Deck 10: Agriculture, Biotechnology, and the Future of Food

Question 1

Agricultural productivity increased during the Green Revolution as a result of improvements in fertilizers, crop breeding, pest control, and .

A)weather conditions
B)organic farming techniques
C)irrigation
D)techniques to convert land for agriculture
E)fossil fuel use

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Why did the Indonesian government support IPM for agriculture in 1986?

A)They were worried about tsunamis.
B)It wanted to encourage research into genetically modified crops.
C)The country was in a recession.
D)Pesticides were costing money, causing pollution, and decreasing yields.
E)Many people were dying of starvation.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Despite the high cost of the technology to design genetically modified (GM)crops, American companies have invested in their development. The first genetically engineered crop was the Flavr Savr tomato, which was created by reversing the function of a normal tomato gene. It was approved by the FDA for sale in the United States in 1994. Its grower, the Calgene Corporation, maintained that it would ripen longer on the vine, taste and ship better, and last longer on supermarket shelves compared to conventional tomatoes. It is no longer marketed because of technical problems and public safety concerns.
Today, most engineered crops are modified for insect and herbicide resistance. In 1997, Monsanto Company first marketed GM corn. This Bt corn was engineered using genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria that made the corn resistant to some pests. In 1999, environmentalists were alarmed when it was reported that pollen from Bt corn could kill monarch butterfly larvae if corn pollen drifted onto milkweed plants that monarchs fed upon. Consumers feared the unknown and were concerned about potential food allergies. Presently, corn, along with soybeans, cotton, and canola dominate the GM food market. These crops are grown and distributed mostly in the United States, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, and China. They are used mostly for animal feed, clothing, or to make oil or other ingredients for processed food, which has helped them gain public acceptance. Although GM crops such as strawberries, potatoes, and lettuce have all been marketed in the United States, GM food field trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have dropped significantly during the past several years, and the pace of new product introductions has fallen sharply. This narrow range of crops could mean that biotechnology may not realize its full potential in the future.
Why do soybeans, corn, and canola dominate the GM crop market?

A)They are exempt from U.S. regulations.
B)They are the only GMO crops approved since the Flavr Savr tomato.
C)They are ingredients in processed foods, so they are more easily accepted.
D)These crops help to feed and clothe the poor.
E)They are inexpensive to produce.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

In order for livestock to be considered organic, .

A)animals must be reared under natural conditions in intact ecosystems
B)hormones and antibiotics are permitted, but not vaccines
C)animals must be fed 100% organic agricultural feed
D)no vitamins and mineral supplements can be used
E)animals cannot be transferred from regular treatment to organic standards

Question 5

Aquaculture _.

A)requires the flooding of fields to produce water- intensive crops such as cotton and rice
B)produces less fish per unit area compared to ocean water harvesting
C)frequently results in unintended catch of nontarget species
D)has no real environmental disadvantages
E)can bring economic benefits and food security to many developing regions

Question 6

Monoculture .

A)describes diets low in protein, such as vegetarianism
B)farming is illegal in most countries
C)agricultural practices require no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides
D)agricultural practices increase a crop's susceptibility to insect pests
E)involves the farming of crops that have not been genetically modified

Question 7

Plants with showy flowers typically _.

A)decrease biodiversity in an area
B)are pollinated by animals
C)are pollinated by wind
D)are preferentially eaten by herbivorous animals
E)are genetically modified by animals

Question 8

Organic farming _ .

A)is presently limited to crops of fruits and vegetables
B)began in the 1960s
C)and organically grown produce have not been supported by the European Union
D)has become more challenging because of contamination by GM crop varieties
E)has no national standards in the United States

Question 9

In Queensland, Australia, cactus moths _.

A)are a keystone species
B)effectively cleared non- native prickly pear cactus from rangeland
C)are an invasive species
D)are raised as a food source by native Aborigines
E)are examples of species that have developed resistance to pesticides

Question 10

Recent investigations of the impact of GM crops on biodiversity in Great Britain indicate that .

