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Difficulty: EasyIndigenous Societies and Diverse Environments

Read the following excerpt and answer the question below:

"The Anasazi, who lived in the canyons of what is now the American Southwest, developed complex masonry cities and ran irrigation canals from rivers to their fields. They grew corn, beans, and squash—the traditional crops of the region. Because rainfall was scarce and unpredictable, their survival depended on their ability to manage water resources through dams, reservoirs, and terraced farming."
—Adapted from historical descriptions of pre-contact agricultural societies in North America

Based on the excerpt, which of the following was the primary way pre-contact societies in the Southwest adapted to their natural environment?

  1. They developed complex irrigation systems and agricultural practices to cultivate crops in an arid climate.Answer
  2. B
    They established systems of coerced labor to harvest cash crops for export to other regions.
  3. C
    They abandoned permanent settlements to follow migrating herds of bison across the Great Plains.
  4. D
    They relied on European livestock and wheat crops to sustain their urban populations.

Answer

They developed complex irrigation systems and agricultural practices to cultivate crops in an arid climate.
Pre-contact Pueblo (Anasazi) societies in the dry Southwest adapted to their arid environment by constructing elaborate irrigation canals, dams, and terraced fields to grow maize, squash, and beans.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the historical context and geographical location mentioned in the stimulus.
The stimulus focuses on the pre-contact Anasazi (Pueblo) people living in the arid American Southwest.
Understanding the geographical region and climate helps identify the specific environmental pressures the society faced.
2
Identify the specific environmental adaptation mentioned in the text.
The text states that they built irrigation canals, dams, and reservoirs to grow crops in a dry climate with scarce rainfall.
Connecting the environmental constraint (lack of water) to the societal solution (water management and maize agriculture) reveals the primary adaptation strategy.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one matching the identified adaptation while avoiding post-contact or out-of-region options.
The option highlighting irrigation systems and agriculture in an arid climate correctly summarizes the adaptation described.
This option aligns directly with historical evidence of Puebloan agricultural development in Period 1.

Key Concept

Southwestern indigenous societies developed complex irrigation systems to cultivate maize in dry climates.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Indigenous Societies and Diverse Environments

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