Aim for FiveHuman Geography

No-stimulus question

Feeding a growing world

  • Units 2 and 5
  • 7 points
  • About 25 minutes

A real-world geographic situation described only in words, followed by seven short parts (A–G) that ask you to identify, define, describe or explain ideas from at least two units. On the exam: Question 1 of 3 in the 1-hour-15-minute free-response section (Section II). The three questions together are 50% of your exam score, so each is worth about 16.7%; 7 points, one for each part A–G. College Board suggests about 25 minutes per question, including up to 5 minutes to plan. No calculator.

The question

Beginning in Mexico in the 1940s and spreading to India, Pakistan, the Philippines and other parts of Asia in the 1960s, farmers adopted high-yield seeds and new farming methods known as the Green Revolution. At the time, many observers warned that population growth would soon outrun food production. Answer all seven parts, (a) through (g). Write in complete sentences; a list of terms will not earn points.

Suggested time: 25 minutes

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Part (a)

1 point

Describe Thomas Malthus's argument about the relationship between population and food supply.

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Part (b)

1 point

Explain how ONE technology or input of the Green Revolution increased crop yields.

0 / 2,500 characters

Part (c)

1 point

Explain how the results of the Green Revolution challenge Malthusian theory.

0 / 2,500 characters

Part (d)

1 point

Explain ONE negative environmental consequence of Green Revolution farming practices.

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Part (e)

1 point

Explain why the Green Revolution had less success in much of sub-Saharan Africa than in South and East Asia.

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Part (f)

1 point

Explain how the Green Revolution could affect large-scale and small-scale farmers differently.

0 / 2,500 characters

Part (g)

1 point

Explain how improving women's access to land, credit or training could increase agricultural production.

0 / 2,500 characters

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