Question 1

Which of the following foods would make you a quaternary consumer?

Accepted Answer

A) lentils 
B) chicken 
C) shark steak 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) lentils 
B) chicken 
C) shark steak 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 2

Earthworms are repelled by the high concentrations of nutrients in soils treated with synthetic fertilizers. How might this affect the soil structure?

Accepted Answer

A) The soil becomes less fertilized by bird droppings. 
B) The soil becomes more compact. 
C) As the worms leave, insect larvae take over the role of making the soil porous. 
D) Decaying dead worms are an important component of soil compost, which is why soil without many worms is less fertile. 
A) The soil becomes less fertilized by bird droppings. 
B) The soil becomes more compact. 
C) As the worms leave, insect larvae take over the role of making the soil porous. 
D) Decaying dead worms are an important component of soil compost, which is why soil without many worms is less fertile.

Question 3

Why might soil with a very low pH be more susceptible to leaching?

Accepted Answer

A) The acid ions exchange with the nutrient ions, which then are rinsed away. 
B) The acid ions decompose the vitamins and minerals stored in the roots. 
C) The base ions start to degrade the minerals and lead to insoluble ion salts. 
D) The base ions decompose the vitamins and minerals stored in the roots and suck the valuable minerals into the water. 
E) none of the above 
A) The acid ions exchange with the nutrient ions, which then are rinsed away. 
B) The acid ions decompose the vitamins and minerals stored in the roots. 
C) The base ions start to degrade the minerals and lead to insoluble ion salts. 
D) The base ions decompose the vitamins and minerals stored in the roots and suck the valuable minerals into the water. 
E) none of the above

Question 4

Many farmers in the U.S are paid by the government not to farm their land. Based on your understanding of the concepts presented in this chapter, cite one reason why this might be so.

Accepted Answer

A) It provides a means of controlling the global population of people. 
B) Farmed land has dramatic effects on local weather patterns. 
C) to conserve the topsoil 
D) to keep the price of food artificially high 
A) It provides a means of controlling the global population of people. 
B) Farmed land has dramatic effects on local weather patterns. 
C) to conserve the topsoil 
D) to keep the price of food artificially high

Question 5

Which of the following would be considered a producer?

Accepted Answer

A) grain 
B) grass 
C) phytoplankton 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) grain 
B) grass 
C) phytoplankton 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 6

Besides lure-and-trap, how else might pheromones be used to decrease insect populations?

Accepted Answer

A) use a pheromone that insects detect as a warning system 
B) Spray insect-attracting pheromones right on the plant. The many species of insects that collect will compete and potentially kill each other. 
C) Concentrated solutions of pheromones tend to dissolve the chitin of which insect are made. 
D) all of the above 
A) use a pheromone that insects detect as a warning system 
B) Spray insect-attracting pheromones right on the plant. The many species of insects that collect will compete and potentially kill each other. 
C) Concentrated solutions of pheromones tend to dissolve the chitin of which insect are made. 
D) all of the above

Question 7

Which takes more energy?

Accepted Answer

A) organic farming 
B) regular farming 
C) synthesis of pesticides and fertilizers 
D) crop rotation 
E) All of the above are equally energy intensive. 
A) organic farming 
B) regular farming 
C) synthesis of pesticides and fertilizers 
D) crop rotation 
E) All of the above are equally energy intensive.

Question 8

Which of the following is not a major fertilizer that has been obtained primarily from native sources (i.e., not synthesized by humans)?

Accepted Answer

A) ammonia gas 
B) saltpeter 
C) compost 
D) All of the above are from natural sources (some more natural than others). 
E) none of the above 
A) ammonia gas 
B) saltpeter 
C) compost 
D) All of the above are from natural sources (some more natural than others). 
E) none of the above

Question 9

What is the energy source that is used in photosynthesis?

