Question 1

High responder crops of the green revolution produce tremendous yields

Accepted Answer

High responder crops of the green revolution produce tremendous yields in response to fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation, but may not perform as well in less than ideal situations such as severe drought conditions.

Question 2

The three crops that humans rely on for the majority of nutrients and calories are

Accepted Answer

Wheat, rice, and maize (also known as corn) are the three most widely grown and consumed crops in the world, providing a majority of the calories and nutrients for humans. They are able to grow in a variety of climates and are adaptable to different soil conditions, making them extremely important for food security worldwide. While other crops such as potatoes and oats are also important for human consumption, they do not provide the same level of calories and nutrients as wheat, rice, and maize.

Question 3

Undernourished parents often raise children who are undernourished because the parents

Accepted Answer

Undernourished parents often raise children who are undernourished because they cannot afford to feed their children properly. This creates a vicious cycle of poverty and malnutrition where children grow up with health issues and lower cognitive abilities, making it difficult to escape poverty in the future.

Question 4

What is the theoretical basis of the statement that we could feed more people if we would eat grain rather than feeding it to livestock?

Accepted Answer

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that energy is lost in the conversion of one form to another, and that this loss is greatest when the energy is converted from a higher to a lower form. When we feed grain to livestock, only a portion of the energy in the grain is passed on to the animals, while a significant amount is lost as heat, movement, and waste. In contrast, if we were to consume the grain directly, we would retain much more of its energy, which could then be used to nourish more people. Therefore, it is more efficient to eat grain directly than to use it as livestock feed.

Question 5

Vitamin A deficiencies are associated with

Accepted Answer

Vitamin A is important for proper eye health and deficiency can lead to dry eyes and retinal degeneration. A, B, C, and D are related to deficiencies in other vitamins or nutrients.

Question 6

The energy needed to process and distribute food in the US is as much as _______ times the amount that is used to actually farm the crops.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The energy needed to process and distribute...

Question 7

In developed countries, the most recent increases in agricultural productivity have come from

Accepted Answer

New crop varieties and intensified farming have allowed for more efficient use of resources, higher yields, and increased resistance to pests and diseases, leading to increased agricultural productivity in developed countries. The other choices either have negative environmental impacts or are not as significant in terms of contributing to recent increases in productivity.

Question 8

What are two common diseases that result from protein deficiencies?

Accepted Answer

Marasmus and kwashiorkor are both diseases caused by protein deficiencies. Marasmus is characterized by muscle wasting, stunted growth, and a weakened immune system, while kwashiorkor is characterized by swelling, discolored skin, and a distended belly due to fluid accumulation.

Question 9

Contour plowing and strip farming are methods designed to

Accepted Answer

Contour plowing and strip farming are both methods designed to prevent water and soil loss. Contour plowing involves plowing furrows along the contours of the land, which helps to slow down the flow of water and prevent erosion. Strip farming involves planting different crops in alternating strips, which helps to prevent soil depletion and erosion. Both methods are designed to promote soil conservation and prevent environmental degradation.

Question 10

Waterlogging results from

Accepted Answer

Waterlogging occurs when soil becomes saturated with water and cannot drain properly. This can result from excessive irrigation, which adds more water than the soil can absorb and transport away. The other options do not directly cause waterlogging.

Question 11

Wind erosion is most likely to cause problems in

Accepted Answer

Wind erosion is most likely to cause problems in open, arid regions where there is little vegetation cover to hold the soil in place. Forested grazing lands, fertile river bottoms, and protected arid regions typically have more vegetation cover which helps prevent wind erosion. Agricultural regions in the far north may be subject to other forms of erosion, but wind erosion is less likely due to the typically moister climate.

Question 12

Sustainable farming

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sustainable farming
...

Question 13

Obesity is a disease that affects

Accepted Answer

Obesity is more prevalent in wealthy, developed nations where people have access to excess food and sedentary lifestyles.

Question 14

A natural form of fertilizer would be

Accepted Answer

Manure is a natural form of fertilizer because it comes from animal waste and contains organic matter and nutrients that can enrich the soil and promote plant growth. Phosphorous and nitrogen can also be natural fertilizers, but they can also be synthetic and manufactured chemically. Corn plantings and genetically modified crop plantings are not fertilizers, but rather crops that may benefit from fertilizer application.

Question 15

Famines are most often serious when there is

Accepted Answer

Famines are most serious when there is a combination of drought and war, as both can disrupt food production, distribution, and access. Additionally, conflict can also displace people, further exacerbating food insecurity.

Question 16

Which of the following are forms of chemical deterioration of soil?

Accepted Answer

Salinization and acidification are both forms of chemical deterioration of soil. Salinization occurs when there is an accumulation of salts in the soil, which can happen when there is excessive evaporation and little rainfall. Acidification occurs when the pH of the soil becomes too acidic, which can happen due to factors like acid rain, excessive fertilizer use, or other forms of pollution. The other options listed involve physical processes or pollution, not chemical deterioration specifically.

Question 17

The parent material layer of a soil is composed of weathered

Accepted Answer

The parent material layer of a soil is composed of the rock fragments that have undergone weathering and have begun to break down into smaller particles. This process of weathering involves physical, chemical, and biological disintegration of the rock material, which eventually contributes to the formation of the soil. The other options, such as humus, organic detritus and roots, residual aluminum and iron, and soil are products of the weathering process and are found in the upper soil layers.

Question 18

The layer of soil that is a mixture of minerals and organic material is the

Accepted Answer

The A horizon, also known as topsoil, is a mixture of minerals and organic material. The O horizon, or organic layer, is primarily composed of organic material such as decomposing leaves and plant matter. Humus is a component of soil that is formed from the breakdown of organic matter, and can be found in both the A and O horizons. The E horizon is a zone of leaching, where minerals and nutrients are removed from the soil. "Primary layer" is not a recognized term in soil science.

Question 19

Fifty years ago, there were several hundred varieties of wheat grown in the Middle East. Now a few of the more modern high responder varieties have replaced the indigenous species. What are the implications of this change?

Accepted Answer

The replacement of several hundred varieties of wheat with a few modern high responder varieties diminishes genetic resources and increases the likelihood of an epidemic of wheat disease due to the reliance on few species. This lack of biodiversity makes the wheat crop more vulnerable to pests and diseases.

Question 20

Soil organisms usually stay __________ the soil.

Accepted Answer

Soil organisms are generally found close to the surface of the soil because this is where most of the nutrients and organic matter are found. While some organisms may also be found deeper in the soil, the majority of soil organisms live close to the surface.

Quiz 7: Food and Agriculture