Deck 7: Soil, Agriculture, and the Future of Food

Question 1

Match the following:
Honeybees are vanishing at an alarming rate because of this

A)soil fungi
B)parasitoid wasps
C)colony collapse disorder
D)plasmids

Answer 1

colony collapse disorder

Question 2

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
A successful biological control species, introduced from Argentina to Australia in the 1920s to control invasive prickly pear cactus

A)roundup
B)earthworms
C)Bacillus thuringiensis
D)bees
E)Pseudomonas syringae
F)Cactoblastis cactorum

Answer 2

Cactoblastis cactorum

Question 3

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
Major pollinators of many flowering non-grain crop plants

A)roundup
B)earthworms
C)Bacillus thuringiensis
D)bees
E)Pseudomonas syringae
F)Cactoblastis cactorum

Answer 3

bees

Question 4

Use the figure above to answer the following question.
The figure demonstrates that it requires roughly ______________ times more feed input to produce 1 kg of eggs, compared to 1 kg of milk.

A) 30
B) 50
C) 15
D) 40
E) 4

Question 5

Use the figure above to answer the following question.
Based on the information in the figure, you decide to make changes in your diet to diminish your ecological footprint (the environmental impact of your food choices) by _____________.

A) shifting your protein intake to young cows and pigs to reduce resource consumption
B) eliminating all protein from your diet
C) shifting your protein intake from beef and pork to eggs and dairy products
D) shifting your protein intake from eggs and dairy products to beef and pork
E) shifting to beef exclusively because of the large amount of meat from a single cow

Question 6

Researchers have demonstrated that organic farming _______________.

A) presently has no market in Europe
B) decreased organic soil losses while giving yields comparable to conventional farming
C) increases the incidence of invasive species
D) is only sustainable with pesticides and synthetic fertilizers
E) suppresses the biodiversity of pollinating insects, especially bees

Question 7

Raising _______________ requires the most land and water.

A) pigs
B) dairy cattle
C) chickens
D) beef cattle
E) goats

Question 8

Use the figure above to answer the following question.
The comparison shown in the figure is environmentally significant because _____________.

A) the same grain used to feed chickens and cows could be fed to many humans instead
B) production of beef and pork is resource-intensive
C) cows are a keystone species
D) we cannot survive without eating the foods pictured
E) grain is a nonrenewable resource

Question 9

Bt crops _______________.

A) have been given a bacterial gene that gives chemical protection against pests
B) include strawberries that are resistant to frost damage
C) have seeds that will only germinate under laboratory conditions
D) have not yet been approved by the FDA
E) are widely grown in Europe

Question 10

What is true about GM crops?

A) Europe leads the world in land area dedicated to GM crops.
B) They are unanimously favored by environmentalists.
C) Latin America leads the world in land area dedicated to GM crops.
D) The United States leads the world in land area dedicated to GM crops.
E) They require artificial pollination methods.

Question 11

Of the following, _______________ requires the least land to produce 1 kg of protein.

A) milk
B) chicken
C) beef
D) eggs
E) pork

Question 12

In Queensland, Australia, cactus moths (Cactoblastis cactorum) _______________.

A) effectively cleared non-native prickly pear cactus from rangeland
B) are a keystone species
C) are raised as a food source by native Aborigines
D) are an invasive species
E) are examples of species that have developed resistance to pesticides

Question 13

Until about 10,000 years ago, our species depended on _______________.

A) hunting and gathering
B) cattle
C) crops and cattle
D) hunting and herding
E) crops

Question 14

Match the following:
Bacterial component for genetically modified organisms

A)soil fungi
B)parasitoid wasps
C)colony collapse disorder
D)plasmids

Question 15

Monoculture _______________.

A) farming is illegal in most countries
B) describes diets low in protein, such as vegetarianism
C) is an agricultural practice that uses no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides
D) describes food that has not been genetically modified
E) is an agricultural practice of growing large stands of a single species

Question 16

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
Can protect crops from some insect pest-related losses when applied periodically

A)roundup
B)earthworms
C)Bacillus thuringiensis
D)bees
E)Pseudomonas syringae
F)Cactoblastis cactorum

Question 17

Humus is _______________ .

A) artificial fertilizer applied to monocultures
B) one of the primary causes of desertification
C) composed of organic matter and is necessary to fertility and holding soil moisture
D) found in the E layer of a soil horizon
E) the result of agricultural runoff into waterways or groundwater

Question 18

Use the figure above to answer the following question.
Cows require a high quantity of feed because they _____________.

A) can feed more people than pigs
B) are genetically modified organisms
C) are raised on feedlots
D) are the best source of high quality protein
E) take time to grow and have a low energy conversion efficiency

Question 19

Match the following:
Introduced for biological control of caterpillars

A)soil fungi
B)parasitoid wasps
C)colony collapse disorder
D)plasmids

Question 20

Recombinant DNA _______________.

