The traditional 'three sisters' planting method, which groups maize, beans, and squash together, is most closely associated with which cultural region?

• A. Mesoamerican civilizations
• B. North American Indigenous agriculture
• C. Andean highland cultures
• D. West African farming communities

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how intercropping and companion planting create a productive, sustainable crop system. The three sisters—maize, beans, and squash—are grown together because each supports the others: maize provides tall stalks for beans to climb, beans fix nitrogen to enrich the soil for all three crops, and squash sprawls along the ground to shade the soil, retain moisture, and suppress weeds. This cooperative planting pattern was developed and long practiced by Indigenous peoples in North America, especially in the Eastern Woodlands, making North American Indigenous agriculture the best match for this approach. While maize, beans, and squash were indeed grown in other regions, the traditional “three sisters” method is most closely tied to North American Indigenous farming traditions.