What was the main similarity between agricultural expansion and plantation expansion in deforestation?

Correct answer: Both changed forest land into production land

The direct answer is option A: both changed forest land into production land. Agricultural expansion cleared forests to create fields for growing food or crops. Plantation expansion also cleared forests, but the cleared land was used for commercial crops such as tea, coffee, or rubber. Thus, the exact common point is a change in land use: natural forest was converted into land expected to produce crops or income. Option A is correct because it states this shared process. Option B is wrong because neither process left forests untouched; both could involve clearing. Option C is irrelevant and false because these activities occurred on land, not only in the sea. Option D is wrong because agriculture and plantations generally supported trade rather than stopping it. Remember: when a comparison asks for similarity, identify the common result, not the different purpose. Here, the common result was forest-to-production land conversion.