Question 1

Which of the following is not a side effect of poor soil management?

Accepted Answer

A) The topsoil layer gets thicker and thicker. 
B) Materials begin to leach from soil at a higher rate. 
C) The organic content of the soil decreases. 
D) Greater amounts of fertilizer need to be used to promote fertility. 
E) The soil particles start to decrease in size. 
A) The topsoil layer gets thicker and thicker. 
B) Materials begin to leach from soil at a higher rate. 
C) The organic content of the soil decreases. 
D) Greater amounts of fertilizer need to be used to promote fertility. 
E) The soil particles start to decrease in size.

Question 2

What is one disadvantage of the use of synthetic fertilizers compared to natural fertilizers like compost?

Accepted Answer

A) Synthetic fertilizers do not provide organic bulk needed for microorganisms in soil. 
B) Synthetic fertilizers do not provide inorganic ions needed for soil health. 
C) Synthetic fertilizers do not provide soluble fiber needed for soil health. 
D) Synthetic fertilizers are better than natural fertilizers because they do not lead to chalky soil. 
E) all of the above 
A) Synthetic fertilizers do not provide organic bulk needed for microorganisms in soil. 
B) Synthetic fertilizers do not provide inorganic ions needed for soil health. 
C) Synthetic fertilizers do not provide soluble fiber needed for soil health. 
D) Synthetic fertilizers are better than natural fertilizers because they do not lead to chalky soil. 
E) all of the above

Question 3

Which of the following is a complete fertilizer?

Accepted Answer

A) NH3 
B) KNO3 with NH4NO3 
C) NH4NO3 with K3PO4 
D) All of the above are complete fertilizers. 
E) A and B only 
A) NH3 
B) KNO3 with NH4NO3 
C) NH4NO3 with K3PO4 
D) All of the above are complete fertilizers. 
E) A and B only

Question 4

Humans are ________.

Accepted Answer

A) primary consumers 
B) secondary consumers 
C) tertiary consumers 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) primary consumers 
B) secondary consumers 
C) tertiary consumers 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 5

Which of the following soil horizons is the deepest?

Accepted Answer

A) substratum 
B) subsoil 
C) topsoil 
D) bottom soil 
E) humus 
A) substratum 
B) subsoil 
C) topsoil 
D) bottom soil 
E) humus

Question 6

What happens to ammonium ions in alkaline soil, and how might this reaction favor the loss of nitrogen from the soil?

Accepted Answer

A) Ammonium ions turn into ammonia, which is a gas that can escape into the atmosphere. 
B) Ammonium ions turn into nitrate ions, which are lost through water runoff. 
C) Ammonium ions turn into nitrogen gas, which escapes back into the atmosphere. 
D) In alkaline soils, ammonium ions have a greater tendency to bind with inorganic particles thereby becoming unavailable for plants. 
A) Ammonium ions turn into ammonia, which is a gas that can escape into the atmosphere. 
B) Ammonium ions turn into nitrate ions, which are lost through water runoff. 
C) Ammonium ions turn into nitrogen gas, which escapes back into the atmosphere. 
D) In alkaline soils, ammonium ions have a greater tendency to bind with inorganic particles thereby becoming unavailable for plants.

Question 7

Which of the following is a transgenic organism?

Accepted Answer

A) a bacteria that can produce bovine (cow)growth hormone 
B) a clone of a sheep 
C) a prize bull that has been bred for size and flavor 
D) broccoflower (a cross between broccoli and cauliflower) 
E) all of the above 
A) a bacteria that can produce bovine (cow)growth hormone 
B) a clone of a sheep 
C) a prize bull that has been bred for size and flavor 
D) broccoflower (a cross between broccoli and cauliflower) 
E) all of the above

Question 8

How can a pheromone be used to limit pesticide use?

Accepted Answer

A) to lure pests to traps 
B) to lure pests to locations where only a little pesticide has been applied 
C) to suppress the sex drive of the pests 
D) to sterilize the insects 
E) only A or B 
A) to lure pests to traps 
B) to lure pests to locations where only a little pesticide has been applied 
C) to suppress the sex drive of the pests 
D) to sterilize the insects 
E) only A or B

Question 9

Organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides ________.

