IGCSE Environmental Management Practice Test

A windbreak is a row of trees or shrubs planted to block wind and reduce its speed. This protects crops and soil from wind erosion, lowers evaporation, and can shield buildings and livestock from gusts. The barrier slows the air, so the area behind it becomes calmer and often slightly warmer, which helps crops grow and preserves soil moisture. Windbreaks are typically placed along field margins facing the prevailing wind, with evergreens often chosen to provide year‑round protection. They can be one or several rows, and spacing matters: you want solid protection without overly shading crops or blocking beneficial airflow. This term specifically describes a feature whose purpose is to reduce wind, which is why it’s the best fit. It isn’t a weed, a water tower, or a process of breaking down rocks, so those options don’t match the idea being described.