Question

farming changes the environment

1. the word erosion means —.

a. stop farming because of its harmful affects
b. tell a story about how a farmer harmed the environment
c. tell how many plants and animals have been harmed by farming
d. explain the affects of farming and offer solutions to help

1. what is the central idea of this article?

a. farming is necessary for people and good for our environment.
b. we should stop farming because it is harmful for the environment.
c. farming is necessary, so we must choose careful farming methods.
d. farmers have been careless with our environment.

1. the author probably wrote this article to —.

a. stop farming because of its harmful affects
b. tell a story about how a farmer harmed the environment
c. tell how many plants and animals have been harmed by farming
d. explain the affects of farming and offer solutions to help

1. if farming is so harmful to the environment, why do we keep farming?

Explanation:

1. Question 1:

• The text mentions "They can wash away the bare topsoil. Farmers can slow down this erosion." So "erosion" means wind and water washing away the soil.

1. Question 2:

• The first paragraph says "Farming is a necessary part of the modern world. People to eat. However, farming changes the natural environment." And then the article talks about both the negative (e.g., destroying habitats) and positive (e.g., farmers can help by planting trees and shrubs) aspects. The central idea is that farming is necessary for people and good for our environment (with proper management).

1. Question 3:

• The article first lists the impacts of farming (both good and bad) and then offers solutions like using fertilizers carefully, planting cover - crops. So the author wrote the article to explain the affects of farming and offer solutions to help.

1. Question 4:

• The text says "It is important for farmers to be good stewards of the environment. If farming is so harmful to the environment, why do we keep farming?" And then it explains that farming is necessary (people need to eat) and can be made less harmful (e.g., by being good stewards, using fertilizers correctly, planting cover - crops etc.).

Answer:

1. B. wind and water washing away the soil
2. A. Farming is necessary for people and good for our environment
3. D. explain the affects of farming and offer solutions to help
4. Farming is necessary for people to get food (it provides the necessary food like meat and vegetables). And it can be made less harmful to the environment. Farmers can be good stewards. For example, they can apply fertilizers carefully, plant cover - crops to prevent erosion, plant trees and shrubs around fields to provide homes for animals. So we keep farming.