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180 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
The demographic transition model helps to explain why...
A. death rates rise in industrializing nations
B.the birth rate drops below the death rate.
C.development requires large populations
D. industrializing delveloping countries have high birth rates
D. industrializing delveloping countries have high birth rates
During demographic tranistions, birth rates of a population are high during the
A. preindustrial and industrial stages
B. postindustrial and transitional stages
C. industrial and postindustrial stages
D. preindustrial and transition stage
D. preindustrial and transition stage
In the Demographic and transition model, zero growth rate in a country is likely to occur during

A. the industrial stage
B. postindustrial stage
C. the transitional stage
D. the preindustrial stage
B. Postindustrial stage
Family- planning programs have been successful in reducing population growth in
A. Haiti
B. India
C. China
D. Nigeria
C. China
Attempts by governments to reduce population growth have included all the following except.
A. paying couples who agree to use contraceptives
B. paying couples who agree to be sterilized
C. penalizing couple who have more than a certail number of children (usally one or two)
D. providing needed health care and food allotments to thoes who have more than a certain number of children
D. providing needed health care and food allotments to thoes who have more than a certain number of children
The success of a family planning program is enhanced when
A. The leadership apathetic
B. implementation is left to central planners
C. contraceptives are widely available
D. The majority of the people who live in the countryside
C. contraceptives are widely available
Women tend to have fewer and healthier children when they
a.live in societies where they have few rights.
b.do not have access to paying jobs outside the home.
c.have access to education.
d.live in rural areas.
C. Have access to education
China’s population policy has included all of the following except
* a. encouraging contraceptive use but banning abortion.
b. expanding educational opportunities.
c. urging couples to have no more than one child.
d. training local people to carry on the family-planning program.
A. encouraging contraceptive use bt banning abortion
Experience suggests that the best recipe for slowing population growth includes all of the following except
a. elevating the status of women.
b. family planning.
c. coercion using financial incentives.
d. reducing poverty.
C. Coercion using financial incentives
Since 1920, U.S. urban areas have seen
a. deteriorating working and housing conditions.
b. greater incidence of transmissible diseases.
c. better public water supplies.
d. an increase in green space.
C. Better public water supplies
A limiting factor that produces compact, generally more energy-efficient cities is
a. population.
b. water supply.
c. land availability.
d. air quality.
C. Land availability
Urban sprawl arises due to
a. cheap and affordable land
b. rising gas prices
c. lack of entertainment and culture within cities
d. high crime rates in the suburbs
A. Cheap and afforable land
Vegetation improves the quality of life in urban areas by all of the following means except
a. muffling noise.
b. providing wildlife habitat.
c. absorbing air pollutants.
d. warming the air.
D. Warming the air
Water problems in cities include all of the following except
a. the need to tap deeper into ground water
b. depletion of water in surrounding rural and wild areas
c. greater flooding within cities and surrounding suburbs
d. degradation of wetlands
e. all of these are problems associated with water in urban areas
E. All of these are problems associated with water in Urban areas
Breathing the air of Mexico City is like smoking ____ pack(s) of cigarettes each day.
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
C. 3
In the United States, ____ of all urban transportation is by car.
a. 68%
b. 78%
c. 88%
d. 98%
D. 98%
Which of the following statements is false?
a. Motor vehicles have helped create urban sprawl.
b. Motor vehicles are the largest source of air pollution.
c. Constructing more roads reduces automobile travel and congestion.
C. Constructing more roads reduces automobile travel and congestion
Medium-distance travel (600 miles) in the future United States could be improved by the use of
a. super-taxis.
b. buses that run on propane.
c. automobiles.
d. high-speed trains.
D. High speed rails
An ecocity would be characterized by all of the following except
a. superhighways and parking garages.
b. community gardens.
c. high energy-efficiency standards for buildings and motor vehicles.
d. plenty of trees.
A. Superhighways and parking garages
Davis, California, has instituted all of the following policies except
a. building codes encouraging solar energy for space and water heating.
b. planting of shade trees.
c. development of surrounding farmland.
d. many bicycle paths.
