AGN 115 Exam 1 questions and
answers graded A+
In Fresh, Andrew Kimbrell (Executive Director, The Center for Food Safety) said that new data
show that "medium-sized organic [production systems] are far more productive than any sized
conventional [production systems]"; however, data from recent university studies show that
organic systems are usually ____. - correct answer ✔✔Equal to or lower yielding than
conventional systems
Except for "Bordeaux mixture" (used on grapes in France since the 1880s), chemical pesticides
were touted as new weapons against pests after ____, so our historical experience with them
amounts to about ____. (Ch. 1) - correct answer ✔✔World war II; 80 years
Agriculture accounts for about ___ % of global water use. Most of this water is used to irrigate
crops. (Ch. 1) - correct answer ✔✔70
Excessive growth of plants and algae in a lake that is the result of nutrient enrichment (e.g. from
effluent or fertilizer) is termed ___. (Ch. 1) - correct answer ✔✔Eutrophication
Due to federal policy mandating increased levels of blended fuels, the percentage of total corn
production for ethanol increased from less than ___% in 1993 to about ___% in 2013 (despite
the fact that the production of ethanol requires as much energy as ethanol provides as fuel).
(Lec 4) - correct answer ✔✔15; 40
Erle Ellis conducted studies of traditional agro-ecosystems in China and observed that ___ was
likely the limiting factor on productivity. (Ch. 23) - correct answer ✔✔nitrogen as a nutrient
"Reliance on synthetic or mineral fertilizer." This would normally be associated with: - correct
answer ✔✔Conventional Agriculture
, "Intensive tillage." This would normally be associated with: - correct answer ✔✔Conventional
Agriculture
"Almost all plant residues buried soon after crop harvest." Would normally be associated with: -
correct answer ✔✔Poor soil health
"Extensively branched, white roots in subsoil." Would normally be associated with: - correct
answer ✔✔Good soil health
Abiotic factors are living organisms that interact with the environment. (Ch. 2) - correct answer
✔✔False
Normally, about 25% (or more) of the biomass at one trophic level is converted to biomass at
the next trophic level. (Ch. 2) - correct answer ✔✔False
People in the poorest nations normally spend (on average) 20% or more of their disposable
income on food. (Lec. 4) - correct answer ✔✔True
Even where irrigation is practiced on a large scale, agriculture has very little effect on the local
hydrology and microclimate. (Ch. 1) - correct answer ✔✔False
The __% of agricultural land worldwide that is irrigated produces about __% of the world's food
supply. (Ch.1) - correct answer ✔✔20%,40%
"Conventional" (as opposed to "sustainable" or "traditional") agroecosystems form the basis of
rural agriculture in "less developed" countries. (Ch. 23) - correct answer ✔✔False
answers graded A+
In Fresh, Andrew Kimbrell (Executive Director, The Center for Food Safety) said that new data
show that "medium-sized organic [production systems] are far more productive than any sized
conventional [production systems]"; however, data from recent university studies show that
organic systems are usually ____. - correct answer ✔✔Equal to or lower yielding than
conventional systems
Except for "Bordeaux mixture" (used on grapes in France since the 1880s), chemical pesticides
were touted as new weapons against pests after ____, so our historical experience with them
amounts to about ____. (Ch. 1) - correct answer ✔✔World war II; 80 years
Agriculture accounts for about ___ % of global water use. Most of this water is used to irrigate
crops. (Ch. 1) - correct answer ✔✔70
Excessive growth of plants and algae in a lake that is the result of nutrient enrichment (e.g. from
effluent or fertilizer) is termed ___. (Ch. 1) - correct answer ✔✔Eutrophication
Due to federal policy mandating increased levels of blended fuels, the percentage of total corn
production for ethanol increased from less than ___% in 1993 to about ___% in 2013 (despite
the fact that the production of ethanol requires as much energy as ethanol provides as fuel).
(Lec 4) - correct answer ✔✔15; 40
Erle Ellis conducted studies of traditional agro-ecosystems in China and observed that ___ was
likely the limiting factor on productivity. (Ch. 23) - correct answer ✔✔nitrogen as a nutrient
"Reliance on synthetic or mineral fertilizer." This would normally be associated with: - correct
answer ✔✔Conventional Agriculture
, "Intensive tillage." This would normally be associated with: - correct answer ✔✔Conventional
Agriculture
"Almost all plant residues buried soon after crop harvest." Would normally be associated with: -
correct answer ✔✔Poor soil health
"Extensively branched, white roots in subsoil." Would normally be associated with: - correct
answer ✔✔Good soil health
Abiotic factors are living organisms that interact with the environment. (Ch. 2) - correct answer
✔✔False
Normally, about 25% (or more) of the biomass at one trophic level is converted to biomass at
the next trophic level. (Ch. 2) - correct answer ✔✔False
People in the poorest nations normally spend (on average) 20% or more of their disposable
income on food. (Lec. 4) - correct answer ✔✔True
Even where irrigation is practiced on a large scale, agriculture has very little effect on the local
hydrology and microclimate. (Ch. 1) - correct answer ✔✔False
The __% of agricultural land worldwide that is irrigated produces about __% of the world's food
supply. (Ch.1) - correct answer ✔✔20%,40%
"Conventional" (as opposed to "sustainable" or "traditional") agroecosystems form the basis of
rural agriculture in "less developed" countries. (Ch. 23) - correct answer ✔✔False
