Expensive fertilizers and soil degradation challenge modern agriculture, but an ancient practice offers solutions. Cover crops—plants grown primarily ...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Expensive fertilizers and soil degradation challenge modern agriculture, but an ancient practice offers solutions. Cover crops—plants grown primarily to benefit the soil rather than for harvest—are experiencing unprecedented adoption rates among conventional Midwest farmers. What drives this growing adoption? These plants prevent soil erosion, improve water retention, and enhance soil fertility by adding organic matter when they decompose. The economic benefits are substantial, as reduced fertilizer needs and long-term soil productivity make cover crops increasingly attractive to producers who once dismissed such environmentally conscious practices.
Which question does the text most directly attempt to answer?
How do cover crops compare to traditional soil management techniques?
Which regions of the country use cover crops most extensively?
What drives this growing adoption?
When did farmers first begin experimenting with cover crops?
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Expensive fertilizers and soil degradation challenge modern agriculture, but an ancient practice offers solutions.' |
|
| 'Cover crops—plants grown primarily to benefit the soil rather than for harvest—are experiencing unprecedented adoption rates among conventional Midwest farmers.' |
|
| 'What drives this growing adoption?' |
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| 'These plants prevent soil erosion, improve water retention, and enhance soil fertility by adding organic matter when they decompose.' |
|
| 'The economic benefits are substantial, as reduced fertilizer needs and long-term soil productivity make cover crops increasingly attractive to producers who once dismissed such environmentally conscious practices.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The passage explains why cover crops are experiencing unprecedented adoption by detailing their environmental and economic benefits.
Argument Flow: The passage sets up agriculture's challenges, introduces cover crops as a trending solution, explicitly asks what drives their adoption, then methodically answers by explaining both environmental benefits (soil protection, water retention, fertility) and economic advantages (reduced costs, long-term productivity gains).
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which question does the text attempt to answer
What type of answer do we need? A question that the passage directly addresses and answers
Any limiting keywords? 'most directly' - looking for the primary question the passage tackles
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at our passage analysis, we can see that the text explicitly asks 'What drives this growing adoption?' and then proceeds to answer it by explaining environmental benefits (preventing erosion, improving water retention, enhancing fertility) and economic benefits (reduced fertilizer costs, long-term productivity)
- This is the central organizing question that structures the entire passage
- The right answer should be the exact question the passage poses and then answers—the driving force behind cover crop adoption
How do cover crops compare to traditional soil management techniques?
- This asks about comparing cover crops to traditional methods
- The passage doesn't make systematic comparisons—it focuses on cover crop benefits alone
- What trap this represents: Students might think any agricultural practice discussion involves comparison, but this passage is explanation-focused, not comparative
Which regions of the country use cover crops most extensively?
- This asks which regions use cover crops most extensively
- The passage only mentions Midwest adoption but doesn't compare regional usage
- The focus is on why adoption is growing, not where it's happening most
What drives this growing adoption?
- This is literally the exact question posed in the passage: 'What drives this growing adoption?'
- The passage immediately follows this question with detailed answers about environmental and economic benefits
- Perfectly matches our prethinking about the central organizing question
When did farmers first begin experimenting with cover crops?
- This asks about historical timeline of cover crop experimentation
- The passage mentions cover crops as 'ancient practice' but provides no historical details about when farmers first tried them
- The focus is on current adoption trends, not historical origins