Question

read the passage describing the famine that struck ireland in 1740 to 1741.

in 1740-1741 extremely cold temperatures struck vast areas of pre-industrial europe, causing harvest failures that led to increased prices for staple food, famine, disease, excess mortality and migration. . . . ireland was probably more vulnerable than most other european countries. already in the first half of the eighteenth century, irish food production was based heavily on potatoes and oats – a pattern of cultivation providing little resilience against the risk of harvest failure after an extremely cold winter. . . . ireland was ill-prepared to deal with the consequences of harvest failure . . .

--the irish famine of 1740-1741,
s. engler, et al.

based on the passage, which best explains the cause of the famine?
○ lack of industry in ireland
○ absence of farmers because of migration
○ overdependence on just two crops
○ mild winter weather

Explanation:

The passage states that extremely cold temperatures caused harvest failures across pre-industrial Europe, and Ireland was more vulnerable because its food production relied heavily on just potatoes and oats, which had little resilience to cold-related harvest failure. The other options are not supported: the passage does not mention lack of industry, farmer migration, or mild winter weather as causes.

Answer:

overdependence on just two crops