Deck 12: Food: How Do We Feed Ourselves

Question 1

Select the phrase that correctly describes the transition that occurred about 10,000 years ago from hunter-gatherer to agricultural societies.

A) The transition increased the area of land needed to support a population from 0.1 hectare per person to 100 hectares per person.
B) The transition expanded the carrying capacity of Earth from just under 800 million people to several billion people.
C) The transition involved people residing in one location and cultivating plants and domesticating animals for consumption instead of moving from place to place to find food.
D) All of these are correct.

Answer 1

The transition involved people residing in one location and cultivating plants and domesticating animals for consumption instead of moving from place to place to find food.

Question 2

Organic matter refers to

A) non-GMO-produced foods.
B) decaying plant and animal residues.
C) industrially produced chemicals.
D) weed and insect pests.

Answer 2

decaying plant and animal residues.

Question 3

Which answer choice describes a fallow field?

A) unplanted
B) irrigated
C) fertilized
D) cultivated

Answer 3

unplanted

Question 4

Select the phrase that characterizes a synthetic fertilizer.

A) a primary nutrient that is fixed by a legume, such as beans
B) an artificially produced chemical that targets insects and weeds
C) decomposing plant and animal matter
D) an industrially produced nutrient for plant growth

Question 5

Select the example of a genetically modified organism (GMO).

A) a wheat variety produced by crossbreeding that resists common diseases
B) a soybean variety that is considered to be a historical precursor to modern soybeans
C) a corn variety that produces an insecticide using a gene from a bacterium
D) All of these are correct.

Question 6

Synthetic pesticides are industrially produced chemicals that

A) combat insects and weeds.
B) provide one or more primary nutrients.
C) splice DNA from one species into another.
D) speed the breakdown of decaying plant matter.

Question 7

The Amazon rainforest receives large amounts of precipitation that moves nutrients in the topsoil, potentially below the reach of plant roots. What is this process called?

A) leaching
B) salinization
C) desertification
D) erosion

Question 8

Select the correct pairing of a term with its cause.

A) salinization; extreme erosion
B) desertification; subsidence
C) leaching; intensive irrigation
D) All of these are correct.

Question 9

Select the correct description of salinization.

A) Intensive irrigation moves mineral salts down to deeper soil layers, potentially beneath the reach of plant roots.
B) As water vapor evaporates from soil, mineral salts are drawn upward and accumulate in the topsoil, eventually building up to amounts damaging or lethal to plants.
C) Drought, extreme erosion, and soil infertility cause land to lose more than 10% of its productivity.
D) As an aquifer dries up, the land on top settles as formerly water-filled spaces collapse under the weight of overlying rock and soil.

Question 10

Desertification refers to the

A) formation of deserts by atmospheric high pressure zones that are located 30 $\degree$ north and south of the equator.
B) displacement of local populations as the area of available land becomes insufficient to achieve food security.
C) seasonal hypoxic (low-oxygen) conditions in the Gulf of Mexico caused by synthetic fertilizers in agricultural runoff.
D) loss of more than 10% of land's productivity due to factors such as drought, extreme erosion, and soil infertility.

Question 11

Which human activity correlates with subsidence?

A) groundwater extraction
B) overplowing of fields
C) widespread pesticide use
D) genetic engineering of crops

Question 12

Select the example of a monoculture.

A) a field of corn intermingled with soybeans
B) a field of corn engineered to resist insect pests
C) a field free of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
D) None of these are correct.

Question 13

Genetic erosion refers to the

A) transfer of genes from genetically modified crops to weeds.
B) increased number of plant varieties resulting from modern agriculture.
C) loss of topsoil by exposure to water or wind.
D) process by which genetic diversity is lost.

Question 14

Declining agrobiodiversity with the Green Revolution correlates with which outcome?

A) higher-yield varieties grown as single-crop monocultures
B) decreased vulnerability of crops to pests and diseases
C) widening of the human diet with higher crop yields
D) All of these are correct.

Question 15

Select the correct statement regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

A) GMOs dominate agriculture today, comprising 88% of the total acreage in the United States and 94% of the total acreage across most western European countries.
B) The majority of GMOs involve changes to the food product itself, for example modifying rice to contain beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A.
C) A significant advantage of GMOs that produce their own pesticide is that pests do not develop the resistance commonly seen with traditional chemical applications.
D) Crops that are engineered to be herbicide resistant require less plowing to control weeds, which helps to protect soil from erosion.

Question 16

Synthetic fertilizers greatly increase crop yields. However, excessive applications of nitrogen fertilizers can cause which of these problems?

A) Inhibition of the natural microbial decay processes traps natural organic matter in the soil.
B) Increased nutrient runoff leads to the eutrophication of aquatic environments.
C) Decreased soil acidity harms the bacteria that naturally fix nitrogen into a usable form.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 17

The practice of raising seafood in controlled ponds, tanks, or pens is called

A) aquaculture.
B) trawling.
C) overfishing.
D) bycatch.

Question 18

Which term refers to all animals that are raised for food?

A) livestock
B) ruminants
C) aquaculture
D) CAFOs

Question 19

Which of these animals is a ruminant?

A) chicken
B) pig
C) cow
D) All of these are correct.

Question 20

Which description characterizes a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO)?

