Question 1

What is the basic concept of sustainable agriculture?

Accepted Answer

Sustainable agriculture is agriculture t

Question 2

Why is resistance to pesticides likely to occur over time when they are used in agriculture?

Accepted Answer

A small fraction of large pest populatio

Question 3

Green Revolution techniques ____________.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

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, 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, and canola dominate the GM crop market?

Accepted Answer

A) They are exempt from U.S. regulations. 
B) They are the only GMO crops approved since the Flavr Savr tomato. 
C) They are ingredients in processed foods, so they are more easily accepted. 
D) These crops help to feed and clothe the poor. 
E) They are inexpensive to produce. 
A) They are exempt from U.S. regulations. 
B) They are the only GMO crops approved since the Flavr Savr tomato. 
C) They are ingredients in processed foods, so they are more easily accepted. 
D) These crops help to feed and clothe the poor. 
E) They are inexpensive to produce.

Question 5

Why is variety in crop plants important for "food security"? How is this threatened by GM food crops? What is the U.S. position on GM products? How does this differ from the position of other countries?

Accepted Answer

Varieties contain genes that, through co

Question 6

Recombinant DNA ____________.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

People around the world have become more dependent on global markets for their food. As a result, recent U.S. government policies encouraging ____________ have had a major negative effect on food availability.

Accepted Answer

A) permaculture techniques 
B) integrated pest management 
C) ethanol production 
D) increased herbicide use 
E) organic farming 
A) permaculture techniques 
B) integrated pest management 
C) ethanol production 
D) increased herbicide use 
E) organic farming

Question 8

Organic farming ____________

Accepted Answer

A) is presently limited to crops of fruits and vegetables 
B) began in the 1960s 
C) and organically grown produce have not been supported by the European Union 
D) has become more challenging because of contamination by GM crop varieties 
E) has no national standards in the United States 
A) is presently limited to crops of fruits and vegetables 
B) began in the 1960s 
C) and organically grown produce have not been supported by the European Union 
D) has become more challenging because of contamination by GM crop varieties 
E) has no national standards in the United States

Question 9

Briefly discuss some disadvantages of aquaculture.

Accepted Answer

Dense concentrations of farmed aquatic a

Question 10

Recent investigations of the impact of GM crops on biodiversity in Great Britain indicate that ____________.

Accepted Answer

A) birds and insects cannot digest GM crops 
B) some GM crops and sites showed increased biodiversity, while others showed decreases 
C) GM crop sites had catastrophically reduced biodiversity 
D) biodiversity increased in all GM crop sites 
E) none of the GM crop sites showed changes in biodiversity 
A) birds and insects cannot digest GM crops 
B) some GM crops and sites showed increased biodiversity, while others showed decreases 
C) GM crop sites had catastrophically reduced biodiversity 
D) biodiversity increased in all GM crop sites 
E) none of the GM crop sites showed changes in biodiversity

Question 11

Describe the use of biological control for battling pests.

Accepted Answer

This strategy uses predators, pathogens,

Question 12

Major pollinators of many flowering nongrain crop plants

Accepted Answer

A) Escherichia coli 
B) Pseudomonas syringae 
C) Cactoblastis cactorum 
D) bee predators 
E) earthworms
F)aphids
G)wasps
H)Bacillus thuringiensis
I)bees
J)colony collapse disorder 
A) Escherichia coli 
B) Pseudomonas syringae 
C) Cactoblastis cactorum 
D) bee predators 
E) earthworms
F)aphids
G)wasps
H)Bacillus thuringiensis
I)bees
J)colony collapse disorder

Question 13

Seed banks are important for ____________

Accepted Answer

A) providing farmers with the current year's GM crops 
B) loans to developing countries to promote organic agriculture 
C) protecting monoculture productivity 
D) agricultural investments in developing countries 
E) protecting genetic diversity 
A) providing farmers with the current year's GM crops 
B) loans to developing countries to promote organic agriculture 
C) protecting monoculture productivity 
D) agricultural investments in developing countries 
E) protecting genetic diversity

Question 14

In order for livestock to be considered organic, ____________.

Accepted Answer

A) animals must be reared under natural conditions in intact ecosystems 
B) hormones and antibiotics are permitted, but not vaccines 
C) animals must be fed 100% organic agricultural feed 
D) no vitamins and mineral supplements can be used 
E) animals cannot be transferred from regular treatment to organic standards 
A) animals must be reared under natural conditions in intact ecosystems 
B) hormones and antibiotics are permitted, but not vaccines 
C) animals must be fed 100% organic agricultural feed 
D) no vitamins and mineral supplements can be used 
E) animals cannot be transferred from regular treatment to organic standards

Question 15

Which of the following best describes integrated pest management (IPM)?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

Meat is farther from the sun in the food

Question 18

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, 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.
-Agricultural productivity increased during the Green Revolution as a result of improvements in fertilizers, crop breeding, pest control, and _______________.

Accepted Answer

A) weather conditions 
B) organic farming techniques 
C) irrigation 
D) techniques to convert land for agriculture 
E) fossil fuel use 
A) weather conditions 
B) organic farming techniques 
C) irrigation 
D) techniques to convert land for agriculture 
E) fossil fuel use

Question 19

Bt crops ____________

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

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, 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?

Accepted Answer

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

Exam 10: Agriculture, Biotechnology, and the Future of Food

What is the basic concept of sustainable agriculture?

Why is resistance to pesticides likely to occur over time when they are used in agriculture?

Green Revolution techniques ____________.

Why is variety in crop plants important for "food security"? How is this threatened by GM food crops? What is the U.S. position on GM products? How does this differ from the position of other countries?

Recombinant DNA ____________.

People around the world have become more dependent on global markets for their food. As a result, recent U.S. government policies encouraging ____________ have had a major negative effect on food availability.

Organic farming ____________

Briefly discuss some disadvantages of aquaculture.

Recent investigations of the impact of GM crops on biodiversity in Great Britain indicate that ____________.

Describe the use of biological control for battling pests.

Major pollinators of many flowering nongrain crop plants

Seed banks are important for ____________

In order for livestock to be considered organic, ____________.

Which of the following best describes integrated pest management (IPM)?

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

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

Bt crops ____________

Science and Sustainability: an Introduction to Environmental Science

Earths Physical Systems: Matter, Energy, and Geology

Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology

Species Interactions and Community Ecology

Environmental Systems and Ecosystem Ecology

Ethics, Economics, and Sustainable Development

Environmental Policy: Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Human Population

Soil and Agriculture

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Forests, Forest Management, and Protected Areas

The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Freshwater Systems and Resources

Marine and Coastal Systems and Resources

Atmospheric Science, Air Quality, and Pollution Control

Global Climate Change

Fossil Fuels, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation

Conventional Energy Alternatives

New Renewable Energy Alternatives

Managing Our Waste

Minerals and Mining

Sustainable Solutions

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