WorksheetsAgriculture and Environmental History Quiz
Total questions: 30
Worksheet time: 15mins
What was DDT originally used for?
Killing invasive plants
Killing insects that spread diseases and damage crops
Fertilizing soil
Extending the shelf life of produce
What major environmental effect was connected to DDT exposure?
Potatoes turning toxic
Eggshell thinning in birds
Cattle infertility
Rapid soil acidification
Why did public concern about DDT grow in the 1960s?
A major drought affected crop production
Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring highlighted its dangers
Farmers complained about low prices
It disappeared from store shelves
Why did the EPA ban most uses of DDT in 1972?
It was too expensive
It harmed wildlife and posed possible human health risks
Farmers stopped using it
It did not work effectively on crops
Which human activity contributed most to the Dust Bowl?
Installing irrigation lines
Over‑plowing prairie grasslands
Harvesting too many trees
Building livestock feedlots
Which natural condition worsened the Dust Bowl?
Years of heavy rain
A long drought combined with high winds
Early freezes
Frequent hurricanes
What were “black blizzards”?
Massive dust storms
Floods filled with ash
Smoke from prairie fires
Storms caused by volcanic dust
What was one major impact of the Dust Bowl on families?
Increased food prices led to wealth
Many migrated west in search of work
Farms expanded by thousands of acres
More farmers bought tractors
What was one key feature of the Green Revolution?
Removal of irrigation systems
Development of high‑yield crop varieties
Banning of fertilizers
Decrease in global food production
The Green Revolution increased crop yields mainly by:
Decreasing pesticide use
Introducing HYV seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation
Ending global trade
Replacing all crops with a single hybrid
Which countries benefited most from the Green Revolution?
Countries with high mountain ranges
Nations like India, Mexico, and the Philippines
Countries that banned wheat production
Only the U.S. and Canada
What is one major criticism of the Green Revolution?
It was too environmentally friendly
It relied heavily on chemicals that harmed ecosystems
It eliminated hunger everywhere
It worked without machinery
What did the Hatch Act of 1887 create?
Agricultural extension agents
Agricultural experiment stations
Federal crop insurance
Farm cooperatives
What is the goal of an experiment station?
Provide food stamps
Conduct agricultural research to help farmers
Recruit students into universities
Train farm animals
What type of topics are studied at experiment stations?
Astronomy and weather patterns
Soil nutrients, plant diseases, livestock, fertilizers
Only poultry genetics
Music and agriculture history
Why are experiment stations still important?
They ensure farms use outdated techniques
They continue to research solutions to modern farm problems
They create farm taxes
They regulate grocery stores
What did the Land Grant/Morrill Act of 1862 provide to states?
Tractors for farmers
Federal land to fund agricultural and mechanical colleges
Irrigation systems
Money for landowners to build mansions
What was the main purpose of land‑grant universities?
Teach only art and literature
Teach agriculture, engineering, and military science
Promote European languages
Train astronauts
Which of the following was an outcome of the Morrill Act?
Fewer people attended college
Higher education became more accessible to the working class
Universities stopped teaching agriculture
All colleges became private
How do land‑grant universities still help agriculture today?
By creating farm‑video games
Through teaching, research, and Extension services
By banning all pesticides
By eliminating science programs
What was the major focus of the Smith‑Hughes Act?
Funding military academies
Supporting vocational agriculture in schools
Promoting ancient history courses
Founding FFA
Why was vocational agriculture important?
It prepared students for real jobs in agriculture
It eliminated farm labor
It only benefited college graduates
It replaced classroom learning entirely
How did Smith‑Hughes influence modern agricultural education?
By removing ag classes
It helped create school‑based ag programs that link to FFA
It banned shop classes
It focused only on dairy production
What did the Smith‑Lever Act establish?
School lunch programs
The Cooperative Extension Service
The U.S. Postal Service
Soil Conservation Service
What is a key role of Cooperative Extension?
Deliver research‑based information from universities to communities
Manufacture tractors
Replace farm owners
Create food advertisements
Which youth organization grew alongside Extension?
4‑H
Boy Scouts
SkillsUSA
Junior Achievement
Why did Abraham Lincoln create the USDA?
To support farmers feeding the Union and develop agriculture
To increase income for politicians
To regulate deferred attendance
To start international trade wars
What was one early service provided by the USDA?
Selling tractors to farmers
Testing farm equipment and distributing quality seeds
Selling livestock
Building state highways
What modern role does the USDA play today?
Regulating video game companies
Food safety, research, conservation, and nutrition programs
Running amusement parks
Building phone towers
Why is the USDA often called “The People’s Department”?
It only helps wealthy landowners
It was created to support the majority of Americans who were farmers
It operates only in big cities
It was Lincoln’s favorite department
