Question

a developing nation expects its population triple in 50 years. to meet the resulting increase in food demand, farmers adopt the practice of growing a single, genetically modified crop on all available land for multiple seasons. the agricultural strategy primarily leads to which the consequence?
a increased biodiversity in the region and a higher risk of soil erosion.

b increased short - term yield and a higher vulnerability of the food supply to a single pest or disease.

c decreased reliance on chemical pesticides and a reduction in water consumption.

d decreased desertification and a lower cost of production due to diversified crops.

Explanation:

The question is about the impacts of monoculture (growing a single crop) in agriculture. Let's analyze each option:

• Option A: Monoculture typically leads to decreased biodiversity (not increased) and higher soil erosion risk? Wait, no—monoculture often reduces biodiversity as only one crop is grown. But let's check the other options.
• Option B: Monoculture (growing a single crop, especially genetically modified for high yield) can increase short - term yield. However, since all plants are the same, if a pest or disease that targets that crop comes, the entire crop is at risk, so the food supply becomes more vulnerable to a single pest/disease. This makes sense.
• Option C: Monoculture usually increases reliance on chemical pesticides (to control pests in the uniform crop) and may not reduce water consumption (in fact, some monoculture crops are water - intensive). So this is incorrect.
• Option D: Monoculture leads to increased specialization (not decreased) and often higher production costs in the long run due to pest issues, soil degradation, etc. Also, diversified crops would be the opposite of monoculture, so this is incorrect.

So the correct option is B as it accurately describes the impacts of monoculture: increased short - term yield (from growing a high - yield single crop) and higher vulnerability of the food supply to a single pest or disease (because all plants are the same, so a pest/disease that affects that crop can devastate the entire harvest).

Answer:

B. Increased short - term yield and a higher vulnerability of the food supply to a single pest or disease.