EVR Chapter 7 (Exam 2)
A grain of what size would be most likely to cause surrounding grains to become airborne? A) 0.05 mm B) 0.2 mm C) 0.5 mm D) 1.0 mm Which of the following correctly shows the order for grains that would blow the least distance to grains that would blow the greatest distance? A) rolling grains, bouncing grains, suspended grains B) suspended grains, bouncing grains, rolling grains C) rolling grains, suspended grains, bouncing grains D) bouncing grains, rolling grains, suspended grains Which of the following particles made up the dust that gave the Dustbowl its name? A) permanent grains B) rolling grains C) suspended grains D) bouncing grains
B) 0.2 mm A) rolling grains, bouncing grains, suspended grains C) suspended grains
How big is the range of soil degradation observed between continents? A) about 7% B) about 15% C) about 22% D about 50% Which continent likely represents the largest absolute land area experiencing degradation? A) South America B) Europe C) Asia D) Africa E) North America For which continents is land degradation having the least impact on global grain production? A) Asia and Europe B) Africa and Asia C) Europe and North America D) North and South America E) Africa and South America Suppose you are advising the UN on global soil conservation projects. Limited resources force you to focus all your efforts on only one continent. Based on the information in the graph, which continent would you focus on so as to have the greatest impact on global grain production? A) North America B) South America C) Asia D) Africa E) Europe Which continent has the largest proportion of land with more than moderate degradation? A) Asia B) Africa C) Europe D) South America E) North America Assume that these categories represent a progression of degradation through time. In other words, if left unchecked, lightly degraded soil progresses into moderately degraded soil and so forth. Which continent poses the greatest concern for future loss of agricultural productivity? A) Europe B) Asia C) South America D) Africa E) North America
B) 15% C) Asia E) Africa and South America C) Asia B) Africa A) Europe
Using the most reliable information available, how much of the Earth's land surface is used for agriculture today? A) 10%, according to government surveys of land use B) 30 to 40%, according to satellite imagery C) 70%, according to surveys conducted by commercial jets D) 90%, according to tax records from government agencies As the global human population continues to rise, increased food production will most likely come from __________. A) other planets B) decreased demand for food C) increased productivity of the land already used for agriculture D) increases in the amount of land used for agricultural production About 100 years ago, agricultural production in the United States tripled due to __________. A) the shift from wheat and corn crops to rice crops B) the shift from raising crops on land to raising crops in water C) a tremendous increase in the amount of land used for agriculture D) the invention of fertilizers and use of more modern machinery Despite increased agricultural production by developed countries about 100 years ago, less developed countries continued to use traditional agricultural practices. Then, in the 1960s, the research of Dr. Norman Borlaug increased crop production by nearly 500% in Mexico and India by using __________. A) disease resistant crops B) high yielding crops C) modern farm equipment D) All of the above responses are correct.
B) 30 to 40%, according to satellite imagery C) increased productivity of the land already used for agriculture D) the invention of fertilizers and use of more modern machinery D) All of the above responses are correct.
Approximately how much more soil was lost using conventional tillage rather than reduced tillage? A) 50 kg/ha B) 5,000 kg/ha C) 160 kg/ha D) 16,000 kg/ha How much more organic carbon would be saved annually by using reduced tillage? A) 70 kg/ha B) 120 kg/ha C) 7,000 g/ha D) 12,000 g/ha What percentage more nitrogen would be saved annually by using reduced tillage rather than conventional tillage? A) 2.7% B) 63% C) 37% D) 50% Given that annual crop yields in each of the study plots were approximately 4 metric tons/ha, what is the ratio of soil lost to crop yield under conventional tillage? A) 64,000 kg soil/1 ton crop yield B) 4,000 tons crop yield/1 kg soil C) 4,000 kg soil/1 ton crop yield D) 16,000 kg soil/4 tons crop yield Predict how the results of this experiment might vary if repeated in a less mountainous region with lower annual rainfall. A) A greater percentage difference in soil loss between conventional and reduced tillage B) Higher soil loss for both conventional and reduced tillage treatments C) Lower soil loss for both conventional and reduced tillage treatments D) Lower soil loss for conventional tillage but high soil loss for reduced tillage
B) 5,000 kg/ha A) 70 kg/ha C) 37% D) 4,000 kg soil/1 ton crop yield C) Lower soil loss for both conventional and reduced tillage treatments
If GM crops can decrease pesticide use, why are environmentalists still concerned about them? A) Trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have increased dramatically in recent years. B) Inserted genes can spread to non-target species. C) There is no public opposition to GM crops. D) The FDA does not regulate them. E) The government funds most GM crop research.
B) Inserted genes can spread to non-target species.
Why do soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola dominate the GM crop market? A) These crops help to feed and clothe the poor. B) They are ingredients in processed foods, so they are more easily accepted. C) They are inexpensive to produce. D) They are exempt from U.S. regulations. E) They are the only GMO crops approved since the Flavr Savr tomato.
