chapter 8 food for thought: The globalization of Agriculture

An example of labor-intensive agriculture is:

* a. rice production in eastern China b. wheat production in western U.S. c. fish production in the open ocean d. hog production in feedlots

A common adaptation to mountainous terrain is:

* a. terracing b. sedentary agriculture c. feedlots d. irrigation

(True)/False

Nonfood crops are considered to be a part of agriculture.

True/(False)

The definition of agriculture is "food production."

The introduction of hybrid strains of crops and genetic engineering is part of the intensified use of agriculture known as the:

a. first agricultural revolution b. second agricultural revolution * c. third agricultural revolution d. fourth agricultural revolution

According to the von Thünen model, different crops are organized spatially

a. in rings around each farm * b. in rings around each city c. in triangular sectors radiating from seaports d. in bands along transportation corridors e. in hexagonal polygons

Which of the following is true of monoculture?

a. it focuses on the production of one crop year after year b. it increases a farmer's vulnerability to bad weather and global price swings c. it depends on heavier use of pesticides * d. all of these are true of monoculture

From Mexico's perspective, what are two of the negative effects of changes over the last quarter century in agriculture in Sonora, Mexico? (you must choose two and only two in order to get credit

a. less production of such crops in the U.S. *b. less biodiversity as monocrop economy grows c. loss of agricultural jobs overall *d. likely increased use of pesticides and fertilizers

Deforestation in Amazonian Ecuador is greatest:

* a. along roads b. near oil wells c. along railroads d. along the coast e. away from all of these

. Remote sensing detects

* a. land cover b. land use c. land ownership d. land value e. land health

Vestiges of colonialism in tropical countries where large tracts of land are devoted to monoculture

* a. plantations b. share cropping c. slavery d. shifting cultivation e. parasites

Domestication of wild plants and animals are part of which historic development in agriculture?

*a 1st agricultural revolution b. 2nd agricultural revolution c. 3rd agricultural revolution d. 4th agricultural revolution

From the U.S. perspective, what are two of the negative effects of changes over the last quarter century in agriculture in Sonora, Mexico? (you must choose two and only two in order to get credit)

*a. increased dependence on foreign production b. shorter season for fresh produce c. increase in sales of pesticides and fertilizers by U.S. multinational companies *d. fewer jobs in the production of crops now grown elsewhere

. (True)/False

Fishing can be a type of agriculture if the fish are produced by aquaculture.

True/(False)

Agriculture is synonymous with food production.

True/(False)

All food production is considered agriculture.

(True)/False

By comparing two satellite images taken at different times, it is possible to estimate land cover change

True/(False )

Fishing, hunting, and gathering of wild fish, animals, and plants are types of agriculture.

(True)/False

In a "false color infrared" image, red represents vegetation.

True/(False)

Manufacturing has become globalized but agriculture has not

True/(False)

NAFTA has had little impact on agriculture in Mexico since it was exempt from the free trade negotiations among Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.

(True)/False

Satellite images are a good tool for classifying land cover types.

True/(False)

Satellite images are photographs taken using special film.

True/(False)

Subsistence farmers grow crops mainly for sale on the commercial market.

Question: In your own words, explain the difference between the following four terms and give examples: 1) extensive agriculture, 2) intensive agriculture; 3) capital-intensive agriculture; 4) labor-intensive agriculture. You should write a medium-sized paragraph in full sentences in response to this question.

Textbook definitions: 1) Extensive Agriculture = Large-area farms or ranches with low inputs of labor per acre and low output per acre. 2) Intensive Agriculture = Small-area farms and ranches with high inputs of labor per acre and high output per acre. 3) Capital-intensive Agriculture = Agriculture in which a large amount of capital is applied per unit of output. 4) Labor-intensive Agriculture = Agriculture in which a large amount of human work is applied per unit of output.

True/(False)

There are very few farmers in less-developed countries engaged in both subsistence and commercial farming

(True)/False

Vertical nomadism moves the herd from lowlands in the winter to highlands in the summer

(True)/False

West Africa is one of the sites in which evidence has been found of the early origins of agriculture.

(True)/False

Wheat production in the western U.S. is an example of capital-intensive agriculture.

True/(False)

Wheat production in the western U.S. is an example of labor-intensive agriculture.

