PRAXIS II Agriculture Pennsylvania Exam

The Agriculture (PA) exam specifically assesses the ability of future teachers in Pennsylvania to teach agriculture to high school juniors and seniors. Potential teachers who take the exam should be familiar with the content of the exam from courses taken in the pursuit of bachelor degrees in the education of agriculture. The content of the Agriculture (PA) exam is broken up into six areas that are approximately divided into 140 multiple choice questions as follows:

• 28 questions covering Leadership and Supervised Occupational Experience
• 28 questions covering Agricultural Mechanics
• 21 questions covering Soil Science
• 21 questions covering Plant Science
• 21 questions covering Animal Science
• 21 questions covering Agricultural Economics

The Leadership and Supervised Occupational Experience questions concentrate on aspects of programs for both adult and future farmers and on the Future Farmers of America. Topics in this category include personal interests such as camps and workshops, public oration, and contests; issues associated with organizations such as, committees, officers, and service to the community; and the subject of careers in agriculture, including aspects of occupational training.

Questions in the area of Agricultural Mechanics will involve the equipment used in raising animals and crops and in the processing of the goods that are produced. All facets of construction that are relevant to agricultural practices as well as knowledge of various tools and safety concerns of work on farms will be included in this area of the exam.

The category of Soil Science consists of the morphology of soil, the preservation of land and soil, ways to test soil for fertility, and careers and safety concerns associated with soil science.

The questions in the area of Plant Science will focus on the anatomy and physiology of plants, types of plants and crops, cultivation of crops from planting to harvesting and processing, and careers and safety concerns related to plant science and the raising of crops.

Under the topic of Animal Science, the questions will concentrate on the anatomy and physiology of livestock, breeds of livestock, management of livestock, the products of livestock, and careers and safety concerns related to animals in agriculture.

The category of Agricultural Economics focuses on principles such as supply and demand, multiple facets a management and marketing, and laws concerning agriculture.

This is a two hour exam, with 60% of the questions being real-life problem-solving questions and 40% devoted to measuring knowledge.

PRAXIS II Agriculture In Pennsylvania Practice Questions

1. Agricultural science requires knowledge of:

A. life science
B. social science
C. engineering
D. All of the above

2. Practical lessons learned by studying agricultural science include:

A. managing scarce natural resources
B. humane treatment of all living things
C. awareness of social issues
D. All of the above

3. Which of the following does not affect the stability of the environment?

A. Stars
B. Variety of species
C. Productivity of the ecosystem
D. Natural processes

4. Water resources include:

A. wetlands
B. watersheds
C. floodplains
D. All of the above

5. Which of the following is not considered a form of hazardous waste?

A. Liquid
B. Animal excrement
C. Gas
D. Sludge

Answer Key For Agriculture In Pennsylvania

1. Answer: D

Webster's New Explorer Desk Encyclopedia defines agriculture as the "science or art of cultivating the soil, growing and harvesting crops, and raising livestock. More of the world's aggregate manpower is devoted to agriculture than to all other occupations combined." Using this basic definition, agricultural science is the study and care of soil, plants, and animals and how their relationships produce and process food, fiber, and fuel. It is an interdisciplinary science that requires knowledge in and understanding of a wide range of fields such as:

• PHYSICAL SCIENCE is the study of the interaction of matter, motion, energy, space, and time.
• LIFE SCIENCE or biology is the study of living organisms, their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution.
• SOCIAL SCIENCE studies human behavior.
• EARTH SCIENCE studies all things related to the earth: geology, hydrology, meteorology, and oceanography.
• ENGINEERING is the application of physical, mathematical, and mechanical principles to design, construct, and operate structures.
• MATHEMATICS explains the logic of and relationship between numbers.
• ECONOMICS studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

2. Answer: D

Students who study agricultural science develop an understanding of the interconnectedness of all the earth's resources: plant, animal, human. They learn the importance of managing scarce natural resources and caring for the environment. They discover the necessity of humane treatment of all living things as scientific and technological breakthroughs change the relationships and interactions between and among species. Students become aware of social issues such as food security, the reasons for and effects of both subsistence and commercial farming practices.

Another result of studying agricultural science is the growing ability to think critically, design workable solutions to complex problems, and make thoughtful decisions. Since it is a global, interdisciplinary field, students learn to interact with a diverse cross-section of scientists, researchers, and environmentalists from many nations. Each person brings a unique perspective to universal issues based on experiences and conditions in his homeland. From planning, production, processing, and distribution, an individual country's economy and fiscal policies has an impact on the global marketplace.

3. Answer: A

The stability of the environment is predicated on population size, the number and variety of species interacting within the community, and the productivity of the entire ecosystem. The ecosystem can remain fairly stable over long periods of time because of the natural processes at work. For example: the availability of food sources and appropriate shelter for all species, the number of predators and/or parasites in the community, and the occurrence of natural disasters such as fires, floods, and droughts. Ecosystems are complex and subject to cyclical fluctuations such as climate changes and the appearance of new species and disappearance of old ones as a result of mutation, migration, or evolution.

Human activities have an enormous influence on the state and stability of the ecosystem and can alter its equilibrium for better or worse. As the guardians of the earth, it is our responsibility to ensure we respect the other species, protect the various components of the community, and avoid damaging the delicate balance of the ecosystem through misuse of its natural resources.

4. Answer: D

Wetlands link land and water resources. Programs to protect wetlands usually work with programs designed to protect and manage other surface and ground water systems. These may include storm, flood and pollution control, protection of fish and wildlife, and creation and maintenance of public recreation areas.

A watershed or drainage basin is the area where water, sediment, and other material flows from a landmass into a body of water such as a river, lake, ocean or sea. Watershed conservation programs take a systemic approach and consider the entire ecosystem including water, air, and land.

A floodplain is a low area of land next to a body of water. Floodplains and adjacent water resources form a complex, dynamic ecosystem, which provides flood and erosion control, water filtering, natural habitats for plants and animals, and areas for public recreation and scientific study.

5. Answer: B

Hazardous waste contains properties dangerous or potentially harmful to humans and/or the environment (air, water, ground). Waste can be liquid, solid, gas, and sludge. They can be by-products of a manufacturing process or specific products. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined certain wastes are always hazardous and has categorized them into the following lists:

• F-list contains nonspecific source wastes from manufacturing and industrial processes.
• K-list contains source-specific wastes produced by specific industries.
• P-list and U-list contain discarded commercial chemical products.

Hazardous wastes exhibits one of four characteristics:

• Ignitable waste starts fires under certain conditions, spontaneously combusts, or has a low flash point.
• Corrosive waste is capable of corroding metal such as storage tanks, drums, and barrels.
• Reactive waste is unstable under "normal" conditions. It can cause explosions, toxic fumes, gases, and vapors when heated, compressed, or mixed with water.
• Toxic waste is harmful and/or fatal when ingested orally or absorbed through the skin; it can contaminate the ground and leach into water sources.