cpsc exam 2

What are two factors shaping different biomes?

temperature and precipitation

Which biome is determined by four distinct seasons, nice animals, moderate rainfall, and beautiful trees?

temperate forest

Hot summer and cold winter, moderate rainfall with seasonal drought, occasional wide fires, and deep, dark, and fertile soil: these are characteristics of _____

temperate grassland

Tropical rainforests are the most productive biomes. However, these biomes are not ideal for agricultural production. What are the reasons?

large amount of year around rainfalls remove nutrients from surface soils

You can find different biomes in one place, such as eastern California or the Rocky Mountains. How could different biomes be shaped in a relatively small area?

temperature and precipitation change with altitude

What is the name of the temperate grassland biome in North America?

prairie

Which of the following is the most important factor determining crop productivity?

soil fertility

What was the biggest benefit of farming on prairie grasslands?

high soil fertility

Who was the frontier of the Green Revolution?

Norman Borlaug

Which of the following is NOT a true statement?

Nutrient cycles in natural ecosystems are open ended

Which of the following is not a typical environmental impact caused by agricultural activities?

increased soil fertility

Which of the following is NOT caused by nutrient losses?

increased aquatic species

What is the biggest factor causing agricultural land soil loss?

tillage

Which industry has the greatest impact on climate change?

transportation

How can agriculture help mitigate climate change? More Than One answers.

• increase crop productivity

• minimize SOM mineralization

Which of the following is NOT a 4R practice?

right cycle

The air temperature on Venus is higher than that on Mercury due to _________

the higher CO2 concentration in atmosphere

The planets in our solar system, in order from the Sun outward, are __________, ___________, __________,_________, Jupiter, Saturn...

mercury, venus, earth, mars

The Earth's atmospheric gas concentrations: N2 (_____%), O2(______%), Ar (1%)…

78, 21

What is the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere of the Earth as of today?

0.043%

The portion of infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface is trapped by CO2, N2O, ____, and CH4

water vapor

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

The Earth has only one ice age event.

t or f: Nitrous Oxide has a stronger greenhouse effect than Carbon Dioxide

true

Which of the following is NOT one of the three major components of Milankovitch cycles?

distance

t or f: Based on the Milankovitch cycle, the Earth should be in a ICE AGE

true

What is the main source of METHANE GAS?

rice production

Which of the following best describes the ice–albedo feedback loop in Earth’s climate system?

As temperatures rise, ice melts, exposing darker surfaces that absorb more heat and cause further warming.

Which of the following is not TRUE about earth climate change?

Warm Southern ocean can hold more CO2

t or f: Oceans hold more CO2 than land

true

An Ice Age ends when Earth's orbital changes trigger initial warming, and feedback, especially ______ and albedo, amplify it until Earth shifts into a warm interglacial period

CO2

Until the industrial evolution, the major contribution of CO2 emissions was ____

land use change

Which U.S. economic sector generates the most greenhouse gas?

transportation

What is the common goal for genetic manipulation methods?

Keep good traits, remove bad traits

t or f: any two animals can be hybridized (reproduce together)

false

Which is a weakness of the hybridization method?

Inconsistent offspring inheritance

What is the glyphosate-resistant (Round-Up Ready) GMO trait in crops?

The crop doesn't die when sprayed with glyphosate herbicide

t or f: Gene Editing is only applied to crops

False, animals and humans have been gene edited

Which of the following is a reason someone would choose to eat "organic" foods?

Concerns about the environmental and health risks from synthetic-chemical farming

Why is regulation and labeling important for food safety, including GMO or Organic foods?

All these answers are correct

Water, both liquid and solid, covers more than ________% of the world's surface

70

What is the proportion of Earth's water usable directly for our lives?

Less than 0.01%

Which of the following is NOT one of the surfaces where water evaporates?

Aquifers

Which of the following is NOT the functions of water in plants?

Albedo effect

Where do we use the most water every day in the United States?

bathroom

Which industry or sector uses the most freshwater worldwide/United States?

Agriculture/Power generation

What is the name of the aquifer, the water source for Central Illinois?

Mahomet

What is the major use of the Ogallala Aquifer?

Irrigation

Which irrigation method would be most efficient for saving water?

subsurface irrigation

Which of the following does NOT describe the U.S. agriculture in the 20th century?

Profits margins are very big

Modern U.S. agricultural systems are working toward adopting a holistic farming operation system for 1) greater  management flexibility, 2)_______________, and create safer and healthier conditions for both workers and farm animals

more environmentally and economically sound practices

What are the possible future approaches to sustainable agriculture?  Multiple answers...

• precision farming

• organic agriculture

• workforce development and safety

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of precision farming practices?

Saving equipment costs

Organic farming systems are often criticized for 

Lower yields compared to conventional systems

Which indicator shows the largest disadvantage for organic farming overall compared with conventional farming?

land use

Why does organic farming often require more land?

Lower yields per unit area

Which statement is most accurate between organic and conventional farming practices?

Trade-offs exist between environmental impacts

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Organic food has lower pesticide residue

What are two abiotic factors that shape distinct biological structures, biomes?

temperature and precipitation

Which biome supports most of agricultural production and why?

temperate grassland

What are the major differences between agricultural and natural ecosystems?

• agri. ecosystems are managed by humans, whereas nat. ecosystems are self-sustaining

• key differences:

  • genetic diversity

  • energy input

  • nutrient cycling

  • stability and resilience

  • natural or artificial selection

List three major agricultural impacts on the environment.

• Intensive farming practices deplete soils

• Intensive forestry management practices and deforestation deplete soil and increase flooding danger

• Irrigation can damage soils

• Intensive agriculture can cause pollution and pesticide resistance – nutrient losses

• GM crops are a contentious issue, with concerns raised about their potential impact on both production and the environment

Is the greenhouse effect good or bad?

• both

• it is necessary for life, but it’s dangerous in excess

List at least three things in your life that are affected by climate change

• extreme weather and safety

• health & air quality

• daily costs

• recreation

What is the Ice-albedo feedback loop?

• a “positive feedback” process in climate science. this means that a small initial change is amplified by the system

• process:

  • initial warming

  • lower albedo

  • increased absorption

  • more warming

Identify one major cause of land-use changes. Why does it cause land-use change?

agricultural expansion — to meet the food demands of a growing global population, natural ecosystems (such as forests, wetlands, or grasslands) are cleared and converted into cropland or pastures for livestock

What is genetic linkage in artificial selection?

the tendency for genes located close together on the same chromosome to be inherited together

Glyphosate exposure was a health concern for GMO's. Is the potential danger from the GMO plant, or from the glyphosate chemical?

from the glyphosate chemical

What is the most important role of water in your life?

• shower

• toilet

What are the main roles of water in plants?

• It creates a negative pressure gradient that

  helps draw water and minerals up through the

  plant from its roots

• helps to keep plant cool on hot weather — a method for evaporate cooling

• It supports photosynthesis and encourages

  the exchange of gases, helping maintain levels

  of CO2 and O2 in the atmosphere

• Plays a significant role in the water cycle and

  releases approximately 10% of water back

  into the atmosphere

What are the three areas of research supported by USDA to promote CLIMATE-SMART COMMODITIES?

• climate-smart practices

• measurement & monitoring

• marketing & promotion

What are the three pillars of sustainable agriculture?

• environmental sustainability

• economic sustainability

• social sustainability