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AP Environmental Science Practice Quiz: Pest Control Methods

Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026

Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 9 questions to check your progress.

Question 1 of 9

According to the provided text, what is a primary benefit of implementing pest control methods?

All Questions (9)

According to the provided text, what is a primary benefit of implementing pest control methods?

A) Increased crop yields

B) Enhanced genetic diversity

C) Reduced need for irrigation

D) Improved soil nutrient levels

Correct Answer: A

The text explicitly states that 'Pest control decreases crop damage by pest and increases crop yields.'

Which of the following is identified as a significant consequence of the widespread use of chemical pesticides like insecticides and herbicides?

A) A decrease in the genetic diversity of the crops being protected

B) The development of resistance in pest populations

C) An increase in the cost of crop irrigation

D) The immediate eradication of all non-target organisms

Correct Answer: B

The text clearly states that one consequence of using common pest-control methods is that 'organisms can become resistant to them through artificial selection.'

The text states that pest organisms can become resistant to chemical controls. What is the mechanism explicitly mentioned as being responsible for this phenomenon?

A) Natural selection

B) Genetic engineering

C) Artificial selection

D) Loss of crop diversity

Correct Answer: C

The content directly states that resistance to pesticides occurs 'through artificial selection.'

What is a key advantage of using genetically engineered crops for pest management, as described in the text?

A) They eliminate the possibility of future pest resistance.

B) They lead to an overall increase in the genetic diversity of all crops.

C) They can be designed to have increased resistance to pests and diseases.

D) They require significantly less water and fertilizer than conventional crops.

Correct Answer: C

The passage says, 'Crops can be genetically engineered to increase their resistance to pests and diseases.'

What is a potential negative outcome specifically associated with the widespread planting of genetically engineered crops?

A) An increase in crop damage from the targeted pests

B) The development of pesticide resistance in the crops themselves

C) A reduction in the genetic diversity of that particular crop

D) A decrease in overall crop yields compared to traditional varieties

Correct Answer: C

The text clearly states that using genetically engineered crops 'can lead to loss of genetic diversity of that particular crop.'

A farmer repeatedly sprays a specific insecticide on their fields to control an insect pest. Over several years, they notice the insecticide is becoming less effective and crop damage is increasing. Based on the provided text, what is the most likely explanation?

A) The crops have become genetically engineered to be less resistant.

B) The insect population has developed resistance through artificial selection.

C) The genetic diversity of the crop has been unintentionally lost.

D) The insecticide has caused a mutation in the crop plants.

Correct Answer: B

This scenario directly illustrates the concept mentioned in the text: 'organisms can become resistant to them through artificial selection' as a consequence of repeated use of pest-control methods.

Based on the text, which statement accurately compares a drawback of chemical pesticides with a drawback of genetically engineered (GE) crops?

A) Pesticides increase crop diversity, while GE crops decrease it.

B) Pesticides can lead to pest resistance, while GE crops can lead to a loss of crop genetic diversity.

C) Both methods primarily result in a loss of crop genetic diversity.

D) Both methods are described as causing resistance in the crops themselves.

Correct Answer: B

The text identifies pest resistance as a consequence of pesticides and loss of genetic diversity as a drawback of GE crops, making this the correct comparison of their respective disadvantages mentioned in the content.

A global food company decides to exclusively plant a single, high-yield, pest-resistant variety of genetically engineered corn across all its farms worldwide. According to the text, what is a significant risk of this agricultural strategy?

A) An immediate increase in crop damage by the pests the corn is resistant to.

B) The development of pesticide resistance in the corn plants themselves.

C) A loss of genetic diversity, making the entire global crop vulnerable to a new disease or pest.

D) A guaranteed decrease in crop yields compared to using multiple traditional varieties.

Correct Answer: C

The text warns that using genetically engineered crops can lead to a 'loss of genetic diversity.' A monoculture of a single GE variety exemplifies this risk on a large scale, as a new pest or disease to which it is not resistant could be catastrophic for the entire crop.

What is a central theme that applies to both the chemical and genetic engineering methods of pest control described in the text?

A) Both methods are guaranteed to increase crop yields without any negative consequences.

B) Both methods represent strategies to manage pests but come with distinct drawbacks.

C) Both methods exclusively rely on the process of artificial selection to be effective.

D) Both methods are primarily designed to increase the genetic diversity of agricultural systems.

Correct Answer: B

The text describes the benefits (increased yield, pest resistance) and drawbacks (pest resistance, loss of diversity) for both chemical and genetic methods, supporting the idea that each is a strategy with associated trade-offs or consequences.