A)birds and insects cannot digest GM crops
B)some GM crops and sites showed increased biodiversity, while others showed decreases
C)GM crop sites had catastrophically reduced biodiversity
D)biodiversity increased in all GM crop sites
E)none of the GM crop sites showed changes in biodiversity

Question 11

Bt crops _.

A)include strawberries that are resistant to frost damage
B)are widely grown in Europe but have been banned in the United States
C)have seeds that will only germinate under laboratory conditions
D)have not yet been approved by the FDA
E)have been given a bacterial gene that gives chemical protection against insect pests

Question 12

During the past half century, global food production has _ _ world population growth.

A)grown at a faster rate than
B)fallen to critical levels compared to
C)fallen behind
D)surpassed by several orders of magnitude
E)stayed about even with

Question 13

Green Revolution techniques .

A)have contributed to an increased diversity of foods in the human diet
B)focus on sustainability
C)focus on preserving biodiversity
D)focus on organic farming
E)have increased crop yields but may not be sustainable

Question 14

Researchers in Switzerland have demonstrated that organic farming .

A)suppresses the biodiversity of pollinating insects, especially bees
B)increases the incidence of invasive species
C)is only sustainable with pesticides and synthetic fertilizers
D)presently has no market in Europe
E)decreased organic soil losses while giving yields almost as high as conventional farming

Question 15

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety .

A)prohibits irradiation of food crops
B)was signed by the United States
C)regulates the creation of GM foods
D)outlines regulations on international trade of GM foods
E)regulates trading of endangered species

Question 16

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Despite the high cost of the technology to design genetically modified (GM)crops, American companies have invested in their development. The first genetically engineered crop was the Flavr Savr tomato, which was created by reversing the function of a normal tomato gene. It was approved by the FDA for sale in the United States in 1994. Its grower, the Calgene Corporation, maintained that it would ripen longer on the vine, taste and ship better, and last longer on supermarket shelves compared to conventional tomatoes. It is no longer marketed because of technical problems and public safety concerns.
Today, most engineered crops are modified for insect and herbicide resistance. In 1997, Monsanto Company first marketed GM corn. This Bt corn was engineered using genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria that made the corn resistant to some pests. In 1999, environmentalists were alarmed when it was reported that pollen from Bt corn could kill monarch butterfly larvae if corn pollen drifted onto milkweed plants that monarchs fed upon. Consumers feared the unknown and were concerned about potential food allergies. Presently, corn, along with soybeans, cotton, and canola dominate the GM food market. These crops are grown and distributed mostly in the United States, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, and China. They are used mostly for animal feed, clothing, or to make oil or other ingredients for processed food, which has helped them gain public acceptance. Although GM crops such as strawberries, potatoes, and lettuce have all been marketed in the United States, GM food field trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have dropped significantly during the past several years, and the pace of new product introductions has fallen sharply. This narrow range of crops could mean that biotechnology may not realize its full potential in the future.
If GM crops can decrease pesticide use, why are environmentalists still concerned about them?

A)The FDA does not regulate them.
B)The government funds most GM crop research.
C)Trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have increased dramatically in recent years.
D)Inserted genes can spread to nontarget species.
E)There is no public opposition to GM crops.

Question 17

Oaxaca, Mexico .

A)has more poverty than any other place in the world
B)is where the Green Revolution was launched
C)is a world center of biodiversity for maize
D)is where the gene revolution was launched
E)is known for successful organic farming

Question 18

% of the food we consume comes from crop species.

A)90; 100
B)50; 50
C)10; 100
D)90; 15
E)50; 20

Question 19

People around the world have become more dependent on global markets for their food. As a result, recent U.S. government policies encouraging have had a major negative effect on food availability.

A)permaculture techniques
B)integrated pest management
C)ethanol production
D)increased herbicide use
E)organic farming

Question 20

Which of the following requires the least land to produce 1 kg of protein?

A)chicken
B)pork
C)milk
D)beef
E)beef and pork

Question 21

Which of the following best describes integrated pest management (IPM)?

