topics 5.1, 5.7, 5.8, 5.16

Question 1

The development of dangerous strains of disease organisms represents a significant consequence of which of the following agricultural practices?
a. Using herbicides in mechanized, large-scale grain farming
b. Using plant-based insecticidal compounds on vegetable crops
c. Growing crops that are genetically modified for increased yields
d. Including the use of legumes into croprotation protocols
e. Incorporating antibiotics into the feeding regimens of densely concentrated livestock

Answer 1

e. Incorporating antibiotics into the feeding regimens of densely concentrated livestock

Question 2

Compared with people in developing countries, people in industrialized countries are more likely to eat
a. beans
b. beef
c. corn
d. rice
e. wheat

Answer 2

b. beef

Question 3

Which of the following is a direct economic advantage associated with aquaculture?
a. Aquaculture breeds genetically modified fish to increase the amount of biodiversity in the population.
b. Aquaculture reduces the number of fishing operations in an area.
c. Aquaculture produces large amounts of seafood for human purchase and consumption year-round.
d. Aquaculture requires large bodies of water for its operations.

Answer 3

c. Aquaculture produces large amounts of seafood for human purchase and consumption year-round.

Question 4

Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) is used to compare contributions to climate change of various greenhouse gases. A study at a farm calculated the carbon dioxide equivalent for different production stages for beef and chicken production. Which of the following statements is best supported by the data in the graph?
a. Producing food for beef and chicken emits a total of 4.67 kg CO2e per kg of edible meat, released during transport and processing of animal feed.
b. The carbon dioxide equivalent for farm energy use by chickens is the greatest source of emissions, because the 24 hours of lighting that chickens require to grow uses a lot of electricity.
c. Raising beef contributes more to greenhouse gases than raising chickens does, primarily as a result of fermentation in cows’ digestive tracts, which releases methane gas.
d. Chicken manure does not emit any greenhouse gases, because chickens have unique symbiotic bacteria in their digestive systems.

Answer 4

c. Raising beef contributes more to greenhouse gases than raising chickens does, primarily as a result of fermentation in cows’ digestive tracts, which releases methane gas.

Question 5

Which of the following best explains why the maximum sustainable yield for ocean fisheries has been exceeded?
a. Populations of fish-eating birds such as the albatross have increased.
b. Too many fish of reproductive age are harvested.
c. Too many marine fish farms have been created.
d. Everything trapped by large bottom trawl nets is used for food.
e. For every calorie of fish caught, a ship uses only about 0.5 calorie of fuel energy.

Answer 5

b. Too many fish of reproductive age are harvested.

Question 5

Based on the data provided, which of the following descriptions best identifies the types of farms that are being compared?
a. Farm A is a free-pasture farm for cattle, whereas Farm B is a free-range farm for poultry.
b. Farm A is a concentrated animal feedlot for beef production, whereas Farm B is a cage-free farm for poultry.
c. Farm A is a grass-fed pasture for beef production, whereas Farm B is a traditional concentrated animal feedlot for cattle.
d. Farm A is a cage-free farm for poultry, whereas Farm B is an industrial poultry farm.

Answer 5

c. Farm A is a grass-fed pasture for beef production, whereas Farm B is a traditional concentrated animal feedlot for cattle.

Question 6

Which of the following is an unintended environmental consequence of aquaculture?
a. Meeting an increasing demand for seafood
b. Decreasing the prevalence of disease in nearby wild fish
c. Contamination of surrounding water by organic waste
d. High initial cost of facility

Answer 6

c. Contamination of surrounding water by organic waste

Question 7

One way that consumers can help prevent a decrease in the number of fish species that are experiencing population declines is to
a. help get laws passed that allow more fishing in areas that are not fished currently, therefore opening access to greater numbers of fish
b. purchase fish harvested through the use of purse seining and long-lining methods so that only the largest fish are caught
c. invest in companies that fish near coral reefs, which would take pressure off deep-sea species and eliminate the need for advances in technology
d. eat fish that are caught using sustainable harvesting methods, therefore ensuring fish populations remain stable and reducing the amount bycatch harvested

Answer 7

d. eat fish that are caught using sustainable harvesting methods, therefore ensuring fish populations remain stable and reducing the amount bycatch harvested

