Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumLogical Inferences

In medieval Europe, the transition from a two-field crop rotation to a three-field system is credited with increasing agricultural yields. Under the three-field system, one field was planted with winter wheat, another with spring legumes, and the third was left fallow. Legumes host nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their root nodules, which replenish soil nitrogen levels depleted by wheat cultivation. Historically, wheat crops grown in nitrogen-rich soil exhibit significantly higher grain mass and health than those grown in nutrient-poor soil. Therefore, medieval farms transitioning to the three-field rotation pattern likely experienced

Which choice most logically completes the text?

  1. A
    a substantial reduction in the amount of manual labor required to prepare the fallow fields for subsequent planting.
  2. an increase in the grain mass and overall health of wheat crops cultivated in fields previously used for legumes.Answer
  3. C
    a decline in the biological activity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the legume root nodules during the winter months.
  4. D
    higher nitrogen levels in the fields left fallow than in the fields actively undergoing legume cultivation.

Answer

an increase in the grain mass and overall health of wheat crops cultivated in fields previously used for legumes.
The correct answer is supported by the facts that legumes replenish soil nitrogen depleted by wheat and that wheat grown in nitrogen-rich soil exhibits higher grain mass and health. Therefore, rotating wheat into fields where legumes were previously grown would result in improved wheat mass and health.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the premises regarding soil nutrients and crop health.
Legumes replenish soil nitrogen depleted by wheat, and wheat grown in nitrogen-rich soil shows increased grain mass and health.
To establish the causal chain described in the text.
2
Determine the logical outcome of transitioning to a system that alternates wheat with legumes.
Wheat planted in fields previously occupied by legumes will grow in soil with higher nitrogen levels.
To connect the properties of legume cultivation to the subsequent wheat planting cycle.
3
Select the option that matches this logical consequence without introducing external assumptions.
An increase in wheat grain mass and health is the direct logical outcome.
To identify the correct inference.

Key Concept

Logical Inferences
Rate this question

Topics

Logical Inferences

More questions from this topic