There was a rapid increase in the number of sod farms in Michigan in the years following the Korean War.

There was a rapid increase in the number of sod farms in Michigan in the years following the Korean War.

• A. Not sure
• B. False
• C. True
• D. Increased modestly

Answer: (B)

Evaluating historical trends in an industry requires checking whether a claim about a sharp change in scale is supported by the typical drivers of growth. In the case of Michigan’s sod farms after the Korean War, the idea of a rapid surge in the number of farms isn’t supported by how turf farming tends to develop. Starting a sod farm requires substantial capital for land, irrigation, equipment, and careful planning to be close enough to markets, and growth tends to come gradually as demand from suburban landscaping expands. Rather than a sudden, dramatic burst, the industry would more likely show a steadier, slower rise as existing operations expand or as new farms enter the market over time. So the statement isn’t consistent with how the sector typically evolved, making the claim false.

Evaluating historical trends in an industry requires checking whether a claim about a sharp change in scale is supported by the typical drivers of growth. In the case of Michigan’s sod farms after the Korean War, the idea of a rapid surge in the number of farms isn’t supported by how turf farming tends to develop. Starting a sod farm requires substantial capital for land, irrigation, equipment, and careful planning to be close enough to markets, and growth tends to come gradually as demand from suburban landscaping expands. Rather than a sudden, dramatic burst, the industry would more likely show a steadier, slower rise as existing operations expand or as new farms enter the market over time. So the statement isn’t consistent with how the sector typically evolved, making the claim false.