C. Development of surrounding farmland
If you visit Curitiba, Brazil, you would expect to find
a. a good recycling program.
b. a sophisticated bus system.
c. plenty of trees and open space.
d. all of these answers
D. all these answers
The direct effects of human impact on the earth’s biodiversity include
a. degradation and destruction of natural ecosystems
b. alteration of natural chemical cycles and energy flow
c. changes in numbers and distribution of species
d. pollution of air, water, and soil
e. all of these answers
E. All of these answers
In the United States, about ____ of the virgin forests have been logged.
a. 15%
b. 35%
c. 55%
d. 75%
e. 95%
E. 95%
Biologists estimate that humans have increased the rate of global extinction of species by as much as
a. 0-10 times
b. 10-100 times
c. 100-1,000 times
d. 1,000-10,000 times
D. 1,000-10,000 times
Old-growth forests can be described by all of the following except
a. they have not been disturbed for several hundred years.
b. they have large numbers of snags.
c. they provide a variety of ecological niches.
d. they have a clear forest floor.
D. they have a clear forest floor.
Second-growth forests can be described by all of the following except
a. they result from primary succession.
b. they provide less species diversity than old-growth forests.
c. they often developed after abandonment of farms.
d. they may be tree farms.
a. they result from primary succession.
Trees provide all of the following except
a. pulp for paper.
b. medicines.
c. biomass for fuel.
d. petrochemicals.
D. petrochemicals
Forests provide natural capital in all of the following ecological services except
a. reducing soil erosion
b. storing atmospheric carbon
c. grazing for livestock
d. purifying the air
C. grazing for livestock
Deforestation may lead to the following
a. improved ecological services
b. increased biodiversity
c. decreased soil erosion
d. less habitat for birds
D. less habitat for birds
Forested watersheds
a. slow down water runoff.
b. help control soil erosion.
c. reduce flooding.
d. reduce sediment water pollution.
e. all of these answers
E. all these answers
_____ provide habitats for more wildlife species than any other biome.
a. Grasslands
b. Deserts
c. Forests
d. Coastal zones
C. forests
Roads into forests do all of the following except
a. cause erosion and sedimentation of waterways.
b. open up forests to economic activities.
c. expose forests to invasions by pests and diseases.
d. provide valuable wildlife habitat.
D. provides valuable wildlife habitat
Selective cutting
a. encourages crowding of trees.
b. encourages growth of more mature trees.
c. maintains an uneven-aged stand of trees of different species, ages, and sizes.
d. requires a special seed-distribution plan.
c. maintains an uneven-aged stand of trees of different species, ages, and sizes.
The removal of all trees from a given area in a single cutting to establish a new even-aged stand is called
a. selective cutting.
b. seed-tree cutting.
c. clear-cutting.
d. shelterwood cutting.
C. clear-cutting
Which of the following statements is false?
a. Clear-cutting increases the amount of timber produced per acre.
b. Lumber companies prefer clear-cutting because it takes less skill and planning than other methods.
c. Clear-cutting shortens the time to establish new trees.
d. Clear-cutting has few economic incentives.
D. Clear-cutting has few economic incentives
Clear-cutting on a large scale leads to all of the following except
a. erosion.
b. flooding.
c. sediment water pollution.
d. increased biodiversity.
D. increased biodiversity
Clear-cutting
a. leaves ugly, unattractive, and unnatural forest openings.
b. reduces biodiversity.
c. can lead to erosion and flooding.
d. disrupts habitats.
e. all of these answers
E. All of these answers
Sustainable forestry includes all of the following except
a. growth and harvesting of monocultures of high-quality timber.
b. increased paper recycling.
c. growth of timber on long rotations.
d. selective cutting of individual trees or small groups of tree species.
A. growth and harvesting of monocultures of high-quality timber.
Sustainable forestry includes all of the following except
a. use of lightweight equipment for logging.
b. clear-cutting only on steep slopes.
c. leaving dead trees to enhance wildlife habitat and nutrient recycling.
d. minimizing fragmentation of larger blocks of forest.
B. clear-cutting only on steep slopes.
Compared to 1900, American forests today are generally
a. bigger.
b. healthier.
c. less diverse.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
Sustainable use of U.S. forests would be encouraged by all of the following except
a. making biodiversity and ecological integrity the top priority of national forest management policy.
b. building more roads to encourage recreational use of national forests.
c. moving toward full-cost pricing of U.S. timber.
d. disallowing the Forest Service to keep money from timber sales.
