Read the following passage:
*In the high-altitude valleys of the Andes, a quiet agricultural revolution is taking root, not through the introduction of genetically modified crops or heavy machinery, but by reviving a pre-Columbian technology: the waru waru. These raised agricultural fields, surrounded by water canals, were developed by the Tiwanaku culture around 300 B.C. to combat the region's extreme temperature fluctuations and unpredictable frosts.*
*For decades, modern development agencies dismissed these ancient systems as primitive relics of a bygone era. They pushed for intensive, fertilizer-reliant farming methods that promised high short-term yields but ultimately degraded the fragile Andean soil and left local farmers vulnerable to the increasingly erratic climate. Yet today, as glacier melt accelerates and droughts become more prolonged, the limits of modern agronomy in these extreme environments have become glaringly apparent.*
*In contrast, the waru waru system is proving to be a masterclass in ecological resilience. The surrounding canals act as thermal regulators: during the day, the water absorbs solar radiation, and at night, it slowly releases this heat, creating a warm microclimate that shields crops from devastating Andean frosts. Additionally, the canals capture seasonal rainwater, preventing soil erosion during heavy downpours and ensuring a steady moisture supply during dry spells.*
*The current revitalization efforts, led by indigenous cooperatives in collaboration with local universities, are not merely an exercise in historical nostalgia. They represent a pragmatic alignment of ancestral wisdom and contemporary ecological necessity. By reclaiming their agricultural heritage, Andean communities are demonstrating that sustainable climate adaptation does not always require looking forward to the next technological breakthrough; sometimes, it requires looking back.*
Which of the following best describes the author's primary purpose in contrasting modern development strategies with traditional Andean farming practices?
- To critique the reliance on short-term modern agricultural methods and advocate for the integration of historically proven, ecologically sustainable ancestral techniques.Answer
- BTo condemn modern agronomists for intentionally attempting to dismantle indigenous communities and strip them of their agricultural autonomy.
- CTo demonstrate that pre-Columbian societies possessed a superior theoretical understanding of global atmospheric science than contemporary researchers.
- DTo present definitive evidence that traditional methods are universally more productive and efficient across all modern agricultural sectors.