Question 1

Which of the following is NOT true of the Brazilian Cerrado?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a fertile rainforest 
B)  It has more than 100,000 species of plants and animals 
C)  Its soil is acidic and nutrient poor 
D)  It is a major source of soybeans 
E)  It is one of the fastest growing agricultural areas in the world 
A)  It is a fertile rainforest 
B)  It has more than 100,000 species of plants and animals 
C)  Its soil is acidic and nutrient poor 
D)  It is a major source of soybeans 
E)  It is one of the fastest growing agricultural areas in the world

Question 2

Natural organic pesticides are

Accepted Answer

A)  extracted from plants. 
B)  toxic to insects. 
C)  all non-toxic to humans. 
D)  extracted from plants and toxic to insects. 
E)  All of these choices are correct 
A)  extracted from plants. 
B)  toxic to insects. 
C)  all non-toxic to humans. 
D)  extracted from plants and toxic to insects. 
E)  All of these choices are correct

Question 3

About what portion of world freshwater withdrawals is used for agriculture?

Accepted Answer

A)  1/10 
B)  2/3 
C)  3/4 
D)  9/10 
E)  1/2 
A)  1/10 
B)  2/3 
C)  3/4 
D)  9/10 
E)  1/2

Question 4

Alcohol and pickling solutions were probably widely developed because they

Accepted Answer

A)  Neutralize toxins in foods 
B)  Preserve food due to their pesticidal properties 
C)  Have more interesting flavors than other solutions for seasoning 
D)  Are effective insecticides in the home 
E)  All of these are good reasons why alcohol and pickling solutions were used 
A)  Neutralize toxins in foods 
B)  Preserve food due to their pesticidal properties 
C)  Have more interesting flavors than other solutions for seasoning 
D)  Are effective insecticides in the home 
E)  All of these are good reasons why alcohol and pickling solutions were used

Question 5

Why are pest predator populations so adversely affected by broad-spectrum pesticides?

Accepted Answer

A)  In general, predators are more susceptible to the pesticides 
B)  There is less food for the predators when the pest species is destroyed 
C)  Predators in higher trophic levels are more likely to be wiped out than lower trophic levels 
D)  Broad-spectrum pesticides leave more residues than other pesticides and kill the predators 
E)  Predator populations are not more likely to be adversely affected 
A)  In general, predators are more susceptible to the pesticides 
B)  There is less food for the predators when the pest species is destroyed 
C)  Predators in higher trophic levels are more likely to be wiped out than lower trophic levels 
D)  Broad-spectrum pesticides leave more residues than other pesticides and kill the predators 
E)  Predator populations are not more likely to be adversely affected

Question 6

In general, microbial agents are

Accepted Answer

A)  Wide spectrum agents 
B)  Used in place of chemical pesticides 
C)  Small molecules that gasify easily 
D)  Small molecules that penetrate rapidly into a variety of materials 
E)  Persistent in the soil for a long time 
A)  Wide spectrum agents 
B)  Used in place of chemical pesticides 
C)  Small molecules that gasify easily 
D)  Small molecules that penetrate rapidly into a variety of materials 
E)  Persistent in the soil for a long time

Question 7

Mineral particles in the soil are derived from

Accepted Answer

A)  Underlying bedrock 
B)  Materials transported and deposited by glaciers 
C)  Materials transported and deposited by rivers 
D)  Materials transported and deposited by wind 
E)  All of these are correct 
A)  Underlying bedrock 
B)  Materials transported and deposited by glaciers 
C)  Materials transported and deposited by rivers 
D)  Materials transported and deposited by wind 
E)  All of these are correct

Question 8

Salinization is a common agricultural problem in what type of region?

Accepted Answer

A)  Arid 
B)  Cold 
C)  Tropical 
D)  Humid 
E)  Windy 
A)  Arid 
B)  Cold 
C)  Tropical 
D)  Humid 
E)  Windy

Question 9

Pesticide resistance

Accepted Answer

A)  has emerged in a few species but more cases are expected. 
B)  used to be a problem but modern pesticides are typically not susceptible to this problem. 
C)  has arisen in hundreds of species. 
D)  has arisen only among insects. 
A)  has emerged in a few species but more cases are expected. 
B)  used to be a problem but modern pesticides are typically not susceptible to this problem. 
C)  has arisen in hundreds of species. 
D)  has arisen only among insects.

Question 10

Significant agricultural monetary losses are due to the destruction of _____ through pesticide spray drift and residues on flowers.

Accepted Answer

A)  Ladybird beetles 
B)  Honeybees 
C)  Praying mantises 
D)  Monarch butterflies 
E)  Bacillus thuringiensis 
A)  Ladybird beetles 
B)  Honeybees 
C)  Praying mantises 
D)  Monarch butterflies 
E)  Bacillus thuringiensis

Question 11

The stratified horizontal layers of soils are called soil _________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Profiles 
B)  Horizons 
C)  Textures 
D)  Types 
E)  Classifications 
A)  Profiles 
B)  Horizons 
C)  Textures 
D)  Types 
E)  Classifications

Question 12

Looking at the graph and given what you know about pesticide resistance, what do you think will probably happen to curve "b" in the future?