A)biocontrol measures, crop rotation, and habitat diversification
B)transgenic crops
C)major reliance on synthetic pesticides
D)continuous monoculture cropping and harvesting
E)subsidies for pesticide use

Question 22

Match the following.

A)Escherichia coli
B)Pseudomonas syringae
C)Cactoblastis cactorum
D)bee predators
E)earthworms
F)aphids
G)wasps
H)Bacillus thuringiensis
I)bees
J)colony collapse disorder
Source of generic plasmids for genetically modified organisms

Question 23

Match the following.

A)Escherichia coli
B)Pseudomonas syringae
C)Cactoblastis cactorum
D)bee predators
E)earthworms
F)aphids
G)wasps
H)Bacillus thuringiensis
I)bees
J)colony collapse disorder
Can protect crops from insect pest- related losses when applied periodically

Question 24

Match the following.

A)Escherichia coli
B)Pseudomonas syringae
C)Cactoblastis cactorum
D)bee predators
E)earthworms
F)aphids
G)wasps
H)Bacillus thuringiensis
I)bees
J)colony collapse disorder
A successful case of biological control, introduced from Argentina to Australia in the 1920s to control invasive prickly pear cactus

Question 25

Raising which of the following requires the most land and water per kg protein produced?

A)beef cattle
B)chickens
C)dairy cattle
D)pigs
E)goats

Question 26

Match the following.

A)Escherichia coli
B)Pseudomonas syringae
C)Cactoblastis cactorum
D)bee predators
E)earthworms
F)aphids
G)wasps
H)Bacillus thuringiensis
I)bees
J)colony collapse disorder
Introduced for control of agricultural pests in Hawaii

Question 27

Presently, have not supported the widespread marketing of GM crops.

A)South American countries
B)Asian countries
C)European countries
D)American regulatory agencies
E)American corporations

Question 28

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Despite the high cost of the technology to design genetically modified (GM)crops, American companies have invested in their development. The first genetically engineered crop was the Flavr Savr tomato, which was created by reversing the function of a normal tomato gene. It was approved by the FDA for sale in the United States in 1994. Its grower, the Calgene Corporation, maintained that it would ripen longer on the vine, taste and ship better, and last longer on supermarket shelves compared to conventional tomatoes. It is no longer marketed because of technical problems and public safety concerns.
Today, most engineered crops are modified for insect and herbicide resistance. In 1997, Monsanto Company first marketed GM corn. This Bt corn was engineered using genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria that made the corn resistant to some pests. In 1999, environmentalists were alarmed when it was reported that pollen from Bt corn could kill monarch butterfly larvae if corn pollen drifted onto milkweed plants that monarchs fed upon. Consumers feared the unknown and were concerned about potential food allergies. Presently, corn, along with soybeans, cotton, and canola dominate the GM food market. These crops are grown and distributed mostly in the United States, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, and China. They are used mostly for animal feed, clothing, or to make oil or other ingredients for processed food, which has helped them gain public acceptance. Although GM crops such as strawberries, potatoes, and lettuce have all been marketed in the United States, GM food field trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have dropped significantly during the past several years, and the pace of new product introductions has fallen sharply. This narrow range of crops could mean that biotechnology may not realize its full potential in the future.
Why have most bioengineered crops been modified for "resistance" traits?

A)These traits have the economic potential to save on production costs.
B)These are the only traits proven safe for the environment.
C)These are the only traits proven safe for the human health.
D)No technology exists to engineer other traits successfully.
E)Crops with these traits taste better.

Question 29

Which of the following is true?

A)World grain production has remained stable since 1985.
B)The main reason why people are undernourished is because they are not educated about proper nutrition.
C)More than one in three adults in the United States is obese.
D)World hunger has increased significantly since 1970.
E)Aquaculture has decreased significantly since 1985.

Question 30

Seed banks are important for _.

