Question 1

Why would a predominately meat-based diet be a severe restriction on the possible size of the human population?

Accepted Answer

A) The hormones found in beef have a negative effect on human fertility. 
B) Such a diet would shorten the average life span of humans. 
C) There is not enough biochemical energy available at that trophic level to support a very large population. 
D) The land area taken up by livestock would prevent people from finding new places to live. 
A) The hormones found in beef have a negative effect on human fertility. 
B) Such a diet would shorten the average life span of humans. 
C) There is not enough biochemical energy available at that trophic level to support a very large population. 
D) The land area taken up by livestock would prevent people from finding new places to live.

Question 2

Why would the addition of a functional group that can be cleaved in the body to form an alcohol produce a more environmentally friendly insecticide?

Accepted Answer

A) Because it can be cleaved, it produces a polar, water soluble material that can be excreted. 
B) Because it can be cleaved it can be used as an energy source and provide food energy. 
C) Because the polar groups can be converted into ATP or other phosphorus derivatives. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) Because it can be cleaved, it produces a polar, water soluble material that can be excreted. 
B) Because it can be cleaved it can be used as an energy source and provide food energy. 
C) Because the polar groups can be converted into ATP or other phosphorus derivatives. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 3

Which of the following is the cause of soil losing its fertility?

Accepted Answer

A) plants extract nutrients from the soil 
B) leaching extracts nutrients from the soil 
C) not adding enough fertilizer 
D) all of the above 
E) only A and B 
A) plants extract nutrients from the soil 
B) leaching extracts nutrients from the soil 
C) not adding enough fertilizer 
D) all of the above 
E) only A and B

Question 4

Why is the number of Tyrannosaurus rex fossils found so much lower than the number of fossils found for other dinosaurs?

Accepted Answer

A) The bones of T-rex were particularly nutritious, hence most were eaten by scavengers prior to fossilization. 
B) The T-rex was at the top of its food chain (a quaternary consumer), which means that its population was limited in size. 
C) The T-rex species was one of the first to die out. 
D) Very few T-rex fossils remain because of the destructive powers of the great asteroid or comet that evidence suggests collided with our planet 65 million years ago. 
A) The bones of T-rex were particularly nutritious, hence most were eaten by scavengers prior to fossilization. 
B) The T-rex was at the top of its food chain (a quaternary consumer), which means that its population was limited in size. 
C) The T-rex species was one of the first to die out. 
D) Very few T-rex fossils remain because of the destructive powers of the great asteroid or comet that evidence suggests collided with our planet 65 million years ago.

Question 5

Which of the following is not part of integrated crop management?

Accepted Answer

A) passing legislation that lowers the restrictions on pesticide use 
B) identifying the best set of crops for a given location 
C) determining ideal crop rotation strategies 
D) choosing the best crop for the current agricultural market 
E) all of the above 
A) passing legislation that lowers the restrictions on pesticide use 
B) identifying the best set of crops for a given location 
C) determining ideal crop rotation strategies 
D) choosing the best crop for the current agricultural market 
E) all of the above

Question 6

How might periodic floods from rainstorms benefit irrigated cropland?

Accepted Answer

A) by washing away weeds and ground burrowing insects 
B) by saturating surface soil with rainwater 
C) by removing the top layer of soil and exposing the nutrient-rich soil beneath 
D) by removing much of the accumulated salt deposits 
A) by washing away weeds and ground burrowing insects 
B) by saturating surface soil with rainwater 
C) by removing the top layer of soil and exposing the nutrient-rich soil beneath 
D) by removing much of the accumulated salt deposits

Question 7

What feature, besides their ability to kill insects, makes chlorinated hydrocarbons like DDT attractive as an insecticide?

Accepted Answer

A) They are not water soluble. 
B) They do not degrade rapidly. 
C) They accumulate in fat. 
D) all of the above 
E) only A and B 
A) They are not water soluble. 
B) They do not degrade rapidly. 
C) They accumulate in fat. 
D) all of the above 
E) only A and B

Question 8

Which of the following is the easiest to remove from soil by leaching?

Accepted Answer

A) negative ions 
B) positive ions 
C) neutral compounds 
D) all salts are removed equally 
E) none of the above 
A) negative ions 
B) positive ions 
C) neutral compounds 
D) all salts are removed equally 
E) none of the above

Question 9

DDT has a strong affinity for fat tissue because, like fat tissue, DDT is ________.

