Question

Difficulty: MediumInferential Comprehension and Deduction

Read the passage below carefully and evaluate the statement that follows.

Passage:
In the dry, rugged highlands of Konso in southern Ethiopia, generations of farmers built an intricate system of stone-walled terraces to trap scarce rainfall and prevent topsoil erosion along steep hillsides. During the late twentieth century, state-sponsored modern agricultural extension programs heavily encouraged replacing these traditional stone bunds with uniform chemical-intensive monoculture. However, the unexpected intensification of erratic weather patterns over the past decade triggered severe landslides and widespread crop failures across the modernized plots, whereas the few remaining terraced farms maintained structural stability and modest yields. Recognizing this resilience, local agricultural cooperatives recently began restoring the neglected stone terraces while reintroducing indigenous drought-hardy sorghum strains. Although initial labor investments for constructing and repairing stone retaining walls are notoriously high, participating households have already recorded lower input costs due to reduced reliance on imported synthetic fertilizers. Moreover, the deep root systems of traditional sorghum cultivars have helped stabilize the terraced soil beds during intense downpours. Consequently, neighboring communities are increasingly abandoning modern monocultural techniques in favor of integrated indigenous soil conservation practices.

Statement:
The resurgence of traditional Konso terracing is primarily driven by its long-term cost-efficiency and ecological adaptability compared to modern monocultural farming.

Answer: Answer

Answer

True
The statement is logically sound because the text demonstrates that traditional terracing outperforms modern monoculture in environmental stability during extreme weather and reduces financial expenditure on artificial inputs.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify key evidence regarding ecological performance in the passage.
The text notes that modern monoculture plots suffered landslides and crop failures under erratic weather, while terraced farms retained structural stability and yields.
This establishes the ecological adaptability of the traditional terracing system.
2
Analyze economic input indicators mentioned in the text.
Households recorded lower overall input costs because traditional systems reduced reliance on expensive imported synthetic fertilizers.
This demonstrates long-term cost-efficiency despite high initial labor for wall repairs.
3
Synthesize the findings to evaluate the statement.
Combined evidence confirms that both ecological resilience and economic savings motivate the shift away from modern monoculture.
The statement logically captures the core deductive conclusion supported by the text.

Key Concept

Inferential Synthesis and Contextual Deduction
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