Question

answer all questions in this part.
directions (9 - 25): for each statement or question, record on your separate answer sheet the number of the word or expression that, of those given, best completes the statement or answers the question.
base your answer to questions 9 - 11 on the passage below and on your knowledge of social studies.
crop rotation, a natural form of pest control, was used less as irish agriculture switched mainly to growing potatoes. individual farms were located close together, making it easy for the fungus to spread.
after the famine, the amount of farmland cultivated decreased by approximately 50%. before the famine, 8 million people lived in ireland. in the 1960s, 3 million lived there.
source: evan d. g fraser, conservation ecology

1. which impact can be inferred from this information on the irish famine?
2. many irish chose to emigrate to north america.
3. the population in ireland dramatically increased.
4. irish farming practices had little effect on the environment.
5. the irish government reduced the amount of farmland in ireland.
6. based on this information, what was a contributing cause of the irish famine?
7. a 50% reduction in the amount of farmland
8. a shortage of farmers due to population loss
9. farming methods that promoted the spread of the potato fungus
10. increased use of pesticides
11. which of the following factors not mentioned in the passage most contributed to the irish famine?
12. enlightenment ideas of natural rights
13. the congress of vienna which promoted a return to conservative monarchy in europe
14. the invention of the spinning jenny which made cotton weaving more efficient
15. british policies which required that many crops grown in ireland be shipped to britain

Explanation:

• Question 9:
• The passage states that before the famine, 8 million people lived in Ireland and in the 1960s, 3 million lived there. This shows a dramatic population decrease, not increase. So option 2 is incorrect.
• It also mentions that crop rotation (a natural form of pest control) was used less. This implies that farming practices did have an effect on the environment (as it allowed the fungus to spread more easily). So option 3 is incorrect.
• There is no mention of the Irish government reducing farmland before the famine. The reduction in farmland is after the famine. So option 4 is incorrect.
• Given the hardships of the famine (like food shortages due to potato fungus spread), it is reasonable to infer that many Irish would choose to emigrate to North America.
• Question 10:
• The 50% reduction in farmland is after the famine, so it cannot be a contributing cause. Option 1 is incorrect.
• The population loss (from 8 million to 3 million) is after the famine. So a shortage of farmers due to population loss is not a cause. Option 2 is incorrect.
• The passage says “crop rotation, a natural form of pest control, was used less as Irish agriculture switched mainly to growing potatoes. Individual farms were located close together, making it easy for the fungus to spread”. This shows that farming methods (less crop rotation, close - farm location) promoted the spread of the potato fungus which caused the famine.
• There is no mention of increased use of pesticides. In fact, crop rotation (a natural pest control) was used less. So option 4 is incorrect.
• Question 11:
• The passage is about agricultural practices (crop rotation, potato - growing) and their impact on the famine (through fungus spread).
• Enlightenment ideas of natural rights, the Congress of Vienna, and the invention of the spinning jenny have no relation to the agricultural - based causes of the Irish famine mentioned in the passage.
• British policies which required crops grown in Ireland to be shipped to Britain could potentially have an impact on food availability in Ireland (if local food was being exported), but this is not mentioned in the given passage. However, the other three options (Enlightenment ideas, Congress of Vienna, spinning jenny) are completely unrelated to the agricultural - fungus - based famine causes in the passage.

Answer:

1. 1. Many Irish chose to emigrate to North America.
2. 3. farming methods that promoted the spread of the potato fungus
3. 1. Enlightenment ideas of natural rights, 2. The Congress of Vienna which promoted a return to conservative monarchy in Europe, 3. The invention of the spinning jenny which made cotton weaving more efficient