One should … the land very well if one expects a bumper harvest

Analyze the question: The sentence says, "One should ........... the land very well if one expects a bumper harvest." We need the verb that best describes what a farmer does to the land as a whole to prepare it for a big harvest.

Explain the concept: In vocabulary and lexis questions, look at both the meaning and the collocation, meaning which words naturally go together. The phrase "a bumper harvest" points to the whole process of farming, not just one small activity.

Check each option:

• A. water: Watering is only one task. We would usually say "water the crops," not "water the land very well."
• B. dig: Digging is one physical action. It does not cover the full preparation of land for farming.
• C. cultivate: To cultivate land means to prepare and use it for growing crops. That includes tilling, planting, weeding and caring for it. "Cultivate the land very well" is a natural collocation and fits the idea of getting a bumper harvest.
• D. clear: Clearing removes bushes and trees. It is only the first step and does not guarantee a bumper harvest.

Answer: The best word is cultivate, which is option C.

Tip: When a question mentions land together with harvest or crops, think of cultivate. It is the broad, complete farming term, while words like dig, clear and water describe single tasks.