Bio 121- Ortman Practice tests questions – Flashcards
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Which of the following is the study of how the natural world works, how our environment affects us, and how we affect our environment?
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environmental science
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Which of the following is an example of a renewable natural resource?
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sunlight
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A(n) __________ expresses environmental impact in terms of the cumulative area of land and water required to provide the resources a person consumes.
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ecological footprint
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Which of the following can be depleted if overused?
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fresh water
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__________ is a social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world from the undesirable changes brought about by human actions.
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experimentation
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If an experiment fails to disprove a hypothesis, then __________.
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A hypothesis can be supported by evidence, even strongly supported by multiple rounds of experimentation, but it is never truly "proven."
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The __________ includes all of the water in the biosphere.
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hydrosphere
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All organic compounds contain __________.
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carbon
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Which of the following is a compound?
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c02
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According to the first law of thermodynamics, the total amount of energy in the universe __________.
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remains constant
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Most energy in the majority of ecosystems arrives as __________ and exits in the form of __________.
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radiation from the sun; heat
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In order for two organisms to belong to the same species, individuals of their species must __________.
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be able to reproduce and have fertile offspring
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Which of the following is an example of selective breeding (artificial selection) by humans?
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dog breeds
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A single, small population that exists only in one place on the planet is considered __________ to that area.
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endemic
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A __________ is defined as the living and nonliving elements in the area around an organism.
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habitat
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__________ is the number of individuals in a population per unit area.
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Population density
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The __________ of a population is the proportion of males to females in the population.
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Sex ratio
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What kind of relationship exists between multiple organisms who seek the same limited resource?
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compeition
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Which organism pollinates 73% of our crops?
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bees
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What two types of relationships exhibit symbiosis?
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mutualism and parasitism
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When an increase in the population of prey occurs, which of the following usually occurs in the population of its predator?
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the population of the predator increases.
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What moves through the community from one trophic level to another as organisms feed on one another?
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matter and energy
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Which is enhanced by decomposers and detritivores as they recycle nutrients?
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soil
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Which of the following are most likely to be keystone species in an ecosystem?
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large-bodied, higher-level consumers
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What two factors exert the greatest influence over a terrestrial biome?
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annual average temperature and precipitation
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Which of the following biomes has the most annual rainfall?
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temperate rainforest
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What is the term that refers to the substances and forces that sustain our society and everyday lives?
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Natural resources
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Which term is used to describe the conversion of natural resources into goods and services in addition to the ongoing trade of such goods and services?
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Economy
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What are ecosystem services?
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These are essential processes such as soil formation, nutrient cycles, the pollination of plants, etc.
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How do economists assess (calculate) the economic health of a nation?
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Gross Domestic Product
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Which of the following groups advocates economies that neither grow nor shrink but remain stable?
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ecological economists
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Which of the following is the main concern of neoclassical economics?
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production
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What is meant by "market failure"?
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This occurs when markets do not take into account the environment's positive effects on economies (such as ecosystem services) or when they do not reflect the negative impacts of economic activity on people or the environment (external costs).
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Pollution changes the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) How does this occur?
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GDP goes up when the polluting substance is produced and again when society pays to remove the substance from the environment.
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What costs are associated with transactions that can result in damage to the environment, human health, and property?
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external costs
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In which of the following ways did neoclassical economics contribute to environmental problems?
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by encouraging society to view the supply of resources as infinite
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What type of economic discipline maintains that society, like natural populations, cannot surpass environmental limitations?
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Ecological economics
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Which of the following correctly illustrate the two ways that economic growth can occur?
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increased inputs to the economy and improvements in efficiency through technology
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Which of the examples below illustrates the economic principle of a negative externality?
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cost of rebuilding roads damaged by trucks heavily loaded with goods
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Which of the following is NOT an external cost that affects people who are not involved in some environmentally damaging transaction?
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job security
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What event is credited with leading to the passage of the Clean Water Act?
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the Cuyahoga River catching fire
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During the second wave of U.S. environmental policy, in 1872, Congress designated Yellowstone as the world's first __________.
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national park
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The role of an administrative agency is that of _______.
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enforcement and elaboration of laws passed by Congress
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What was the main emphasis of the first major era of U.S. environmental policy?
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development through management and westward expansion
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What is the title of the book by Rachel Carson that refers to the absence of birdsongs due to the poisoning of birds by pesticides?
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Silent Spring
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The environmental justice movement started because __________.
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people realized that environmental damage is not equally distributed among all classes and racial groups; minority and low-income communities tend to contain a much larger share of the environmental damage (such as landfills, incinerators, toxic waste sites, etc.)
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The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) _________.
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gave citizens the right to see and comment on proposed government projects through the creation of environmental impact statements
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Who signed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)?
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nixon
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Which of the following was NOT part of public policy during the early years of the United States?
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superfun
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Which of the following organizations is described accurately?
