EVR 1001 Chapter 7
Globally, approximately how many people are undernourished? -1 trillion -800 thousand -800 million -1 billion -1 million
800 million
Which of the following soil horizons is most severely affected by erosion? -C -R -B -A
A
Forested land in the Amazon basin is currently being cleared for agriculture, just as land in the Midwestern U.S. was cleared for agriculture in the 19th century. The growth of plants is influenced by soil fertility, the naturally-occurring concentration of plant nutrients in the soil. Which statement below do you think best describes the relative soil fertility levels in Amazonian soils and soils in the agricultural Midwest? -Amazonian soils have higher fertility than Midwestern soils -Amazonian soils have lower fertility than Midwestern soils -Amazonian soils have roughly equal fertility as Midwestern soils
Amazonian soils have lower fertility than Midwestern soils
_________________ is any process whereby scientists directly manipulate an organism's genetic material in the laboratory by adding, deleting, or changing segments of its DNA. -Genetic engineering -Polymerase chain reaction. -Transgenetic engineering. -Organic agriculture
Genetic engineering
Which of the following revolutions came about as a response to our dramatically rising human population numbers? -Industrial revolution -Green Revolution -Agricultural revolution -Environmental revolution
Green Revolution
Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below. Despite the high cost of the technology to design genetically modified (GM) crops, American companies have invested in their development. The first genetically engineered crop was the Flavr Savr tomato, which was created by reversing the function of a normal tomato gene. It was approved by the FDA for sale in the United States in 1994. Its grower, the Calgene Corporation, maintained that it would ripen longer on the vine, taste and ship better, and last longer on supermarket shelves compared to conventional tomatoes. It is no longer marketed because of technical problems and public safety concerns. Today, most engineered crops are modified for insect and herbicide resistance. In 1997, the Monsanto company first marketed GM corn. This Bt corn was engineered using genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria that made the corn resistant to some pests. In 1999, environmentalists were alarmed when it was reported that pollen from Bt corn could kill monarch butterfly larvae if corn pollen drifted onto milkweed plants that monarchs fed upon. Consumers feared the unknown and were concerned about potential food allergies. Presently, soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola dominate the GM food market. These crops are grown and distributed mostly in the United States, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, and China. They are used mostly for animal feed, clothing, or to make oil or other ingredients for processed food, which has helped them gain public acceptance. Although GM crops such as strawberries, potatoes, and lettuce have all been marketed in the United States, GM food field trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have dropped significantly during the past several years, and the pace of new product introductions has fallen sharply. This narrow range of crops could mean that biotechnology may not realize its full potential in the future. Which of the following was a positive environmental aspect of the Flavr Savr tomato? -It has a better taste. -It is available at a lower cost to the consumer. -It could be shipped further. -It has a better appearance. -It is grown using less chemicals because it is less likely to rot.
It is grown using less chemicals because it is less likely to rot.
Use the figure above to answer the following question. Which of the following can be inferred from the figure? -Cows are a keystone species. -We cannot survive without eating the foods pictured. -The production of beef and pork is resource-intensive. -Grain is a renewable resource. -The same grain used to feed chickens and cows could be fed to many humans instead.
The production of beef and pork is resource-intensive.
Which of the following contributed to the Dust Bowl of the 1930s? -Massive industrial agriculture operations disturbed the soil with large, petroleum-powered equipment. -Deforestation of native forests in order to plant crops. -The removal of native prairie plants. -The use of GM crops.
The removal of native prairie plants.
Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below. Despite the high cost of the technology to design genetically modified (GM) crops, American companies have invested in their development. The first genetically engineered crop was the Flavr Savr tomato, which was created by reversing the function of a normal tomato gene. It was approved by the FDA for sale in the United States in 1994. Its grower, the Calgene Corporation, maintained that it would ripen longer on the vine, taste and ship better, and last longer on supermarket shelves compared to conventional tomatoes. It is no longer marketed because of technical problems and public safety concerns. Today, most engineered crops are modified for insect and herbicide resistance. In 1997, the Monsanto company first marketed GM corn. This Bt corn was engineered using genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria that made the corn resistant to some pests. In 1999, environmentalists were alarmed when it was reported that pollen from Bt corn could kill monarch butterfly larvae if corn pollen drifted onto milkweed plants that monarchs fed upon. Consumers feared the unknown and were concerned about potential food allergies. Presently, soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola dominate the GM food market. These crops are grown and distributed mostly in the United States, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, and China. They are used mostly for animal feed, clothing, or to make oil or other ingredients for processed food, which has helped them gain public acceptance. Although GM crops such as strawberries, potatoes, and lettuce have all been marketed in the United States, GM food field trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have dropped significantly during the past several years, and the pace of new product introductions has fallen sharply. This narrow range of crops could mean that biotechnology may not realize its full potential in the future. Why have most bioengineered crops been modified for "resistance" traits? -These are the only traits proven safe for human health. -No technology exists to engineer other traits successfully. -These are the only traits proven safe for the environment. -These traits have the economic potential to save on production costs. -Crops with these traits taste better.
These traits have the economic potential to save on production costs.