B) They are ingredients in processed foods, so they are more easily accepted
From 2007 to 2012, which group of nations saw the greatest increase in GM crops? A) world total B) developing nations C) industrialized nations What features of GM crops make them appealing to farmers? Select all that apply. 1. increased food yields 2. drought tolerance 3. less herbicide use 4. insect resistance
B) developing nations 4. insect resistance 2. drought tolerance 1. increased food yields
Since 1960, pesticide use has increased ________ worldwide. A) sixfold B) fourfold C) fivefold D) twofold E) threefold
B) fourfold
What type of agriculture is found in most of this region? A) oasis and irrigated agriculture B) pastoral nomadism C) dry farming D) little or no agriculture E) None of the listed responses is correct. Oasis and irrigated agriculture are found most often __________. A) near larger cities B) along the coasts C) in the open desert D) in the south E) along with dry farming Which climate supports little or no agriculture? A) tropical and subtropical steppe B) tropical and subtropical desert C) complex mountain D) mediterranean summer--dry E) midlatitude steppe The Nile River supports significant amounts of __________. A) fruit cultivation B) no agriculture at all C) oasis and irrigated agriculture D) dry farming E) All of the listed responses are correct. The midlatitude steppe climate supports mostly which type of agriculture? A) oasis and irrigated agriculture B) some other kind of agriculture not listed C) dry farming D) pastoral nomadism E) Midlatitude steppe does not support any kind of agriculture.
B) pastoral nomadism A) near larger cities B) tropical and subtropical desert C) oasis and irrigated agriculture A) oasis and irrigated agriculture
Compare the world population index for 1960 to the world population index for 2000. Then express the world population in 2000 as a percentage of world population in 1960 A) 400% B) 100% C) 200% D) 50% Now compare fertilizer use in 1960 to fertilizer use in 2000. Express the year 2000 N fertilizer use as a percentage of N fertilizer use in 1960. A) 667% B) 15% C) 7% D) 67% In 1960 the ratio of food production to N fertilizer use was 40:15 or 2.7:1. By 2000 the ratio was 1:1. The efficiency of N use in agriculture _____. A) there is not enough data to determine the answer. B) decreased—over time we have produced less food with the same amount of N fertilizer C) increased—over time we have produced more food with the same amount of N fertilizer D) stayed the same—the amount of food produced with a unit of N fertilizer has stayed the same over time Calculate the ratio of the agricultural land index to the population index for 1960 and compare it to the ratio for 2000. The ratios suggest that _____. A) the per capita demand on agricultural land has stayed the same over time B) the per capita demand on agricultural land has increased over time C) the per capita demand on agricultural land has decreased over time D) there is no relationship between agricultural land and population Demographers predict that global population will continue to increase. As population increases, which of the following statements represents future agricultural changes for maintaining an adequate food supply? A) Higher agricultural land-to-population ratio B) Lower use of N fertilizer per unit of land C) Higher food production due to greater use of N fertilizer D) Higher food production per unit of agricultural land
C) 200% A) 667% B) decreased—over time we have produced less food with the same amount of N fertilizer B) the per capita demand on agricultural land has increased over time D) Higher food production per unit of agricultural land
On a scale of 0 to 6, where 6 is the most trustworthy, how would you rate this site? (Note that all responses will be marked as "correct" at this point.) A) 0-1 (not trustworthy at all) B) 2-4 (somewhat trustworthy; want to check some things) C) 5-6 (very trustworthy) What is the affiliation of the writer? A) She is on staff at the Center for Food Safety (CFS). B) She is a public relations officer for Monsanto. C) She is a journalist. D) She is a genetic engineer. What seems to be the main purpose of the blog post? What do you find when you click these two links? A) to inform the public about the pros and cons of genetically engineering food crops B) to elicit donations to the Center for Food Safety C) to sell genetically modified orange juice D) to convince the public that genetic engineering is not the solution to citrus greening What do you find when you click these two links? A) They both link to other pages on the CFS web site. B) One links to another nonprofit's web site, and one links to the USDA web site. C) One links to another page on the CFS web site, and one links to a paper in a peer-reviewed journal. D) They both link to peer-reviewed journals. Is the information provided by these sites consistent with what you found on the CFS web site? A) Yes, they all say GMOs are bad. B) Other sites discuss both the risks and benefits associated with GMOs. C) No, all the other sources say GMOs will end world hunger. Assign a numerical score for each category. Then add up the total score. (The highest possible score is 6; the lowest is 0.) In what range does this source fall? A) 0 to 1 B) 2 to 4 C) 5 to 6
C) 5-6 (very trustworthy) A) She is on staff at the Center for Food Safety (CFS). D) to convince the public that genetic engineering is not the solution to citrus greening C) One links to another page on the CFS web site, and one links to a paper in a peer-reviewed journal. B) Other sites discuss both the risks and benefits associated with GMOs. B) 2 to 4
The breakdown of large rocks into smaller pieces is ________. A) a major cause of topsoil erosion B) unaffected by winds C) primarily caused by topsoil erosion D) affected by rainfall, freezing and thawing E) called mineralization
C) affected by rainfall, freezing and thawing
Normal Borlaug, who passed away in 2009, pioneered the development of ________. A) GM crops B) IPM C) high-yield wheat D) monoculture farming E) organic agriculture
