Topic Test 14
Large farms consist of about _____ of all farms in the United States.
10%
How many species are lost to extinction each day as a result of deforestation?
100
How much money is spent annually on farm subsidies?
18 billion
The first agricultural species was altered by genetic modification in _____.
1994
In 2009, _____ of all farms in the United States received subsidy payments.
33%
What percent of all farms in the US are small family farms?
90%
Which of the following situations is not an example of natural erosion?
Agriculture in Nebraska changes the local landscape.
What is the difference between bioengineered crops and genetically modified crops?
Bioengineered crops are created through natural cross-pollination, while genetically modified crops are created by additions or deletions to DNA.
Which of the following statements best describes what is occurring in the land surrounding the Sahara Desert?
Desertification is increasing, and the desert is expanding.
Bioengineered foods have been synthesized in the lab and are mass-produced in factories.
False
River waters that feed the Aral Sea in Asia were diverted for irrigation. Which of the following events did not result from this?
Fish could no longer survive because of the decreased salinity.
Agricultural subsidies in the United States began during the __________.
Great Depression
Why does organic produce spoil more quickly than conventional produce?
It is not treated with preservatives.
Which of the following statements about large farms is false?
Large farms face greater risks if market prices fluctuate.
Which of the following statements best characterizes Europe's stance on genetically modified (GM) food?
Many European nations considered banning the import and production of GM foods in 2010.
The arrows in the image above show cause and effect. Which of the models depicts an accurate cause-and-effect relationship?
Model A
The Old Man in the Mountain is a geological formation in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Which of the following statements best describes the effects of natural erosion on this formation?
Natural erosion caused the formation to collapse despite people's efforts to save it.
Which of the following statements about pesticides and residue is false?
Organic produce always will be pesticide-free.
Part of China is circled in black on the map above. Based on the map key, why is southeastern China not at risk of desertification?
Southeastern China is colored in green, which means it has a humid climate that regulates environmental and ecological changes, preventing desertification.
Which of the following statements best summarizes the results of scientific studies on the nutritional value of organically grown food?
Studies have been inconclusive regarding the nutritional value of organically grown food and conventionally grown food.
Most of the eastern United States is humid. How does the humidity on the East Coast prevent desertification?
The East Coast's humidity is directly related to the number of trees that restore moisture to the air and allow for soil preservation.
The Old Man in the Mountain is a geological formation in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Which of the following statements best describes the effects of natural erosion on this formation?
The Old Man in the Mountain is a geological formation in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Which of the following statements best describes the effects of natural erosion on this formation?
Foreign logging companies have increased operations in eastern Russia because they are able to use cheaper labor and reduce costs. Several animals' habitats are threatened by this activity. Which of the following is a negative result of this deforestation?
The Siberian tiger is losing its habitat.
How can a consumer tell if a product is organic?
The USDA has developed a labeling system for organic food.
Which of the following is not an argument in support of subsidies?
They improve the quality of produce.
Which of the following is not an argument against subsidies?
They keep food prices high.
Which of the following statements about bioengineered foods is false?
They were developed during the Green Revolution.
Which of the following statements about topsoil is false?
Topsoil can be found only on farmland.
Organic food is the fastest-growing sector of US agriculture.
True
The Dust Bowl that occurred in America in the 1930s is a dramatic example of erosion caused by __________.
agricultural cultivation
Farms owned by retirees who no longer cultivate crops are __________.
always considered small family farms regardless of acreage
Farm subsidies were started in the United States to __________.
assist farmers in desperate economic times during the Great Depression
One of the results of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill is the threat to various species in the gulf's ecosystem; it disturbed and, in some cases, forever altered the __________ of the Gulf Coast.
biodiversity
Which of the following terms describes the millions of types of plants, animals, and microorganisms on Earth?
biodiversity
Herbicide-resistant soybeans, pest-resistant cotton, and vitamin-enriched rice are all results of __________.
bioengineering
Which of the following activities is not a cause of desertification?
conserving water
Agricultural lobbyists have been urging the __________ of farm subsidies.
continuation
Overgrazing, overfarming, and the diversion of water for irrigation are significant causes of __________.
desertification
Vertical integration means that __________.
giant food corporations own the means of production, processing, and transportation
As of 2010, the most prevalent genetically modified crop grown was __________.
herbicide-resistant soybeans
More than half of all government subsidies go to farmers whose family income __________.
is more than $200,000 per year
People who benefit the most from subsidies are those who have __________.
large wheat farms
Which of the following is not a negative effect of erosion?
limited deforestation
Which of the following factors does the US government use to track farm size?
only the annual sales of products produced
High erosion rates in Madagascar are caused primarily by __________.
poor economic growth and high poverty rates
Which of the following aspects of agricultural cultivation increases the risk of erosion?
replacing natural vegetation with cultivated crops
The first genetically modified food was the tomato, which was modified to __________.
ripen without softening
The increasing price of land in the United States has resulted in an increase in the __________.
size of large farms
Farmers in California typically do not receive subsidies because __________.
they typically grow crops that are ineligible for subsidies
Deforestation is especially problematic in which of the following regions?
tropical rainforests
Large farms produce more than half of all agricultural products in the USA.
true
Developers decide to build an outdoor shopping complex and two future housing developments by cutting down acres of local woods. Which type(s) of human activity is taking place in this example?
urban sprawl and deforestation