A)providing farmers with the current year's GM crops
B)loans to developing countries to promote organic agriculture
C)protecting monoculture productivity
D)agricultural investments in developing countries
E)protecting genetic diversity

Question 31

The European Union nations .

A)have refused to allow synthetic pesticides to be used on nonexported crops
B)produce so little food that they have to import most meats and vegetables
C)do not support the growth or sale of GM crops
D)along with Canada, Brazil, and Argentina have developed and planted many GM crops
E)have converted all farms to organic agriculture

Question 32

Normal Borlaug, who passed away in 2009, pioneered the development of .

A)GM crops
B)high- yield wheat
C)organic agriculture
D)monoculture farming
E)IPM

Question 33

Managing crop competitors and pests has been challenging to agronomists for centuries. One approach, integrated pest management, _.

A)combines synthetic chemical pesticides with biocontrol techniques
B)uses no pesticides of any kind
C)uses only synthetic chemical pesticides
D)combines a variety of pesticides to combat the pest
E)uses only natural pesticides

Question 34

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Despite the high cost of the technology to design genetically modified (GM)crops, American companies have invested in their development. The first genetically engineered crop was the Flavr Savr tomato, which was created by reversing the function of a normal tomato gene. It was approved by the FDA for sale in the United States in 1994. Its grower, the Calgene Corporation, maintained that it would ripen longer on the vine, taste and ship better, and last longer on supermarket shelves compared to conventional tomatoes. It is no longer marketed because of technical problems and public safety concerns.
Today, most engineered crops are modified for insect and herbicide resistance. In 1997, Monsanto Company first marketed GM corn. This Bt corn was engineered using genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria that made the corn resistant to some pests. In 1999, environmentalists were alarmed when it was reported that pollen from Bt corn could kill monarch butterfly larvae if corn pollen drifted onto milkweed plants that monarchs fed upon. Consumers feared the unknown and were concerned about potential food allergies. Presently, corn, along with soybeans, cotton, and canola dominate the GM food market. These crops are grown and distributed mostly in the United States, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, and China. They are used mostly for animal feed, clothing, or to make oil or other ingredients for processed food, which has helped them gain public acceptance. Although GM crops such as strawberries, potatoes, and lettuce have all been marketed in the United States, GM food field trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have dropped significantly during the past several years, and the pace of new product introductions has fallen sharply. This narrow range of crops could mean that biotechnology may not realize its full potential in the future.
Which of the following was a positive environmental aspect of the Flavr Savr tomato?

A)lower cost to the consumer
B)could be shipped further
C)better appearance
D)better taste
E)less food waste because it is less likely to rot

Question 35

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Despite the high cost of the technology to design genetically modified (GM)crops, American companies have invested in their development. The first genetically engineered crop was the Flavr Savr tomato, which was created by reversing the function of a normal tomato gene. It was approved by the FDA for sale in the United States in 1994. Its grower, the Calgene Corporation, maintained that it would ripen longer on the vine, taste and ship better, and last longer on supermarket shelves compared to conventional tomatoes. It is no longer marketed because of technical problems and public safety concerns.
Today, most engineered crops are modified for insect and herbicide resistance. In 1997, Monsanto Company first marketed GM corn. This Bt corn was engineered using genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria that made the corn resistant to some pests. In 1999, environmentalists were alarmed when it was reported that pollen from Bt corn could kill monarch butterfly larvae if corn pollen drifted onto milkweed plants that monarchs fed upon. Consumers feared the unknown and were concerned about potential food allergies. Presently, corn, along with soybeans, cotton, and canola dominate the GM food market. These crops are grown and distributed mostly in the United States, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, and China. They are used mostly for animal feed, clothing, or to make oil or other ingredients for processed food, which has helped them gain public acceptance. Although GM crops such as strawberries, potatoes, and lettuce have all been marketed in the United States, GM food field trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have dropped significantly during the past several years, and the pace of new product introductions has fallen sharply. This narrow range of crops could mean that biotechnology may not realize its full potential in the future.
The Flavr Savr tomato is no longer marketed because .

