GEE Lesson 8-9 Flashcards
What is one main cause of overgrazing in grasslands?
A) Excessive rainfall
B) Increased predator population
C) Overpopulation of grazing animals
D) Reforestation efforts
Overpopulation of grazing animals
What is the goal of sustainable forestry?
A) Maximizing wood production
B) Increasing logging speed
C) Preserving biodiversity and forest health
D) Expanding agricultural land
Preserving biodiversity and forest health
What is one method of protecting forests from destructive fires?
A) Clear-cutting
B) Selective burning
C) Firebreaks
D) Replanting trees
Firebreaks
Grasslands are primarily used for which purpose?
A) Building urban developments
B) Grazing and forage for animals
C) Mining operations
D) Tree plantations
Grazing and forage for animals
Which of these is a sustainable solution to protect grasslands?
A) Increasing grazing rates
B) Fertilizing the grass frequently
C) Rotational grazing
D) Fencing off all grasslands
Rotational grazing
The Ecosystem Approach aims to:
A) Limit all human activity in ecosystems
B) Promote industrial agriculture
C) Maintain ecosystem structure and function
D) Replace native species with more resilient ones
Maintain ecosystem structure and function
Which environmental issue is directly linked to topsoil erosion?
A) Increased biodiversity
B) Loss of soil fertility
C) Lower water pollution
D) Enhanced crop yield
Loss of soil fertility
What does “food security” mean in environmental studies?
A) Having a variety of food choices
B) Consistent access to sufficient and nutritious food
C) Limiting food importation
D) Storing food in secured facilities
Consistent access to sufficient and nutritious food
Which practice can help reduce the environmental impact of agriculture?
A) Overuse of chemical fertilizers
B) Monoculture farming
C) Crop rotation and polyculture
D) Increased deforestation
Crop rotation and polyculture
Which of the following is a feature of polyculture?
A) Growing a single crop repeatedly
B) Using synthetic pesticides exclusively
C) Growing multiple crops together
D) Maximizing monoculture efficiency
Growing multiple crops together
The Green Revolution is primarily associated with:
A) Enhancing biodiversity in agriculture
B) Increasing crop yields using modern technology
C) Decreasing soil salinity
D) Promoting organic farming
Increasing crop yields using modern technology
Which of the following factors does NOT directly contribute to food insecurity?
A) Climate changes
B) Poverty
C) Advances in crop technology
D) War and conflict
Advances in crop technology
Monoculture crops are primarily associated with which drawback?
A) Increased biodiversity
B) Greater soil erosion
C) Reduced water consumption
D) Decreased crop yields
Greater soil erosion
Which of the following is an environmental effect of synthetic pesticide use?
A) Increased soil biodiversity
B) Decreased pest resistance
C) Soil and water contamination
D) Improved crop diversity
Soil and water contamination
What is a benefit of vertical farming in urban areas?
A) Requires large tracts of land
B) Reduces the need for pest control
C) Maximizes use of vertical space for food production
D) Promotes monoculture
Maximizes use of vertical space for food production
What is one proposed solution for improving food security?
A) Increase dependence on imported food
B) Enhance local food production
C) Reduce soil conservation measures
D) Limit agricultural technology use
Enhance local food production
Industrialized agriculture typically results in:
A) Lower yields and greater biodiversity
B) Higher yields but greater environmental impact
C) Lower water usage
D) More traditional farming techniques
Higher yields but greater environmental impact
What is a common alternative to chemical pest control?
A) Synthetic pesticides
B) Crop rotation
C) Firebreaks
D) Soil erosion
Crop rotation
What major environmental concern is associated with monoculture crops?
A) Increased water retention
B) Reduction in biodiversity
C) Decreased crop yields
D) Sustainable soil quality
Reduction in biodiversity
Which of these is a goal of sustainable forest management?
A) Maximize timber extraction
B) Reduce biodiversity
C) Balance ecological, economic, and social benefits
D) Convert forests into urban land
Balance ecological, economic, and social benefits
What is a significant threat to rangelands?
A) Lack of grazing animals
B) Overgrazing by livestock
C) Rapid urban development
D) Overuse of fertilizers
Overgrazing by livestock
What is a key reason why protecting aquatic ecosystems is challenging?
A) Overfishing is easy to control
B) Water pollution is always minimal
C) Aquatic habitats are vast and often unmonitored
D) Marine animals do not face extinction
Aquatic habitats are vast and often unmonitored
What role do natural parks and reserves play in biodiversity?
A) They are primarily used for logging
B) They serve as protected areas to conserve ecosystems
C) They promote monoculture farming
D) They are set aside for mining activities
They serve as protected areas to conserve ecosystems
The concept of “fish print” helps measure:
A) The growth rate of fish populations
B) Ocean pollution levels
C) The ocean area required to sustain human fish consumption
D) The percentage of fish caught illegally
The ocean area required to sustain human fish consumption
Which is an example of a sustainable forestry practice?
