Unit 5 Week 5 Skills Test

 What is the best way to feed the world? Some people argue that intensive farming is the best answer for everyone. Intensive farming grows crops in a big way. Modern machines are used on enormous farms that produce large amounts of food, both quickly and cheaply. Yet, it is not worth the harm that intensive farming is doing to our environment. It is important to stop intensive farming now to protect the planet Earth.

One of the problems with intensive farming involves the chemicals that scientists have developed, such as fertilizers. The same crop is grown year after year on the same field. These plants eventually drain the soil of nutrients, and then farmers must feed the soil in their fields with fertilizers.

Over time, some of the fertilizers seep through the soil and end up in our water sources. Fertilizers can promote the growth of tiny plants and bacteria that use up most of the oxygen in the water. Fish and other creatures die because they cannot breathe. This situation is heartbreaking and unacceptable.

To avoid these negative impacts, farmers could take advantage of other scientific advances. For example, they could use thermal imaging cameras, which take aerial photographs of crops as they ripen. In these photographs, healthy and diseased crops show up as different colors. With this information, farmers know exactly where to use fertilizer. They can use small amounts only on the parts of the fields that need it. Although this technology will not completely prevent fertilizer from seeping into our waterways, it is a good start.

On large farms, insects can spread quickly across fields, destroying crops as they feed. To keep insects away, many farmers spray chemical pesticides on their fields. Unfortunately, traces of these chemicals are often found in our food and water. Researchers conducted a ten-year study and found that ninety-seven percent of water samples showed small amounts of one or more pesticides. It is plain to see that these chemicals are bad for the environment, and bad for our health, too!

 

Farmers should find other ways to control pests, such as using natural pesticides that break down into harmless substances. Onions and marigolds have strong smells that many insects do not like, so farmers could grow these common plants between their crops to get rid of pests naturally. Natural pesticides are also less likely to disturb the local ecosystem. Chemical pesticides often kill beneficial insects—insects that prey on the harmful insects.

 Intensive farming may work for a while, but it cannot last forever, and over time it destroys the environment. We need to find a better way to feed our world. Stop intensive farming now, before it is too late!

• I read the text

• I didn't read the text

How does the information in paragraph 3 support the author’s perspective about intensive farming?

3       Over time, some of the fertilizers seep through the soil and end up in our water sources. Fertilizers can promote the growth of tiny plants and bacteria that use up most of the oxygen in the water. Fish and other creatures die because they cannot breathe. This situation is heartbreaking and unacceptable.

• by describing how fertilizers work in soil

• by giving examples of types of fertilizers

• by explaining that fertilizers help crops grow

• by showing how fertilizers harm the environment

Read this sentence from the passage.

“For example, they could use thermal imaging cameras, which take aerial photographs of crops as they ripen.” (paragraph 4)

 

The word aerial is based on the Greek root aer, meaning “air.” What does aerial mean as it is used in the sentence?

• reaching for

• a type of cloud

• able to see through

• from a position above

Based on the chart, what inference or guess can readers make about crops grown in the United States?

• Wheat crops cost less to grow than soybeans.

• Corn is one of the largest crops in the country.

• Planting cotton does not affect the environment.

• Pests disturb potato farms less than wheat farms.

Read this sentence from the passage.  

 

“Chemical pesticides often kill beneficial insects—insects that prey on the harmful insects.” (paragraph 6)

 

The word beneficial is based on the Greek root bene, meaning “good.” What does this information suggest about the “beneficial insects” in the sentence?

• They eat weeds that harm the crops.

• They remove rocks and other objects in soil.

• They are not affected by chemical pesticides.

• They help the crops by eating harmful insects.

Re-read the passage and then Match the following to complete each statement about the author's perspective.

 What is the best way to feed the world? Some people argue that intensive farming is the best answer for everyone. Intensive farming grows crops in a big way. Modern machines are used on enormous farms that produce large amounts of food, both quickly and cheaply. Yet, it is not worth the harm that intensive farming is doing to our environment. It is important to stop intensive farming now to protect the planet Earth.

One of the problems with intensive farming involves the chemicals that scientists have developed, such as fertilizers. The same crop is grown year after year on the same field. These plants eventually drain the soil of nutrients, and then farmers must feed the soil in their fields with fertilizers.

Over time, some of the fertilizers seep through the soil and end up in our water sources. Fertilizers can promote the growth of tiny plants and bacteria that use up most of the oxygen in the water. Fish and other creatures die because they cannot breathe. This situation is heartbreaking and unacceptable.

To avoid these negative impacts, farmers could take advantage of other scientific advances. For example, they could use thermal imaging cameras, which take aerial photographs of crops as they ripen. In these photographs, healthy and diseased crops show up as different colors. With this information, farmers know exactly where to use fertilizer. They can use small amounts only on the parts of the fields that need it. Although this technology will not completely prevent fertilizer from seeping into our waterways, it is a good start.

On large farms, insects can spread quickly across fields, destroying crops as they feed. To keep insects away, many farmers spray chemical pesticides on their fields. Unfortunately, traces of these chemicals are often found in our food and water. Researchers conducted a ten-year study and found that ninety-seven percent of water samples showed small amounts of one or more pesticides. It is plain to see that these chemicals are bad for the environment, and bad for our health, too!

 Farmers should find other ways to control pests, such as using natural pesticides that break down into harmless substances. Onions and marigolds have strong smells that many insects do not like, so farmers could grow these common plants between their crops to get rid of pests naturally. Natural pesticides are also less likely to disturb the local ecosystem. Chemical pesticides often kill beneficial insects—insects that prey on the harmful insects.

 Intensive farming may work for a while, but it cannot last forever, and over time it destroys the environment. We need to find a better way to feed our world. Stop intensive farming now, before it is too late!

• dislike

• The author believes pests should be controlled by growing plants that pests _____.

• damage

• The author does not like how intensive farming tends to _____ our water and soil.

• decrease

• The author wants farmers to _____ the use of fertilizers by using cameras to determine whether crops are healthy or diseased.