Loading question...
You are in free guest mode. Timed Practice Revision List Attempt History Progress Tracking Create a free account to unlock these tools
Prev Next
Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #43998 Crop Rotation
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
Without  access  to  chemical  fertilizers,  medieval  farmers  developed  and  relied  heavily  on  the  system  of  crop  rotation  to    the  health  of  their  arable  land.  This  agrarian  practice  was  essential  for  sustaining  the  ever-growing  populations  of  medieval  Europe.  Crop  rotation  involved  the  cyclic    of  different  types  of  crops  on  the  same  plot  of  land  over  several  seasons  or  years.  This  method  prevented  the    of  specific  soil  nutrients,  as  different  crops  had  varying  nutrient  requirements  and  effects  on  the  soil  composition.  Typically,  a  farmer  would  plant  grain  crops,  such  as  wheat  or  barley,  which  were  nitrogen-consuming,  in  one  year.  The  following  year,  the  field    sown  with  legumes  like  peas  or  beans,  which  had  the  ability  to  fix  nitrogen  back  into  the  soil.  In  some  rotations,  the  third  year  would  involve  leaving  the  field  fallow  –  unplanted  –  to  allow  the  land  to  recover  naturally.  In  other  ,  the  fallow  land  would  be  used  for  grazing  livestock,  which  helped  in  manure  deposition,  further  enriching  the  soil.

Result:

AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Correct answer: preserve

Explanation: The word 'preserve' fits grammatically as it is a verb that indicates maintaining or protecting something, which aligns with the context of maintaining the health of arable land. It also matches the overall sentiment of the sentence, which discusses sustainable agricultural practices.

Meaning: 'Preserve' means to keep something in its original state or in good condition, in this case, the health of the land.

Wrong options:

  • dictate: 'Dictate' means to control or determine, which does not fit the context of maintaining health; it implies authority rather than care.
  • construct: 'Construct' means to build or create, which is not relevant to the context of maintaining soil health.
  • commit: 'Commit' implies a promise or dedication, which does not convey the action of maintaining land health.
Correct answer: cultivation

Explanation: The term 'cultivation' is appropriate as it refers to the act of preparing and using land for growing crops, which directly relates to the practice of crop rotation mentioned in the sentence. It fits both grammatically and contextually.

Meaning: 'Cultivation' means the act of growing and nurturing crops on land.

Wrong options:

  • erosion: 'Erosion' refers to the process of soil being worn away, which is contrary to the idea of growing crops and maintaining soil health.
  • revision: 'Revision' means to review or alter, which does not apply to the agricultural context of planting crops.
  • manufacture: 'Manufacture' refers to making products, which is unrelated to the agricultural process of growing crops.
Correct answer: depletion

Explanation: The word 'depletion' fits well as it refers to the reduction or loss of something, specifically soil nutrients in this context. It aligns with the sentence's focus on preventing nutrient loss through crop rotation.

Meaning: 'Depletion' means the reduction in the quantity or quality of something, here referring to soil nutrients.

Wrong options:

  • discovery: 'Discovery' means finding something new, which does not relate to the context of soil nutrients.
  • mortality: 'Mortality' refers to death rates, which is irrelevant to the discussion of soil health and nutrients.
  • saturation: 'Saturation' means being filled to capacity, which does not accurately describe the loss of nutrients.
Correct answer: would be

Explanation: The phrase 'would be' is grammatically correct as it indicates a future action in a conditional context, fitting the sentence structure that discusses what typically happens in the following year after planting grain crops.

Meaning: 'Would be' indicates a future possibility or expectation, suggesting what is planned for the next planting season.

Wrong options:

  • would: 'Would' alone does not complete the conditional structure needed in this context, lacking the necessary auxiliary verb.
  • had been: 'Had been' implies a past perfect tense, which does not fit the future context of the sentence.
  • had: 'Had' is also a past tense form, which does not align with the future action being described.
Correct answer: cases

Explanation: The word 'cases' fits well as it refers to specific instances or situations, which aligns with the context of discussing different scenarios in crop rotation practices.

Meaning: 'Cases' means particular situations or examples, here referring to different methods of using fallow land.

Wrong options:

  • results: 'Results' implies outcomes, which does not fit the context of discussing methods or situations in agriculture.
  • points: 'Points' refers to specific items or arguments, which is not relevant to the context of agricultural practices.
  • aspects: 'Aspects' refers to features or elements, which does not convey the idea of specific instances as effectively as 'cases'.

The rest of this explanation is for members. Sign in free to read why the other options are wrong, key words and tips.

Sign in to read the full explanation

With a free account: Retry and compare every attempt.
Be the first! No community answers here yet. Submit yours and help others learn.
How difficult was this question?
Others found: 100% Easy · 0% Medium · 0% Hard
Saving...