Question 1

Which of the following statements about sustainable agriculture is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  An important goal of sustainable agriculture is to preserve the quality of the agricultural soil. 
B)  Sustainable agriculture methods are less damaging to the environment, but have higher associated costs. 
C)  Sustainable agriculture relies on beneficial biological processes and environmentally friendly chemicals. 
D)  Sustainable agriculture involves diversification of crops and livestock. 
E)  Sustainable agriculture is also known as alternative or low-input agriculture. 
A)  An important goal of sustainable agriculture is to preserve the quality of the agricultural soil. 
B)  Sustainable agriculture methods are less damaging to the environment, but have higher associated costs. 
C)  Sustainable agriculture relies on beneficial biological processes and environmentally friendly chemicals. 
D)  Sustainable agriculture involves diversification of crops and livestock. 
E)  Sustainable agriculture is also known as alternative or low-input agriculture.

Question 2

All of the following are subsistence agriculture practices except:

Accepted Answer

A)  shifting cultivation. 
B)  slash-and-burn agriculture. 
C)  nomadic herding. 
D)  intercropping. 
E)  high-input agriculture. 
A)  shifting cultivation. 
B)  slash-and-burn agriculture. 
C)  nomadic herding. 
D)  intercropping. 
E)  high-input agriculture.

Question 3

Compare the benefits and challenges of fishing and aquaculture. Which approach has a greater impact on the environment? Justify your answer.

Accepted Answer

Fishing is like hunting. Fish and other

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a reason why world grain stocks have decreased in recent years?

Accepted Answer

A)  environmental conditions due to global warming 
B)  consumption of beef has increased in China and other developing countries 
C)  increased investments in agricultural research 
D)  corn yields are increasingly diverted into ethanol production and research 
E)  All of these statements are reasons why world grain stocks have decreased 
A)  environmental conditions due to global warming 
B)  consumption of beef has increased in China and other developing countries 
C)  increased investments in agricultural research 
D)  corn yields are increasingly diverted into ethanol production and research 
E)  All of these statements are reasons why world grain stocks have decreased

Question 5

Why are resources in the ocean more susceptible to overuse than resources on land? Describe some of the steps nations have taken to manage ocean resources.

Accepted Answer

Resources in the ocean are more suscepti

Question 6

Which of the following fishing practices has been banned by most countries but continues to be used illegally?

Accepted Answer

A)  longlines 
B)  bycatch 
C)  trawl bag 
D)  drift nets 
E)  purse-seine nets 
A)  longlines 
B)  bycatch 
C)  trawl bag 
D)  drift nets 
E)  purse-seine nets

Question 7

The two areas of the world with the greatest food insecurity are:

Accepted Answer

A)  South America and South Asia. 
B)  South America and sub-Saharan Africa. 
C)  China and sub-Saharan Africa. 
D)  South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. 
E)  the Middle East and South Asia. 
A)  South America and South Asia. 
B)  South America and sub-Saharan Africa. 
C)  China and sub-Saharan Africa. 
D)  South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. 
E)  the Middle East and South Asia.

Question 8

What was the green revolution? Discuss the pros and cons associated with this revolution in agriculture. What additional changes or improvements will be needed to improve agricultural productivity for the future?

Accepted Answer

The green revolution uses modern cultiva

Question 9

The decline in genetic diversity within a given variety of crop plant results in loss of:

Accepted Answer

A)  color variations. 
B)  flavor differences. 
C)  nutritional differences. 
D)  size variations. 
E)  All of these choices are correct 
A)  color variations. 
B)  flavor differences. 
C)  nutritional differences. 
D)  size variations. 
E)  All of these choices are correct

Question 10

Which of the following crops has not been significantly improved by the green revolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  potatoes 
B)  wheat 
C)  sweet potatoes 
D)  rice 
E)  corn 
A)  potatoes 
B)  wheat 
C)  sweet potatoes 
D)  rice 
E)  corn

Question 11

Livestock is an expensive source of food because:

Accepted Answer

A)  it is particularly rich in protein. 
B)  of the amount of land area needed to house the animals. 
C)  the antibiotics and hormones needed to support high yield are exceedingly expensive. 
D)  it is the preferred food source in many developing countries. 
E)  animals are inefficient at converting plant food into meat. 
A)  it is particularly rich in protein. 
B)  of the amount of land area needed to house the animals. 
C)  the antibiotics and hormones needed to support high yield are exceedingly expensive. 
D)  it is the preferred food source in many developing countries. 
E)  animals are inefficient at converting plant food into meat.

Question 12

Which of the following is not an environmental problem associated with industrialized agriculture?

Accepted Answer

A)  release of antioxidants 
B)  soil erosion 
C)  depletion of freshwater resources 
D)  disposal of livestock wastes 
E)  habitat loss 
A)  release of antioxidants 
B)  soil erosion 
C)  depletion of freshwater resources 
D)  disposal of livestock wastes 
E)  habitat loss

Question 13

All of the following are among the most important livestock species except:

Accepted Answer

A)  pigs. 
B)  turkeys. 
C)  goats. 
D)  water buffalo. 
E)  deer 
A)  pigs. 
B)  turkeys. 
C)  goats. 
D)  water buffalo. 
E)  deer

Question 14

From the farmer's field to the kitchen table, which section of the conventional "food pipeline" contributes the most greenhouse gases?

