Can agricultural productivity meet human needs in the long run ? Since twentieth century advances, given increasing costs, do not seem sustainable, further increases in output will not be achieved easily. Global population growth, while showing signs of slowing down, has pushed farmers and herders into areas unsuited to intensive agriculture, accelerating worldwide ecological disruptions. Reserves of arable land and fresh water have diminished alarmingly. Chemical runoffs have compounded pollution problems. Invasion of natural habitats have hastened species extinction. Desertification has been severe in the last hundred years, especially in North Africa, southern portions of Africa, Australia, northern Mexico, and the American Southwest. Tropical forests have shrunk by one-half since World War II, with agricultural pressures causing three-quarters of that loss. Government inter-vention has produced its share of catastrophes, ranging from a terrible famine in China between 1958-1961 that may have killed 30 million people and destroyed the Aral Sea. Taking everything into consideration, we may remain hopeful about humankind's agricultural prospects, but we can scarcely look forward optimistically at the end of the first quarter of the twenty-first century.
Passage Analysis: Agricultural Productivity Outlook
The passage examines the long-term viability of agricultural productivity to meet human needs. It highlights several significant challenges emerging since the twentieth century:
- Advances are becoming increasingly costly and potentially unsustainable.
- Global population growth is forcing agriculture into unsuitable areas, causing ecological damage.
- There are alarming decreases in arable land and fresh water reserves.
- Chemical runoff contributes to widespread pollution.
- Habitat destruction accelerates species extinction.
- Severe desertification has occurred globally, particularly in specific regions.
- Tropical forests have drastically shrunk due to agricultural pressures.
- Government interventions have sometimes led to disastrous outcomes, such as famine and environmental destruction (e.g., the Aral Sea).
These points collectively paint a picture of significant environmental and resource-related stress on global agriculture.
Author's Conclusion on Agriculture's Future
Despite the serious challenges outlined, the author concludes with a mixed perspective. The final sentence states: "Taking everything into consideration, we may remain hopeful about humankind's agricultural prospects, but we can scarcely look forward optimistically at the end of the first quarter of the twenty-first century."
This statement indicates that while there are reasons for optimism regarding humanity's ability to manage agricultural prospects, there are also significant concerns that temper a fully positive outlook, suggesting a degree of skepticism about the near future.
Evaluating the Options on Agricultural Prospects
Let's analyze the given options based on the author's conclusion:
- Option 1: The author is both hopeful and sceptical of the prospects of agriculture - This option accurately reflects the author's concluding statement, which balances remaining "hopeful" with the inability to look "optimistically" forward.
- Option 2: The author is very hopeful of the prospects of agriculture - This option is too strong, as it ignores the author's caution about looking forward "optimistically."
- Option 3: The author is sceptical of the prospects of agriculture - This option is incomplete, as it fails to acknowledge the author's stated hopefulness.
- Option 4: The author is neither hopeful nor sceptical of the prospects of agriculture - This is incorrect because the author explicitly uses terms related to both hope and skepticism (or lack of optimism).
Final Answer Determination
Based on the detailed analysis of the passage, particularly the concluding sentence, the author expresses a dual viewpoint. They see potential for hope but are also wary of future challenges, leading to a skeptical stance regarding the immediate future. Therefore, the conclusion that the author is both hopeful and sceptical aligns precisely with the text.
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
