The Green Revolution Practice Test

A secondary source argues that the Green Revolution’s reliance on intensive irrigation and chemical inputs increased yields but also contributed to groundwater depletion, soil salinization in irrigated fields, and fertilizer runoff that polluted waterways. The author suggests these environmental costs were uneven and often concentrated in areas of intensive monocropping. Which of the following best explains the Green Revolution pattern described in the excerpt?

An economics text describes how the Green Revolution increased farm output, but notes that adoption often required farmers to purchase HYV seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides and sometimes invest in pumps or machinery. The text adds that larger landholders with access to credit frequently captured more profit, while smaller farmers faced higher debt risk when prices fell or harvests failed. Which of the following best explains the Green Revolution pattern described in the excerpt?