Arable land

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/arable-land

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the historical role?Foundation for settled agriculture, population growth, and the development of early civilizations
2. What is the environmental vulnerabilities?Susceptible to degradation from climate change, erosion, nutrient depletion, and urbanization
3. Why is arable land important for food?Arable land gives us most of the food we eat, like grains, fruits, and vegetables. It also helps farms grow enough food for people and animals all around the world.
4. How does arable land help the environment?Healthy arable land can soak up carbon, keep many kinds of plants and animals alive, and help water move through the soil. This keeps the Earth healthy.

Shifting Cultivation: An agricultural system where fields are cleared, used for a few years, and then abandoned for new areas.
Crop Rotation: The practice of growing different types of crops in the same area in sequenced seasons to improve soil health.
Land Degradation: The decline in the quality of land, reducing its productivity and ecological function.