Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

Calling soil a 'living system' means it contains living organisms and supports life processes — it is not merely dead matter. This implies we must treat soil as a precious, non-renewable resource in practical terms, because the formation of even a few centimetres takes millions of years.

We should:

• Prevent soil erosion caused by deforestation, overgrazing, and faulty farming practices.
• Avoid soil degradation through over-irrigation, mining, and industrial effluents.
• Adopt conservation measures like contour ploughing, terrace farming, and strip cropping to preserve soil health.

Damaging soil means losing something irreplaceable within a human timescale.

Source: Resources and Development, Chapter 1 — Soil as a Resource; Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation

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The examiner expects you to link the phrase 'living system' to the idea of irreversibility (millions of years to form) and then draw practical implications for responsible use. Three well-labelled conservation points earn full marks. Avoid writing a general essay — be specific and concise. Key terms to include: erosion, degradation, conservation measures.