Accepted Answer

A) polar and so the two are attracted to each other 
B) nonpolar and equally repelled by water 
C) nonpolar and so the two are attracted to each other 
D) nonpolar and so the two are held by induced dipole-induced dipole attractions 
A) polar and so the two are attracted to each other 
B) nonpolar and equally repelled by water 
C) nonpolar and so the two are attracted to each other 
D) nonpolar and so the two are held by induced dipole-induced dipole attractions

Question 10

Shown below are the N-P-K ratings for three fertilizer additives: sawdust, fish meal, and wood ashes. Using what you know about the chemical composition of these substances, assign each to its most likely n-p-k rating. 5-3-3 0-1.5-8 0.2-0-0.2

Accepted Answer

A) sawdust: 5-3-3; fish meal: 0-1.5-8; wood ashes: 0.2-0-0.2 
B) sawdust: 0-1.5-8; fish meal: 0.2-0-0.2; wood ashes: 5-3-3 
C) sawdust: 0.2-0-0.2; fish meal: 5-3-3; wood ashes: 0-1.5-8 
D) sawdust: 0.2-0-0.2; fish meal: 0-1.5-8; wood ashes: 5-3-3 
A) sawdust: 5-3-3; fish meal: 0-1.5-8; wood ashes: 0.2-0-0.2 
B) sawdust: 0-1.5-8; fish meal: 0.2-0-0.2; wood ashes: 5-3-3 
C) sawdust: 0.2-0-0.2; fish meal: 5-3-3; wood ashes: 0-1.5-8 
D) sawdust: 0.2-0-0.2; fish meal: 0-1.5-8; wood ashes: 5-3-3

Question 11

What is the difference between synthetic and natural fertilizers?

Accepted Answer

A) There is no difference chemically, just that synthetics are mixed in different proportions. 
B) Synthetics come from artificial processes such as the Haber process. 
C) Natural fertilizers are all mined. 
D) Natural fertilizers are all obtained from decay of organic matter. 
E) none of the above 
A) There is no difference chemically, just that synthetics are mixed in different proportions. 
B) Synthetics come from artificial processes such as the Haber process. 
C) Natural fertilizers are all mined. 
D) Natural fertilizers are all obtained from decay of organic matter. 
E) none of the above

Question 12

What do you expect the pH of a soil sample to be that has a large amount of humus in it?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

Why does a farmed field lose its fertility while a wild pasture does not?

Accepted Answer

A) Harvesting removes the minerals and organic matter stored in the plants from the ecosystem. 
B) Wild pastures are continually fertilized by nitrogen rich rain formed in thunderstorms. 
C) Nature is more balanced than agriculture. 
D) Agricultural plants require more water than natural plants and this leads to more leaching. 
E) all of the above 
A) Harvesting removes the minerals and organic matter stored in the plants from the ecosystem. 
B) Wild pastures are continually fertilized by nitrogen rich rain formed in thunderstorms. 
C) Nature is more balanced than agriculture. 
D) Agricultural plants require more water than natural plants and this leads to more leaching. 
E) all of the above

Question 14

Nicotine solutions are available from lawn and garden stores as an insecticide. Why must gardeners handle this product with extreme care?

Accepted Answer

A) These solutions are also toxic to plants, thus the gardeners must be careful not to apply too much. 
B) These solutions are as toxic to humans as they are to insects. 
C) These solutions are very effective, but also very expensive. 
D) In some brands, the nicotine solutions also serves as a carrier for radioactive isotopes. 
A) These solutions are also toxic to plants, thus the gardeners must be careful not to apply too much. 
B) These solutions are as toxic to humans as they are to insects. 
C) These solutions are very effective, but also very expensive. 
D) In some brands, the nicotine solutions also serves as a carrier for radioactive isotopes.

Question 15

What is the first step in food production?

Accepted Answer

A) photosynthesis 
B) eating 
C) sowing 
D) plowing 
E) decomposition 
A) photosynthesis 
B) eating 
C) sowing 
D) plowing 
E) decomposition

Question 16

Which of the following is an organic farming method?

Accepted Answer

A) the use of natural fertilizers such as compost 
B) the rotation of crops 
C) the use of plants that have a tendency to fix nitrogen 
D) the use of predators to eliminate pests 
E) all of the above 
A) the use of natural fertilizers such as compost 
B) the rotation of crops 
C) the use of plants that have a tendency to fix nitrogen 
D) the use of predators to eliminate pests 
E) all of the above

Question 17

Why do the leaves of plants deficient in nitrogen turn yellow?