Accepted Answer

A) solar radiation 
B) geothermal energy 
C) nuclear fission 
D) internal combustion 
E) all of the above 
A) solar radiation 
B) geothermal energy 
C) nuclear fission 
D) internal combustion 
E) all of the above

Question 10

Which element besides carbon, hydrogen and oxygen makes up the most mass of plants?

Accepted Answer

A) nitrogen 
B) helium 
C) molybdenum 
D) iron 
E) phosphorus 
A) nitrogen 
B) helium 
C) molybdenum 
D) iron 
E) phosphorus

Question 11

Which of the following is part of integrated pest management?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

Why are advances in genetic engineering so significant to agriculture?

Accepted Answer

A) Genetically engineered crops can generate more food. 
B) Genetically engineered crops can be more resistant to pest thereby requiring fewer pesticides. 
C) Food from genetically engineered plants can have greater nutritional value. 
D) all of the above 
A) Genetically engineered crops can generate more food. 
B) Genetically engineered crops can be more resistant to pest thereby requiring fewer pesticides. 
C) Food from genetically engineered plants can have greater nutritional value. 
D) all of the above

Question 13

Which is better for a plant: an ammonium ion from compost or an ammonium ion from synthetic fertilizer?

Accepted Answer

A) from compost 
B) from synthetic fertilizer 
C) It depends upon weather conditions where moist environments tend to favor naturally occurring ammonium ions. 
D) An ammonium ion is an ammonium ion no matter where it is from. 
A) from compost 
B) from synthetic fertilizer 
C) It depends upon weather conditions where moist environments tend to favor naturally occurring ammonium ions. 
D) An ammonium ion is an ammonium ion no matter where it is from.

Question 14

What is the main product of the Haber process?

Accepted Answer

A) NH3 
B) compost 
C) NH4NO3 
D) N2 
E) H2 
A) NH3 
B) compost 
C) NH4NO3 
D) N2 
E) H2

Question 15

Which of the following statements are true?

Accepted Answer

A) The holes between soil particles hold valuable nutrients and air. 
B) Porous soil is not beneficial to plants. 
C) Plants grow better in dense soils. 
D) Soil with tiny particles holds more water than loose soil. 
E) All of the above are true. 
A) The holes between soil particles hold valuable nutrients and air. 
B) Porous soil is not beneficial to plants. 
C) Plants grow better in dense soils. 
D) Soil with tiny particles holds more water than loose soil. 
E) All of the above are true.

Question 16

Anything that eats a producer is called a(n)________.

Accepted Answer

A) predator 
B) consumer 
C) herbivore 
D) decomposer 
E) all of the above 
A) predator 
B) consumer 
C) herbivore 
D) decomposer 
E) all of the above

Question 17

How does microirrigation help prevent erosion?

Accepted Answer

A) by keeping water levels so low that there is no runoff 
B) by putting micro-dams around fields, which prevents the silty water from escaping 
C) by increasing the ability of plants to convert subsoil into topsoil 
D) by increasing the depth of the roots, which in turn holds more topsoil 
E) none of the above 
A) by keeping water levels so low that there is no runoff 
B) by putting micro-dams around fields, which prevents the silty water from escaping 
C) by increasing the ability of plants to convert subsoil into topsoil 
D) by increasing the depth of the roots, which in turn holds more topsoil 
E) none of the above

Question 18

Industrial wastes and agricultural pollutants are made of the same kinds of atoms already present in the environment. So why worry about them?

Accepted Answer

A) Because industrial waste and agricultural pollutant atoms are "contaminated" and in need of purification. 
B) Because industrial waste and agricultural pollutant atoms become "abnormal", in much the same way as a cancerous structure forms. 
C) Because industrial waste and agricultural pollutant atoms combine to form harmful molecules with markedly different properties from the atoms that make them up. 
D) Industrial waste and agricultural pollutant atoms aren't really of all that much concern. The government makes an issue of it mostly to serve political ends. 
A) Because industrial waste and agricultural pollutant atoms are "contaminated" and in need of purification. 
B) Because industrial waste and agricultural pollutant atoms become "abnormal", in much the same way as a cancerous structure forms. 
C) Because industrial waste and agricultural pollutant atoms combine to form harmful molecules with markedly different properties from the atoms that make them up. 
D) Industrial waste and agricultural pollutant atoms aren't really of all that much concern. The government makes an issue of it mostly to serve political ends.

