AGN 115 Final Exam questions and
answers graded A+ passed
"Though there is no single, agreed upon set of factors that should be used to create a metric of
sustainability, Drs. Burton and Gliessman both discussed ____ as a useful tool for assessing
agroecosystem sustainability based on several dimensions (as opposed to polarizing, mono-
dimensional analyses)
A. an amoeba-type diagram
B. a line graph
C. pie chart
D. soil texture pyramid - correct answer ✔✔an amoeba-type diagram
According to Gliessman, the prevailing modern agricultural system is not sustainable. All of the
following are reasons he gives for our unsustainability EXCEPT ___.
A. Loss of genetic diversity due to excessive reliance on traditional, local crop varieties
B. Dependence on non-renewable inputs like inorganic fertilizer and antibiotics
C. Loss of local control over agricultural production
D. Damage to hydrological system caused be excessive groundwater use and nutrient pollution -
correct answer ✔✔Loss of genetic diversity due to excessive reliance on traditional, local crop
varieties
In Fresh (2009), Mr. and Mrs. Fox ___ (select all that apply).
A. Are independent producers that hatches chicks and grows them to maturity
B. Use a breed of chickens that grows quickly and has high feed use efficiency
C. use Poultry Litter Treatment, which is toxic and a dangerous health risk
D. Do not know much about what's in the feed for the chickens they produce - correct answer
✔✔Use a breed of chickens that grow quickly and has high feed use efficiency
,Use Poultry Litter Treatment, which is toxic and a dangerous health risk
Do not know much about what is in the feed for the chickens they produce
T/F: Norman Borlaug greatly increased yields for farmers in Mexico, India and Pakistan using
classical breeding techniques to produce a rust-resistant, dwarf wheat variety that was
especially responsive to fertilization and irrigation. - correct answer ✔✔True
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 ____.
A. trick question; no data exists that make this comparison
B. Similar to or higher in yield than conventional systems
C. Equal to or lower yielding than conventional systems
D. Yield more than twice as much as conventional systems - correct answer ✔✔Equal to or
lower yielding than conventional systems
"Reliance on synthetic or mineral fertilizer." This would normally e associated with:
A. Sustainable Agriculture
B. Conventional Agriculture - correct answer ✔✔Conventional agriculture
Thomas Malthus, an Anglican rector with a good mind for mathematics, became concerned
about the inevitability of widespread human misery. In a 1798 essay, he forecast that
widespread starvation and conflict would be the result of food production increasing ___ which
human reproduction increased ___.
A. Geometrically, linearly
B. Linearly, arithmetically
C. Linearly, exponentially
D. Logarithmically, linearly - correct answer ✔✔Linearly, exponentially
, T/F: Word choice and selection of sources of information are important indicators of potential
bias in publication, such as Dr. Gliessman's use of the terms "industrial agriculture" and
"pesticide treadmill", and his heavy reliance on the publications of Dr. Pimentel as sources of
data. - correct answer ✔✔True
The biomass of dead organisms and fecal matter is broken down by ___ and decomposers. (Ch.
2)
A. Autotrophs
B. Detritivores
C. Political appointees
D. Pericardium - correct answer ✔✔Detritivores
"Resilience" is described in the Agroecology text book as "the ability of a community or
ecosystem to reestablish its basic structure and functioning after disturbance and succession".
Row crop agroecosystems are considered to have ___ resilience as compared to natural
communities.
A. Greater
B.. Similar
C. Lesser
D. None of the above - row crop systems are not agroecosystems - correct answer ✔✔Lesser
T/F: Andrew Kimbrell's (Executive Director, The Center for Food Safety) safety that "in the past
10 years we have had 100 million more tons of pesticides applied to land, air, and streams", is
misleading and greatly exaggerated compared to data available from the US EPA. - correct
answer ✔✔True
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)
answers graded A+ passed
"Though there is no single, agreed upon set of factors that should be used to create a metric of
sustainability, Drs. Burton and Gliessman both discussed ____ as a useful tool for assessing
agroecosystem sustainability based on several dimensions (as opposed to polarizing, mono-
dimensional analyses)
A. an amoeba-type diagram
B. a line graph
C. pie chart
D. soil texture pyramid - correct answer ✔✔an amoeba-type diagram
According to Gliessman, the prevailing modern agricultural system is not sustainable. All of the
following are reasons he gives for our unsustainability EXCEPT ___.
A. Loss of genetic diversity due to excessive reliance on traditional, local crop varieties
B. Dependence on non-renewable inputs like inorganic fertilizer and antibiotics
C. Loss of local control over agricultural production
D. Damage to hydrological system caused be excessive groundwater use and nutrient pollution -
correct answer ✔✔Loss of genetic diversity due to excessive reliance on traditional, local crop
varieties
In Fresh (2009), Mr. and Mrs. Fox ___ (select all that apply).
A. Are independent producers that hatches chicks and grows them to maturity
B. Use a breed of chickens that grows quickly and has high feed use efficiency
C. use Poultry Litter Treatment, which is toxic and a dangerous health risk
D. Do not know much about what's in the feed for the chickens they produce - correct answer
✔✔Use a breed of chickens that grow quickly and has high feed use efficiency
,Use Poultry Litter Treatment, which is toxic and a dangerous health risk
Do not know much about what is in the feed for the chickens they produce
T/F: Norman Borlaug greatly increased yields for farmers in Mexico, India and Pakistan using
classical breeding techniques to produce a rust-resistant, dwarf wheat variety that was
especially responsive to fertilization and irrigation. - correct answer ✔✔True
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 ____.
A. trick question; no data exists that make this comparison
B. Similar to or higher in yield than conventional systems
C. Equal to or lower yielding than conventional systems
D. Yield more than twice as much as conventional systems - correct answer ✔✔Equal to or
lower yielding than conventional systems
"Reliance on synthetic or mineral fertilizer." This would normally e associated with:
A. Sustainable Agriculture
B. Conventional Agriculture - correct answer ✔✔Conventional agriculture
Thomas Malthus, an Anglican rector with a good mind for mathematics, became concerned
about the inevitability of widespread human misery. In a 1798 essay, he forecast that
widespread starvation and conflict would be the result of food production increasing ___ which
human reproduction increased ___.
A. Geometrically, linearly
B. Linearly, arithmetically
C. Linearly, exponentially
D. Logarithmically, linearly - correct answer ✔✔Linearly, exponentially
, T/F: Word choice and selection of sources of information are important indicators of potential
bias in publication, such as Dr. Gliessman's use of the terms "industrial agriculture" and
"pesticide treadmill", and his heavy reliance on the publications of Dr. Pimentel as sources of
data. - correct answer ✔✔True
The biomass of dead organisms and fecal matter is broken down by ___ and decomposers. (Ch.
2)
A. Autotrophs
B. Detritivores
C. Political appointees
D. Pericardium - correct answer ✔✔Detritivores
"Resilience" is described in the Agroecology text book as "the ability of a community or
ecosystem to reestablish its basic structure and functioning after disturbance and succession".
Row crop agroecosystems are considered to have ___ resilience as compared to natural
communities.
A. Greater
B.. Similar
C. Lesser
D. None of the above - row crop systems are not agroecosystems - correct answer ✔✔Lesser
T/F: Andrew Kimbrell's (Executive Director, The Center for Food Safety) safety that "in the past
10 years we have had 100 million more tons of pesticides applied to land, air, and streams", is
misleading and greatly exaggerated compared to data available from the US EPA. - correct
answer ✔✔True
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)