B. building more roads to encourage recreational use of national forests.
In 2003, the U.S. Congress passed the Healthy Forests Restoration Act. Under this law
a. The Forest Service’s timber cutting program runs at a profit
b. timber companies are allowed to cut down economically valuable trees
c. communities received grants to pay for establishing wildfire buffer zones
d. vulnerable woodlands became protected wilderness areas
B.timber companies are allowed to cut down economically valuable trees
Job losses in the timber industry in the northwestern U.S. have resulted from all of the following except
a. export of raw logs overseas.
b. timber imports from Canada.
c. automation.
d. protests by environmentalists.
D. protests by the enviornmentalists
Forest management strategies that would make use of our national forests more sustainably include all of the following except
a. excluding most of the remaining old-growth forests from logging.
b. encouraging even-aged management in second-growth forests.
c. banning additional roads in national forests.
d. making biodiversity and ecological integrity the first priority.
B. encouraging even-aged management in second-growth forests.
The demand for wood could be reduced by
a. reducing construction waste and junk mail.
b. recycling more paper.
c. using paper from fibers obtained from plants other than trees.
d. reusing wooden shipping containers.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Which of the following statements about tropical forests is false?
a. They cover about 6% of Earth’s land area.
b. They grow near the equator.
c. Over half of the world’s tropical forests have already been cleared or degraded.
d. Reforestation is ensuring that tropical forests are being used on a sustainable-yield basis.
d. Reforestation is ensuring that tropical forests are being used on a sustainable-yield basis.
36. Tropical rain forests supply all of the following except
a. half of the world’s annual harvest of softwoods.
b. food products.
c. ecological services.
d. resins and dyes.
A. Half of the worlds annual harvest of softwood
Tropical forest destruction and degradation results from
a. unsustainable small-scale farming and raising of cash crops.
b. cattle ranching and commercial logging.
c. mining operations and oil drilling.
d. economic growth and development.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Destruction of the tropical forests is caused by
a. unsustainable small-scale farming.
b. commercial logging.
c. cattle ranching.
d. international policies.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Sustainable use of tropical forests can be encouraged by
a. reforestation of degraded forests.
b. encouragement of debt-for-nature swaps and conservation easements.
c. requiring loggers to reforest where they cut.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
According to a 2005 report by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, the main cause of forest destruction in Brazil is
a. hardwood timber sales
b. increasing settlements
c. oil exploration
d. crop production
e. cattle ranching
E. cattle ranching
In developed countries, many national parks are threatened by
a. air and water pollution.
b. invasion of alien species.
c. roads and noise.
d. population growth.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Large predators
a. have been excessively hunted and poisoned.
b. have sharply declining populations.
c. are no longer keeping prey species in check.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
In 1995, _____ were reintroduced to the Yellowstone ecosystem.
a. coyotes
b. mountain lions
c. gray wolves
d. elk
C. Gray wolves
A well-designed biosphere reserve is composed of
a. a transition zone.
b. a buffer zone.
c. a core area.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
Researchers have suggested all of the following science-based principles for carrying out most forms of ecological restoration except
a. identifying the cause of the degradation
b. introducing nonnative species
c. reintroduction of native species.
d. protection of the area under threat
B. introducing a nonative species
Wilderness areas are needed for
a. aesthetic reasons.
b. getting away from noise and stress.
c. preserving biological diversity.
d. recreation.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Wilderness areas
a. maintain biological diversity.
b. provide undisturbed habitats.
c. provide natural laboratories to enable scientists to discover how organisms live.
d. allow scientists to reintroduce species to their natural habitats.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Good wilderness management would do all of the following except
a. extensively patrol the accessible, popular areas.
b. offer permits to selected areas for those who have demonstrated wilderness skills.
c. leave some areas undisturbed by humans.
d. allow citizens to camp anywhere at their own risk.
D. allows citizens to camp anywhere at their own risk
Natural ecosystem recovery can be achieved through
a. restoration.
b. rehabilitation.
c. replacement.
d. creating artificial ecosystems.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Protecting marine biodiversity is difficult because
a. species living close to the shore are adversely affected by coastal development.
b. much of the damage is not visible to people.
c. much of the ocean lies outside of countries’ legal jurisdiction.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
Economic services provided by both marine and freshwater ecosystems include all of the following except
a. food
b. transportation.
c. recreation
d. hydroelectricity
D. hydroelectricity
Public lands (parks, zoos, national forests, national seashores, etc.) help sustain biodiversity.