A)Calgene failed to attain government approval to market it
B)people were nervous about eating genetically modified tomatoes
C)they require too much water to grow
D)genetically modified crops presently are not approved for sale in the United States
E)butterfly larvae that ate the tomato plants were poisoned

Question 36

It is more energetically efficient for us to eat more .

A)GM foods
B)herbivorous animals like cattle and chicken
C)carnivorous animals like fish and alligator
D)plant- based foods
E)foods grown using IPM methods

Question 37

Match the following.

A)Escherichia coli
B)Pseudomonas syringae
C)Cactoblastis cactorum
D)bee predators
E)earthworms
F)aphids
G)wasps
H)Bacillus thuringiensis
I)bees
J)colony collapse disorder
Major pollinators of many flowering nongrain crop plants

Question 38

Recombinant DNA .

A)is the merging of DNA from unrelated organisms
B)is pollination of one plant by another of the same species
C)is cross- pollination of one plant by a different species
D)is assembled in the lab from mononucleotides
E)was part of the Green Revolution of the 1960s

Question 39

Match the following.

A)Escherichia coli
B)Pseudomonas syringae
C)Cactoblastis cactorum
D)bee predators
E)earthworms
F)aphids
G)wasps
H)Bacillus thuringiensis
I)bees
J)colony collapse disorder
Honeybees are vanishing at an alarming rate because of it

Question 40

In Japan, the presence of ducks and the aquatic fern Azolla in rice cultivation has shown that .

A)ducks and other birds must be eliminated from rice fields
B)GM crops such as rice cannot succeed without ferns to provide shade and ducks to provide pollination
C)the ferns provide an excellent food for ducks
D)restoring portions of the biodiversity of a natural ecosystem increases crop yields and profits
E)invasive species diminish rice yields

Question 41

Match the following.

A)Escherichia coli
B)Pseudomonas syringae
C)Cactoblastis cactorum
D)bee predators
E)earthworms
F)aphids
G)wasps
H)Bacillus thuringiensis
I)bees
J)colony collapse disorder
Describe the use of biological control for battling pests.

Question 42

Match the following.

A)Escherichia coli
B)Pseudomonas syringae
C)Cactoblastis cactorum
D)bee predators
E)earthworms
F)aphids
G)wasps
H)Bacillus thuringiensis
I)bees
J)colony collapse disorder
Why is variety in crop plants important for "food security"? How is this threatened by GM food crops? What is the U.S. position on GM products? How does this differ from the position of other countries?

Question 43

Match the following.

A)Escherichia coli
B)Pseudomonas syringae
C)Cactoblastis cactorum
D)bee predators
E)earthworms
F)aphids
G)wasps
H)Bacillus thuringiensis
I)bees
J)colony collapse disorder
What are the dangers associated with pesticide use? How can biocontrol and use of crops with high genetic diversity help to decrease the amount of pesticides used?

Question 44

What was the Green Revolution, and what impact did it have on developing countries? Discuss the impact of the Green Revolution on the environment.

Question 45

Why is resistance to pesticides likely to occur over time when they are used in agriculture?

Question 46

Match the following.

A)Escherichia coli
B)Pseudomonas syringae
C)Cactoblastis cactorum
D)bee predators
E)earthworms
F)aphids
G)wasps
H)Bacillus thuringiensis
I)bees
J)colony collapse disorder
What is the basic concept of sustainable agriculture?

Question 47

Match the following.

A)Escherichia coli
B)Pseudomonas syringae
C)Cactoblastis cactorum
D)bee predators
E)earthworms
F)aphids
G)wasps
H)Bacillus thuringiensis
I)bees
J)colony collapse disorder
Briefly discuss some disadvantages of aquaculture.

Question 48

What are the arguments for and against genetically modified crops? Discuss the scientific, economic, and political issues.

Question 49

Explain the statement "the lower down in the food chain we eat, the greater percentage of solar energy we put to use, and the more people Earth can support" in terms of trophic levels and pyramids of energy.