Accepted Answer

A)  It will level off 
B)  It will continue to increase 
C)  It will decrease 
D)  It will increase a small amount, and then level off 
E)  It is impossible to answer the question with the provided data 
A)  It will level off 
B)  It will continue to increase 
C)  It will decrease 
D)  It will increase a small amount, and then level off 
E)  It is impossible to answer the question with the provided data

Question 13

Which of the following would have nearly zero topsoil?

Accepted Answer

A)  Virgin prairies 
B)  Deserts 
C)  Tropical rainforests 
D)  Tundra 
E)  None of these is correct 
A)  Virgin prairies 
B)  Deserts 
C)  Tropical rainforests 
D)  Tundra 
E)  None of these is correct

Question 14

Chemicals were first used to kill or ward off pests

Accepted Answer

A)  thousands of years ago. 
B)  since the beginning of modern chemistry several hundred years ago. 
C)  about 70 years ago. 
D)  during World War II. 
A)  thousands of years ago. 
B)  since the beginning of modern chemistry several hundred years ago. 
C)  about 70 years ago. 
D)  during World War II.

Question 15

Which of these is NOT a benefit found with reduced tillage farming?

Accepted Answer

A)  Water conservation 
B)  Soil preservation 
C)  Increased crop yields 
D)  Soil aeration 
E)  Decreased insects and weeds 
A)  Water conservation 
B)  Soil preservation 
C)  Increased crop yields 
D)  Soil aeration 
E)  Decreased insects and weeds

Question 16

Which of the following things that you can do to reduce pesticide residues in your diet is related to bioaccumulation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Peel fruits and vegetables when possible 
B)  Trim the fat from meat, chicken, and fish 
C)  Cook foods that you think have been exposed to chemicals 
D)  Ask for organically grown produce at a farmer's market 
E)  All of these are related to bioaccumulation 
A)  Peel fruits and vegetables when possible 
B)  Trim the fat from meat, chicken, and fish 
C)  Cook foods that you think have been exposed to chemicals 
D)  Ask for organically grown produce at a farmer's market 
E)  All of these are related to bioaccumulation

Question 17

Children are more susceptible to pesticides because they spend more time in direct contact with places that pesticides may accumulate (e.g., carpet, grass, etc.).

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

What type of soil is sticky, elastic, and impermeable?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sands 
B)  Organic matter 
C)  Living organisms 
D)  Clay 
E)  A large particle size 
A)  Sands 
B)  Organic matter 
C)  Living organisms 
D)  Clay 
E)  A large particle size

Question 19

The benefits of leaving crop residues on a field after harvest include

Accepted Answer

A)  Protecting soil organisms 
B)  Reducing evaporation 
C)  Breaking the erosive effects of wind and water 
D)  All of these are correct 
A)  Protecting soil organisms 
B)  Reducing evaporation 
C)  Breaking the erosive effects of wind and water 
D)  All of these are correct

Question 20

Which of the following is the most correct definition of soil?

Accepted Answer

A)  A complex of minerals that provide energy for the growth of plants 
B)  A complex mixture of organic matter, minerals, and living organisms 
C)  A mass of dead organic matter and detritus: dirt 
D)  An elaborate mixture of organic matter and minerals 
E)  All of these adequately describe soil 
A)  A complex of minerals that provide energy for the growth of plants 
B)  A complex mixture of organic matter, minerals, and living organisms 
C)  A mass of dead organic matter and detritus: dirt 
D)  An elaborate mixture of organic matter and minerals 
E)  All of these adequately describe soil

Exam 10: Farming: Conventional and Sustainable Practices

Which of the following is NOT true of the Brazilian Cerrado?

Natural organic pesticides are

About what portion of world freshwater withdrawals is used for agriculture?

Alcohol and pickling solutions were probably widely developed because they

Why are pest predator populations so adversely affected by broad-spectrum pesticides?

In general, microbial agents are

Mineral particles in the soil are derived from

Salinization is a common agricultural problem in what type of region?

Pesticide resistance

Significant agricultural monetary losses are due to the destruction of _____ through pesticide spray drift and residues on flowers.

The stratified horizontal layers of soils are called soil _________.

Looking at the graph and given what you know about pesticide resistance, what do you think will probably happen to curve "b" in the future?

Which of the following would have nearly zero topsoil?

Chemicals were first used to kill or ward off pests

Which of these is NOT a benefit found with reduced tillage farming?

Which of the following things that you can do to reduce pesticide residues in your diet is related to bioaccumulation?

Children are more susceptible to pesticides because they spend more time in direct contact with places that pesticides may accumulate (e.g., carpet, grass, etc.).

What type of soil is sticky, elastic, and impermeable?

The benefits of leaving crop residues on a field after harvest include

Which of the following is the most correct definition of soil?

Understanding Our Environment

Principles of Science and Systems

Matter, Energy, and Life

Evolution, Biological Communities, and Species Interactions

Biomes: Global Patterns of Life

Population Biology

Human Populations

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Food and Hunger

Biodiversity: Preserving Species

Biodiversity: Preserving Landscapes

Restoration Ecology

Geology and Earth Resources

Climate Change

Air Pollution

Water Use and Management

Water Pollution

Conventional Energy

Sustainable Energy

Solid, Toxic, and Hazardous Waste

Urbanization and Sustainable Cities

Ecological Economics

Environmental Policy, Law, and Planning

What Then Shall We Do

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