Question

agriculture—the basis of civilization
the main factor that made it possible for humankind to settle in permanent communities was agriculture. a turning point in human history, the invention of farming and the tremendous changes it brought about have been called \the agricultural revolution\. after farming was developed in the middle east about 6500 bc, people living in tribes or family units did not have to move from place to place searching for food or herding their animals. once people controlled the production of food and had a large supply of it, their lives changed completely. people began to found permanent communities in fertile river valleys. they settled around rivers. settlers also learned to use the water supply to irrigate the land for farming. living in one place, made it possible to domesticate animals in order to provide other sources of food and clothing.

farming was indeed a revolutionary discovery. it not only made settlements possible—and ultimately the building of cities—but it also made available a reliable food supply. with more food available, more people could be fed. populations therefore increased. the growing number of people available for more kinds of work led to the development of more complex social structures. with a food surplus (extra), a community could support a variety of workers who were not farmers. the agricultural revolution thus resulted in a division of labor, with some people farming, while others worked at various crafts, such as making pottery, cloth, or tools. craftspeople traded the goods they made to farmers for food.

1. what is the main idea of this passage? *

10 points
○ the invention of agriculture made it possible for people to settle
○ the creation of settlements led to population increase
○ people learned to domesticate animals
○ the realization of food supply changed where people live

Explanation:

The passage starts by stating that agriculture was the main factor enabling permanent settlements. It explains how farming (agriculture) led to people settling, forming communities, and subsequent developments like population growth and social structure changes. The first option directly aligns with this main theme. The second option focuses on a result of settlements (population increase) rather than the main cause (agriculture enabling settlements). The third option (domesticating animals) is a secondary detail. The fourth option misrepresents the main idea as it's about agriculture enabling settlement, not just food supply changing location.

Answer:

A. The invention of agriculture made it possible for people to settle