Accepted Answer

A) do not kill pests that have developed a resistance to other insecticides 
B) readily decompose to water-soluble compounds that can be carried away by rainwater 
C) kill weeds in addition to killing insects 
D) do not affect animals such as honey bees 
E) all of the above 
A) do not kill pests that have developed a resistance to other insecticides 
B) readily decompose to water-soluble compounds that can be carried away by rainwater 
C) kill weeds in addition to killing insects 
D) do not affect animals such as honey bees 
E) all of the above

Question 10

What would happen to a forest without the action of decomposers?

Accepted Answer

A) Many plant and animal species would likely die out. 
B) Nutrients would no longer be recycled. 
C) Organic debris would accumulate and block sunlight from only the tallest of plant organisms. 
D) all of the above 
A) Many plant and animal species would likely die out. 
B) Nutrients would no longer be recycled. 
C) Organic debris would accumulate and block sunlight from only the tallest of plant organisms. 
D) all of the above

Question 11

How does microirrigation help prevent salinization?

Accepted Answer

A) There is almost no evaporation, so minerals are consumed solely by plants. 
B) Large amounts of water flush the soil and keep the toxic salts from building up. 
C) The plants are injected directly with nutrient rich water. 
D) Fertilizer is not used so there is no excess salts present in the waste water. 
E) all of the above 
A) There is almost no evaporation, so minerals are consumed solely by plants. 
B) Large amounts of water flush the soil and keep the toxic salts from building up. 
C) The plants are injected directly with nutrient rich water. 
D) Fertilizer is not used so there is no excess salts present in the waste water. 
E) all of the above

Question 12

Which of the following is the largest rock particle found in soil?

Accepted Answer

A) clay 
B) silt 
C) sand 
D) humus 
E) subsoil 
A) clay 
B) silt 
C) sand 
D) humus 
E) subsoil

Question 13

Even though a plant will often have a large amount of stored calcium, how come periodic calcium deficiencies in the soil will lead to odd growth patterns?

Accepted Answer

A) Calcium stores in the plant are not transportable from one part to the other. 
B) Calcium is a necessary neurotransmitter. 
C) Plants continually excrete calcium into the soil and this leads to deficiencies. 
D) The calcium is concentrated in the growing portions only. 
E) none of the above 
A) Calcium stores in the plant are not transportable from one part to the other. 
B) Calcium is a necessary neurotransmitter. 
C) Plants continually excrete calcium into the soil and this leads to deficiencies. 
D) The calcium is concentrated in the growing portions only. 
E) none of the above

Question 14

How does inert organic bulk of compost help to maintain fertile soil conditions?

Accepted Answer

A) The organic bulk provides for open spaces into which the roots may grow. 
B) The organic bulk adds nutrients to the soil. 
C) The organic bulk provides open spaces for water and air. 
D) The organic bulk decomposes into a pulp rich in nitrogen. 
A) The organic bulk provides for open spaces into which the roots may grow. 
B) The organic bulk adds nutrients to the soil. 
C) The organic bulk provides open spaces for water and air. 
D) The organic bulk decomposes into a pulp rich in nitrogen.

Question 15

How does humus contribute to the acidity of soil?

Accepted Answer

A) The humus contains a large proportion of amino acids that get released into the soil. 
B) The humus binds with hydroxide ions, which has the effect of increasing the hydronium ion concentration. 
C) In decomposing, the humus releases carbon dioxide which reacts with moisture to form carbonic acid. 
D) Humus contains many alkaloids that cause the pH of the soil to rise. 
A) The humus contains a large proportion of amino acids that get released into the soil. 
B) The humus binds with hydroxide ions, which has the effect of increasing the hydronium ion concentration. 
C) In decomposing, the humus releases carbon dioxide which reacts with moisture to form carbonic acid. 
D) Humus contains many alkaloids that cause the pH of the soil to rise.

Question 16

What is a similarity between pesticides and medical drugs?

Accepted Answer

A) They need to selectively target the invader but not harm the host. 
B) They have to have a minimum amount of side effects. 
C) They should be readily decomposed into non-harmful byproducts. 
D) all of the above 
E) only A and B 
A) They need to selectively target the invader but not harm the host. 
B) They have to have a minimum amount of side effects. 
C) They should be readily decomposed into non-harmful byproducts. 
D) all of the above 
E) only A and B

Question 17

What are the major natural sources of potassium used by plants?

Accepted Answer

A) It is extracted from rocks. 
B) It is formed by atmospheric reaction of potassium and oxygen during lightning strikes. 
C) It is extracted from seawater by specialized bacteria in phytoplankton. 
D) all of the above 
E) only A and B 
A) It is extracted from rocks. 
B) It is formed by atmospheric reaction of potassium and oxygen during lightning strikes. 
C) It is extracted from seawater by specialized bacteria in phytoplankton. 
D) all of the above 
E) only A and B

Question 18

What do you expect the pH of a soil sample to be if the geology in the area was composed of a large amount of calcium carbonate (CaCO3)?

