Which statement is accurate about pastoral societies?

• A. They are always sedentary
• B. They increase in size over time through animal husbandry
• C. They are less productive than hunting and gathering
• D. They refrain from animal exploitation

Answer: (B)

Pastoral societies subsist by herding domesticated animals, and this animal-based economy tends to support growing populations and wider social reach over time. Domesticated herds provide a more reliable and scalable food and resource base than hunter-gathering alone: milk, meat, hides, and traction can be produced repeatedly, leading to surplus that sustains larger families and fosters population growth. The surplus also enables trade, specialization, and longer-term settlement strategies, even as many pastoral groups remain mobile or semi-nomadic to follow grazing lands. In short, animal husbandry expands the available resources and stability for communities, making growth over time a common pattern.