C) high- yield wheat
Genetically modified papayas have been created to __________. A) improve the flavor of the fruit B) increase the amount of fruit C) increase resistance to disease D) improve the nutritional value of the fruit The current problem with the genetically modified Hawaiian papaya plants that were first created in the 1980s is that they __________. A) contain substances toxic to humans B) spoil too quickly C) are not resistant to a root fungus D) are no longer able to reproduce How did scientists obtain a gene that can make papaya plants resistant to a new papaya root fungus? A) They created the plant-root-resistant gene by combining genes from a tree and a type of algae. B) They found a root-fungus-resistant gene in grapes. C) They removed a gene from the DNA of the root fungus. D) They synthesized a new gene by assembling a unique combination of amino acids. Once the root-fungus-resistant gene was inserted into the papaya plants, the genetically modified papaya plants were __________. A) ready to be grown to produce fruit for human consumption B) tested to be sure that they were substantially equivalent to non-engineered fruit C) hybridized with genetically modified Hawaiian pineapple plants to produce hybrids resistant to all known papaya diseases D) heated up to over 100 degrees Celsius to sterilize the plant surfaces
C) increase resistance to disease C) are not resistant to a root fungus B) They found a root-fungus-resistant gene in grapes. B) tested to be sure that they were substantially equivalent to non-engineered fruit
Monoculture, the practice of planting large areas with a single crop ________. A) accounts for less than 1% of U.S. farmland B) requires no artificial pesticides or fertilizers C) is a development of industrial agriculture D) is typical of Native American farming techniques E) always uses no-till techniques of planting
C) is a development of industrial agriculture
According to Indra Vasil, biotech crops are safe and well tested. Which of the following statements does he use to support his claims? A) More than 1 million humans consumed biotech food between 1996 and 2006. B) The growth rate of biotech crop farming has declined in recent years. C) Biotech crops are linked to occasional environmental damage. D) Biotech crops have never caused illness in humans or animals. Anuradha Mittal lists several potential outcomes of allowing genetic engineering (GE) in agriculture. Identify one statement she includes in her list. A) Gene transfer across species B) Improving farmer's methods for saving seeds C) Changes in biodiversity D) Decreasing use of herbicides The two authors identify different groups in this GE debate. Based on the essays, which of the following statements correctly describes one author's label of the pro-GE groups versus the anti-GE groups? A) Mittal: the global pro-GE political infrastructure vs. the anti-GE organic farming lobby B) Vasil: the pro-GE scientists vs. the anti-GE scientists C) Vasil: the practical pro-GE biotech industry vs. the small, political anti-GE lobby D) Mittal: the well-financed pro-GE biotech industry vs. rich anti-GE farmers Although the authors disagree completely on the use of GE crops, there are one or two points of view they share. Review the statements below and select one that represents a shared view. A) Globally there is enough food available for all humans. B) People in some parts of the world will need more food. C) Plant biotechnology is the best approach for conserving natural resources. D) Agro-chemicals are a safe way to increase crop yields. You are an international policy maker reviewing biotech crop regulations. Which of the following information sources would provide a reliable scientific assessment of the impacts of biotech crops? A) Research results from an independent scientist about the effects of biotech crops on biodiversity published in a scientific journal B) A policy review prepared by an anti-GE nonprofit group C) A research report prepared by a global biotech company D) A national scientific panel review of all the biotech crop research published over the past 15 years
D) Biotech crops have never caused illness in humans or animals. A) Gene transfer across species C) Vasil: the practical pro-GE biotech industry vs. the small, political anti-GE lobby B) People in some parts of the world will need more food. D) A national scientific panel review of all the biotech crop research published over the past 15 years
For the first time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering whether to allow the sale of _____. A) seaweed as a drug B) fungi as food C) endangered species of plants D) food from a genetically altered animal The fish in the video have been genetically engineered to _____. A) grow faster B) resist bacterial infections C) reproduce later in life D) produce pink meat The modified salmon were created by _____. A) producing only male salmon, which tend to be larger than females B) fusing salmon and shark eggs C) adding genetic material from a Pacific salmon and an eel-like fish D) injecting the salmon with steroids, such as testosterone According to the producers of the genetically modified salmon, the meat _____. A) looks and tastes the same as unmodified salmon B) tastes like chicken C) has a distinctly different taste from unmodified salmon D) has a distinctly different color from unmodified salmon What concerns do some consumer groups have about genetically modified fish? A) They want food from genetically modified fish to be clearly labeled as genetically modified. B) They want to prevent genetically modified fish from breeding with wild fish. C) They want more studies on the health effects that genetically modified fish may have on people who eat it. D) all of the above How does the company raising these fish claim to prevent the genetically modified fish from breeding with wild fish? A) Fish are raised in individual isolation and are unable to interact with each other. B) Escaped fish are caught and removed from the ocean. C) The fish are killed before they are old enough to reproduce. D) The genetically modified fish are sterile.