Accepted Answer

A) low pH 
B) high pH 
C) negative pH 
D) neutral pH 
E) Calcium carbonate has no effect on pH. 
A) low pH 
B) high pH 
C) negative pH 
D) neutral pH 
E) Calcium carbonate has no effect on pH.

Question 19

An alternative to using pesticides is to ________.

Accepted Answer

A) grow trees and hedges that can be habitats and refuge for beneficial insects and pest predators 
B) hand-pick egg masses or larvae off plants 
C) introduce large numbers of sterile individuals to an insect community 
D) grow transgenic plants that are able to kill the bugs that eat them 
E) all of the above 
A) grow trees and hedges that can be habitats and refuge for beneficial insects and pest predators 
B) hand-pick egg masses or larvae off plants 
C) introduce large numbers of sterile individuals to an insect community 
D) grow transgenic plants that are able to kill the bugs that eat them 
E) all of the above

Question 20

Which of the following soil horizons contains primarily clay?

Accepted Answer

A) substratum 
B) subsoil 
C) topsoil 
D) bottom soil 
E) humus 
A) substratum 
B) subsoil 
C) topsoil 
D) bottom soil 
E) humus

Which of the following is not a side effect of poor soil management?

What is one disadvantage of the use of synthetic fertilizers compared to natural fertilizers like compost?

Which of the following is a complete fertilizer?

Humans are ________.

Which of the following soil horizons is the deepest?

What happens to ammonium ions in alkaline soil, and how might this reaction favor the loss of nitrogen from the soil?

Which of the following is a transgenic organism?

How can a pheromone be used to limit pesticide use?

Organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides ________.

What would happen to a forest without the action of decomposers?

How does microirrigation help prevent salinization?

Which of the following is the largest rock particle found in soil?

Even though a plant will often have a large amount of stored calcium, how come periodic calcium deficiencies in the soil will lead to odd growth patterns?

How does inert organic bulk of compost help to maintain fertile soil conditions?

How does humus contribute to the acidity of soil?

What is a similarity between pesticides and medical drugs?

What are the major natural sources of potassium used by plants?

What do you expect the pH of a soil sample to be if the geology in the area was composed of a large amount of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)?

An alternative to using pesticides is to ________.

Which of the following soil horizons contains primarily clay?

About Science

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Subatomic Particles

The Atomic Nucleus

How Atoms Bond

How Molecules Mix

How Water Behaves

How Chemicals React

Acids and Bases in Our Environment

Oxidations and Reductions Charge the World

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Nutrients of Life

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Exam 15: Optimizing Food Production

Which of the following is not a side effect of poor soil management?

What is one disadvantage of the use of synthetic fertilizers compared to natural fertilizers like compost?

Which of the following is a complete fertilizer?

Humans are ________.

Which of the following soil horizons is the deepest?

What happens to ammonium ions in alkaline soil, and how might this reaction favor the loss of nitrogen from the soil?

Which of the following is a transgenic organism?

How can a pheromone be used to limit pesticide use?

Organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides ________.

What would happen to a forest without the action of decomposers?

How does microirrigation help prevent salinization?

Which of the following is the largest rock particle found in soil?

Even though a plant will often have a large amount of stored calcium, how come periodic calcium deficiencies in the soil will lead to odd growth patterns?

How does inert organic bulk of compost help to maintain fertile soil conditions?

How does humus contribute to the acidity of soil?

What is a similarity between pesticides and medical drugs?

What are the major natural sources of potassium used by plants?

What do you expect the pH of a soil sample to be if the geology in the area was composed of a large amount of calcium carbonate (CaCO3)?

An alternative to using pesticides is to ________.

Which of the following soil horizons contains primarily clay?

About Science

Particles of Matter

Elements of Chemistry

Subatomic Particles

The Atomic Nucleus

How Atoms Bond

How Molecules Mix

How Water Behaves

How Chemicals React

Acids and Bases in Our Environment

Oxidations and Reductions Charge the World

Organic Compounds

Nutrients of Life

Medicinal Chemistry

Protection Water and Air Resources

Capturing Energy

Filters

What do you expect the pH of a soil sample to be if the geology in the area was composed of a large amount of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)?