The terraced farming systems found throughout the Andes mountains represent one of humanity's most ingenious agricultural innovations. These stepped h...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The terraced farming systems found throughout the Andes mountains represent one of humanity's most ingenious agricultural innovations. These stepped hillside gardens allowed civilizations to cultivate crops at high altitudes where flat farmland was scarce. The technique involves cutting horizontal platforms into mountainsides and building stone retaining walls. Archaeological evidence shows that the Inca empire's expansion of terraced farming dramatically increased crop yields in mountain regions. Research suggests that this agricultural success enabled the Inca to support much larger populations than previous Andean civilizations, contributing directly to their rapid territorial expansion across the mountain range.
According to the text, what does research suggest about Inca civilization?
Inca civilization invented terraced farming to solve food production challenges.
Inca civilization preferred mountain agriculture over valley farming methods.
Inca civilization's agricultural success contributed to their territorial expansion.
Inca civilization taught terraced farming techniques to Spanish colonizers.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The terraced farming systems found throughout the Andes mountains represent one of humanity's most ingenious agricultural innovations." |
|
| "These stepped hillside gardens allowed civilizations to cultivate crops at high altitudes where flat farmland was scarce." |
|
| "The technique involves cutting horizontal platforms into mountainsides and building stone retaining walls." |
|
| "Archaeological evidence shows that the Inca empire's expansion of terraced farming dramatically increased crop yields in mountain regions." |
|
| "Research suggests that this agricultural success enabled the Inca to support much larger populations than previous Andean civilizations, contributing directly to their rapid territorial expansion across the mountain range." |
|
Main Point: Research suggests that the Inca empire's expansion and success with terraced farming led to increased crop yields, larger populations, and territorial expansion.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The passage mentions research findings in the final sentence
- According to this research, the Inca's agricultural success had two main effects: it enabled them to support much larger populations and contributed directly to their rapid territorial expansion
Inca civilization invented terraced farming to solve food production challenges.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims Inca invented terraced farming
- The passage states terraced farming was already found throughout the Andes and says Inca expanded it, not invented it
Inca civilization preferred mountain agriculture over valley farming methods.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims research suggests Inca preferred mountain agriculture over valley farming
- The passage never mentions valley farming or any preference comparison
Inca civilization's agricultural success contributed to their territorial expansion.
✓ Correct
- States that agricultural success contributed to territorial expansion
- Directly matches the research finding about agricultural success contributing directly to rapid territorial expansion
Inca civilization taught terraced farming techniques to Spanish colonizers.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims Inca taught techniques to Spanish colonizers
- The passage contains no information about Spanish colonizers