D) food from a genetically altered animal A) grow faster C) adding genetic material from a Pacific salmon and an eel-like fish A) looks and tastes the same as unmodified salmon D) all of the above D) The genetically modified fish are sterile
On average, how far do agricultural products travel from farm to plate in the United States? A) 100 miles B) 400 miles C) 800 miles D) 1100 miles E) 1400 miles Today, it takes about ______ Calories of energy to produce about 1 Calorie of food. A) 2 B) 20 C) 55 D) 90 E) 125 When does Cognito Farm use antibiotics on its cattle? A) Monthly to prevent illness. B) Only when they are sick. C) Weekly to prevent illness. D) Daily to prevent illness. E) Never It has been estimated that confined animal feeding operations contribute to about _____ of world carbon dioxide emissions. A) 5% B) 15% C) 25% D) 35% E) 45% What is used at Cognito Farm to control fly larvae in the pasture? A) all natural organic pesticides B) ultraviolet radiation C) insect traps D) chickens E) chemical pesticides Cognito Farm avoids washing chicken carcasses with __________, which is done at many packing plants in the United States. A) acetic acid B) hydrochloric acid C) calcium carbonate D) salt water E) bleach
E) 1400 miles C) 55 B) only when they are sick B) 15% D) chickens E) bleach
Salinization is a major issue primarily in which country? A) Bangladesh B) Maldives C) India D) Sri Lanka E) Pakistan What climate is most associated with salinization? A) subtropical steppe B) desert C) tropical monsoon D) tropical wet E) complex mountain Salinization appears to be correlated most with what other environmental issue? A) coastal pollution B) desertification C) deforestation D) forested regions E) none of the above Which country is facing the greatest overall environmental problems? A) Nepal B) Bangladesh C) Sri Lanka D) India E) Pakistan
E) Pakistan B) desert B) desertification E) Pakistan
Terracing, contour farming, intercropping, and crop rotation all ________. A) are aspects of IPM B) contribute to erosion and desertification C) contribute to leaching D) are prohibited in organic farming E) are techniques for conserving soil resources and fertility
E) are techniques for conserving soil resources and fertility
Which animal product is least efficient at converting feed consumed into the final product? A) milk B) eggs C) pork D) chicken E) beef Roughly how many kilograms of pork do you expect to get for every 100 kilograms of feed consumed? A) 10 B) 20 C) 100 D) 130 Assume you are raising beef and that feed is costing you $1.00 per kilogram. Roughly how much money are you spending on feed for each kilogram of beef produced? A) $0.12 B) $1.20 C) $12.00 D) $120.00 Surprisingly, milk has a conversion efficiency greater than 100%. What is the best explanation for this? A) Cows and cattle are generally better than other animals at converting feed into product. B) Milk producers have been applying innovative practices that should soon raise milk production efficiency to 150%. C) This represents a measurement error in the data. D) Most of milk's mass comes from water consumption, not feed consumption. For a country with abundant land and water resources but limited financial resources, which animal product would most likely be favored by agricultural policy? A) chicken B) beef C) pork D) milk E) eggs For a country where chicken raising and eating is socially unacceptable and water resources are scarce, which animal product would most likely be favored by agricultural policy? A) pork B) milk C) eggs D) beef Despite its high resource usage, beef is a major commodity due to the high value per kilogram of the final product. Which of the following changes would cause a reduction in beef production? A) a dramatic rise in the cost of feed, land, and water to the beef producer B) an agricultural program that subsidized pork production so that the profit per kilogram of pork was comparable to that for beef C) a precipitous fall in the price per kilogram of beef D) all of the above E) none of the above
E) beef B) 20 C) $12.00 D) Most of milk's mass comes from water consumption, not feed consumption. D) milk A) pork D) all of the above
Drag each description to the appropriate bin.
You sorted 2 out of 7 items incorrectly. Remember that growing large plots of a single crop species in straight rows encourages pests and often requires chemical controls. For which type of agriculture would this be the case?
Sort the examples below into the appropriate bin.
You sorted 2 out of 9 items incorrectly. Wind can transport soil particles from exposed areas, leading to soil erosion.
