Question

poor soil & deforestation in africa
the sub - saharan region of africa consists of all of africa that lies south of the sahara desert. a large portion of the sub - saharan region is stuck in a cycle of poor soil and deforestation.
many farmers in this region of africa practice subsistence farming. subsistence farming is farming to support the farmer and his family. the farmer will have little to no extra for selling or trade. subsistence farms are typically less than a few acres. these farmers use little technology, and they typically have low crop yields. subsistence farming is widely practiced in sub - saharan africa. it allows families to be self - sufficient, which decreases their need to travel or rely on towns.
unfortunately for these subsistence farmers, sub - saharan africa has poorly suited soil for crops. to overcome this, many farmers use a slash - and - burn method to clear land and make fertile soil. the slash - and - burn clearing method consists of cutting and burning trees. the ash from the trees is full of nutrients and will make the soil fertile. the fertile soil is only temporary, though. once the soil becomes poorly suited for crops again, the farmers must move on to new land. this century - old method is not a long - term solution. in fact, it causes a long - term problem of deforestation. this causes a cycle, which leads to deforestation of africa.
madagascar is one of the many nations that face issues with deforestation caused by the slash - and - burn method. it has been reported that in just one year, hundreds of thousands of acres were destroyed by fires caused by farmers trying to get fertile soil. madagascars environment minister made a public announcement in 2019 for international assistance to reduce the number of fires. the government and other agencies have put plans into place to stop slash - and - burn for agriculture and to begin reforestation.
poor soil and deforestation in sub - sahara africa are in a destructive cycle. farmers rely on fertile soil for their crops. since fertile soil is scarce, farmers resort to a destructive and short - term solution: slash - and - burn land clearing. this method destroys forests and gives farmers only a short amount time with fertile soil.
poor soil & deforestation in africa
directions: match the vocabulary term to its definition.

1. ____ cutting down trees and setting fires to create new fertile land
2. ____ a way to be self - sufficient
3. ____ clearing a wide range of trees
4. ____ limited
5. ____ a process used to water crops

a. subsistence farming
b. irrigation
c. slash - and - burn method
d. deforestation
e. scarce
directions: circle the best answer choice based on the passage.

1. fertile land is a(n) ____ resource in africa for several reasons.

a. worthless
b. scarce
c. plentiful
d. useless

1. which best describes the relationship between poor soil and deforestation in sub - sahara africa?

a. deforestation causes poor soil
b. poor soil causes deforestation
c. deforestation influences poor soil
d. low deforestation equals high poor soil

1. which best describes subsistence farming?

a. hundreds of acres of farmland
b. a few acres of farmland
c. high trade farming, big agriculture sales
d. farming for factories

1. the slash - and - burn method provides farmers with a long - term solution to poor soil

a. true
b. false

1. which best describes the sub - saharan region of africa?

a. land inside the sahara desert
b. land north of the sahara desert
c. land south of the sahara desert
d. land east of the sahara desert

1. `` madagascar is one of the many nations that face issues with deforestation caused by the slash - and - burn method. why did the author include this fact in the passage?

a. to give a reason behind a statement
b. to provide an example of a statement
c. to entertain the reader
d. to show a connection between two ideas

Explanation:

1. The first part of the text describes the slash - and - burn method as "cutting down trees and setting fires to create new fertile land", which matches option c.
2. Subsistence farming is described as a way to be self - sufficient, so it matches option a.
3. Deforestation is the clearing of a wide range of trees, so it matches option d.
4. Scarce means limited, so it matches option e.
5. Irrigation is a process used to water crops, so it matches option b.

For the multiple - choice questions:

1. The text mentions that fertile soil is scarce in Sub - Saharan Africa. So the answer is b.
2. The text clearly states that poor soil (because it is scarce) causes farmers to use the slash - and - burn method (which leads to deforestation). So the answer is b.
3. The text says "Subsistence farms are typically less than a few acres", so the answer is b.
4. The text states "This century - old method is not a long - term solution", so the answer is b (False).
5. The text says "The Sub - Saharan region of Africa consists of all of Africa that lies south of the Sahara Desert", so the answer is c.
6. The author includes the fact about Madagascar to provide an example of the statement that the slash - and - burn method causes deforestation. So the answer is b.

Answer:

1. c
2. a
3. d
4. e
5. b

Multiple - choice:

1. b. Scarce
2. b. Poor soil causes deforestation
3. b. A few acres of farmland
4. b. False
5. c. Land south of the Sahara Desert
6. b. To provide an example of a statement