Question

question 12 (1 point)
which is the best possible explanation for the development of agriculture?
o a the end of the ice age resulted in more land available for farming.
o b a combination of changing gender roles and social classes provided suitable conditions to domesticate plants.
o c population growth provided a surplus of labor specializing in the planting of crops.
o d extinction of animals that had been hunted required new food sources.
o e a combination of environmental and cultural factors supported plant cultivation.

question 13 (1 point)
subsistence agriculture is characterized by
o a labor - saving technology.
o b small farm size producing just enough to feed a family.
o c large plantations focused on cash crops.
o d even distribution across developed countries.
o e a small number of farmers in comparison to farmland.

Explanation:

• Question 12:
• Option a only focuses on environmental (land availability) and ignores cultural aspects.
• Option b, while gender roles and social classes are part of culture, it's too narrow as it doesn't consider environmental factors.
• Option c, population growth leading to labor surplus for crops is a partial view as it doesn't account for environmental and other cultural factors like knowledge of plant domestication.
• Option d, animal extinction as a sole driver ignores the complex interplay of multiple factors.
• Option e, a combination of environmental (e.g., climate, soil) and cultural (e.g., knowledge of plant cycles, social organization for farming) factors is a comprehensive view of what supported the development of agriculture.
• Question 13:
• Option a, labor - saving technology is more associated with commercial or industrialized agriculture, not subsistence.
• Option b, small farm size producing just enough for a family is the essence of subsistence agriculture where the main goal is to meet the farmer's own family's food needs.
• Option c, large plantations focused on cash crops are for commercial agriculture.
• Option d, subsistence agriculture is more common in developing countries, not evenly distributed in developed countries.
• Option e, a small number of farmers compared to farmland is not a characteristic of subsistence agriculture.

Answer:

Question 12: E. A combination of environmental and cultural factors supported plant cultivation.
Question 13: B. small farm size producing just enough to feed a family.