Question 19

Why does irrigated farmland get more and more salty over time?

Accepted Answer

A) Salts and minerals are deposited from water by evaporation. 
B) Salt water is used to irrigate the lands. 
C) Silty water lays down layers of organic matter, which contain a large degree of charged particles and salts. 
D) The plants extract the minerals and exchange them for salty ions like sodium. 
E) all of the above 
A) Salts and minerals are deposited from water by evaporation. 
B) Salt water is used to irrigate the lands. 
C) Silty water lays down layers of organic matter, which contain a large degree of charged particles and salts. 
D) The plants extract the minerals and exchange them for salty ions like sodium. 
E) all of the above

Question 20

What might be the purpose of planting trees around fields?

Accepted Answer

A) to provide habitats for pest eating animals 
B) to act as wind breaks 
C) to provide cooling shade 
D) to provide nitrogen fixation 
E) only A and B 
A) to provide habitats for pest eating animals 
B) to act as wind breaks 
C) to provide cooling shade 
D) to provide nitrogen fixation 
E) only A and B

Which of the following foods would make you a quaternary consumer?

Earthworms are repelled by the high concentrations of nutrients in soils treated with synthetic fertilizers. How might this affect the soil structure?

Why might soil with a very low pH be more susceptible to leaching?

Many farmers in the U.S are paid by the government not to farm their land. Based on your understanding of the concepts presented in this chapter, cite one reason why this might be so.

Which of the following would be considered a producer?

Besides lure-and-trap, how else might pheromones be used to decrease insect populations?

Which takes more energy?

Which of the following is not a major fertilizer that has been obtained primarily from native sources (i.e., not synthesized by humans)?

What is the energy source that is used in photosynthesis?

Which element besides carbon, hydrogen and oxygen makes up the most mass of plants?

Which of the following is part of integrated pest management?

Why are advances in genetic engineering so significant to agriculture?

Which is better for a plant: an ammonium ion from compost or an ammonium ion from synthetic fertilizer?

What is the main product of the Haber process?

Which of the following statements are true?

Anything that eats a producer is called a(n)________.

How does microirrigation help prevent erosion?

Industrial wastes and agricultural pollutants are made of the same kinds of atoms already present in the environment. So why worry about them?

Why does irrigated farmland get more and more salty over time?

What might be the purpose of planting trees around fields?

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

Exam 15: Optimizing Food Production

Which of the following foods would make you a quaternary consumer?

Earthworms are repelled by the high concentrations of nutrients in soils treated with synthetic fertilizers. How might this affect the soil structure?

Why might soil with a very low pH be more susceptible to leaching?

Many farmers in the U.S are paid by the government not to farm their land. Based on your understanding of the concepts presented in this chapter, cite one reason why this might be so.

Which of the following would be considered a producer?

Besides lure-and-trap, how else might pheromones be used to decrease insect populations?

Which takes more energy?

Which of the following is not a major fertilizer that has been obtained primarily from native sources (i.e., not synthesized by humans)?

What is the energy source that is used in photosynthesis?

Which element besides carbon, hydrogen and oxygen makes up the most mass of plants?

Which of the following is part of integrated pest management?

Why are advances in genetic engineering so significant to agriculture?

Which is better for a plant: an ammonium ion from compost or an ammonium ion from synthetic fertilizer?

What is the main product of the Haber process?

Which of the following statements are true?

Anything that eats a producer is called a(n)________.

How does microirrigation help prevent erosion?

Industrial wastes and agricultural pollutants are made of the same kinds of atoms already present in the environment. So why worry about them?

Why does irrigated farmland get more and more salty over time?

What might be the purpose of planting trees around fields?

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