While treating agricultural expansion as a major cause of deforestation how is colonial benefit visible?

Correct answer: Cultivable land could provide land tax

The direct answer is A: cultivable land could provide land tax. Colonial governments wanted more revenue and raw materials. When forests were cleared and converted into farms, the newly cultivated area could be measured, assessed and taxed. Step by step: forest land was cleared; cultivation expanded; officials assessed the productive land; and the state collected land revenue from cultivators. This shows the colonial benefit clearly. Option A is correct because agriculture increased the taxable land base and also supplied commercial crops. Option B is wrong because farming did not simply end the supply of ship timber; the colonial state often protected or managed forests specifically to obtain timber. Option C is wrong because farming does not automatically make forests dense; clearing usually reduces forest cover. Option D is wrong because agricultural expansion generally strengthened colonial control through revenue collection rather than removing it. Exam cue: colonial agriculture often means cultivation plus land revenue.