(True)/False

Wheat production in the western U.S. is an example of land-extensive agriculture.

True/(False )

Wheat production in the western U.S. is an example of land-intensive agriculture.

Genetic engineering is part of which historic development in agriculture?

a. 1st agricultural revolution b. 2nd agricultural revolution *c. 3rd agricultural revolution d. 4th agricultural revolution

Hybrid strains of plants are part of which historic development in agriculture?

a. 1st agricultural revolution b. 2nd agricultural revolution *c. 3rd agricultural revolution d. 4th agricultural revolution

Increased use of fertilizers is part of which historic development in agriculture?

a. 1st agricultural revolution *b. 2nd agricultural revolution c. 3rd agricultural revolution d. 4th agricultural revolution

Mechanization is part of which historic development in agriculture?

a. 1st agricultural revolution *b. 2nd agricultural revolution c. 3rd agricultural revolution d. 4th agricultural revolution

Proponents of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) argue that

a. Humans have always created crop hybrids, so this is no different b. There is no proven danger c. These methods produce cheaper crops d. These can be environmentally beneficial by reducing the need for herbicides *e. All of these

"Locavores" promote locally grown food because

a. It is fresher b. It is produced usually on small-scale farms, not big corporate farms c. It stimulates the local economy d. It sustains local culture *e All of these

Environmentalists object to industrial food production because

a. It relies heavily on chemical pesticides and herbicides b. It relies heavily on petroleum products c. Production tends to be on large monoculture farms, which are more susceptible to disease *d. All of these

Less-developed countries resist efforts to promote the free flow of agricultural products in the global economy because

a. They have few crops to sell b. They are not interested in buying food, but rather in buying manufactured goods c. They rarely eat products produced in the developed world d. They mostly eat organic foods *e. They object to subsidies for food production by more developed countries

Critics of the local food movement point out that

a. You cannot feed the entire world with local, small-scale agriculture b. Large corporate farms produce more healthy crops c. Large corporate agriculture produces much crops much more cheaply d. A and B *e. A and C

Capital-intensive agriculture depends on:

a. a lot of people to do the work machines cannot perform b. large plantations that focus on the production of a cash crop c. money to buy new land to maintain a rich soil base for growing crops * d. an investment in machinery to accomplish labor previously done by hand

What is "GMO" (the definition, not the acronym)?

a. an organization devoted to improving third-world agriculture b. geographic management objectives *c. food altered at the genetic level d. hybrid strains of various grain crops

Roads in the Ecuadorian Amazon were initially built to

a. bring cattle to market b. bring crops to market c. promote deforestation * d. provide access for oil drilling e. provide access to gold mining

Which of the following does not contribute to the geography of agriculture?

a. climate b. culture c. economic considerations (market, land rents) d. soils * e. all of these contribute

Which of the following was not one of the remote-sensing case studies?

a. deforestation in Ecuador b. monoculture in Mexico * c. deforestation in Jamaica d. irrigation in Mexico

The reason Mexico is producing increasing amounts of vegetables for the North American market, while the U.S. continues to compete effectively in corn production, is related to the idea of:

a. efficiency index b. economic base c. ratio of agglomeration *d. comparative advantage e. product simulation theory

. The relative efficiency with which a region can produce a product compared with other products and other regions is called:

a. efficiency index b. economic base * c. comparative advantage c. product simulation theory d. ratio of agglomeration

From the U.S. perspective, what are two of the positive effects of changes over the last quarter century in agriculture in Sonora, Mexico? (you must choose two and only two in order to get credit)

a. more agribusiness jobs *b. longer season for fresh produce c. shorter season for fresh produce *d. cheaper produce than could be grown domestically

Intensive agriculture:

a. produces a low output per acre on generally small farms * b. produces a high output per acre on generally small farms c. produces a low output per acre on generally large farms d. produces a high output per acre on generally large farms

In the model proposed by von Thünen, the type of crops that would be grown in an area is most directly related to their transportation costs. Which of the following would therefore be most likely to be the produced the closest to a major market?

a. spices * b. milk c. pecans d. wheat e. beef

An example of integrated crop/livestock production would be:

a. synthetically producing food such as Nutrasweet b. slaughtering old milk cows for beef * c. raising corn to feed to cattle d. raising livestock for non-food purposes such as wool or leather