Mixed Farming

Help Questions

AP Human Geography › Mixed Farming

Questions 1 - 8
1

Which of these statements about intensive farming is false?

None of these

It is common in countries like the United Kingdom and the Netherlands

It requires a large amount of labor

Land holdings are smaller than in extensive farming

It is carried out in relatively densely populated areas

Explanation

Intensive farming is distinct from extensive farming. Intensive farming is carried out in relatively densely populated areas, like the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. It involves smaller land holdings than in extensive farming and requires a relatively large amount of manual labor. Thus none of these answer choices are false.

2

Which of the following types of farming is not historically prevalent in the United States of America?

None of the other answers

Dairy farming

Grain farming

Livestock ranching

Mixed-crop farming

Explanation

Mixed-crop farming, livestock ranching, dairy farming, and grain farming are all historically prevalent in the United States of America.

3

What name is given to husks of grain and corn that have been separated from the seed of the plant?

Chaff

Fallow

Cleavage

Hull

Soft

Explanation

“Chaff” is the name given to the thin outer protective casing in which husks of corn, grain, or rice are encased. The process of separating the chaff from the crop that can be consumed is called “winnowing.” Fallow describes land that is left unsown in order to restore its fertility. The hull is the exterior of a fruit or seed.

4

In the developed world the majority of commercial grain farming is used to __________.

feed livestock

feed the developing world

feed the developed world

accelerate scientific progress

None of these answers are accurate.

Explanation

In the developed world, particularly in Western Europe, the majority of commercial grain farming is used to feed livestock. This is because it is more profitable to raise meat products than it is to grow grain; so grain is grown and fed to livestock, which is in turn culled and sold on the market.

5

What name is given to the method of growing crops in nutrient solutions rather than in soil?

Hydroponics

Collectivization

Irrigation

Salinization

Genetic modification

Explanation

“Hydroponics” is the name given to the method of growing crops in nutrient solutions instead of in soil. This allows food to be grown in arid climates and increases the geographic range in which many crops can be grown. It is common, for example, in desert climates where the soil is harsh and unforgiving.

6

For which of these purposes is a combine used?

Harvesting crops

Protecting crops

Planting crops

Modifying crops

Destroying crops

Explanation

A “combine,” also commonly called a “combine harvester,” is used to harvest crops such as wheat, corn, oats, and barley. Its name is derived from the fact that it “combines” the three steps of harvesting in one machine - reaping, threshing, and winnowing. Combine harvesters are commonly used in the developed world, but remain uncommon in the developing world.

7

Which of these animals is most likely to be raised in a “feedlot?”

Chickens

Cows

Sheep

Goats

Horses

Explanation

A “feedlot” is the name given to livestock farming that has been concentrated into a relatively small area. Animals in feedlots are fed hormones to accelerate their growth and are generally kept in extremely close proximity to other animals of their kind. This has numerous benefits for the farmer, but of course raises moral and environmental questions. Chickens are most likely to be raised in feedlots because they can survive without any space and respond dramatically to hormone treatments.

8

The process of removing chaff by allowing it to be blown away by the wind is called __________.

Winnowing

Mollification

Threshing

Monoculture

Salinization

Explanation

The process of removing the chaff from a crop like grain, wheat, or rice by allowing it to be blown away by the wind is called “winnowing.” Mollification refers to the softening of a substance like soil. Threshing involves the separation of grains or seeds from their plant by mechanical means, such as with a threshing machine. Salinization is the process by which solutes accumulate in soil as a result of water evaporation, which leaves the soil unfavorable for agriculture. Monoculture involves the growth of a single crop within a given area.

Return to subject