Accepted Answer

A) It signals farmers to provide additional fertilizer. 
B) Plants deficient in nitrogen have a hard time producing chlorophyll. 
C) Without nitrogen, the fluids in the plant turn acidic. 
D) The nitrogen protects the plant from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. 
A) It signals farmers to provide additional fertilizer. 
B) Plants deficient in nitrogen have a hard time producing chlorophyll. 
C) Without nitrogen, the fluids in the plant turn acidic. 
D) The nitrogen protects the plant from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.

Question 18

Where do plants get most of the elements that make up their mass?

Accepted Answer

A) air and water 
B) roots 
C) soil 
D) sunlight 
E) none of the above 
A) air and water 
B) roots 
C) soil 
D) sunlight 
E) none of the above

Question 19

Plants need nitrogen primarily so that they can build ________.

Accepted Answer

A) carbohydrates 
B) lipids 
C) amino acids 
D) vitamins 
A) carbohydrates 
B) lipids 
C) amino acids 
D) vitamins

Question 20

Which of the following is not one of the four primary components of fertile soil?

Accepted Answer

A) water 
B) air 
C) mineral particles 
D) organic matter 
E) All of the above are components. 
A) water 
B) air 
C) mineral particles 
D) organic matter 
E) All of the above are components.

Why would a predominately meat-based diet be a severe restriction on the possible size of the human population?

Why would the addition of a functional group that can be cleaved in the body to form an alcohol produce a more environmentally friendly insecticide?

Which of the following is the cause of soil losing its fertility?

Why is the number of Tyrannosaurus rex fossils found so much lower than the number of fossils found for other dinosaurs?

Which of the following is not part of integrated crop management?

How might periodic floods from rainstorms benefit irrigated cropland?

What feature, besides their ability to kill insects, makes chlorinated hydrocarbons like DDT attractive as an insecticide?

Which of the following is the easiest to remove from soil by leaching?

DDT has a strong affinity for fat tissue because, like fat tissue, DDT is ________.

Shown below are the N-P-K ratings for three fertilizer additives: sawdust, fish meal, and wood ashes. Using what you know about the chemical composition of these substances, assign each to its most likely n-p-k rating. 5-3-3 0-1.5-8 0.2-0-0.2

What is the difference between synthetic and natural fertilizers?

What do you expect the pH of a soil sample to be that has a large amount of humus in it?

Why does a farmed field lose its fertility while a wild pasture does not?

Nicotine solutions are available from lawn and garden stores as an insecticide. Why must gardeners handle this product with extreme care?

What is the first step in food production?

Which of the following is an organic farming method?

Why do the leaves of plants deficient in nitrogen turn yellow?

Where do plants get most of the elements that make up their mass?

Plants need nitrogen primarily so that they can build ________.

Which of the following is not one of the four primary components of fertile soil?

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

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Exam 15: Optimizing Food Production

Why would a predominately meat-based diet be a severe restriction on the possible size of the human population?

Why would the addition of a functional group that can be cleaved in the body to form an alcohol produce a more environmentally friendly insecticide?

Which of the following is the cause of soil losing its fertility?

Why is the number of Tyrannosaurus rex fossils found so much lower than the number of fossils found for other dinosaurs?

Which of the following is not part of integrated crop management?

How might periodic floods from rainstorms benefit irrigated cropland?

What feature, besides their ability to kill insects, makes chlorinated hydrocarbons like DDT attractive as an insecticide?

Which of the following is the easiest to remove from soil by leaching?

DDT has a strong affinity for fat tissue because, like fat tissue, DDT is ________.

Shown below are the N-P-K ratings for three fertilizer additives: sawdust, fish meal, and wood ashes. Using what you know about the chemical composition of these substances, assign each to its most likely n-p-k rating. 5-3-3 0-1.5-8 0.2-0-0.2

What is the difference between synthetic and natural fertilizers?

What do you expect the pH of a soil sample to be that has a large amount of humus in it?

Why does a farmed field lose its fertility while a wild pasture does not?

Nicotine solutions are available from lawn and garden stores as an insecticide. Why must gardeners handle this product with extreme care?

What is the first step in food production?

Which of the following is an organic farming method?

Why do the leaves of plants deficient in nitrogen turn yellow?

Where do plants get most of the elements that make up their mass?

Plants need nitrogen primarily so that they can build ________.

Which of the following is not one of the four primary components of fertile soil?

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