Historical Development of Agriculture

11 Grade 7 Social Studies questions on Historical Development of Agriculture, with worked marking schemes. 11 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   1 mark

   Which one of the following was a major effect of early people learning to grow their own food?

   A. Population in the world reduced sharply

   B. People settled in permanent homes and formed villages

   C. People stopped keeping any domestic animals

   D. People moved around more frequently than before

   (1 mark)

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2. Question 2

   4 marks

   State four ways in which the development of agriculture changed the lives of early human beings.

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   1 mark each (max 4): led to permanent settlement/end of nomadic life; produced surplus food allowing population growth; freed some people to do other tasks (crafts, trade); led to growth of villages and later towns; encouraged trade in surplus produce; led to development of tools and storage; gave rise to social classes/leadership. Accept any four valid changes.

3. Question 3

   1 mark

   Before learning to farm, early human beings obtained their food mainly by:

   A. Buying food in markets

   B. Hunting wild animals and gathering wild fruits

   C. Keeping dairy cattle in fenced farms

   D. Growing maize on large plantations

   (1 mark)

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4. Question 4

   1 mark

   The change from gathering wild plants to deliberately growing crops in early societies is best described as the:

   A. Industrial revolution

   B. Agricultural (Neolithic) revolution

   C. Information revolution

   D. Transport revolution

   (1 mark)

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5. Question 5

   4 marks

   Distinguish between subsistence farming and commercial farming, giving one example of each.

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   Subsistence farming: growing crops/keeping animals mainly to feed one's own family with little or no surplus for sale (1 mark) e.g. a household growing maize and beans for home use (1 mark). Commercial farming: producing crops/animals mainly for sale to earn income, often on a large scale (1 mark) e.g. a tea/coffee estate or large wheat farm (1 mark).

6. Question 6

   1 mark

   Which crops are widely associated with the EARLY domestication of plants along the Nile Valley in North-East Africa?

   A. Maize and beans

   B. Wheat and barley

   C. Rubber and cotton

   D. Coffee and tea

   (1 mark)

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7. Question 7

   1 mark

   A community that moves from place to place with its herds in search of pasture and water practises a type of farming known as:

   A. Nomadic pastoralism

   B. Plantation farming

   C. Greenhouse farming

   D. Mixed commercial farming

   (1 mark)

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8. Question 8

   1 mark

   The taming of wild animals such as cattle, goats and sheep so that they could be kept by people is referred to as:

   A. Extinction of animals

   B. Migration of animals

   C. Hibernation of animals

   D. Domestication of animals

   (1 mark)

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9. Question 9

   1 mark

   A farmer replaces hand hoes with a tractor to plough a large piece of land quickly. This change in agriculture is BEST described as:

   A. Shifting cultivation

   B. Mechanisation of farming

   C. Subsistence farming

   D. Nomadic pastoralism

   (1 mark)

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10. Question 10

    1 mark

    The change from hunting and gathering to growing crops and keeping animals is referred to as the:

    A. Agrarian (Neolithic) revolution

    B. Information revolution

    C. Industrial revolution

    D. Trade revolution

    (1 mark)

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11. Question 11

    6 marks

    Explain three ways in which agriculture has been improved through the use of modern technology.

    (6 marks)

    Marking scheme

    2 marks each (max 6): mechanisation (tractors/harvesters) increases speed and acreage; use of improved/certified seeds and breeds raises yields; irrigation allows farming in dry areas/all year; use of fertilisers and pesticides improves output and controls pests; use of greenhouses controls growing conditions; use of ICT/mobile apps for market and weather information. Accept any three well-explained points.

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