Question 8

Vegetarianism is often cited as a partial solution to the growing problem of deforestation and other types of habitat destruction as the human population continues to grow. The reason for this is
a. vegetarians are healthier due to a lack of animal fat in their diets
b. more people can be fed using less agricultural land because vegetarians eat at a lower trophic level
c. vegetarians consume fewer calories per person and therefore require fewer acres of farmland
d. vegetarian diets often recommend consuming large amounts of tree nuts as a source of protein, which preserves forest habitats
e. vegetarians often support conservation efforts that promote forest conservation

Answer 8

b. more people can be fed using less agricultural land because vegetarians eat at a lower trophic level

Question 9

The land on a 100-acre farm is equally suited for grazing cattle and growing corn. Of the following ways of distributing land use, which would produce the greatest number of calories of human consumption?
a. acres for grazing cattle: 100
acres for growing corn: 0
b. acres for grazing cattle: 80
acres for growing corn: 20
c. acres for grazing cattle: 50
acres for growing corn: 50
d. acres for grazing cattle: 20
acres for growing corn: 80
e. acres for grazing cattle: 0
acres for growing corn: 100

Answer 9

e. acres for grazing cattle: 0
acres for growing corn: 100

Question 10

As part of a school project, a group of high school students will attempt to determine whether increasing the species diversity of the edible plants in pastures used for grazing livestock will provide an economic benefit to ranchers. Which of the following hypotheses, if supported by experimental results, best demonstrates an economic benefit to the ranchers?
a. Pastures with the highest diversity of plant species will have the highest net primary productivity.
b. Pastures with the highest diversity of plant species will have the lowest water infiltration rate.
c. Pastures with the highest diversity of plant species will have the highest soil pH.
d. Pastures with the lowest diversity of plant species will have the lowest rate of insect predation.
e. Pastures with the highest diversity of plant species will have the lowest diversity of bird species.

Answer 10

a. Pastures with the highest diversity of plant species will have the highest net primary productivity.

Question 11

Which of the following is true of farm-raised salmon?
a. They are more genetically diverse than their wild counterparts.
b. They seldom escape from their containment areas.
c. They have no impact on the quality of the water in which they are raised.
d. They are often infected with parasites and sea lice.
e. They are maintained at lower population densities than are wild salmon.

Answer 11

d. They are often infected with parasites and sea lice.

Question 12

The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in a sample of river water suggests which of the following?
a. The pH of the river is very high.
b. The water is contaminated with animal waste.
c. The river is devoid of plant life.
d. The dissolved oxygen level of the river is high.
e. Fish caught from the river will be free of parasites.

Answer 12

b. The water is contaminated with animal waste.

Question 13

The presence of high levels of fecal coliform bacteria in a water source indicates that the water
a. is safe to drink
b. is safe to swim in
c. contains too little oxygen to support fish life
d. has been recently chlorinated at a sewage treatment plant
e. has been contaminated by untreated human or animal waste

Answer 13

e. has been contaminated by untreated human or animal waste

Question 14

Which of the following claims is best supported by the data in the graph?
a. As the demand for chicken increases and the demand for beef decreases, changes in meat production will decrease the demand on global water supplies.
b. Meat consumption per capita will decrease in India between 2012 and 2022 because individuals in that country have a primarily vegetarian diet.
c. Global meat consumption per capita will increase in all five countries between 2012 and 2022 as the countries move through the demographic transition and become more developed.
d. The use of growth hormones and antibiotics will allow for an increased yield in meat production in all five countries by 2022.

Answer 14

c. Global meat consumption per capita will increase in all five countries between 2012 and 2022 as the countries move through the demographic transition and become more developed.

Question 15

Which of the following is most likely to increase both the nutrient levels and the bacterial content of lake water?
a. Runoff from a nearby hog farm
b. Thermal pollution from a nearby power plant
c. Increased aeration of the lake water
d. Percolation of the water through soil to groundwater
e. Acidification of the lake water by acid deposition

Answer 15

a. Runoff from a nearby hog farm

Question 16

Which of the following is a greenhouse gas that is produced by domestic livestock?
a. NO2
b. CH4
c. O3
d. CO
e. SO2

Answer 16

b. CH4

Question 17

The major cause for the decline in the worldwide catch of fish since 1990 is
a. acid deposition
b. escalating price of fuel
c. competition from aquaculture
d. overfishing
e. decline in market price

Answer 17

d. overfishing

Question 18

Overgrazing of grasslands can lead to reduced range quality. Two of the major effects of overgrazing are
a. erosion and desertification
b. higher fire potential and increased productivity
c. eutrophication and increased methane production
d. higher primary productivity and ammonification
e. soil compaction and subsidence

Answer 18

a. erosion and desertification

Question 19

Which of the following statements is consistent with the graphs above?
a. Per capita meat consumption in Africa will increase as the population in Africa increases.
b. North American meat production is expected to decrease as population increases.
c. Per capita meat consumption in Europe will decline because population in Europe is projected to decrease.
d. People in North America consume more meat per capita than people in other regions of the world do.
e. By 2050 Asia will have the greatest per capita meat consumption because Asia has the greatest projected increase in population.

