Mineral usage efficiency of plants can be ……..A……….by genetic modification of plants and thus the exhaustion of fertility of the soil is …………B………… .

Options

A. `{:(A,B),("Increased","Hastened"):}`
B. `{:(A,B),("Increased","Delayed"):}`
C. `{:(A,B),("Decreased","Hastened"):}`
D. `{:(A,B),("Decreased","Delayed"):}`

Answer

To solve the question regarding the mineral usage efficiency of plants and the impact of genetic modification on soil fertility, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Question**: The question asks us to fill in two blanks (A and B) related to the efficiency of mineral usage in plants and the effect on soil fertility due to genetic modification.

2. **Analyzing the First Blank (A)**:
- The phrase "mineral usage efficiency of plants can be ……..A…………" suggests that we need a term that indicates an improvement or enhancement in mineral usage efficiency.
- Genetic modification of plants is known to increase their efficiency in using minerals. Therefore, the appropriate word to fill in the blank A is "increased".

3. **Analyzing the Second Blank (B)**:
- The second part of the question states "and thus the exhaustion of fertility of the soil is …………B…………". This implies that we need a term that indicates a delay or reduction in soil fertility exhaustion due to the increased efficiency of mineral usage by genetically modified plants.
- Since genetically modified plants can utilize minerals more effectively, they contribute to maintaining soil fertility for a longer period. Thus, the suitable word for blank B is "delayed".

4. **Final Answer**:
- Filling in the blanks, we get: "Mineral usage efficiency of plants can be **increased** by genetic modification of plants and thus the exhaustion of fertility of the soil is **delayed**."

### Complete Sentence:
"Mineral usage efficiency of plants can be **increased** by genetic modification of plants and thus the exhaustion of fertility of the soil is **delayed**."