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DSST Environmental Science: Land Use

Subjects : dsst, science
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. include selective breeding; plant breeding. Typically - genetically modified food






2. Harvesting only mature trees of certain species and size; usually more expensive then clear-cutting but it is less disruptive for wildlife and often better for forest regeneration






3. Made by mixing the remains or wastes of organisms including animal manure (essential) - crop residues - fresh vegetation - and compost






4. The use of heavy machinery to remove huge amounts of earth to expose COAL or MINERALS - which are mined out directly.






5. The uniform planting of a single crop






6. Solid waste from smelts






7. A severe shortage of food (as through crop failure) resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death






8. Having not enough of something






9. - the turning and loosening of soil for the planting of crops






10. Cutting the trees down - burning them. Nutrients from the ash go to soil. You have a farmland for ranching cattle or farming soybeans.






11. A naturally occurring solid element or inorganic compound with a crystal structure - a specific chemical composition - and distinct physical properties.






12. Corn yield has increased dramatically in the US since the 1920s because it was in the 1920s that GM corn started to be developed






13. -boosts yields by intensifying irrigation and introducing synthetic fertilizers - while the advent of chemical pesticides reduce competition from weeds and herbivory by crop pests - Industrial agriculture works best under the condition of monoculture






14. Systematically tests different approaches and aims to improve methods and find ideal over time - Advantages: can be highly effective; works with each specific environment; can protect species; can provide minimum impact - Disadvantages: difficult to






15. Heating ore beyond its melting point and combining it with other metals or chemicals ( process of separating).






16. Fertilizers - promote plant growth by providing essential nutrients like nitrogen or phosphorus; increases crop yield - Combines/Machinery - allows farmers to work much faster and more efficiently; increases crop yield - Pesticides - kill insects - p






17. To reclaim is to make things level - and to get something growing and prevent erosion - If the U.S were to try to reclaim - it would cost tax payers about 2 trillion dollars.






18. The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) examine the practices of firms and rate them against criteria for sustainability - Grant sustainable forest certification to forests - companies - and products produced using methods they consider sustainable.






19. Cheapest - easiest transportation removal of lumber - Most environmentally harmful - takes all trees - leaves nothing






20. Cut trees shortly after they go through their fastest stage of growth (which is during their intermediate age) - Advantages: maximizes timber production over time - Disadvantages: trees get cut before they mature; alters forest ecology; eliminates ha






21. Technology was not able to profitably remove the copper from the malachite






22. Choosing valuable trees only - lots of reseeding - transportation is hard.






23. Completely missing something






24. Combination of different pest management techniques combined in a specific way best for the place they are being used.






25. Mining method- mountain's forests are clear-cut and the timber is sold - topsoild is removed - and then the rock is blasted away to expose the coal for extraction. Overburden is placed back on the mountaintop. Primarily for coal in the Appalachian Mo






26. Cheap - But - removes all overburden (trees - soil - rocks - etc.); obliterates natural communities b/c everything has been removed; leads to erosion; causes sulfuric acid run-off;






27. Strip mining - open pit mining - mountain top removal






28. A mineral or grouping of minerals from which we extract metals - most metals are found in ore - Copper - iron - lead gold - and aluminum - Used in electronic components of computers - cell phones - DVD players.






29. Bio-control can be extremely cost effect - Bio-control can harm other animals - The cane toads control cane beetle in Carribean






30. Manages resource harvesting so as to minimize impact on ecosystem and ecological processes that provide the resource - Advantages: can protect certain areas; can restore habitats; considers surroundings; allows timber harvesting while preserving inte






31. A fossil fuel composed of organic matter that was compressed under very high pressure to form a dense - solid carbon structure.






32. Nicotine - Alcohol - Cocaine - if it can kill you - it can kill other living things.






33. Soy beans have been genetically modified for better traits. 'Round up Ready' soy beans have made it so that weed killer 'round up' can be sprayed around the plants and kill all the weeds but not the soy bean plants. 'round up ready soy beans' were cr






34. Recycle batteries - Send large amounts of metal to scrap yards/businesses instead of to landfills (ex. cars - fridges - dishwashers - etc.) - Recycle old electronics like phones and computers to prevent more mining of minerals like tantalum that are






35. In the last 100 years - humans have doubled the amount of organic nitrogen in the biosphere by artificial synthesis of ammonia.






36. 1990 Clean Air Act amendments encouraged clean-burning low-sulfur coal led to more mining in Appalachia -dumping ton of debris sinto valley degrades and destroys areas of habitat -social and health impacts. loose rock tumbles down into homes - overl






37. Locally-based socio-economic model of agriculture and food distribution. also refers to a particular network or association of individuals who have pledged to support one or more local farms - with growers and consumers sharing the risks and benefits






38. Completely missing something acquired from food; usually protein or vitamin C






39. By far the best method for managing pests - Uses chemical pesticides - biocontrol - AND diversity - Not monoculture; things are planted in a mosaic so that if pests attack all of the corn in one area there is still more corn somewhere else - Proven t






40. Uses the idea that 'the enemy of one's enemy is one's friend' - Battles pests and weeds with organisms that eat or infect them - Can be extremely effective and inexpensive






41. More expensive then clear cutting - leaves rows of trees for reseeding/ future harvesting.






42. Worthless material that surrounds a wanted mineral in an ore deposit.






43. Maximum Sustainable Yield - Ecosystem-based Management - Adaptive Management






44. Food assistance given to an area. Can take away the incentive to produce food in that area. Distribution is an issue.






45. Now makes up 80% of corn in the US - Benefits: Contains naturally occurring pesticide - Increases production - could feed more people - Grow more per square area - Doesn't spoil as quickly - Bigger - tastier






46. Can hurt other species - methods used to control other species can become invasive species themselves - Ex. Australia released a virus to kill the excessive rabbits; Australians brought in cane toads to kill beetles on their sugar cane - BUT the toa






47. Do not naturally occur in the environment - but are synthesized by man. Since all these compounds have carbon and hydrogen atoms as the basis of their molecule (as do living plants and animals) - they are referred to as organic compounds to form pest






48. Advantages: removes the least amount of unwanted material so less waste - Disadvantages: potential collapse; sinkholes; acid drainage; pollutes groundwater; risk of injury/death from dynamite blasts - natural gas explosions - inhalation of toxic gass






49. Malachite contains sulfides which become strongly acidic when mixed with water and thus pollutes water






50. The golden molecule for plants because it makes them grow - Leagues have special nitrogen fixing bacteria in their rhizomes (roots) - Three covalent bonds for N2. Stronger the covalent bonds - the harder it is to react. Nitrogen gas is inert.