A) Slash-and-burn agriculture
B) Clear-cutting large forest areas
C) Selective logging and replanting
D) Building roads through forests
Selective logging and replanting
What is an ecosystem approach to conservation?
A) Preserving single species only
B) Focused on only profitable resources
C) Maintaining natural processes and ecosystem functions
D) Establishing large farming projects
Maintaining natural processes and ecosystem functions
Which of these is an environmental consequence of monoculture farming?
A) Increased biodiversity
B) Soil fertility preservation
C) Higher vulnerability to pests and disease
D) Minimal pesticide use
Higher vulnerability to pests and disease
Food insecurity can result from factors such as:
A) Reduced agricultural diversity
B) Urbanization and industrialization
C) Poverty, war, and extreme weather
D) Advancements in agriculture
Poverty, war, and extreme weather
Which of the following best defines polyculture?
A) Growing one type of crop per season
B) Raising livestock on a large scale
C) Growing multiple crops in the same area
D) Replacing native plants with exotic species
Growing multiple crops in the same area
Synthetic pesticides contribute to environmental problems by:
A) Increasing soil fertility
B) Promoting pest resistance and contamination
C) Reducing crop yield
D) Boosting biodiversity
Promoting pest resistance and contamination
Which of these is a common approach to sustainable pest control?
A) Using chemical fertilizers
B) Adopting monoculture practices
C) Introducing natural predators
D) Draining wetlands
Introducing natural predators
Topsoil erosion primarily affects which aspect of agriculture?
A) Increases crop yield
B) Reduces soil fertility
C) Controls pests
D) Improves irrigation
Reduces soil fertility
One way to improve food security is to:
A) Increase reliance on imported foods
B) Reduce crop diversity
C) Produce food more sustainably and locally
D) Invest heavily in monoculture farming
Produce food more sustainably and locally
Vertical farming is primarily beneficial because it:
A) Uses extensive land areas
B) Minimizes water usage and maximizes urban space
C) Requires fewer buildings in urban areas
D) Improves soil quality
Minimizes water usage and maximizes urban space
Which of the following methods is part of the Green Revolution in agriculture?
A) Expansion of organic farming
B) Heavy reliance on traditional tools
C) Development of high-yield crop varieties
D) Reducing the use of chemical fertilizers
Development of high-yield crop varieties
Deforestation is often caused by:
A) Reforestation projects
B) Industrial agriculture and logging
C) Reduced human activity
D) Increased protected areas
Industrial agriculture and logging
The purpose of using crop rotation in agriculture is to:
A) Increase monoculture efficiency
B) Prevent soil depletion and reduce pests
C) Grow crops faster
D) Maximize pesticide usage
Prevent soil depletion and reduce pests
A major problem with the extensive use of synthetic pesticides is that they:
A) Are too cheap to be effective
B) Destroy all types of pests
C) Lead to pesticide-resistant pests and ecosystem imbalance
D) Can be easily removed from the environment
Lead to pesticide-resistant pests and ecosystem imbalance
A major characteristic of food production in industrial agriculture is:
A) Low environmental impact
B) Heavy reliance on monoculture and synthetic inputs
C) Minimal use of machinery
D) Exclusive use of organic practices
Heavy reliance on monoculture and synthetic inputs
Which of the following is a common challenge faced by the Green Revolution?
A) Limited use of machinery
B) Sustainable farming methods
C) Soil degradation and environmental harm
D) Low-yield crop production
Soil degradation and environmental harm
What is one environmental benefit of polyculture farming?
A) Requires fewer resources
B) Boosts biodiversity and reduces pest damage
C) Increases soil erosion
D) Reduces crop yield
Boosts biodiversity and reduces pest damage
One of the main issues with deforestation is that it leads to:
A) Reduced biodiversity and habitat loss
B) Improved soil quality
C) Less land for agriculture
D) More natural parks
Reduced biodiversity and habitat loss
The concept of food security emphasizes:
A) Importing more food products
B) Ensuring consistent access to nutritious food for all
C) Creating more farmland
D) Exporting local crops globally
Ensuring consistent access to nutritious food for all
Which of these is an outcome of sustainable food production methods?
A) Higher reliance on pesticides
B) Soil and water conservation
C) Increased pollution
D) Decreased crop rotation
Soil and water conservation
Which of the following is a primary threat to tropical forests?
A) Lack of biodiversity
B) Population decline
C) Unsustainable cutting and burning of vegetation
D) Reforestation efforts
Unsustainable cutting and burning of vegetation
What is the most efficient and least costly method of tree harvesting but is also the most damaging to ecosystems?
