AGN 115 MSU FINAL TEST PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A
PLUS
◉ From its beginning, the USDA National Organics Program
permitted the use of the antibiotics (streptomycin and
oxytetracycline) specifically to combat fire blight in organic apple
and pear trees while alternative treatments were developed. These
antibiotics are still in use today.
Answer: false
◉ The genetic base of agriculture has narrowed as human societies
have become increasingly dependent on a few species of food-
producing organisms and a reduced number of genes and genetic
combinations. (Ch. 15)
Answer: true
◉ Gliessman's textbook indicates that Monsanto dominates the
industry with 80-90% market share of the seed industry, while data
on corporate sales of seed place Monsanto's market share ______ the
estimate reported by Dr. Gliessman. (Ch. 15 and Lec. 6)
Answer: about 20-30%
,◉ Pests and drought are threats to the genetic diversity of crop
species.
Answer: false
◉ According to the textbook, much of the phosphorous consumed by
humans is ___, however, in Springfield almost all of it (i.e. biosolids)
is _____. (Figs. 2.5 and 8.4)
Answer: Lost from the system (e.g. to ocean sediments); Re-cycled
by direct land application
◉ The role of potassium (K) in plants is primarily ___. (Ch. 3)
Answer: amino acids and all enzymes
◉ Pathogens and a failure to separate industrial waste (e.g. heavy
metals) from human waste complicate the use of sewage in
agriculture. (Ch. 8)
Answer: true
◉ The term photosynthate refers to __________. (Ch 3)
Answer: the direct end product of photosynthesis, consisting mainly
of the simple sugar glucose.
,◉ Although there might be as many as 300,000 edible plant species
on earth, more than 60% of the world's dietary energy comes from
____ species. (Ch. 15)
Answer: four
◉ Compost produced through the action of worms is called "___" and
results in castings that are relatively high in N and P. (Ch. 8)
Answer: Vermicomposting
◉ Composted manures normally will contain less ____ than the raw
manure. (Lec. 6)
Answer: both A & B
◉ Because it spends part of its biogeochemical cycle in gaseous form
in the atmosphere and part in soluble form in the soil, nitrogen can
be taken up both from the soil by plant roots and from the
atmosphere through its stomata via nitrogen fixation. (Ch 8)
Answer: false
◉ Though most public discourse about GMOs only depicts two
opposite positions (pro-GMO and anti-GMO), "genetic modification"
encompasses a wide range of unique types of genetic alterations
with distinct capabilities and varying levels of potential risk or
complication.
Answer: true
, ◉ In a mass-selected plant variety, overall genetic diversity within
the variety is greater than that of any individual seed in the variety.
(Ch. 15)
Answer: true
◉ Before contact with Europeans, all of the following domesticated
crops might have been a part of a Central or South American's diet
except ______. (Lec 6, Ch 15)
Answer: wheat
◉ ____________ represents an excellent biological tool for introducing
specific bacterial genes into a crop species' genome. (Lecture 6)
Answer: The gene gun
◉ Identify which of the following plant nutrients exist in gaseous
phase during part of their biogeochemical cycle. SELECT ALL THAT
APPLY (Ch 3)
Answer: Carbon
Oxygen
Nitroge
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A
PLUS
◉ From its beginning, the USDA National Organics Program
permitted the use of the antibiotics (streptomycin and
oxytetracycline) specifically to combat fire blight in organic apple
and pear trees while alternative treatments were developed. These
antibiotics are still in use today.
Answer: false
◉ The genetic base of agriculture has narrowed as human societies
have become increasingly dependent on a few species of food-
producing organisms and a reduced number of genes and genetic
combinations. (Ch. 15)
Answer: true
◉ Gliessman's textbook indicates that Monsanto dominates the
industry with 80-90% market share of the seed industry, while data
on corporate sales of seed place Monsanto's market share ______ the
estimate reported by Dr. Gliessman. (Ch. 15 and Lec. 6)
Answer: about 20-30%
,◉ Pests and drought are threats to the genetic diversity of crop
species.
Answer: false
◉ According to the textbook, much of the phosphorous consumed by
humans is ___, however, in Springfield almost all of it (i.e. biosolids)
is _____. (Figs. 2.5 and 8.4)
Answer: Lost from the system (e.g. to ocean sediments); Re-cycled
by direct land application
◉ The role of potassium (K) in plants is primarily ___. (Ch. 3)
Answer: amino acids and all enzymes
◉ Pathogens and a failure to separate industrial waste (e.g. heavy
metals) from human waste complicate the use of sewage in
agriculture. (Ch. 8)
Answer: true
◉ The term photosynthate refers to __________. (Ch 3)
Answer: the direct end product of photosynthesis, consisting mainly
of the simple sugar glucose.
,◉ Although there might be as many as 300,000 edible plant species
on earth, more than 60% of the world's dietary energy comes from
____ species. (Ch. 15)
Answer: four
◉ Compost produced through the action of worms is called "___" and
results in castings that are relatively high in N and P. (Ch. 8)
Answer: Vermicomposting
◉ Composted manures normally will contain less ____ than the raw
manure. (Lec. 6)
Answer: both A & B
◉ Because it spends part of its biogeochemical cycle in gaseous form
in the atmosphere and part in soluble form in the soil, nitrogen can
be taken up both from the soil by plant roots and from the
atmosphere through its stomata via nitrogen fixation. (Ch 8)
Answer: false
◉ Though most public discourse about GMOs only depicts two
opposite positions (pro-GMO and anti-GMO), "genetic modification"
encompasses a wide range of unique types of genetic alterations
with distinct capabilities and varying levels of potential risk or
complication.
Answer: true
, ◉ In a mass-selected plant variety, overall genetic diversity within
the variety is greater than that of any individual seed in the variety.
(Ch. 15)
Answer: true
◉ Before contact with Europeans, all of the following domesticated
crops might have been a part of a Central or South American's diet
except ______. (Lec 6, Ch 15)
Answer: wheat
◉ ____________ represents an excellent biological tool for introducing
specific bacterial genes into a crop species' genome. (Lecture 6)
Answer: The gene gun
◉ Identify which of the following plant nutrients exist in gaseous
phase during part of their biogeochemical cycle. SELECT ALL THAT
APPLY (Ch 3)
Answer: Carbon
Oxygen
Nitroge
