Question

Wes is researching genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and whether they are safe to eat. He found information from two sources.

Source 1: GMOs can survive many diseases that affect crops. They are also heartier and can survive droughts. This has led to an increase in overall production. For example, since 1996, corn production has increased by more than 350 million tons.

Source 2: GMOs have produced bigger harvests, which means less land needs to be used for farming. This has led to less destruction of forests to make room for farmland.

Which statement best combines ideas from the sources?

Because GMOs can survive disease and drought, they produce more crops, which keeps forests from being destroyed.
GMOs have increased the production of many types of crops, which is due to their ability to withstand droughts and disease.
Although GMOs use more land than other types of crops, they have better harvests, which has increased overall production.
The destruction of forests for farming is a factor in many locations, which is something that the use of GMOs can help reduce.

Answer 1

The best statement combining the ideas is that GMOs' ability to survive diseases and droughts leads to increased crop production, hence preserving forests.

Step-by-step explanation:

Combining ideas from the sources provided, the statement that best encapsulates the benefits of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) could integrate the increased resilience of these crops to environmental stresses, alongside the positive impact on land use and conservation. Specifically, Because GMOs can survive disease and drought, they produce more crops, which keeps forests from being destroyed melds the key points effectively. Here, we see that the ability of GMOs to withstand diseases and droughts leads to an increase in crop production, which in turn reduces the need to convert forests into farmland, thereby offering a conservation benefit.