A) Selective cutting
B) Clear-cutting
C) Strip cutting
D) Replanting
Clear-cutting
Which region primarily clears forests for oil palm plantations?
A) South America
B) Southeast Asia
C) Africa
D) North America
Southeast Asia
Which strategy is NOT recommended to sustain biodiversity in parks and natural reserves?
A) Creating buffer zones around reserves
B) Establishing more visitor-friendly areas
C) Using controlled burns to reduce underbrush
D) Limiting human access to sensitive areas
Establishing more visitor-friendly areas
What is the main cause of food insecurity in developing nations?
A) Overproduction of food
B) High availability of resources
C) Poverty
D) Decreased population growth
Poverty
Industrialized agriculture often focuses on producing large quantities of:
A) Diverse crops in small quantities
B) Single crop types in large quantities
C) Natural fertilizers
D) High-quality, low-yield crops
Single crop types in large quantities
Which of the following is an environmental impact of industrialized food production?
A) Increase in biodiversity
B) Decrease in fossil fuel use
C) Emission of greenhouse gases
D) Increase in soil fertility
Emission of greenhouse gases
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) primarily aims to:
A) Eliminate pests with synthetic chemicals
B) Use a mix of biological, cultural, and chemical practices
C) Allow pest populations to grow
D) Promote monoculture farming
Use a mix of biological, cultural, and chemical practices
Soil erosion can lead to all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Loss of soil fertility
B) Water pollution from topsoil runoff
C) Increased plant growth
D) Carbon release into the atmosphere
Increased plant growth
Which of the following is a potential sustainable solution for producing food?
A) Relying more on monoculture farming
B) Using chemical pesticides exclusively
C) Rotating crops and practicing polyculture
D) Increasing fossil fuel energy input
Rotating crops and practicing polyculture
Which of the following best defines “old-growth forests”?
A) Forests that have regrown after a major disturbance
B) Uncut or undisturbed forests for at least 200 years
C) Managed tree plantations for logging
D) Areas of forest land within urban environments
Uncut or undisturbed forests for at least 200 years
Which method is most effective for protecting biodiversity in tropical forests?
A) Replacing natural forests with plantations
B) Encouraging monoculture farming
C) Harvesting resources slower than their natural regeneration
D) Using intensive logging practices
Harvesting resources slower than their natural regeneration
What is a common cause of overgrazing in rangelands?
A) Excessive rainfall
B) Overuse by livestock
C) Invasive plant species
D) Absence of natural predators
Overuse by livestock
Which of these actions helps reduce tropical deforestation?
A) Providing subsidies for large-scale logging
B) Certifying sustainable wood products
C) Expanding monoculture plantations
D) Increasing urban development in forests
Certifying sustainable wood products
Which approach is a key aspect of reconciliation ecology?
A) Using only traditional farming methods
B) Encouraging monoculture over biodiversity
C) Finding ways for humans and wildlife to share habitats
D) Replacing natural habitats with urban areas
Finding ways for humans and wildlife to share habitats
Which environmental problem threatens national parks the most?
A) The introduction of invasive species
B) The building of highways nearby
C) Too many buffer zones
D) Increased biodiversity
The introduction of invasive species
Grassland productivity can be sustained by:
A) Clearing natural vegetation
B) Overgrazing livestock
C) Using rotational grazing practices
D) Encouraging invasive species growth
Using rotational grazing practices
Which method is NOT used to improve forest fire management?
A) Controlled burns in high-risk areas
B) Clearing brush around buildings
C) Allowing fires to burn near populated areas
D) Eliminating wood-based construction materials
Allowing fires to burn near populated areas
Which factor does NOT directly impact global food security?
A) Climate change
B) Poverty
C) Overpopulation
D) Water recycling systems
Water recycling systems
Which practice is commonly used in industrialized agriculture?
A) Crop rotation
B) Polyculture
C) Monoculture
D) Permaculture
Monoculture
Organic agriculture typically avoids:
A) Genetically modified organisms
B) Natural fertilizers
C) Polyculture practices
D) Crop rotation
Genetically modified organisms
Which practice can help reduce soil erosion?
A) Clear-cutting forests
B) Overgrazing livestock
C) Contour planting
D) Removing all plant cover
Contour planting
What is one negative environmental effect of meat production?
A) Low water consumption
B) Minimal greenhouse gas emissions
C) High energy input requirements
D) Reduced soil erosion
High energy input requirements
Which is a disadvantage of using synthetic pesticides?
A) Reduced crop yield
B) Lower pest resistance over time
C) Pollution of water and soil
D) Increased soil fertility
Pollution of water and soil
Which of the following is an example of integrated pest management (IPM)?
