1. Define SoilWhat are the five factors that influence soil formation? What makes up soil?What is physical weathering? What is chemical weathering? What are the characteristics of soil? Which of the four characteristics of soil would best indicate the fertility of soil? What are the three types of soil texture? What kind of texture is the best for growing crops?

2. Describe the three major processes that contribute to the formation of most soils? What is a soil profile? What is soil degradation?What is soil erosion? How does it occur naturally? How do humans make fertile soil vulnerable to erosion? What are the six ways that are listed to conserve soil? Describe intercroppingDescribe crop rotation

3. Describe shelterbeltsDescribe the no- till method Describe terracingDescribe contour farming Why is overgrazing harmful to soils? What is desertification? How does desertification occur? Five possible causes. Name and describe the soil conservation policies have been put in place in the US and globally?

4. What is irrigation? How does irrigation lead to salinization? How can farmers prevent salinization? What are pesticides? What are herbicides? What is selective breeding? How did the shift from hunter/gatherers to farmers affect society as a whole? Describe traditional farming. Describe Industrial farming.What is a monoculture? Describe the advantages and disadvantages of monocultures.

5. What is the green revolution? What are the costs/ benefits of the green revolution? How do farmers deal with pests? What is biological pest control? What are the costs/benefits? What is integrated pest management? Why is pollination essential to many crops? What is happening to many native pollinators? What is arable land?What is food security?

6. Name and describe two diseases that result from malnutrition. Describe how genetically modified organisms are created. What are the potential risks associated with GMO’s? What are the potential benefits associated with GMO’s? Why are today’s GMO crops unlikely to feed poor people in developing nations? Describe a feedlot (aka CAFO). What are the advantages to a feedlot? What are the disadvantages to a feedlot?

7. What is aquacultures?What are some benefits to an aquaculture? What are some costs to an aquaculture? What are some of the effects of industrial agriculture have on plant diversity? What are seed banks? What are they used for? How does our food choices affect our energy needs (as in fossil fuels)? What is sustainable agriculture?What is organic agriculture?

8. Why do people choose to buy organic food? Why is it recommended to buy locally?