Environmental Science Agriculture and Food Production

Question 1

The Green Revolution of the mid-20th century primarily involved:

Accepted Answer

Development of high-yielding crop varieties, increased irrigation, and synthetic fertilizer use that dramatically raised food production

Answer

A global shift from meat-based to plant-based diets

Answer

International agreements to protect tropical rainforests from agricultural expansion

Answer

Organic farming methods that eliminated the need for pesticides

Question 2

Monoculture farming poses environmental risks primarily because:

Accepted Answer

Genetic uniformity increases vulnerability to pests, diseases, and climate variability

Answer

It requires more land than polyculture for the same yield

Answer

Monocultures cannot be harvested by mechanized equipment

Answer

Single crops deplete soil carbon faster than no-till methods

Question 3

Contour plowing reduces soil erosion by:

Accepted Answer

Plowing across (perpendicular to) the slope so furrows act as barriers that slow water flow

Answer

Plowing in the same direction as slope to channel runoff quickly off the field

Answer

Deep plowing that buries topsoil below the erosion-prone surface layer

Answer

Using mechanized equipment to minimize soil disturbance during planting

Question 4

The primary cause of hypoxic dead zones in coastal marine ecosystems is:

Accepted Answer

Nutrient runoff (nitrogen and phosphorus) from agriculture that causes algal blooms and oxygen depletion

Answer

Thermal pollution from power plant cooling water

Answer

Plastic debris that blocks sunlight and prevents photosynthesis

Answer

Overfishing that removes organisms that would otherwise oxygenate the water

Question 5

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is defined as an approach that:

Accepted Answer

Combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical controls to manage pests with minimal environmental impact

Answer

Eliminates all pesticide use in favor of biological control agents exclusively

Answer

Relies on genetically modified crops that are resistant to all common pests

Answer

Applies pesticides on a fixed calendar schedule regardless of actual pest populations

Question 6

Which farming practice best describes no-till agriculture and its primary environmental benefit?

Accepted Answer

Seeding crops directly into undisturbed soil, preserving soil structure and reducing erosion

Answer

Planting crops without using any synthetic fertilizers, relying on natural soil nutrients

Answer

Irrigating crops only when soil moisture sensors indicate water stress

Answer

Rotating crops annually to prevent nutrient depletion in the soil