Domestication is the process of what?

• A. The taming of animals for human use such as work or food
• B. The breeding of crops for ornamental purposes
• C. The hunting of wild animals for sport
• D. The harvesting of forests for timber

Answer: (A)

Domestication is humans shaping wild species to be useful and dependent on people, achieved through selective breeding and ongoing management across generations. This means choosing animals and plants for traits that make them easier to use—like docility, work capacity, or higher yields—and shaping their genetics over time. The statement about taming animals for human use such as work or food best fits this idea, because it reflects turning wild organisms into reliable resources through human-guided change. The other options describe activities that don’t involve the genetic domestication of species: breeding crops for ornamental purposes focuses on aesthetics, hunting wild animals for sport is exploitation, and harvesting forests for timber is resource extraction.