True
The difference between a nature reserve and a wilderness area is that people are allowed to visit nature reserves.
False
Integrated coastal management is one method to protect marine biodiversity.
True
Human activities’ negative impact on the environment can be decreased by restoration or conservation.
True
Establishing public lands lessens the impact that humans have on Earth’s ecosystems.
True
Restoration is the process of revitalization of a degraded habitat or ecosystem to its natural state.
True
Biodiversity is comprised of two components: intrinsic value and instrumental value.
True
Human activity has significantly accelerated the premature extinction of species.
True
Selective logging and strip cutting are not effective tools for forest management.
False
Ecologists classify forest plantations as cropland rather than forestland.
True
There are significantly more disadvantages than advantages to clear-cutting forests.
False
Even if you were to include tree plantations, forests in the United States are significantly smaller than they were in 1920.
False
Marine habitats are rapidly experiencing high rates of extinction due to environmental factors such as the rapid growth of coastal development and poor management of the habitats.
True
Forests and woodlands cover about 30% of the earth’s land
True
According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), stocks of large open-ocean fish such as tuna, swordfish, and marlin have declined by 50% since 1990.
False
The reintroduction of the gray wolf into Yellowstone National Park has had no impact on the coyote population in the area.
False
John James Audubon, an ornithologist in the early 1800s, described a flock of ____ that he estimated measured 16 kilometers wide and hundreds of kilometers long and contained perhaps a billion birds.
a. Carolina parakeets
b. starlings
c. sparrows
d. passenger pigeons
Passanger pigeons
Passenger pigeons became extinct because of
a. uncontrolled commercial hunting.
b. loss of food supplies as forests were cleared for farms.
c. loss of habitat as forests were cleared for cities.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
The case of the passenger pigeon best illustrates
a. the strength of natural selection.
b. the theory of evolution.
c. the concept of coevolution.
d. the role humans play in premature extinction of species.
D. the role humans play in premature extinvtion of species
Which of the following statements is false?
a. The current extinction spasm is caused by humans.
b. The current rate of extinction is in terms of decades and is much faster than ever before.
c. Extinction is being balanced by the production of new species.
d. Humans are eliminating many of the biologically diverse habitats that have been sources of new species in the past.
C. Extinction is being balanced by the production of new species.
The species extinction rate is apparently
a. increasing rapidly.
b. always equal to the species formation rate.
c. about one species per year.
d. lower now than it has ever been.
A. increasing rapidly
An endangered species is any species that can
a. undergo alteration of its genetic traits.
b. become rare within the next century.
c. soon become extinct in all or part of its range.
d. eventually become threatened or rare.
C. soon become extinct in all or part of its range
A threatened species is
a. likely to become endangered.
b. declining in numbers.
c. still abundant in its natural range.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
The giant panda is vulnerable to extinction because
a. of its small size.
b. of its call.
c. of its low reproduction rate.
d. it preys on livestock.
C. of its low reproduction rate
The blue whale is extinction-prone for all of the following reasons except
a. low reproduction rate.
b. feeding at the top trophic level.
c. specialized feeding habits.
d. fixed migratory patterns.
B. feeding at the top trophic level
Bats
a. help control many crop-damaging pests.
b. have been used to develop navigational aids for the blind.
c. pollinate and disperse seeds for hundreds of tropical plants.
d. are generalists.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Wild plant species have economic value as
a. the basis for new crop strains.
b. fiber.
c. dyes.
d. aesthetic goods.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Ecological functions of wild species include all of the following except
a. ecotourism.
b. climate regulation.
c. detoxification.
d. water supply regulation.
A. ecotourism
People who regard wildflowers as beautiful provide evidence that wildflowers have
a. economic value.
b. aesthetic value.
c. medical value.
d. ecological value.
B. aesthetic value
A single male lion living to age 7 in Kenya is worth $515,000 as a
a. sporting trophy.
b. tourist attraction.
c. functioning component of the ecosystem.
d. specimen to be sold alive to a zoo.
B. tourist attraction
People who believe that wild species have an inherent right to exist generally believe that species have
a. economic value.
b. extrinsic value.
c. intrinsic value.
d. utilitarian value.
