Which term denotes the historical process that connected Old World and New World crops and animals after contact?

• A. Columbian Exchange
• B. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
• C. Green Revolution
• D. Enclosure System

Answer: (A)

The main concept being tested is the Columbian Exchange, the historical process that connected Old World and New World crops and animals after contact. After Columbus’s voyages, crops, animals, and even diseases moved between continents in both directions, creating lasting changes in agriculture and diets worldwide. Potatoes, maize, tomatoes, peppers, cacao, and peanuts moved from the Americas to Europe, Asia, and Africa, while crops and livestock such as wheat, rice, sugarcane, horses, cattle, and pigs moved from the Old World to the Americas. This exchange reshaped farming systems, food supplies, and even population dynamics on a global scale.

Other terms don’t describe this broad intercontinental transfer. GMOs refer to modern genetic modification of organisms, a recent biotechnological practice. The Green Revolution describes mid-20th-century efforts to boost yields through high-yield varieties, irrigation, and fertilizers. The Enclosure System refers to the historical consolidation of common lands into private property in England.