A)solidly B)geometrically C)rectangularity D)haphazardly Which of the following statements about descriptive statistics is best supported by the passage? A)It reduces large amounts of data to a more comprehensible form. B)It is based on probability. C)It can be used by people with little knowledge of mathematics. D)It measures only qualitative differences. According to the passage, what is the purpose of examining a sample of a population? A)To compare different groups. B)To predict characteristics of the entire population. C)To detect differences not observable in the whole population. D)To compile more accurate data Pass The permanent conversion of farmland to urban and industrial development is a major concern today. Accurate data on the rate of such losses are not available, but estimates of the area of land absorbed for every increase of 1 000 in the urban population vary from about 10 to 400 hectares. The higher figure includes urban fringe land alienated from agriculture by land speculation and resulting high prices. If an average figure of 80 hectares for every increase of 1 000 in the urban population is used, the pro jected permanent conversion of land to urban deve lopment in Quebec and Ontario between now and the year 2000 is 300 000 hectares and 500 000 hectares respectively. More than half of this land is good agricultural land in climatically favourable areas Around Montreal, for instance, 8 700 hectares of the best agricultural land in Quebec is being lost to deve lopment each year. Equally serious may be the loss of farmland to lowa2density rural housing, but no firm data are available. There is a similar trend in Western Canada. About 40 000 hectares of B)C)farmland were lost to urban development between 1962 and 1972. In Alberta, over 16 000 hectares of prime land were absorbed in the course of seven years by the cities of Edmonton and Calgary, and there is evidence that maller towns on the Prairies are consuming farmland at up to twice the rate, per unit population, of the big cities. The areas mentioned may not seem impressive in relation to the total area of farmland in Canada, and it is true that few statistics are available on the of loss o farmland. However, the picture is clear enough to provide the basis for ratic oces It must be remembered that only tiny areas of Canada, less than one per cent, have climates and Is suitable for the production of corn and soft fruits. Most of these valuable parcels of land are in the path of rapid urban and industrial growth. Productive farmland close to the city is basic insurance against future events such as food shortages and high prices that would result from:(a)a dramatic increase in the world??s population by 2000 A)D): (b)a climatic shift such as a decrease of even a degree or two in the mean annual temperature: (c)a series of dry years; or (d)increasingly high transportation costs due to energy shortages. Because of its? greenbelt?+character, farmland is also of immeasurable aesthetic value. City dwellers will often drive for miles to experience an orchard in blossom and enjoy the rural scene. Wildlife ecologists have persuaded us of the value of preserving endangered species like the whooping crane and of the necessity of selecting pipeline routes that will not disturb migrating animals like the caribou. Surely it is not too much to expect that we recognize the necessity of preserving for agriculture the prime farmland close to cities such as Montreal, toronto and vancouver. We are told that productive farmland near cities would A)prevent possible food shortagesA)solidly B)geometrically C)rectangularity D)haphazardly Which of the following statements about descriptive statistics is best supported by the passage? A)It reduces large amounts of data to a more comprehensible form. B)It is based on probability. C)It can be used by people with little knowledge of mathematics. D)It measures only qualitative differences. According to the passage, what is the purpose of examining a sample of a population? A)To compare different groups. B)To predict characteristics of the entire population. C)To detect differences not observable in the whole population. D)To compile more accurate data. Passage 5 The permanent conversion of farmland to urban and industrial development is a major concern today.Accurate data on the rate of such losses are not available,but estimates of the area of land absorbed for every increase of 1 000 in the urban population vary from about 10 to 400 hectares.The higher figure includes urban fringe land alienated from agriculture by land speculation and resulting high prices.If an average figure of 80 hectares for every increase of 1 000 in the urban population is used,the projected permanent conversion of land to urban development in Quebec and Ontario between now and the year 2000 is 300 000 hectares and 500 000 hectares respectively.More than half of this land is good agricultural land in climatically favourable areas.Around Montreal,for instance,8 700 hectares of the best agricultural land in Quebec is being lost to development each year.Equally serious may be the loss of farmland to lowa2density rural housing, but no firm data are available. There is a similar trend in Western Canada.About 40 000 hectares of B)C)farmland were lost to urban development between 1962 and 1972.In Alberta,over 16 000 hectares of prime land were absorbed in the course of seven years by the cities of Edmonton and Calgary,and there is evidence that smaller towns on the Prairies are consuming farmland at up to twice the rate,per unit population, of the big cities.The areas mentioned may not seem impressive in relation to the total area of farmland in Canada, and it is true that few statistics are available on the rates of loss of farmland.However, the picture is clear enough to provide the basis for rational choices. It must be remembered that only tiny areas of Canada, less than one per cent, have climates and soils suitable for the production of corn and soft fruits.Most of these valuable parcels of land are in the path of rapid urban and industrial growth.Productive farmland close to the city is basic insurance against future events such as food shortages and high prices that would result from:(a) a dramatic increase in the world??s population by 2000 A)D);(b) a climatic shift such as a decrease of even a degree or two in the mean annual temperature;(c) a series of dry years;or (d)increasingly high transportation costs due to energy shortages. Because of its?°greenbelt?±character,farmland is also of immeasurable aesthetic value.City dwellers will often drive for miles to experience an orchard in blossom and enjoy the rural scene.Wildlife ecologists have persuaded us of the value of preserving endangered species like the whooping crane and of the necessity of selecting pipeline routes that will not disturb migrating animals like the caribou.Surely it is not too much to expect that we recognize the necessity of preserving for agriculture the prime farmland close to cities such as Montreal,Toronto and Vancouver. We are told that productive farmland near cities would _____ . A)prevent possible food shortages