C. intrinsic value
Habitat islands are created by ____.
a. conservation efforts
b. habitat fragmentation
c. the Secretary of Interior and authorized by the Endangered Species Act
d. listing by the National Marine Fisheries Service
B. habitiat fragmentation
An endemic species would most likely be found ____.
a. In an island habitat like Hawaii
b. In a fragmented habitat like a logged area
c. In an urban locale like New York City
d. In a temperate deciduous forest like those that cover the northeast United States
A. in an island habitat like hawaii
Which of the following actions is not a way for individuals to prevent the spread of harmful invasive species?
a. Do not allow wild animals to escape.
b. When camping, do not use wood near your campsite; rather, bring in firewood.
e. Do not dump your aquarium contents into a nearby waterway.
c. After each use, clean your kayak or other outdoor vehicle or clothing before returning home.
d. Plant a variety of native trees, shrubs, and other plants in your yard to reduce losses from invasives.
B. when camping, do not use wood near your campsite rather, bring in firewood
A direct cause of endangerment and extinction of wild species includes
a. the introduction of nonnative species.
b. predator and pest control.
c. pollution.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
The greatest threat to most species is
a. destruction of habitats.
b. water pollution.
c. parasites.
d. buildup of toxic substances in food chains.
A. destuction of habitats
The single greatest cause of extinction and decline in global diversity is habitat destruction of
a. coral reefs.
b. grasslands.
c. tropical forests.
d. deserts.
C. tropical forests
Which of the following is false? Habitat islands
a. are wildlife preserves set aside to sustain endangered species.
b. are fragments of wildlife habitats.
c. often cannot support the number of individuals required to sustain a population.
d. may be national parks, protected areas, or freshwater lakes.
A. are wildlife preserves set aside to sustain endangered species.
Habitat fragmentation threatens species by
a. decreasing the sustainable population size.
b. increasing exposure to predators.
c. increasing habitat edges.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
Nonnative species introduced into a new habitat may
a. ultimately reduce the population of many native species.
b. provide food.
c. provide game.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
Illegal hunting for profit is called
a. subsistence hunting.
b. sport hunting.
c. poaching.
d. commercial hunting.
C. poaching
Why had it been so difficult to get critical habitat needed for survival of species under the Endangered Species Act?
a. Habitat was unavailable.
b. Few people in the United States support the Act.
c. Political pressure against designating critical habitat was strong.
d. Lack of funds to support designating such habitats.
e. Both c and d are correct.
E. both c and d are correct
The Endangered Species Act of 1973
a. is one of the world’s toughest environmental laws.
b. makes it illegal to trade any product made from an endangered species.
c. authorizes identification of endangered species solely on a biological basis.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
Most biologists and wildlife conservationists believe we should protect biodiversity and ecological integrity by
a. giving tax breaks to private landowners who help protect species.
b. assessing what species and ecosystems we have.
c. locating and protecting the most endangered ecosystems and species.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
When wildlife experts must judge which species to save, they are least likely to choose a species because
a. it has the best chance for survival.
b. it is furry and charismatic.
c. it has the most ecological value to the ecosystem.
d. it is potentially useful for agriculture or medicine.
b. it is furry and charismatic.
A drawback of gene banks is that
a. lack of funding does not provide enough capacity to store all endangered species.
b. some species cannot be stored.
c. seeds in storage do not evolve and therefore become less fit for reintroduction into a
changed environment.
d. all of these answers
e. a and b only
D. all of these answers
The term undernutrition refers to people who
a. eat less than the basic minimum number of daily calories.
b. eat balanced meals.
c. eat too much.
d. suffer from poor food quality.
a. eat less than the basic minimum number of daily calories.
The term malnutrition refers to people who
a. eat less than the basic minimum number of daily calories.
b. eat balanced meals.
c. eat too much.
d. don't eat the needed balance of nutrients.
D. don't eat the needed balance of nutrients
The term overnutrition refers to people who
a. eat less than the basic minimum number of daily calories.
b. eat balanced meals.
c. eat too many calories.
d. suffer from poor food quality.
C. eat too many calories
The leading cause of hunger in the world is
a. pests eating harvested food.
b. failure to distribute food.
c. poverty.
d. plant parasites and herbivores destroying food before it is harvested.