A) is assembled in the lab from mononucleotides
B) was part of the Green Revolution of the 1960s
C) is cross-pollination of one plant by a different species
D) is pollination of one plant by another of the same species
E) is the merging of DNA from unrelated organisms to create new genetic varieties

Question 21

The O horizon of soils consists of _______________.

A) bedrock
B) material leached from the top layers of soils
C) mostly organic material
D) materials deposited by erosion
E) weathered parent material

Question 22

Of the following, _______________ best describes integrated pest management (IPM).

A) transgenic crops
B) subsidies for pesticide use
C) biocontrol measures, crop rotation, and habitat diversification
D) major reliance on synthetic pesticides
E) continuous monoculture cropping and harvesting

Question 23

Which of the following is true?

A) Aquaculture has decreased significantly since 1985.
B) People are undernourished is because they are not educated about proper nutrition.
C) World hunger has increased significantly since 1970.
D) In 2010, 1 in 4 adults in the United States is obese and 3 out of 5 are overweight.
E) World grain production has tripled since 1985.

Question 24

Seed banks (institutions that store and preserve seeds) are important for _______________.

A) protecting genetic diversity
B) cash deposits for developing countries
C) protecting monoculture productivity
D) providing farmers with the current yearʹs GM crops
E) loans to developing countries to promote organic agriculture

Question 25

Since 1960, pesticide use has increased _______________ worldwide.

A) threefold
B) twofold
C) fivefold
D) fourfold
E) sixfold

Question 26

The breakdown of large rocks into smaller pieces is _______________.

A) called mineralization
B) a major cause of topsoil erosion
C) unaffected by winds
D) affected by rainfall, freezing and thawing
E) primarily caused by topsoil erosion

Question 27

Aquaculture _______________.

A) can bring economic benefits and food security to many developing regions
B) frequently results in unintended catch of non-target species
C) produces less fish per unit area compared to ocean water harvesting
D) uses more fossil fuels than traditional commercial fishing
E) has no real environmental disadvantages

Question 28

Normal Borlaug, who passed away in 2009, pioneered the development of _______________.

A) IPM
B) high-yield wheat
C) organic agriculture
D) GM crops
E) monoculture farming

Question 29

Factors involved in soil formation are _______________.

A) weathering of parent material, freezing/thawing, tree roots
B) erosion, leaching
C) frequent wildfires, wind, temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit
D) nitrogen-fixing bacteria, grazing by herbivores, tropical storms
E) seasonal changes in tides, earthquakes

Question 30

The loss of more than 10% productivity in an arid area due to erosion, soil compaction, deforestation or overgrazing is _______________.

A) climatization
B) deposition
C) stratification
D) global climate change
E) desertification

Question 31

Green Revolution techniques _______________.

A) focus on sustainability
B) focus on organic farming
C) focus on preserving biodiversity
D) have increased crop yields but may not be sustainable
E) have contributed to an increased diversity of foods in the human diet

Question 32

Organic farming _______________.

A) began in the 1960s
B) has no state or national standards in the United States
C) is presently limited to crops of fruits and vegetables
D) and organically grown produce have not been supported by the European Union
E) has increased in the United States, Canada, and Europe in recent years

Question 33

Relative to sustainable agriculture, insectsʹ roles are as _______________.

A) genetically modified species
B) harmful herbivores that need to be eliminated
C) essential pollinators and predators
D) keystone species
E) invasive species

Question 34

Monoculture, the practice of planting large areas with a single crop _______________.

A) always uses no-till techniques of planting
B) is typical of Native American farming techniques
C) is a development of industrial agriculture
D) requires no artificial pesticides or fertilizers
E) accounts for less than 1% of U.S. farmland

Question 35

_______________ % of the food we consume comes from crop species.

A) 50; 50
B) 50; 20
C) 90; 15
D) 10; 100
E) 90; 100

Question 36

Industrial agriculture _______________.

A) permanently improved soils, providing more food from less space
B) had no impact on agriculture
C) is necessary today for all cultures
D) increased our ability to obtain more food from the same area
E) rapidly deteriorated soils, requiring continuous movement to new croplands

Question 37

Leaching _______________.

A) is caused by upwelling of groundwater into soils
B) is a natural component of composting
C) is a natural mechanism for adding nutrients to soils
D) removes water-soluble nutrients from soils
E) helps crops grow when it occurs in spring

Question 38

It is more energetically efficient for us to eat more _______________.

A) plant-based foods
B) GM foods
C) herbivorous animals like cattle and chicken
D) foods grown using IPM methods
E) carnivorous animals like fish and alligator

Question 39

We lose 5 to 7 million ha of productive cropland per year to _______________.

