6.
CLOZE COMPREHENSION
Directions (Next 10 Questions): In this section, there is a passage with some blank spaces. Each blank space is followed by four individual words or groups of words. Select whichever word or group of words you consider the most appropriate for filling the blank space, and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
Most of our food comes from agriculture, so we tend to believe that it is _____(6)_____ of natural biota. This is not true. In nature, _____(7)_____ plants and animals _____(8)_____ to the rigours of natural selection. Only the fittest survive. _____(9)_____, wild populations have numerous traits for competitiveness, resistance to parasites, _____(10)_____ to adverse conditions, _____(11)_____ other aspects of vigour. In contrast, populations grown for many _____(12)_____ under the pampered conditions of agriculture tend to lose these traits, because they _____(13)_____ for production, not resilience. For example, a high-producing plant _____(14)_____ lacks resistance to drought is _____(15)_____ and the resistance to drought is ignored. Also, in the process of breeding plants for maximum production, all genetic variation is eliminated.
Which one of the following best suits the 6th blank?