C. poverty
Although there is enough food production to meet the basic nutritional needs of every person on Earth today, food is not distributed equally because of differences in
a. political and economic power.
b. average per capita income.
c. climate.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answer
Industrialized agriculture can affect water resources through
a. pesticide pollution.
b. fertilizer enrichment of surface waters.
c. sediment pollution.
d. increased runoff and flooding.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Living organisms can be affected by agriculture through
a. loss of habitat from clearing land for agriculture.
b. fish kills from pesticide runoff.
c. killing predators to protect livestock.
d. loss of genetic diversity.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these living things
In most modern agriculture, which of the following effects does agriculture least likely have on soil resources?
a. replenishment of soil texture and fertility
b. salinization
c. waterlogging
d. desertification
A. replenishment of soil texture and fertility
Which of the following effects is agriculture, as it is currently practiced, least likely to have on water resources?
a. cultural eutrophication
b. sediment pollution from erosion
c. recharging of aquifers
d. flooding from land cleared to grow crops
C. recharging of aquifers
Agriculture as it is currently practiced can cause
a. human illness from drinking groundwater polluted by nitrates.
b. loss of genetic diversity through habitat degradation.
c. fish kills.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
About ____ of the world's people eat meat, and one-half of the world’s cropland is used to produce livestock feed.
a. one-fifth
b. one-fourth
c. one-third
d. one-half
C. one-third
Which of the following types of agriculture is most characteristic of developed countries?
a. plantation agriculture
b. traditional intensive agriculture
c. traditional subsistence agriculture
d. industrialized agriculture
D. industrialized agriculture
Industrialized agriculture requires large inputs of
a. fossil fuels.
b. water.
c. inorganic fertilizers.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
Which of the following is characteristic of subsistence farming?
a. human labor and draft animals
b. monoculture
c. feedlots to raise many animals in a small space
d. massive amounts of fossil fuel during cultivation and harvesting
A. human labor and draft animals
All of the following factors contributed to a doubling of U.S. food productivity since 1940 except
a. increased use of fossil fuels.
b. increased amount of cultivated land.
c. increased use of pesticides.
d. increased use of inorganic fertilizers.
b. increased amount of cultivated land.
Intercropping involves growing
a. several varieties of one crop on a plot of land.
b. two or more different crops on a plot of land.
c. trees and crops together.
d. crops in alternate rows.
b. two or more different crops on a plot of land.
All of the following are characteristic of traditional subsistence agriculture except
a. agroforestry.
b. polyvarietal cultivation.
c. monoculture.
d. intercropping.
C. monoculture
In alley cropping,
a. crops are planted between hedgerows of trees or shrubs that are used for fruits or fuelwood.
b. terraces are built to prevent swift water runoff.
c. plowing runs across slopes.
d. special tillers are used so the topsoil is not disturbed.
A. Crops are planted between hedgerows of trees or shrubs that are used for fruits or fuelwood
Agriculture can harm the land through
a. soil erosion.
b. salinization.
c. reduction in microorganism diversity.
d. none of these answers
e. all of these answers.
E. All of these answers
Most soil erosion is caused by
a. moving water and wind.
b. off-road vehicles.
c. earthquakes.
d. volcanoes.
A. Moving water and wind
The greatest source of water pollution is
a. sediment from erosion.
b. runoff of agricultural chemicals.
c. drainage from urban areas.
d. industrial point sources.
A. sediment from erosion
The primary cause of land degradation worldwide is
a. construction.
b. deforestation.
c. erosion from croplands.
d. irrigation.
C. Erosion from croplands
Irrigation may lead to
a. increased yield.
b. decreased yield.
c. salinization.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
Salt buildup may
a. stunt crop growth.
b. decrease yields.
c. eventually kill crop plants.
d. cause crops to hold too much moisture.
e. all of these answers
E. All of these answers
Salinization is often accompanied by
a. waterlogging.
b. high pH.
c. low pH.
A. waterlogging
Conservation tillage reduces
a. labor costs.
b. amount of erosion.
c. water loss from the soil.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
Conservation-tillage farming
a. reduces fuel and tillage costs.
b. allows multiple cropping.
c. maintains similar yields to conventional tillage.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
Contour farming involves
a. converting a steep slope into a series of terraces.
b. building a series of small dams.
c. plowing at right angles to slopes.
d. plowing straight down-slope or straight up-slope.