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The World Trade Organization has recently acquired the ability to impose fines on nations that trade unfairly. These actions can then have effects that worsen or improve the environment.
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Which statement is correct concerning international law?
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An example of customary law is the idea that no nation should use its resources in ways that adversely affect its neighbors.
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During what century did consumption of natural resources and pollution increase dramatically for the first time in human history?
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19
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Which type of advertising assists consumers in choosing products that are grown or manufactured with environmentally friendly methods?
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Ecolabeling
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Which of the following acts to discourage unsustainable activities?
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green tax
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Most of the environmental progress made over the past few decades has come about through __________ methods.
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command and control
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While in the grocery store, Maria chooses to purchase the soy milk produced from non-genetically modified soybeans over the brand grown conventionally. Maria has made use of __________ for her decision.
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ecolabeling
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A company that produces household cleaners decides to produce a "green" version of its products, even though the formulas are virtually unchanged compared to the original formulas. This is an example of __________.
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greenwashing
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What is sustainable development?
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promoting a viable economy while maintaining a viable environment and meeting social needs
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Which kind of development would be promoted if a government worked on finding a balance between economic security, environmental protection, and social equity?
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sustainable
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Which of the following statements about growth rate and population size is true?
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If the growth rate remains steady, population size will continue to increase by greater increments with each generation.
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__________ death rates and __________ infant mortality rates are due in large part to technological advances, improved sanitation, and better medical care in developed countries.
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lower lower
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Which was Thomas Malthus's argument?
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He argued that if there was no control over population growth, then the population would come under check because of war, disease, and starvation.
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When birth rates decline, what happens to a given population?
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The average age of the population grows older.
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What does the S that is sometimes included in the I = PAT equation stand for?
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sensitivity, to denote how sensitive a given environment is to these pressures that cause more damage for sensitive habitats
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Why do we study demography?
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Demography investigates the relationship between population ecology and population changes.
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What keeps a population size stable?
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replacement fertility
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How do women cause a reduction in the TFR?
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hrough empowerment, personal choice and education
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Which statement about food production since 1960 is true?
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During this time our food production has grown even faster than our population.
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Which of the following is a living museum of genetic crop diversity?
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seed banks
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Which of the following would be considered a monoculture?
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a 100-acre field, all of which is planted with the same variety of corn
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When decomposers break down organic molecules, a crumbly organic material called __________ that improves soil quality is formed.
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humus
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The process of soil quality declining in productivity is called __________.
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soil degradation
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Which of the following contributed to the Dust Bowl of the 1930s?
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The removal of native prairie plants.
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Desertification of soil __________.
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overgrazing
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Which process not only controls erosion, but can also help to replenish soil nutrients?
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crop rotation
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Which of the following soil conservation strategies prevents erosion by using furrows plowed sideways across a hill, perpendicular to the slope of land?
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contour farming
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All of the following practices are used to control soil erosion EXCEPT __________.
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industrial monoculture agriculture
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How does the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) try to protect soil for future agriculture?
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The CRP pays farmers not to grow crops on land that is not well suited for crop production.
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Which of the following can be caused by irrigation of cropland?
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salization
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The use of biocontrol runs the risk of __________.
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the control agent negatively impacting other species besides the species needing to be controlled
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Over time, pesticides become less effective. This is because __________.
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pests can evolve defenses against pesticides
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The practice of integrating biocontrol, crop rotation, alternative tillage methods, and chemical use is called __________.
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integrated pest management
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Which of the following is an example of the use of a biological control?
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hese weevils are a biological control agent.
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__________ comprises half of the word's genetically modified crops.
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soybeans
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What is the name given to the idea that we should not market genetically modified organisms until their environmental and human health effects are well documented?
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precautionary principle
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What is the status of GM products in the United States?
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: U.S. citizens have largely accepted the GM crops on the market.
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Recombinant DNA technology is used for which of the following purposes?
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genetically modifying plants
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We will be able to support more people with the same amount of food supply if most people eat which of the following types of diet?
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a vegetarian diet
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Which of the following are farms that concentrate on raising large numbers of animals of all the same type in a small area?
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feedlots
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In regard to energy efficiency, aquaculture is __________.
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ncredibly energy-efficient compared to harvesting fish from open waters
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Which of the following describes a community-supported agriculture program?
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In a CSA program, farmers get a guaranteed income up front that they can use to invest in their crops.
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Organic agriculture implies farming techniques that use NO __________.
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synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, or herbicides
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Most of the world's forests are __________.
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boreal forests
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With very few exceptions, what sort of forest is in the United States?
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secondary
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Which of the following harvesting methods is the most cost-efficient but has the greatest ecological impacts?
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clear cutting
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Approximately what areal percentage of the world's lands are designated as parks, reserves, and protected areas?
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12
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are organizations that purchase land to preserve it in its natural condition.
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land trusts
