Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography Practice Exam

The term that describes large-scale agricultural production for profit using specialized methods and technologies is modern commercial agriculture. This type of agriculture typically involves extensive use of machinery, advanced technology, and various techniques aimed at maximizing yields and efficiency, all with the goal of producing crops or livestock primarily for sale in the market rather than for direct consumption by the farmer or their family. In contrast, subsistence farming is focused on producing just enough food to meet the needs of the farmer's family, with little or no surplus for sale. Traditional agriculture refers to farming practices that are typically labor-intensive, rely on historical methods, and often involve lower levels of technology, usually for local consumption. Organic farming is a method that emphasizes the use of natural processes and materials without synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms, generally aimed at producing foods in a sustainable way, but it can still be commercial in nature. Therefore, the emphasis on profit and technological specialization clearly aligns with the definition of modern commercial agriculture.