C. Plowing at the right angles to slopes
Planting crops in alternating rows of close-growing plants
a. creates windbreaks.
b. is called strip cropping.
c. is called crop rotation.
d. increases erosion rates.
B. is called strip cropping
Strip cropping can
a. help restore soil fertility if nitrogen-fixing legumes are used in some of the strips.
b. catch and reduce water runoff.
c. reduce soil erosion.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
An agricultural style that prevents erosion on steep slopes is
a. conventional tillage farming.
b. conservation tillage farming.
c. terracing.
d. strip cropping.
C. terracing
Maintenance for irrigated lands includes prevention of
a. salinization.
b. waterlogging.
c. soil erosion.
d. ground water contamination.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Commercially available inorganic fertilizers
a. lack trace elements.
b. lower oxygen content of soil.
c. decrease soil water-holding capacity.
d. are easily transported, stored, and applied.
e. all of these answers.
E. all of these answers
The first green revolution included
a. increasing the intensity and frequency of cropping.
b. increasing the use of fertilizer and pesticides.
c. developing and planting high-yield crop varieties.
d. all of these answers
e. none of these answers
D. all of these answers
The new crop revolution requires
a. scientifically-bred plant varieties.
b. plenty of water.
c. fertilizers.
d. all of these answers
D. All of these answers
Which of the following statements about agriculture since 1950 is false?
a. Grain production has more than tripled.
b. Per capita food production has increased.
c. Food prices, even adjusted for inflation, have dropped.
d. Most of the world’s countries have become self-sustaining in food.
D. most of the worlds countries have become self-sustaining in food
The use of perennial crops would reduce
a. the amount of fossil fuel used.
b. the amount of water used.
c. sediment water pollution.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers
Which of the following statements is true?
a. Green-revolution plants are less expensive than regular varieties.
b. Plants are unresponsive to genetic engineering.
c. Loss of biodiversity may limit the potential of future green revolutions.
d. The development of monocultures of newly developed plants leads to greater plant diversity.
C. loss of biodiversity ma limit the potential of future green revolutions
Which of the following is not one of the limits of the green revolution?
a. Arid and semi-arid land is unsuccessful for growth of new varieties.
b. Massive fertilization and irrigation are needed.
c. The increase in genetic diversity results in a higher variability of crops.
d. The conversion to new crops is very expensive.
C. the increase in genetic diversity results in a higher variability of crops
Genetic diversity of most plant and animal species is best preserved by
a. gene banks.
b. botanical gardens.
c. zoological gardens.
d. protection of representative ecosystems.
D. protection of representative ecosystems
Much of the grain we produce is used to feed livestock. Which of the following types of animals needs the least amount of grain per kilogram of body weight and is thus more efficient?
a. beef cattle
b. pigs
c. chicken
d. fish
D. Fish
The advantages of animal feedlots include all of the following except
a. increased meat production
b. higher profits for farmers
c. reduced overgrazing
d. increased genetic resistance in humans
D. increased genetic resistance in humans
Cattle and dairy cows are responsible for producing around 16% of the world’s annual emissions of which greenhouse gas?
a. carbon dioxide
b. nitrogen dioxide
c. carbon monoxide
d. chlorofluorocarbon
e. methane
E. Methane
The world fish catch per person is expected to decline because of
a. overfishing.
b. human population growth.
c. pollution.
d. all of these answers
D. All of these answers
Benefits of aquaculture include
a. high yields per unit area.
b. use of less fuel than conventional fishing methods.
c. application of genetic engineering.
d. high profits.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Problems with aquaculture include
a. destruction of mangrove forests.
b. loss of fish through pesticide poisoning.
c. waste contamination of nearby surface water and groundwater.
d. dense populations being prone to disease.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Governments often provide assistance to farmers because farmers have little control over
a. weather.
b. crop prices.
c. crop pests.
d. disease.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Governments can influence the food supply by
a. keeping food prices artificially low.
b. giving farmers subsidies.
c. eliminating price controls.
d. encouraging an increase of food production.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
The FAO estimate that as much as 70% of the food produced worldwide is lost through all of the following except
a. overeating
b. spoilage
c. inefficient processing
d. inefficient preparation
A. Overeating
A pest is any organism that
a. spreads disease.
b. interferes with human activity.
c. competes with humans.
