of the following was an advantage of planting maize and sweet potatoes?
AThey absorb few of their nutrients from the soil.
BMore than one crop can be produced a year on the same land
CThey can be grown in places that are not wet enough for some other crops.
DThey grow well together with nonfood crops such as indigo and jute.
2
Starting in the sixteenth century, the population of Eurasia (the combined continental landmass of Europe and Asia) began an upward surge that, while the result of many factors, owed much to the new foods just coming out of the New World (the Americas). In China, the arrival of maize and sweet potatoes contributed to an increase in population from 140 million in 1650 to 400 million in 1850. Since maize could be grown in areas that were too dry for rice, and on hillsides that could not be irrigated, it added to the food supply and allowed people to live in new places. The uplands of the Yangtze basin were deforested to make way for the production of indigo and jute (nonfood crops) because the peasants who grew them could live on maize and sweet potatoes, which grew well in the hills. One practice that allowed food production to keep pace with a growing population was that of multiple cropping. When rice is grown in paddies, it absorbs most of its nutrients from water rather than soil, so it can be repeatedly cropped on the same land without the need to leave the land fallow (unplanted) to allow the soil to recover. Farmers in southern China could sometimes produce two or even three crops a year from a single plot of land.
According to paragraph 1, what is true about rice grown in paddies?
AIt often does well in areas that are unsuitable for many other crops
BIt makes effective use of plots of land that cannot be irrigated in other ways
CIt contributes important nutrients to the soil on which the paddies are located.
DIt can yield more than a single crop per year on a given plot of land.
3
In Europe, meanwhile, the new crops played a part in enabling the population to grow from 103 million in 1650 to 274 million in 1850. During the sixteenth century, Europe’s staple crops, wheat and rye, produced about half as much food per hectare (measured by weight) as maize did in the Americas, and about a quarter as much as rice did in southern Asia. So the arrival of maize and potatoes in Europe provided a way to produce much more food from the same amount of land. The most striking example was that of Ireland, where the population increased from around 500,000 in 1660 to 9 million in 1840-something that would not have been possible without the potato. Without it, the whole country could only have produced enough wheat to support 5 million people. Potatoes meant that there was enough food to support nearly twice this number, even as wheat continued to be grown for export, and potatoes could be grown on European land that was unsuitable for wheat. Being better fed made people healthier and more resistant to disease, causing the death rate to fall and the birth rate to rise. And what potatoes did to the north of Europe, maize did to the south: the populations of Spain and Italy almost doubled during the eighteenth century.
Paragraph 2 supports which of the following statements about the maize and potato crops that were introduced in Europe?
AMaize and potatoes were thought to be more nutritious than wheat and rye were.
BMaize and potatoes were crops that were more resistant to disease than other crops.
CMaize and potato crops yielded amounts of food in Europe similar to rice yields in southern Asia.
DMaize and potatoes produced significantly more food per hectare than other crops did.
4
In Europe, meanwhile, the new crops played a part in enabling the population to grow from 103 million in 1650 to 274 million in 1850. During the sixteenth century, Europe’s staple crops, wheat and rye, produced about half as much food per hectare (measured by weight) as maize did in the Americas, and about a quarter as much as rice did in southern Asia. So the arrival of maize and potatoes in Europe provided a way to produce much more food from the same amount of land. The most striking example was that of Ireland, where the population increased from around 500,000 in 1660 to 9 million in 1840-something that would not have been possible without the potato. Without it, the whole country could only have produced enough wheat to support 5 million people. Potatoes meant that there was enough food to support nearly twice this number, even as wheat continued to be grown for export, and potatoes could be grown on European land that was unsuitable for wheat. Being better fed made people healthier and more resistant to disease, causing the death rate to fall and the birth rate to rise. And what potatoes did to the north of Europe, maize did to the south: the populations of Spain and Italy almost doubled during the eighteenth century.
Which of the following does paragraph 2 suggest occurred in Ireland between 1660 and 1840?
AWheat exports declined significantly.
BThe diets of most people changed and were no longer primarily wheat based.
CThe amount of wheat grown increased enough to support 5 million people
DPotatoes were most productive in fields that formerly were used only for wheat.
5
As well as adopting the new crops, European farmers increased production by bringing more land under cultivation and developing new agricultural techniques. In particular, they introduced new crop rotations involving clover and turnips (most famously, in Britain, the “Norfolk four-course rotation” of turnips, barley, clover, and wheat). Turnips were grown on land that would otherwise have been left fallow, and then fed to animals, whose manure enhanced the barley yields the following year. Feeding animals with turnips also meant that land used for pasture could instead be used to grow crops for human consumption. Similarly, growing clover helped to restore the fertility of the soil to ensure a good wheat harvest in the following year. Another innovation was the adoption of the seed drill, a horse-drawn device that placed seeds into holes at a precise depth. Sowing seeds in this way, rather than scattering them in the traditional manner, meant that crops were properly spaced in neat rows, making weeding easier and ensuring that adjacent plants did not compete for nutrients. Again, this helped increase the yields of cereal crops.
The phrase “adjacent plants” in the passage is closest in meaning to plants that are
Alocated next to each other
Bdependent on each other
Csimilar in needs to one another
Dcompetitive with each other
6
As well as adopting the new crops, European farmers increased production by bringing more land under cultivation and developing new agricultural techniques. In particular, they introduced new crop rotations involving clover and turnips (most famously, in Britain, the “Norfolk four-course rotation” of turnips, barley, clover, and wheat). Turnips were grown on land that would otherwise have been left fallow, and then fed to animals, whose manure enhanced the barley yields the following year. Feeding animals with turnips also meant that land used for pasture could instead be used to grow crops for human consumption. Similarly, growing clover helped to restore the fertility of the soil to ensure a good wheat harvest in the following year. Another innovation was the adoption of the seed drill, a horse-drawn device that placed seeds into holes at a precise depth. Sowing seeds in this way, rather than scattering them in the traditional manner, meant that crops were properly spaced in neat rows, making weeding easier and ensuring that adjacent plants did not compete for nutrients. Again, this helped increase the yields of cereal crops.
