Question

Backpackers returning from a long trip abroad are stopped by customs and asked whether they brought back plants, flowers, or fruit from their trip location. Their fruit bought at a local market is confiscated. Why was the fruit confiscated?

a) It may contain exotic pests or diseases
b) It violates import/export regulations
c) It poses a threat to local agriculture
d) All of the above

Answer 1

The fruit was confiscated by customs because it could contain exotic pests or diseases, violates import/export regulations, and pose a threat to local agriculture, which are all serious concerns regulated to protect a country's ecosystem and agricultural health.

Step-by-step explanation:

The fruit was confiscated by customs after the backpackers' trip abroad for several important reasons. First, the fruit may carry exotic pests or diseases that are not native to the backpackers' home country and could pose a threat to local agriculture and ecosystems. This problem is highlighted by historical instances where contaminants like Bemisia whiteflies or the glassy-winged sharp-shooter spread due to global trade. In addition, there are strict import/export regulations designed to prevent such issues.

These regulations enforce inspections at ports of entry and utilize various detection technologies to prevent unwanted species from being introduced into the country, either deliberately or accidentally. Finally, the confiscated fruit represents a potential threat to local agriculture, as it may directly affect local plant species and the agricultural economy. Therefore, the answer to why the fruit was confiscated would be 'd) All of the above' as it encompasses potential pests and diseases, regulatory violations, and threats to local agriculture.

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