Shifting cultivation is practised in the rainforest. About a hectare of land is cleared often by the slash-and-burn method. However, few larger trees are sometimes left to stand to protect crops from intense heat and rain. Trees providing food such as kola nuts and bananas are also left in place. The felled trees are then burnt and their ashes are mixed in the soil as nutrients. Crops such as yams, manioc, beans, tobacco, cocoa and pumpkins are planted. After a few years, as the production decreases, the cultivators abandon the land and make a fresh clearing in the forest.

1. Which occupation is being discussed in the passage. Also mention a second name of this occupation.
2. What is the usual practice of making the soil nutrient-rich?
3. Name the crops that are grown there.
4. Why do you think this practice contributes to environmental degradation?

1. The occupation being discussed in the given passage is Shifting Cultivation, which is also known as Slash-and-burn agriculture.

2. The usual practice of making the soil nutrient-rich is to burn the felled trees and then mix their ashes in the soil as nutrients.

3. The crops that are grown there include yams, manioc, beans, tobacco, cocoa and pumpkins.

4. This practice contributes to environmental degradation because it involves clearing and burning sections of rainforest, which leads to:

   1. Loss of forest cover
   2. Soil erosion
   3. Loss of biodiversity
   4. Air pollution from burning
   5. Repeated clearing over time reduces the forest's ability to regenerate.