Pest Control Methods (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Exam Questions

4 mins4 questions
11 mark

Which of the following is illustrated by the data below?

Line graph showing the increase in species with multiple resistance from 1975 to 2020, highlighting eleven categories with a key for each.
  • Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) 

  • Salinization

  • Desertification 

  • Pesticide treadmill 

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21 mark

Which of the following is the best explanation for the trends displayed in the data?

Line graph showing the increase of species with multiple resistances from 1975 to 2020, with eleven categories, pink line rising steeply.
  • Herbicides are being applied at below the recommended dosage.

  • There is cross pollination between different plants

  • The plants have been genetically modified

  • Some weeds survive and pass on beneficial traits to offspring.

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31 mark

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of the pesticide treadmill?

  • Farmers apply increasing amounts and varieties of pesticides as pests develop resistance over time.

  • Pesticides accumulate in the tissues of organisms, leading to higher concentrations up the food chain.

  • The use of pesticides leads to the immediate elimination of all pest species in an ecosystem.

  • Pesticides degrade quickly in the environment, requiring frequent reapplication.

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41 mark

Which of the following explains the farmer’s observation that over a 10-year period, each year requires a more concentrated application of pesticide to achieve the same level of crop yield?

  • The pesticide is degrading in the soil, reducing its effectiveness over time.

  • The pests have become resistant to the pesticide, requiring higher concentrations for control.

  • The pesticide is being washed away by rainfall, reducing its effectiveness.

  • The soil quality is decreasing, which affects the crops' ability to grow.

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