Accepted Answer

A)  transportation 
B)  food production 
C)  packaging 
D)  marketing 
E)  home storage 
A)  transportation 
B)  food production 
C)  packaging 
D)  marketing 
E)  home storage

Question 15

Two main reasons that the world grain stocks have dropped in the past few years are:

Accepted Answer

A)  bad weather and increased consumption of animal products. 
B)  wars (conflicts) and political unrest. 
C)  increased disease (e.g. AIDS) and bad weather. 
D)  bad weather and wars. 
E)  lower grain prices and political unrest. 
A)  bad weather and increased consumption of animal products. 
B)  wars (conflicts) and political unrest. 
C)  increased disease (e.g. AIDS) and bad weather. 
D)  bad weather and wars. 
E)  lower grain prices and political unrest.

Question 16

The Grow Appalachia initiative has helped the people of Appalachia increase food security in their region by providing all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  Information. 
B)  Low-cost inorganic fertilizer and pesticides. 
C)  Skill-building programs. 
D)  Low-cost seed and tools. 
E)  The Grow Appalachia initiative provides all of the above items. 
A)  Information. 
B)  Low-cost inorganic fertilizer and pesticides. 
C)  Skill-building programs. 
D)  Low-cost seed and tools. 
E)  The Grow Appalachia initiative provides all of the above items.

Question 17

Sustainable agricultural practices are characterized by all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

A)  crop selection. 
B)  water and energy conservation. 
C)  monoculture. 
D)  use of manure as a fertilizer. 
E)  increasing biological diversity to control pests. 
A)  crop selection. 
B)  water and energy conservation. 
C)  monoculture. 
D)  use of manure as a fertilizer. 
E)  increasing biological diversity to control pests.

Question 18

What country produces the most genetically modified crops?

Accepted Answer

A)  Germany 
B)  Brazil 
C)  Canada 
D)  United States 
E)  France 
A)  Germany 
B)  Brazil 
C)  Canada 
D)  United States 
E)  France

Question 19

What is bycatch, and why is it an issue of concern for commercial fisheries?

Accepted Answer

Bycatch refers to the organisms captured

Question 20

A type of subsistence agriculture which requires large tracts of land and consists of short periods of cultivation followed by lengthened fallow periods:

Accepted Answer

A)  slash-and-burn agriculture 
B)  nomadic herding 
C)  intercropping 
D)  shifting cultivation 
E)  Both slash and burn agriculture and shifting cultivation are correct 
A)  slash-and-burn agriculture 
B)  nomadic herding 
C)  intercropping 
D)  shifting cultivation 
E)  Both slash and burn agriculture and shifting cultivation are correct

Exam 18: Food Resources

Which of the following statements about sustainable agriculture is false?

All of the following are subsistence agriculture practices except:

Compare the benefits and challenges of fishing and aquaculture. Which approach has a greater impact on the environment? Justify your answer.

Which of the following is NOT a reason why world grain stocks have decreased in recent years?

Why are resources in the ocean more susceptible to overuse than resources on land? Describe some of the steps nations have taken to manage ocean resources.

Which of the following fishing practices has been banned by most countries but continues to be used illegally?

The two areas of the world with the greatest food insecurity are:

What was the green revolution? Discuss the pros and cons associated with this revolution in agriculture. What additional changes or improvements will be needed to improve agricultural productivity for the future?

The decline in genetic diversity within a given variety of crop plant results in loss of:

Which of the following crops has not been significantly improved by the green revolution?

Livestock is an expensive source of food because:

Which of the following is not an environmental problem associated with industrialized agriculture?

All of the following are among the most important livestock species except:

From the farmer's field to the kitchen table, which section of the conventional "food pipeline" contributes the most greenhouse gases?

Two main reasons that the world grain stocks have dropped in the past few years are:

The Grow Appalachia initiative has helped the people of Appalachia increase food security in their region by providing all of the following EXCEPT:

Sustainable agricultural practices are characterized by all of the following except:

What country produces the most genetically modified crops?

What is bycatch, and why is it an issue of concern for commercial fisheries?

A type of subsistence agriculture which requires large tracts of land and consists of short periods of cultivation followed by lengthened fallow periods:

Introducing Environmental Science and Sustainability

Environmental Laws Economic and Ethics

Ecosystems and Energy

Ecosystems and the Physical Environment

Ecosystems and Living Organisms

Major Ecosystems of the World

Human Health and Environmental Toxicology

The Human Population

The Urban World

Energy Consumption

Fossil Fuels

Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power

Water: a Limited Resource

Soil Resources

Mineral Resources

Biological Resources

Land Resources

Air Pollution

Global Climate Change

Water Pollution

Pest Management

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Tomorrows Word

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