Comprehension (B)
The Hollands operate a self-sufficient farm, typical of many in the Corn Belt. They raise livestock cattle, and a few sheep. In each herd, they keep some females to replenish the stock. The rest of the animals are sold for slaughter and land on America's tables as beef and lamb. The Hollands grow virtually all the food their animals need corn, oats, and hay. They sell the surplus, though most of their money comes from selling the animals themselves.
To run a farm like this, farmers have to have many skills. They have to be machine operators, driving immense and powerful vehicles; they have to be mechanics, repairing them; husbandmen, raising livestock; veterinarians, tending them when sick; agriculturists, growing food on a large scale; and businesspeople, managing (like Joel's father) a farm operation worth nearly one million dollars. As Joel works on the farm, he is all these workers.
Yet he is a boy still and, like an apprentice, continues to learn new skills. Joel takes his learning seriously because his goal is to become a farmer. He is extremely alert and watchful, like a cat. Even when not. actively involved in a chore, Joel can readily answer any question about what is going on. He listens as his dad counsels a seed customer in the kitchen, as his brother Terry consults a vet about recent deaths in his hog herd, as his older brothers discuss soil planning while they mend a fence. Knowledge seems to be constantly seeping, sometimes flowing, into Joel's mind.
Joel is the youngest of Ed and Betty Holland's six children. Only he and his brother, Marty, sixteen, still live at home. Two other brothers, Bill and Terry, come home each day to eat meals with the family. Bill and Terry rent neighbouring farms. Each has his own livestock herd, but they farm their land collectively with their father.
Questions:
i. Write a brief summary of the passage, also suggest a suitable topic.
ii. Explain the meaning of the expressions "self-sufficient farm" and "husbandmen, raising livestock" in the context of the passage.
iii. Analyze the various skills that farmers like Joel need to possess, and how these skills contribute to the successful operation of a farm.
iv. How does Joel's perspective on learning and acquiring skills for farming reflect his dedication to his future profession?
v. What theme or message about the multifaceted nature of farming and the importance of knowledge acquisition can be inferred from the passage?
vi. How might Joel's experience of learning and working on the farm be applied to real-life situations where individuals aspire to master a complex skill set for their chosen careers?