A) damage from recreation activity
B) damage from pesticides
C) erosion, over-irrigation, and overgrazing
D) reforestation and wetland restoration
E) no-till cropping and shelterbelts

Question 40

During the past half-century, global food production has _______________ world population growth.

A) fallen behind
B) surpassed by several orders of magnitude
C) stayed about even with
D) grown at a faster rate than
E) fallen to critical levels compared to

Question 41

Terracing, contour farming, intercropping, and crop rotation all _______________.

A) contribute to erosion and desertification
B) contribute to leaching
C) are techniques for conserving soil resources and fertility
D) are aspects of IPM
E) are prohibited in organic farming

Question 42

Read the following scenario and answer the question 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, corn, along with soybeans, 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?

A) It is grown using less chemicals because it is less likely to rot.
B) It has a better taste.
C) It could be shipped further.
D) It is available at a lower cost to the consumer.
E) It has a better appearance.

Question 43

What are the dangers associated with pesticide use? How can biocontrol and use of crops with high genetic diversity be used to decrease the amount of pesticides used?

Question 44

Describe and discuss the use of biological control for battling pests.

Question 45

What was the Green Revolution, and what impact did it have on developing countries? Discuss the impact of the Green Revolution on the environment.

Question 46

Briefly discuss some disadvantages to aquaculture.

Question 47

Explain the statement ʺthe lower down in the food chain we eat, the greater percentage of solar energy we put to use, and the more people Earth can supportʺ in terms of trophic levels and pyramids of energy.

Question 48

No-till farming would be most beneficial for farmers _______________.

A) who plant a cash crop every third year
B) whose cropland is in the Conservation Reserve Program
C) who typically experience minimal soil erosion
D) with steeply sloped fields
E) using contour strip cropping

Question 49

Why is resistance of pest populations to pesticides likely over time when they are used in agriculture?

Question 50

Discuss the practices used by farmers to protect their soils.

Question 51

What is the basic concept of sustainable agriculture?

Question 52

Why is variety in crop plants important for ʺfood securityʺ? How is this threatened by GM food crops? What is the United Statesʹ position on GM products? How does this differ from the position of other countries?

Question 53

To make organic fertilizer by composting, you do not include _______________.

A) crop residues
B) shredded plastic and metals, waste from animal butchering
C) dead leaves, weeds
D) animal manures
E) wood chips

Question 54

Describe the goals and effects of industrial agriculture.

Question 55

Describe the American Dust Bowl and the lesson learned.

Question 56

Over-irrigation can result in _______________.

A) higher numbers of agricultural pests
B) crop rotation
C) soil salinization and waterlogging
D) erosion
E) leaching

Question 57

What are the arguments for and against genetically modified crops? Discuss the scientific, economic, and political issues.

Question 58

Define the term soil profile. What are the influences on the development of a soil profile, and how do profiles differ?

Question 59

The consequences of over-fertilizing include _______________.

A) very large fruits and vegetables
B) larger crop yields per acre
C) very fertile soils in future years
D) crops spreading into adjacent unfarmed areas
E) eutrophication and dead zones in nearby aquatic ecosystems

Question 60

The Conservation Reserve Program pays farmers to _______________.

A) pasture cattle instead of growing crops
B) grow native crops such as corn and beans
C) stop growing tobacco
D) stop cultivating highly erodible land
E) experiment growing new varieties of GM crops

Question 61

Read the following scenario and answer the question 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, corn, along with soybeans, 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.
If GM crops can decrease pesticide use, why are environmentalists still concerned about them?

A) The FDA does not regulate them.
B) Inserted genes can spread to non -target species.
C) The government funds most GM crop research.
D) There is no public opposition to GM crops.
E) Trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have increased dramatically in recent years.

Question 62

Read the following scenario and answer the question 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, corn, along with soybeans, 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.
The Flavr Savr tomato is no longer marketed because _______________.

A) people were nervous about eating genetically modified tomatoes
B) they require too much water to grow
C) genetically modified crops presently are not approved for sale in the United States
D) Calgene failed to attain government approval to market it
E) butterfly larvae that ate the tomato plants were poisoned

Question 63

Read the following scenario and answer the question 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, corn, along with soybeans, 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 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 the only GMO crops approved since the Flavr Savr tomato.
D) They are inexpensive to produce.
E) They are exempt from U.S. regulations.

Question 64

Read the following scenario and answer the question 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, corn, along with soybeans, 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 ʺresistanceʺ traits?

A) These are the only traits proven safe for the environment.
B) No technology exists to engineer other traits successfully.
C) These traits have the economic potential to save on production costs.
D) These are the only traits proven safe for the human health.
E) Crops with these traits taste better.