What are two characteristics of subsistence farming?

• A. High Output and Mechanization
• B. Large-Scale Irrigation
• C. Modern Technology and Global Markets
• D. Exhausted Soil and Low Output

Answer: (D)

Subsistence farming focuses on producing just enough food to feed the farmer’s family, with little or no surplus for sale or trade. Because these farms are small and rely on basic tools or simple hand labor rather than heavy machinery, inputs are limited and yields are generally low. When crops are grown repeatedly on the same land without sufficient soil replenishment, the soil can become worn out or “exhausted,” which further reduces how much food the farm can produce. That combination—soil that has lost its fertility and crops that yield little—fits the idea of subsistence farming, where the goal isn’t to generate profits but to meet immediate family needs.

Other options describe farming aimed at producing large amounts for sale, using advanced technology, or relying on extensive irrigation and global markets, which are not characteristic of subsistence farming.