Question

understanding scientific texts — quiz — level c
why do farmers plant cover crops?
image: corn field with labels “corn” (tall plants) and “cover crops” (small plants between rows); text below image: “cover crops like cowpeas can be planted between rows of corn to keep soil from washing away.”
options:

• to collect rainwater for the farm
• to protect the fields from flooding
• to help the plants get more water
• to bury the roots of other plants

additional text: “according to scientists, the weather on our planet will continue to change. farmers will continue to adapt to those changes as best they can. families will hand down new ways of farming. we can’t know exactly what will happen to the climate in the future. but we know the farmers of the corn belt will work hard to keep growing corn for the whole world.”

Explanation:

The text states that cover crops (like cowpeas) are planted between corn rows to keep soil from washing away. Soil washing away is related to preventing flooding - if soil stays, it helps the field's structure and reduces flooding risk. Other options: collecting rainwater isn't their main role, they don't help plants get more water directly, and they don't bury other plants' roots.

Answer:

To protect the fields from flooding