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Difficulty: Very hardLiteral Comprehension and Fact Retrieval

Read the passage carefully and answer the question that follows.

In the semi-arid Sahel region of West Africa, indigenous agroforestry techniques have historically served as a vital buffer against desertification. Among these, the traditional 'Zaï' system—pioneered in northern Burkina Faso—involves digging small pits in degraded, crusted soil during the dry season. Farmers fill these pits with organic compost, which attracts subterranean termites. The burrowing activity of these termites creates deep, intricate networks of underground channels that dramatically increase water infiltration when the rains arrive. Additionally, the compost provides essential nutrients for planted seeds such as sorghum and millet. While modern agricultural extension programs initially prioritized chemical fertilizers and mechanized plowing, recent empirical evaluations demonstrate that fields prepared with Zaï pits retain soil moisture up to three times longer during mid-season droughts than tractor-plowed plots.

According to the passage, how do termites directly contribute to improving soil conditions in the Zaï system?

  1. By creating underground channel networks that significantly increase rainwater infiltration.Answer
  2. B
    By directly synthesizing essential organic nutrients required for germinating sorghum and millet seeds.
  3. C
    By eradicating harmful agricultural pests that destroy crops during extended mid-season droughts.
  4. D
    By demonstrating that mechanized plowing and chemical fertilizers are entirely ineffective in West Africa.

Answer

Termites contribute to the Zaï system by digging deep networks of underground channels that dramatically enhance water infiltration into the soil.
The passage explicitly states that the burrowing action of subterranean termites forms intricate underground channels, which dramatically boost water infiltration when it rains.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key subject of the query in the passage.
The question asks specifically about the direct contribution of termites within the Zaï system.
Literal comprehension requires locating the exact sentence describing termite activity.
2
Locate the explicit detail regarding termite activity in the text.
The text states: 'The burrowing activity of these termites creates deep, intricate networks of underground channels that dramatically increase water infiltration when the rains arrive.'
Fact retrieval relies solely on explicit passage evidence without external assumptions.
3
Match the explicit detail with the corresponding option.
The option stating that termites create underground channel networks to increase rainwater infiltration is the exact paraphrase of the passage fact.
The correct answer must directly reflect the passage statement.

Key Concept

Literal Comprehension and Fact Retrieval
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Topics

Literal Comprehension and Fact Retrieval

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