Practice Questions – Chapter 10

Geology : Processes, Hazards, and Soils

  1. Briefly describe the layers of the Earth's interior. Be sure to distinguish THREE different tectonic plate boundaries and the geologic features often found at each.
  2. Distinguish between internal and external geologic processes.Discuss how these processes affect human activities and natural ecosystems.
  3. List and define THREE broad classes of rock. Briefly describe the rock cycle and indicate interrelationships among these classes.
  4. Describe how earthquakes are caused. Describe how the severity of earthquakes are measured. Describe how losses can be reduced.
  5. Define soil horizon. Draw and describe SIX soil layers. Compare soil profiles of FIVE important soil types.
  6. Describe a fertile soil. In doing so, be sure to refer to soil texture, porosity, loam, and acidity.
  7. Describe the problems of soil erosion and desertification. Describe both world and U.S. situations, and explain why most people are unaware of this problem.
  8. Describe the problems of salinization and waterlogging of soils and how they can be controlled
  9. Define soil conservation. List FIVE ways to approach the problem of soil erosion. Be sure to distinguish between conventional-tillage and conservation-tillage farming. Describe a plan to maintain soil fertility.

Vocabulary words

Alley croppingCompost Conservation tillage

Contour farmingCrop rotationTransform fault

Convergent plate boundaryIgneous rockSubduction zone

Divergent plate boundaryGreen manureGulley reclamation

HumusLeachingNo-till farming

Sedimentary rockSoil conservationSoil structure

Tectonic platesWaterloggingWeathering

Windbreak

Practice Questions – Chapter 13

Food Resources

1.List four major types of agriculture. Compare the energy sources, environmental impacts, yields, and sustainability of traditional and industrial agriculture.

2.Evaluate the “green revolution”. What were its successes? It’s failures?.

3.Define interplanting and explain THREE advantages.Briefly describe four types of interplanting commonly used by traditional farmers.

4.Summarize the state of global food production..List six steps proposed by UNICEF to deal with “malnutrition” and” undernutrition”. Where in the world are they most likely to occur ? Describe a strategy to reduce overnutrition.

5.Summarize “food distribution” problems. Describe the possibilities of increasing world food production by (a) increasing crop yields, (b)cultivating more land, and (c)using unconventional foods and perennial crops.

6.Describe THREE environmental impacts from agriculture.

7.Discuss the use of genetic engineering techniques to improve the human food supply.

8.Assess TWO pros and TWO cons of agricultural subsidies and international food relief. Describe strategies that you feel would be most sustainable.

9.Define sustainable agriculture. Summarize how the United States could move toward creating a more sustainable agricultural system.

10.Discuss THREE problems associated with the production of livestock on rangeland.

11.Describe trends in the world fish catch since 1950. Assess the potential for increasing the annual fish catch and use of aquaculture. Distinguish between fish farming and fish ranching.

Vocabulary Words

AgroforestryAlley CroppingAquaculture

ArableLandCommercial ExtinctionFeedlot

Drift Net FishingGenetically Modified OrganismsFamine

Green RevolutionIntercroppingInterplanting

MonocultureOrganic FarmingOver fishing

PasturePlantation AgriculturePolyculture

RangelandRiparian rightsTerracing

Subsistence farmingSustainable Agriculture