Chapter 10 Agriculture, Biotechnology and the Future of Food
10.1 Graph and Figure Interpretation Questions
Use Figure 10.1 to answer the following questions.
1) The figure demonstrates that it requires roughly ________% more feed input to produce 1 kg of
eggs, compared to 1 kg of milk.
A) 30
B) 40
C) 50
D) 100
E) 400
2) The comparison shown in the figure is environmentally significant because ________.
A) grain is a nonrenewable resource
B) we can not survive without eating the foods pictured
C) the same grain used to feed chickens and cows could be fed to many humans instead
D) cows are a keystone species
E) production of beef and pork is resource-intensive
3) Cows require a high quantity of feed because they ________.
A) are genetically modified organisms
B) can feed more people than pigs
C) are raised on feedlots
D) take time to grow and have a low energy conversion efficiency
E) are the best source of high quality protein
4) Based on the information in the figure, you decide to make changes in your diet to diminish your
ecological footprint (the environmental impact of your food choices) by ________.
A) shifting your protein intake from beef and pork to eggs and dairy products
B) shifting your protein intake from eggs and dairy products to beef and pork
C) shifting to beef exclusively because of the large amount of meat from a single cow
D) shifting your protein intake to young cows and pigs to reduce resource consumption
E) eliminating all protein from your diet
10.2 Matching Questions
Match the following.
A) Escherichia coli
B) Pseudomonas syringae
C) Cactoblastis cactorum
D) bee predators
E) earthworms
F) aphids
G) wasps
H) Bacillus thuringiensis
I) bees
J) colony collapse disorder
1) Major pollinators of many flowering non-grain crop plants
2) Can protect crops from pest-related losses when applied periodically
3) A successful case of biological control, introduced from Argentina to Australia in the 1920s
to control invasive prickly pear cactus
4) Introduced for control of agricultural pests in Hawaii
5) Honeybees are vanishing at an alarming rate because of
6) Source of generic plasmids for genetically modified organisms
10.3 Scenario-Based Questions
Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Despite the high cost of the technology to design genetically modified (GM) crops, American
companies have invested in their development. The first genetically engineered crop was the
Flavr Savr tomato, which was created by reversing the function of a normal tomato gene. It was
approved by the FDA for sale in the United States in 1994. Its grower, the Calgene Corporation,
maintained that it would ripen longer on the vine, taste and ship better, and last longer on
supermarket shelves compared to conventional tomatoes. It is no longer marketed because of
technical problems and public safety concerns. Today, most engineered crops are modified for
insect and herbicide resistance. In 1997, the Monsanto company first marketed GM corn. This Bt
corn was engineered using genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria that made the corn
resistant to some pests. In 1999, environmentalists were alarmed when it was reported that pollen
from Bt corn could kill monarch butterfly larvae if corn pollen drifted onto milkweed plants that
monarchs fed upon. Consumers feared the unknown and were concerned about potential food
allergies. Presently, corn, along with soybeans, cotton, and canola dominate the GM food
market. These crops are grown and distributed mostly in the United States, Argentina, Canada,
Brazil, and China. They are used mostly for animal feed, clothing, or to make oil or other
ingredients for processed food, which has helped them gain public acceptance. Although GM
crops such as strawberries, potatoes, and lettuce have all been marketed in the U.S., GM food
field trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have dropped significantly during the past
several years, and the pace of new product introductions has fallen sharply. This narrow range of
crops could mean that biotechnology may not realize its full potential in the future.
1) Which of the following was a positive environmental aspect of the Flavr Savr tomato?
A) could be shipped further
B) better taste
C) better appearance
D) lower cost to the consumer
E) grown using less chemicals because it is less likely to rot
2) The Flavr Savr tomato is no longer marketed because ________.
A) Calgene failed to attain government approval to market it
B) people were nervous about eating genetically modified tomatoes
C) genetically modified crops presently are not approved for sale in the U.S.
D) butterfly larvae that ate the tomato plants were poisoned
E) they require too much water to grow
3) Why do soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola dominate the GM crop market?
A) They are inexpensive to produce.
B) They are exempt from U.S. regulations.
C) They are the only GMO crops approved since the Flavr Savr tomato.
D) These crops help to feed and clothe the poor.
E) They are ingredients in processed foods, so they are more easily accepted.
4) Why have most bioengineered crops been modified for "resistance" traits?
A) These traits have the economic potential to save on production costs.
B) No technology exists to engineer other traits successfully.
C) These are the only traits proven safe for the environment.
D) These are the only traits proven safe for the human health.
E) Crops with these traits taste better.
5) If GM crops can decrease pesticide use, why are environmentalists still concerned about
them?
A) The FDA does not regulate them.
B) Inserted genes can spread to nontarget species.
C) The government funds most GM crop research.
D) Trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have increased dramatically in recent
years.
E) There is no public opposition to GM crops.
6) Presently, ________ have not supported the widespread marketing of GM crops.
A) South American countries
B) American corporations
C) American regulatory agencies
D) European countries
E) Asian countries
Chapter 10 Answer Key
Graphic
1) E
2) E
3) D
4) A
Matching
1) I
2) H
3) C
4) G
5) J
6) A
Scenario
1) E
2) B
3) E
4) A
5) B
6) D