A) Using only synthetic pesticides to kill pests
B) Relying on a mix of cultivation practices, biological controls, and pesticides
C) Avoiding any pest control methods
D) Monoculture cropping
Relying on a mix of cultivation practices, biological controls, and pesticides
The concept of “food deserts” refers to:
A) Places where food is abundant but expensive
B) Areas where fresh, healthy food is hard to access
C) Desert regions with plenty of fresh food options
D) High-end grocery stores with limited options
Areas where fresh, healthy food is hard to access
Which is a benefit of vertical farming?
A) High pesticide use
B) Increased energy costs
C) Minimal water waste
D) Lack of fresh produce
Minimal water waste
Which environmental issue is directly linked to deforestation for food production?
A) Increased soil fertility
B) Loss of biodiversity
C) Increase in carbon sequestration
D) Reduction of greenhouse gases
Loss of biodiversity
Which of the following is considered a major ecosystem service provided by forests?
A) Increasing atmospheric CO₂
B) Filtering pollutants from air and water
C) Reducing soil erosion by livestock
D) Decreasing biodiversity
Filtering pollutants from air and water
What is a “biodiversity hotspot”?
A) An area with low species diversity but high productivity
B) A place with high levels of biodiversity and high threat levels
C) A region with unique species and low conservation needs
D) An area suitable for urban development
A place with high levels of biodiversity and high threat levels
Which action is a recommended strategy for ecological restoration?
A) Expanding agriculture into natural areas
B) Introducing invasive species to improve diversity
C) Reintroducing native keystone species
D) Harvesting resources faster than natural replenishment
Reintroducing native keystone species
Why are some rangelands degraded?
A) Overgrazing and erosion
B) Excessive plant biodiversity
C) Lack of grazing animals
D) Controlled rotational grazing practices
Overgrazing and erosion
What is the purpose of establishing buffer zones around nature reserves?
A) To allow for human development within reserves
B) To protect core areas from environmental impacts
C) To encourage invasive species growth
D) To increase industrial access
To protect core areas from environmental impacts
Which of the following is a primary cause of tropical deforestation in Africa?
A) Palm oil plantations
B) Logging for commercial timber
C) Clearing land for firewood and small-scale farming
D) Urban expansion
Clearing land for firewood and small-scale farming
One sustainable management practice for grasslands is:
A) Prohibiting all grazing
B) Encouraging overgrazing to cycle nutrients
C) Rotational grazing to prevent overuse
D) Using synthetic fertilizers
Rotational grazing to prevent overuse
What percentage of the earth’s land area is under strict protection from potentially harmful human activities?
A) Less than 6%
B) 10%
C) 15%
D) 20%
Less than 6%
Which nutrient deficiency affects nearly 2 billion people worldwide?
A) Calcium
B) Vitamin A, iron, and iodine
C) Vitamin C and D
D) Sodium and potassium
Vitamin A, iron, and iodine
Which of the following is a disadvantage of industrialized agriculture?
A) Low greenhouse gas emissions
B) High reliance on renewable resources
C) Depletion of soil fertility
D) Decreased water usage
Depletion of soil fertility
What is the role of aquaculture in food production?
A) Reducing pollution in oceans
B) Producing fish and other seafood in controlled environments
C) Increasing wild fish populations
D) Enhancing biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems
Producing fish and other seafood in controlled environments
Which environmental issue is directly caused by soil erosion?
A) Increased biodiversity
B) Enhanced topsoil fertility
C) Loss of soil nutrients and sediment pollution in water bodies
D) Lower levels of atmospheric CO₂
Loss of soil nutrients and sediment pollution in water bodies
Genetically modified (GM) crops are often engineered to:
A) Reduce food production costs
B) Be resistant to pests and herbicides
C) Increase reliance on organic fertilizers
D) Decrease crop yield
Be resistant to pests and herbicides
Which of the following is a disadvantage of animal feedlots?
A) Low disease transmission risk
B) High efficiency in meat production
C) Large quantities of waste production
D) Decreased greenhouse gas emissions
Large quantities of waste production
How does crop rotation benefit agricultural soil?
A) By exhausting soil nutrients
B) Preventing pest buildup and improving soil fertility
C) Requiring more chemical fertilizers
D) By increasing reliance on monoculture
Preventing pest buildup and improving soil fertility
Which agricultural practice is beneficial for conserving soil moisture?
A) Clear-cutting
B) Using windbreaks
C) Over-irrigating fields
D) Rotational grazing
Using windbreaks
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) primarily helps in:
A) Reducing crop yield
B) Reliance on synthetic pesticides alone
C) Managing pests using a mix of biological, physical, and chemical methods
D) Increasing the genetic resistance of pests
Managing pests using a mix of biological, physical, and chemical methods
Vertical farming is a sustainable solution mainly because it:
A) Requires significant land area
B) Minimizes pesticide use and reduces water waste
C) Increases fossil fuel dependence
D) Uses only genetically modified crops
Minimizes pesticide use and reduces water waste