Answer 19

d. People in North America consume more meat per capita than people in other regions of the world do.

Question 20

Which of the following is the best example of an economic approach to reduce overfishing for a fish species with a declining population?
a. The federal government sets a catch limit (per person or per boat) for the species and imposes a tax on any extra fish that are caught.
b. A conservation agency creates marine parks where the area is a no-catch zone for the species so that the species can recover and population size can increase.
c. The state government introduces a subsidy for large fishing companies to help them afford to hire more crew members.
d. An educational group produces signs and video clips to encourage individuals to buy locally caught seafood and to avoid eating big fish like tuna and shark.

Answer 20

a. The federal government sets a catch limit (per person or per boat) for the species and imposes a tax on any extra fish that are caught.

Question 21

At the current rate of growth, Earth’s human population will double in about 50 years. Which of the following is the LEAST viable strategy for ensuring adequate nutrition for a population of this size?
a. Increasing the number of new food crops from the great diversity of plant species
b. Doubling the area of arable land on a global basis
c. Developing systems for making the global distribution of food more equitable
d. Increasing the area of land that is currently dedicated to grain production by reducing the area dedicated to meat production
e. Assisting developing countries in using highly efficient crop irrigation systems

Answer 21

b. Doubling the area of arable land on a global basis

Question 22

Overgrazing of public land by privately owned livestock is an example of the
a. tragedy of the commons
b. right of eminent domain
c. rule of seventy
d. principle of manifest destiny
e. swapping of debt for nature

Answer 22

a. tragedy of the commons

Question 23

Salmon farming threatens the health of wild salmon stocks primarily because
a. salmon farming prevents commercial fishing fleets from overharvesting wild salmon
b. salmon farming prevents interbreeding between domesticated varieties of salmon and their wild counterparts
c. farmed salmon can spread parasites and disease to wild salmon
d. farmed salmon compete with wild salmon for spawning sites
e. farmed salmon can contain chemicals derived from food additives and antibiotics that may be harmful to human consumers

Answer 23

c. farmed salmon can spread parasites and disease to wild salmon

Question 24

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of the tragedy of the commons?
a. Destruction of landscape by surfacing mining on private land
b. Selective harvesting of trees by a timber company in a national forest
c. Legislation of catch limits to avoid depletion of fish stocks in a shared lake
d. Inadvertent destruction of beneficial species while attempting to control pests
e. Depletion of an aquifer by regional farmers

Answer 24

e. Depletion of an aquifer by regional farmers

Question 25

Which of the following is the best illustration of the tragedy of the commons?
a. Depletion of fishing stocks in the North Atlantic
b. Collective farming of wine grapes in communities in France
c. Using national forests for wood production and harvesting
d. Allocation of all nuclear wastes to one site in Nevada
e. Agreements among western ranchers to jointly manage common grazing land

Answer 25

a. Depletion of fishing stocks in the North Atlantic

Question 26

One example of the tragedy of the commons occurs when trees are harvested from tropical rain forests without any regulations. Which of the following best describes why this is an example of the tragedy of the commons?
a. Tropical rain forests have a thin layer of decaying organic matter and relatively low nutrient levels slowing tree growth.
b. Trees are an important resource, but not all individuals can access the resource.
c. Timber producers remove as much timber as possible as cheaply as possible.
d. Tropical rain forests have the highest number of species per unit area, and trees are important for stability in the ecosystem.

Answer 26

c. Timber producers remove as much timber as possible as cheaply as possible.

Question 27

Which of the following is the best example of the tragedy of the commons?
a. Water pollution from oil rigs concentrated in the Gulf of Mexico
b. An increase in the concentration of a toxin as it goes through the food chain
c. Exponential population growth as a country goes through the demographic transition
d. The use of invasive species as a biological control
e. The overharvesting of fish from privately owned lakes

Answer 27

a. Water pollution from oil rigs concentrated in the Gulf of Mexico