All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 3 as improvements in farming practices EXCEPT
Athe introduction of new crops into a rotation system
Bthe use of animal fertilizer to increase crop yields
Cthe feeding of animals with barley
Dthe growing of clover to add nutrients to soil and increase future crop yields
7
As well as adopting the new crops, European farmers increased production by bringing more land under cultivation and developing new agricultural techniques. In particular, they introduced new crop rotations involving clover and turnips (most famously, in Britain, the “Norfolk four-course rotation” of turnips, barley, clover, and wheat). Turnips were grown on land that would otherwise have been left fallow, and then fed to animals, whose manure enhanced the barley yields the following year. Feeding animals with turnips also meant that land used for pasture could instead be used to grow crops for human consumption. Similarly, growing clover helped to restore the fertility of the soil to ensure a good wheat harvest in the following year. Another innovation was the adoption of the seed drill, a horse-drawn device that placed seeds into holes at a precise depth. Sowing seeds in this way, rather than scattering them in the traditional manner, meant that crops were properly spaced in neat rows, making weeding easier and ensuring that adjacent plants did not compete for nutrients. Again, this helped increase the yields of cereal crops.
Select the two answer choices that, according to paragraph 3 were benefits of planting a turnip crop. To receive full credit, you must select TWO answers
AIt could be grown on land that would not otherwise be useful.
BIt reduced the need for frequent barley plantings.
CIt allowed pasture lands to be converted into crop fields.
DIt could be grown in fields together with clover.
8
By the end of the eighteenth century, however, there were signs that the European surge in agricultural productivity could no longer keep up with population growth. The problem was most noticeable in England, which had been more successful than other European countries in increasing food production and so had difficulty maintaining the pace it had set itself once the population expanded. During the first half of the century, England had exported grain to the rest of Europe; but after 1750 the growing population, and a succession of bad harvests, led to shortages and higher prices.
The author discusses England’s agricultural productivity in paragraph 4 in order to
Ahighlight England’s continuing success in increasing food production
Bbring attention to the difficulty of providing adequate food for steadily increasing populations
Cdefend the claim that England was Europe’s largest exporter of grains
Dhelp explain why England charged higher prices for grain than the rest of Europe
9
Starting in the sixteenth century, the population of Eurasia (the combined continental landmass of Europe and Asia) began an upward surge that, while the result of many factors, owed much to the new foods just coming out of the New World (the Americas). In China, the arrival of maize and sweet potatoes contributed to an increase in population from 140 million in 1650 to 400 million in 1850. Since maize could be grown in areas that were too dry for rice, and on hillsides that could not be irrigated, it added to the food supply and allowed people to live in new places. The uplands of the Yangtze basin were deforested to make way for the production of indigo and jute (nonfood crops) because the peasants who grew them could live on maize and sweet potatoes, which grew well in the hills. [■] One practice that allowed food production to keep pace with a growing population was that of multiple cropping.[■] When rice is grown in paddies, it absorbs most of its nutrients from water rather than soil, so it can be repeatedly cropped on the same land without the need to leave the land fallow (unplanted) to allow the soil to recover. [■] Farmers in southern China could sometimes produce two or even three crops a year from a single plot of land.
[■] In Europe, meanwhile, the new crops played a part in enabling the population to grow from 103 million in 1650 to 274 million in 1850. During the sixteenth century, Europe’s staple crops, wheat and rye, produced about half as much food per hectare (measured by weight) as maize did in the Americas, and about a quarter as much as rice did in southern Asia. So the arrival of maize and potatoes in Europe provided a way to produce much more food from the same amount of land. The most striking example was that of Ireland, where the population increased from around 500,000 in 1660 to 9 million in 1840-something that would not have been possible without the potato. Without it, the whole country could only have produced enough wheat to support 5 million people. Potatoes meant that there was enough food to support nearly twice this number, even as wheat continued to be grown for export, and potatoes could be grown on European land that was unsuitable for wheat. Being better fed made people healthier and more resistant to disease, causing the death rate to fall and the birth rate to rise. And what potatoes did to the north of Europe, maize did to the south: the populations of Spain and Italy almost doubled during the eighteenth century.
Look at the four squaresthat indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage
Improved farming methods also played a role
Where would the sentence best fit？Click on a square sentence to the passage.
10
Between 1650 and 1850, the population of Eurasia grew enormously, due in part to new foods from the Americas.
AIn China, the arrival of maize and sweet potatoes allowed food to grow where it could not before and, along with multiple cropping of rice, enabled food production to keep up with rapid population growth.
BPopulation in China grew at a much higher rate than in Europe. but because China continued steadily to increase its rice yields, food production there was better able to keep up with population increases.
CImproved farming techniques and more land under cultivation helped increase European agricultural productivity but, by the end of the eighteenth century it could no longer keep up with population growth.
DIn Europe, the arrival of the potato and maize increased the food supply way beyond what was possible with traditional crops and resulted in healthier people, lower death rates, and higher birth rates.
EIn northern Europe, traditional cereal grains, particularly wheat, continued to be important, but in southern Europe, where the population had almost doubled, maize had almost entirely replaced wheat.
FThe Norfolk rotation system made England the most successful European country in increasing food production, but eventually that system led to bad harvests an could no longer be used.
