Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: A farm
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the vocabulary and one word substitute category within aptitude and verbal reasoning. It asks you to identify the most accurate English term for a specific description of land use. Knowing precise meanings of such everyday words is very useful for competitive exams as well as for reading newspapers and reports. Here, the nuance between similar sounding words like field and farm becomes important for choosing the single best answer.
Given Data / Assumptions:
We are told about a tract of land that is used for raising crops or livestock. The options include a field, a farm, both a field and a farm, none of the above and a ranch. The question expects a standard dictionary style meaning rather than a casual or regional usage. We assume ordinary modern English usage where these terms have fairly well established definitions. Our task is to match the description to the closest and most complete term.
Concept / Approach:
A key concept here is the difference between a particular plot of land and an entire agricultural establishment. The word field usually refers to an open piece of land, often used for growing a single crop or for sports and other activities. A farm, on the other hand, is an agricultural unit where crops are grown and or animals are raised for food or other products. A ranch is more specialised for raising grazing animals, especially cattle and horses, and is not primarily associated with crop cultivation. We need the option that covers both crops and livestock in one standard definition.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Read the description carefully: it clearly mentions raising crops or livestock on a tract of land.
Recall that a farm is commonly defined as an area of land and its buildings used for growing crops and rearing animals.
A field is only a specific open area, often used for crops, sports or pasture, but not the entire agricultural establishment.
A ranch focuses mainly on large scale grazing animals and is less commonly used for mixed crop and livestock operations in standard definitions.
Among the given options, farm is the single term that naturally includes both crop cultivation and livestock rearing on a tract of land.
Therefore, the most precise choice is farm.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can cross check by thinking about typical phrases such as farm house, farm animals and dairy farm, all of which clearly involve animals and crops. In contrast, the phrase football field or corn field shows that field can be used in many contexts and usually refers only to the physical area where something is done. A ranch is strongly associated with cattle and horse rearing, especially in American English, and is not the default term when crops are also included. This conceptual check confirms that farm best matches the provided description. No other option fully captures both crops and livestock in one standard word.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A field may be used for crops or grazing but does not itself refer to the complete agricultural operation with buildings, equipment and multiple activities. The option Both a field and a farm is misleading because the question asks for a single one word substitute, not a combination. None of the above is incorrect because farm clearly fits the description. A ranch is primarily for ranching livestock over large open areas and does not inherently include crop growing facilities. As a result, farm remains the only fully appropriate term here.
Common Pitfalls:
Many learners quickly pick field because they often hear about crop fields in daily life. Some may also be tempted by the both option, thinking that fields exist inside farms, so both must be right. However the exam expects the most precise one word answer that directly matches the given definition. Another error is to treat ranch as a generic word for any land with animals, ignoring the fact that the description also mentions crops. To avoid such mistakes, always focus on the exact wording of the description and compare it with standard dictionary style meanings of each option.
Final Answer:
The most appropriate word for a tract of land used for raising crops or livestock is farm.
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