The Arawaks' method of farming is called:

• A. Terrace farming
• B. Hydroponics
• C. Irrigation
• D. Slash and Burn

Answer: (D)

Shifting cultivation, commonly called slash-and-burn, is a traditional farming method used in tropical regions. The land is cleared by cutting vegetation and then burning the debris; the ash adds nutrients to the soil, giving a short period of fertility. Crops are planted on small mounded beds and tended for a few growing seasons before the soil’s fertility declines. After that, farmers move to a new patch and let the old one lie fallow so it can recover naturally. The Arawaks of the Caribbean used this approach to grow staple crops like cassava, maize, and beans in the lush tropical environment, taking advantage of the quick nutrient return from ash and the ability to reuse large areas over time. This method fits tropical soils where nutrients are quickly depleted and land is available for successive clearings. The other options describe methods not typical of traditional Caribbean agriculture: terrace farming is used on hillsides to prevent erosion, irrigation focuses on supplying water to crops, and hydroponics grows plants in nutrient solutions without soil. Slash-and-burn best captures the farming practice described.