The Food Explorer Final Set

Who was David Fairchild?

Options:
A commercial farmer who specialized in wheat
A plant explorer who introduced global crops to the U.S.
A government economist
A plant breeder focused only on ornamentals

A plant explorer who introduced global crops to the U.S.

What motivated Fairchild's work as a plant explorer?
Options:
Personal wealth accumulation
Belief that American agriculture lacked diversity
Desire to eliminate foreign crops
Focus on industrial farming efficiency

Belief that American agriculture lacked diversity

Approximately how many countries did David Fairchild visit during his career?

Options:
10
25
Over 50
Over 100

Over 50

Which individual financially supported Fairchild's early expeditions?

Options:
Frank Meyer
Alexander Graham Bell
Barbour Lathrop
Luther Burbank

Barbour Lathrop

What role did Frank Meyer play in U.S. agriculture?

Options:
Seed bank administrator
Plant explorer focused on hardy crops
Botanical illustrator
Commercial orchard owner

Plant explorer focused on hardy crops

How did Frank Meyer's plant exploration approach differ from Fairchild's?

Options:
He focused on ornamentals only
He prioritized plants that were resilient and adaptable
He avoided international travel
He worked only with private companies

He prioritized plants that were resilient and adaptable

What was the mission of the U.S. Seed and Plant Introduction Program?

Options:
To replace domestic crops
To collect and test foreign plants for U.S. agriculture
To regulate food imports
To promote monoculture farming

To collect and test foreign plants for U.S. agriculture

How did the Seed and Plant Introduction Program shape American diets?

Options:
By limiting food choices
By increasing reliance on meat
By introducing new fruits

vegetables

Which crop was initially marketed as the "alligator pear"?

Avocado

Why were new crops often marketed under different names?

Options:
Legal requirements
Farmer demand
Consumer skepticism toward unfamiliar foods
Seed patent laws

Consumer skepticism toward unfamiliar foods

Which of the following crops was introduced or popularized by Fairchild?

Options:
Corn
Wheat
Mangoes
Rice

Mangoes

Which crop became foundational to U.S. agriculture despite early uncertainty?

Options:
Dates
Soybeans
Pistachios
Cashews

Soybeans

What was the significance of Fairchild's introduction of cherry blossom trees?

Options:
They increased fruit production
They symbolized cultural diplomacy
They replaced native trees
They improved urban air quality

They symbolized cultural diplomacy

The cherry blossom trees in Washington

D.C. originated from:

Options:
China
Japan
Korea
France

What are crop "centers of origin"?

Options:
Regions with the highest crop yields
Places where crops were first domesticated and diversified
Government agricultural stations
Modern seed banks

Places where crops were first domesticated and diversified

Why are centers of origin important for agriculture?

Options:
They produce cheaper food
They contain high genetic diversity
They eliminate pests
They increase monoculture efficiency

They contain high genetic diversity

Global plant exploration during Fairchild's era was closely linked to:

Options:
Environmentalism
Imperialism and globalization
Urbanization
Local subsistence farming

Imperialism and globalization

Why did many American farmers initially resist new crops?

Options:
Lack of land
High labor requirements
Unfamiliarity and economic risk
Government restrictions

Unfamiliarity and economic risk

What concern did consumers often have about newly introduced foods?

Options:
They spoiled too quickly
They were unsafe or strange
They were too nutritious
They were too expensive to grow

They were unsafe or strange

What ecological risk was associated with crop introduction?

Options:
Reduced rainfall
Invasive species spread
Increased biodiversity
Lower soil fertility

Invasive species spread

Kudzu is an example of:

Options:
Successful crop adaptation
Controlled erosion management
Unintended ecological consequences
Improved soil fertility

Unintended ecological consequences

Why was kudzu originally introduced to the U.S.?

Options:
As a food crop
For erosion control
For livestock feed
For ornamental purposes

For erosion control

What are orphan crops?

Options:
Crops with no commercial value
Underutilized

locally important crops
Crops grown only in seed banks
Genetically modified crops

Why are orphan crops important for food security?

Options:
They require no labor
They are climate resilient and nutrient dense
They replace staple grains
They increase export profits

They are climate resilient and nutrient dense

How did Alexander Graham Bell influence Fairchild's work?

Options:
He trained him in botany
He provided family and social connections
He funded all expeditions
He opposed plant exploration

He provided family and social connections

What role did Luther Burbank play in Fairchild's network?

Options:
Political advisor
Plant breeder collaborator
Seed bank director
Foreign diplomat

Plant breeder collaborator

Which of the following best describes the network supporting Fairchild?

Options:
Isolated scientific effort
Combination of science

wealth

How do modern supermarkets reflect Fairchild's legacy?

Options:
They rely on local wild foods
They display global crop diversity
They avoid imported produce
They focus on staple grains

They display global crop diversity

What is a lasting impact of early plant explorers?

Options:
Reduced biodiversity
Homogenized global diets
Shaped global food systems and cuisines
Eliminated traditional agriculture

Shaped global food systems and cuisines

Overall

what lesson does The Food Explorer emphasize about agriculture?

Options:
Innovation is risk free
Food systems are purely local
Plant exploration reshaped diets and power structures
Globalization had no effect on food

Which continent did David Fairchild explore most extensively during his career?

Options:
Africa
Europe
Asia
South America

Asia

The Meyer lemon was notable because it:

Options:
Was purely ornamental
Had superior flavor compared to typical lemons
Could not be eaten raw
Failed commercially

Had superior flavor compared to typical lemons

Which crop was introduced primarily for erosion control but became a major invasive species?

Options:
Soybeans
Dates
Kudzu
Kale

Kudzu

Kudzu is considered an example of:

Options:
Successful crop domestication
Planned monoculture farming
Unintended ecological consequences
Improved soil nutrition

Unintended ecological consequences

What was a major challenge Fairchild faced when introducing new crops?

Options:
Government opposition
Farmer and consumer resistance
Lack of scientific knowledge
Absence of seed banks

Farmer and consumer resistance

The U.S. Seed and Plant Introduction Program primarily aimed to:

Options:
Eliminate foreign crops
Expand crop diversity and food security
Promote industrial farming
Support export markets

Expand crop diversity and food security

Which of the following best describes "crop centers of origin"?

Options:
Modern industrial farming hubs
Regions where crops were first domesticated and diversified
Areas with the highest yields
Seed storage facilities

Regions where crops were first domesticated and diversified

The concept of crop centers of origin is closely associated with which scientist?

Options:
Frank Meyer
David Fairchild
Nikolai Vavilov
Luther Burbank

Nikolai Vavilov

Global plant exploration during Fairchild's era was deeply connected to:

Options:
Local subsistence farming
Imperialism and globalization
Organic agriculture
Urban gardening

Imperialism and globalization

David Fairchild believed American agriculture was nutritionally limited before his work.

Options:
True
False

True

David Fairchild worked primarily as a private merchant rather than a government supported explorer.

Options:
True
False

False

Frank Meyer was known for seeking plants that were hardy and could survive harsh conditions.

Options:
True
False

True