What is the most likely reason that some terraces have collapsed?
For centuries, farmers in mountain regions of South America have cut steps into steep hillsides and filled them with soil. These terraces slow the water that runs down a slope after heavy rain, which keeps the soil from being washed away. They also create small flat fields where crops can grow, and the stone walls store heat during the day and release it at night, which protects plants from frost. Many terraces are still in use today, but they need constant repair, and in some villages young people have moved to cities, leaving few hands to maintain the walls. As a result, some terraces have collapsed.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Fewer people remain in the villages to carry out the repairs they need
- Step 1: The passage links constant repair, young people leaving and collapse. Step 2. The cause given is a lack of people for maintenance. Answer: Fewer people remain to carry out repairs. Why not the others: The passage does not say that rain has stopped, that walls cannot store heat or that farmers reject hillsides.
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