Soil, Agriculture and the Future of Food

Chapter 7

QUESTION: Review

Which statement about agriculture is true?

a) The U.S. is now producing food sustainably

b) Population growth has exceeded food production in recent decades

c) We have much more land in reserve that can be converted to agricultural production

d) Modern agriculture uses fossil fuels, pesticides, and fertilizers to increase production

e) Although there are slight problems, the outlook for future agricultural production is good

QUESTION: ReviewWhich statement about agriculture is true?

a) The U.S. is now producing food sustainably

b) Population growth has exceeded food production in recent decades

c) We have much more land in reserve that can be converted to agricultural production

d) Modern agriculture uses fossil fuels, pesticides, and fertilizers to increase production

e) Although there are slight problems, the outlook for future agricultural production is good

QUESTION: Review

Which of the following describes increased production of crops through the use of fertilizers, pesticides and other technologies?

a) The green revolution

b) Use of seed banks

c) Sustainable agriculture

d) Monocultures

e) Food security

QUESTION: Review

Which of the following describes increased production of crops through the use of fertilizers, pesticides and other technologies?

a) The green revolution

b) Use of seed banks

c) Sustainable agriculture

d) Monocultures

e) Food security

QUESTION: Review

Which term describes the practice of plowing fields perpendicularly across a hill?

a) Crop rotation

b) Contour farming

c) Intercropping

d) Shelterbelts

e) Conservation tillage

QUESTION: Review

Which term describes the practice of plowing fields perpendicularly across a hill?

a) Crop rotation

b) Contour farming

c) Intercropping

d) Shelterbelts

e) Conservation tillage

QUESTION: Review

Which of the following is NOT a problem with using pesticides?

a) Many species can become resistant to pesticides

b) Offspring of resistant species are also resistant

c) Pesticides kill many nontarget species

d) A pest’s predator is introduced into a field

e) Chemicals have to become more toxic to work

QUESTION: Review

Which of the following is NOT a problem with using pesticides?

a) Many species can become resistant to pesticides

b) Offspring of resistant species are also resistant

c) Pesticides kill many nontarget species

d) A pest’s predator is introduced into a field

e) Chemicals have to become more toxic to work

QUESTION: ReviewWhich statement about GM food production is FALSE?

a) Scientists mix genes from different organisms

b) It involves working with genetic material in a lab

c) It closely mimics natural selection

d) Producing GM foods is a big business

e) Consumer advocates have overwhelmingly supported this technology

QUESTION: ReviewWhich statement about GM food production is FALSE?

a) Scientists mix genes from different organisms

b) It involves working with genetic material in a lab

c) It closely mimics natural selection

d) Producing GM foods is a big business

e) Consumer advocates have overwhelmingly supported this technology

QUESTION: ReviewWhich statement about factory farming is FALSE?

a) It is far more energy efficient than eating grains

b) Some species convert grain into meat more efficiently than other species

c) Much of the world’s grain is fed to livestock

d) More livestock can be produced in an area

e) Most U.S. meat is raised in feedlots

QUESTION: ReviewWhich statement about factory farming is FALSE?

a) It is far more energy efficient than eating grains

b) Some species convert grain into meat more efficiently than other species

c) Much of the world’s grain is fed to livestock

d) More livestock can be produced in an area

e) Most U.S. meat is raised in feedlots

QUESTION: ReviewWhich statement about organic agriculture is FALSE?

a) It uses no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides

b) There are standards that must be met for labeling food as organically grown

c) Farmers must pay more to grow food organically, but they do so willingly

d) The main obstacle is its higher price for consumers

e) U.S. land devoted to organic agriculture is increasing

QUESTION: ReviewWhich statement about organic agriculture is FALSE?

a) It uses no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides

b) There are standards that must be met for labeling food as organically grown

c) Farmers must pay more to grow food organically, but they do so willingly

d) The main obstacle is its higher price for consumers

e) U.S. land devoted to organic agriculture is increasing

QUESTION: Weighing the Issues

The Green Revolution increased crop yields, but only by increasing fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, and hybrid seed. Do you consider it a success?

a) Yes, because more people were fed, regardless of the price

b) Yes, because industrialized countries can help through education and technology

c) No, we will eventually pay the environmental costs of producing food in this way

d) No, it is only a short term fix and is ultimately unsustainable

e) It does not matter; I can buy food whenever I want

QUESTION: Weighing the Issues

The Green Revolution increased crop yields, but only by increasing fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, and hybrid seed. Do you consider it a success?

a) Yes, because more people were fed, regardless of the price

b) Yes, because industrialized countries can help through education and technology

c) No, we will eventually pay the environmental costs of producing food in this way

d) No, it is only a short term fix and is ultimately unsustainable

e) It does not matter; I can buy food whenever I want

QUESTION: Weighing the IssuesFactory farming allows us to have lots of meat products. But the animals are often kept in undesirable, stressful conditions. Should the quality of the animals’ lives be considered when we decide how to raise food?

a) Yes, the quality of an animal’s life is important, too

b) Yes, but only if it does not interfere with access to meat

c) No, animals have no right to a quality of life

d) No, we should do whatever we can to get the most meat for the lowest cost

e) I don’t care; I’m not fond of cows or chickens

QUESTION: Weighing the IssuesFactory farming allows us to have lots of meat products. But the animals are often kept in undesirable, stressful conditions. Should the quality of the animals’ lives be considered when we decide how to raise food?

a) Yes, the quality of an animal’s life is important, too

b) Yes, but only if it does not interfere with access to meat

c) No, animals have no right to a quality of life

d) No, we should do whatever we can to get the most meat for the lowest cost

e) I don’t care; I’m not fond of cows or chickens

QUESTION: Interpreting Graphs and DataIf a person eats 3 kg of meat per week, how many kg of grain are required if the meat came from a cow?

a) 60 kg

b) 22 kg

c) 3 kg

d) 12 kg

e) 30 kg

QUESTION: Interpreting Graphs and DataIf a person eats 3 kg of meat per week, how many kg of grain are required if the meat came from a cow?

a) 60 kg

b) 22 kg

c) 3 kg

d) 12 kg

e) 30 kg

QUESTION: Interpreting Graphs and DataWhat does this graph show about future sales of organic food in the United States?

a) Sales will continue to increase slowly

b) Sales increased, but not the dollar amounts

c) Acreage of organic crops has declined

d) Sales, dollar amounts, and acreage have all increased

e) Sales and acreage have decreased

QUESTION: Interpreting Graphs and DataWhat does this graph show about future sales of organic food in the United States?

a) Sales will continue to increase slowly

b) Sales increased, but not the dollar amounts

c) Acreage of organic crops has declined

d) Sales, dollar amounts, and acreage have all increased

e) Sales and acreage have decreased