The failure of the potato crop in Ireland during the mid 1840s was one of the factors which instigated the outbreak of a famine that led to far-reaching consequences. This Great Famine devastated the country for many years and marked the beginning of the steep depopulation of Ireland in the 19th century.

Potato was the crop of choice and also the main diet of the Irish because of its high nutritional value and because it produced a large yield even in a small area. Peasants of Ireland were contented in growing a large proportion of potato as a single acre of the potato crop could support a whole family for almost a year. Thus, the potato crop was everything, it was both food and cash to the Irish.

Nonetheless, complete dependence on this crop had its own effects. Potatoes could not be stored for a long period. The farmers, who were accustomed to growing only one crop, neglected growing other crops as a hedge against possible failures.

The Great Famine had imperiled the lives of the Irish. Starvation and disease gripped the country and killed thousands of people. By 1850 the population plummeted from over eight million to less than six million. One million people died of disease and starvation, and one million left Ireland for Britain, Europe, or North America.

However, one of the far-reaching results of the Great Famine was that farming in Ireland changed from onecrop economy to an agricultural economy that included livestock and other crops such as grains.

According to the passage, one of the profound effects of the Great Famine was:

(A) Non-reliance on potatoes for subsistence.
(B) Rapid increase in the number of emigrants to other countries.
(C) Diversification in terms of agricultural produce grown.
(D) The outbreak of communicable diseases.
(E) Implementation of innovative agricultural practices.



The main purpose of the passage is to:

(A) Discuss the reasons for the failure of the potato crop in Ireland during the mid 1840s.
(B) Explain how dependence on a single-crop led to a major crisis which brought about significant changes in Ireland in the 19th century.
(C) Explain why the Irish peasants preferred to rely on potatoes for their diet.
(D) Elucidate how the potato-crop failure jeopardized the ability of Irish peasants to fend for themselves and their families.
(E) Point out how the Great Famine led to the transformation of Ireland from a single-crop economy to an agricultural economy.



The passage supplies information for answering all the following questions EXCEPT:

(A) How were the people of Ireland affected by the Great Famine?
(B) Why was the potato the main diet of the Irish people?
(C) Why were the Irish peasants not inclined to grow other crops?
(D) Why did many people from Ireland immigrate to other countries?
(E) Why could potatoes not be stored for a long period?