A) a farm on which livestock provide manure as the primary fertilizer for crops
B) a vertically integrated industrial farm that uses animal labor instead of machinery
C) a large feedlot that grows its own livestock grains to maximize efficiency
D) a facility that houses and feeds a large number of animals in confinement

Question 21

Select the correct statement regarding meat production in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

A) For chicken production, antibiotics are used to prevent diseases and to stimulate growth.
B) For pork production, artificial insemination is used to develop high-producing breeds.
C) For beef production, the wall of the ruminant stomach is eroded by acid from corn-based feed.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 22

Organic dust comes from which of these materials?

A) animal wastes and dander
B) animal feed and bedding particles
C) pesticide residues and livestock
D) All of these are correct.

Question 23

Select the consequence of bycatch.

A) enhanced antibiotic-resistant bacteria
B) population decline for a non-food species
C) increased allergic reactions in humans
D) population decline for a target species

Question 24

What is the primary environmental concern linked to open-water fishing?

A) the bycatch of non-commercial species in nets and lines
B) the biomagnification of mercury and other metals
C) declining fish populations due to overfishing
D) habitat destruction caused by aquaculture

Question 25

Overfishing refers to

A) catching fish faster than a species can replenish itself.
B) the incidental capture of nontarget species in fishing nets.
C) habitat destruction due to trawling and longlines.
D) a loss of biodiversity caused by genetically modified fish.

Question 26

Select the correct pairing of a method with its environmental impact.

A) aquaculture; significant production of methane emissions
B) CAFOs; allergic reactions in humans from organic dust
C) open-water fishing; development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
D) None of these are correct.

Question 27

Which phrase characterizes how agricultural production has changed over the last 100 years?

A) increasing scale of farming and increasing diversity of food resources
B) increasing scale of farming and decreasing diversity of food resources
C) decreasing scale of farming and increasing diversity of food resources
D) decreasing scale of farming and decreasing diversity of food resources

Question 28

Food refers to the affordable access to enough nutritious food to maintain dietary needs.

A) process
B) system
C) culture
D) security

Question 29

What does a food system link together?

A) agricultural production and food consumption
B) processed foods and obesity
C) food culture and overnourishment
D) agricultural operations and geographic areas

Question 30

Select the correct statement about obesity.

A) Obesity occurs when excessive body fat accumulates due to elevated caloric intake.
B) Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory problems.
C) The percentage of U.S. adults who are obese has increased from 15% to 33% since 1980.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 31

Overnourishment refers to

A) dense plant growth due to agricultural runoff containing excess synthetic pesticides.
B) crops that are engineered to produce essential nutrients such as vitamin A.
C) food energy consumption that exceeds what the body needs for normal activity.
D) the addition of sweeteners, salt, fats, and preservatives to processed foods.

Question 32

Which phrase describes processed foods?

A) mass-produced at concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)
B) optimized for ease of use, preparation, consumption, and storage
C) genetically modified to increase nutritional content
D) refined by adding dietary fiber and removing excess salt and fats

Question 33

What criteria must be met for the Fair Trade certification standard?

A) environmentally sustainable food production and adequate wages for workers
B) locally produced foods and without synthetic chemicals or genetic modification
C) organically produced foods, which are not processed and are marketed directly to consumers
D) All of these are correct.

Question 34

Which statement is correct regarding the production of conventional (grain-fed) meat-based foods and the production of plant-based foods?

A) More greenhouse gas emissions result from the production of plant-based foods than the production of meat-based foods.
B) Less energy is required to produce plant-based foods compared to the production of meat-based foods.
C) More land and water are needed to produce plant-based foods compared to the land and water requirements for meat-based foods.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 35

Select the diet choice that likely has the least environmental impact.

A) a diet that includes moderate consumption of conventional feedlot beef
B) a diet with meatless meals once a week and mostly poultry as the meat
C) a diet in which the majority of meals are vegetarian and avoid meat
D) a diet that includes moderate consumption of grass-fed, pasture-raised beef

Question 36

Describe the important advancements of the Green Revolution, which transformed agriculture in the latter half of the twentieth century.

Question 37

Teosinte, a Mexican grass, is considered a historical precursor plant to modern corn. The teosinte ear has only between 5 and 12 kernels, but these plants are highly resistant to insect pests and to both viral and fungal diseases of corn. From a production standpoint, teosinte seems worthless compared to the high-yield varieties of corn currently grown as vast monocultures. How do monocultures affect agrobiodiversity? In this context, what is the value of teosinte to agriculture in the long term?

Question 38

Commercial aquaculture accounts for more than half the total seafood consumed in the United States. Explain what aquaculture involves and list the pros and cons of this method compared to open-water fishing.

Question 39

In the United States, most fresh fruits and vegetables travel over 1,000 miles to supermarkets before being consumed. Long-distance transportation of industrially produced foods requires large energy inputs and generates significant air pollution. Local alternatives such as farmers' markets and consumer-supported agriculture (CSA) generally decrease these environmental impacts. List at least four additional benefits of buying locally produced foods. Also, how do your personal life circumstances and values impact decision making when purchasing produce? For example, how much individual weight do you place on variables such as cost, convenience, freshness, shelf life, taste,
off-season availability, organic production, and support for local farmers and your community.

Question 40

Describe a recent meal at your school cafeteria or at home. The USDA's MyPlate food guide recommends eating only what you need, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Moderate servings of meat can serve as a protein source. Junk food and sweets are discouraged. How do these recommendations match up with the actual meal you described? What types of concerns guide your decision making in regards to meat consumption? How much food is thrown away at the conclusion of a typical meal? What actions can you take to increase the environmental sustainability of your food choices?