Which of the following would be considered a monoculture? -a 100-acre field, all of which is planted with the same variety of corn -a two-acre field planted with a variety of foods intended to support several families for the year -a garden plot planted with 10 tomato plants -a 100-acre field that is planted with a variety of crops for use in feeding farm animals
a 100-acre field, all of which is planted with the same variety of corn
Raising which of the following requires the most land and water? -dairy cattle -pigs -beef cattle -goats -chickens
beef cattle
Part complete Managing crop competitors and pests has been challenging to agronomists for centuries. One approach, integrated pest management, ________. -uses only natural pesticides -combines a variety of pesticides to combat the pest -uses no pesticides of any kind -uses only synthetic chemical pesticides -combines synthetic chemical pesticides with biocontrol techniques
combines synthetic chemical pesticides with biocontrol techniques
Which process not only controls erosion, but can also help to replenish soil nutrients? -shelterbelts -crop rotation -drip irrigation -contour farming
crop rotation
The results of overapplying fertilizer can include ________. -eutrophication in nearby waterways -large crop yields per acre -crops spreading rapidly into nearby areas -very large fruits and vegetables -very fertile soils in future years
eutrophication in nearby waterways
Place the following list of steps into the correct sequence for creating a genetically modified organism. a) The gene is transferred to the target organism. b) The bacteria containing the recombinant DNA are allowed to reproduce. c) The gene of interest is inserted into a plasmid. d) A plasmid is isolated from a strain of bacteria. e) The plasmid containing the recombinant DNA is inserted into bacteria. f) The gene of interest is isolated from the cell of an organism. fdcdab dfceba fdabce decfab abcdfe
fdabce
Since 1960, pesticide use has increased ________ worldwide. -fivefold -sixfold -threefold -twofold -fourfold
fourfold
During the past half-century, global food production has ________ world population growth. -grown at a faster rate than -fallen to critical levels compared to -stayed about even with -fallen behind -surpassed by several orders of magnitude
grown at a faster rate than
Industrial agriculture ________. -has permanently improved soils, providing more food from less space -has had no impact on society -has rapidly deteriorated soils, requiring continuous conversion of new areas to cropland -has increased our ability to obtain more food from the same area -was replaced by more modern farming practices during the Green Revolution
has increased our ability to obtain more food from the same area
Green Revolution techniques ________. -have contributed to an increased diversity of foods in the human diet -have increased crop yields but may not be sustainable -focus on preserving biodiversity -focus on organic farming -focus on sustainability
have increased crop yields but may not be sustainable
When decomposers break down organic molecules, a dark crumbly organic material called __________ that improves soil quality is formed. -silt -humus -topsoil -guacamole
humus
Which of the following agricultural systems would be most susceptible to diseases or pests? -traditional farms -rangeland used for grazing livestock -polycultures -monocultures
monocultures
Over time, pesticides become less effective. This is because __________. -transgenic crops have been introduced -farmers decrease the amount of application because of the high cost of product -pests can evolve defenses against pesticides -federal regulations require that lower-strength pesticides be used
pests can evolve defenses against pesticides
Seed banks are important for ________. -protecting genetic diversity -providing loans to developing countries to promote organic agriculture -protecting monoculture productivity -providing farmers with the current year's genetically modified crops -agricultural investments in developing countries
protecting genetic diversity
Leaching ________. -is a common agricultural practice to improve soil -adds nutrients to soil naturally -is caused by movement of water upward through soil from the water table -removes water-soluble nutrients from topsoil -can help plant growth only if done properly
removes water-soluble nutrients from topsoil
Which of the following can be caused by irrigation of cropland? -salinization -recombination of genes -terracing -erosion of bedrock
salinization
To make organic fertilizer by composting, you should not include ________. -animal manures -dead leaves, weeds -wood chips -shredded plastic and metals -crop residues
shredded plastic and metals
The Conservation Reserve Program pays farmers to ________. -stop growing tobacco -stop cultivating highly erodible land -grow soybeans and other kinds of harvestable groundcover -grow native crops such as corn and beans -grow cattle feed instead of commercial crops
stop cultivating highly erodible land
Organic agriculture implies farming techniques that use NO __________. -water -soil -synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, or herbicides -fertilizers
synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, or herbicides
The use of biocontrol runs the risk of __________. View Available Hint(s) -the control agent completely eradicating the target species -genes from the control agent escaping into wild populations -the control agent negatively impacting other species besides the species needing to be controlled -the control agent breeding with the species needing to be controlled.
the control agent negatively impacting other species besides the species needing to be controlled
Swidden agriculture is necessary in rainforests for all of the following reasons EXCEPT __________. -the warm temperature in the rainforest causes decomposition to occur quickly -excess rain in the rainforest tends to allow for leaching of nutrients to the lower layers of soil -rainforest plants tend to hold the nutrients in rainforests rather than the soil -the soil of rainforests is not suitable for forest growth
the soil of rainforests is not suitable for forest growth
Factors involved in soil formation include ________. -nitrogen-fixing bacteria and grazing by herbivores -weathering of parent material and the addition of organic material -seasonal changes in the tides -tropical climate, acid precipitation, and frequent wildfires -erosion, level terrain, and the absence of rooted vegetation
weathering of parent material and the addition of organic material
No-till farming would be most beneficial for farmers ________. -who typically experience minimal soil erosion -using contour strip cropping -whose cropland is in the Conservation Reserve Program -who plant a cash crop every third year -with steeply sloped fields
with steeply sloped fields