d. is simply a nuisance.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Pesticides kill
a. rodents.
b. weeds.
c. insects.
d. fungi.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
The average homeowner in the United States applies about _____ pesticide per unit of land compared to that used by farmers.
a. half as much
b. the same amount of
c. twice as much
d. ten times more
d. ten times more
According to pesticide proponents, pesticides
a. work faster than alternate controls.
b. increase profit for farmers.
c. save lives and money.
d. all of these answers
d. all of these answers
According to proponents of pesticides, which of the following statements is true?
a. Pesticides increase food supplies.
b. The health risks of pesticides are insignificant compared with their health and other benefits.
c. Safer and more effective pesticides are constantly being developed.
d. all of these answers
d. all of these answers
The ideal pesticide would
a. kill only the target pest.
b. be persistent.
c. allow the development of genetic resistance.
d. be of equal value to the damage the pest would have caused.
a. kill only the target pest.
The most serious drawback to using chemicals to control pests is
a. the development of genetic resistance.
b. the killing of other forms of life.
c. magnification in the food chain.
d. their persistence in nature.
a. the development of genetic resistance.
The pesticide treadmill involves
a. efforts to overcome genetic resistance.
b. use of stronger doses of pesticide.
c. a switch to new chemicals.
d. all of these answers
d. all of these answers
Problems with pesticides include
a. loss of natural predators such that other species become pests.
b. harm to wildlife.
c. spreading throughout the environment.
d. a threat to human life.
e. all of these answers
E. all of these answers
Pesticide applications have threatened
a. honeybee colonies.
b. predatory birds.
c. fish-eating birds.
d. all of these answers
d. all of these answers
Environmental laws dealing with pesticides are
a. consistent and fair.
b. weak and poorly enforced.
c. strong and adequately enforced.
d. weak, but strongly enforced.
b. weak and poorly
Which of the following approaches would be the least beneficial in trying to reduce insect damage?
a. rotating crops
b. intercropping
c. planting monocultures
d. planting barrier hedges around agricultural fields
c. planting monocultures
Integrated pest management is a(n)
a. chemical program.
b. ecological program.
c. biological program.
d. program that interrelates all of these answers.
d. program that interrelates all of these answers.
Integrated pest management _____ than pesticides.
a. is more labor intensive
b. is faster acting
c. requires more fertilizer and irrigation
d. is more expensive
a. is more labor intensive
An integrated pest management program can
a. reduce inputs of fertilizer and irrigation water.
b. reduce preharvest pest-induced crop losses by 50%.
c. reduce pesticide use.
d. all of these answers
d. all of these answers
Switching to integrated pest management
a. will be hard to do because it requires a break from tradition.
b. is strongly opposed by politically and economically powerful agricultural chemical companies.
c. is difficult because farmers are informed by pesticide salespeople or USDA county agents that have supported pesticide use in the past.
d. all of these answers
d. all of these answers
Sustainable agriculture is characterized by all of the following except
a. promoting monoculture.
b. lack of need of massive amounts of fossil fuels.
c. conserving and building topsoil.
d. increasing use of organic fertilizers.
a. promoting monoculture.
All of the following are characteristic of sustainable-earth agriculture except
a. perennial plants.
b. increased use of renewable energy resources.
c. diversity of fruits and vegetables.
d. large-scale monoculture.
d. large-scale monoculture.
Sustainable agriculture is characterized by the major use of
a. massive irrigation projects.
b. fossil fuels.
c. pesticides.
d. organic fertilizers.
d. organic fertilizers.
Sustainable-agriculture philosophy would be supported by
a. agribusiness companies.
b. ecologists.
c. large farmers.
d. specialized farmers unprepared for demanding managerial skills.
b. ecologists.
Sustainable agriculture
a. uses pesticides.
b. minimizes erosion.
c. requires high inputs of fossil fuel.
d. employs massive fertilization programs.
b. minimizes erosion.
Sustainable agriculture
a. treats agriculture as an industry.
b. treats long-term quality of soil as a top priority.
c. has a goal of increasing short-term crop production.
d. depends on genetic engineering of high-yield crops.
b. treats long-term quality
An individual can support the concept of sustainable agriculture by
a. eating lower on the food chain.
b. developing a home garden using appropriate principles.
c. using biological pest control.
d. all of these answers
D. all of these answers