OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

In food production, energy is utilized for which of the following?

1. Transplanting trees

2. Food processing and transport

3. Quality control of seeds

4. Waste management

The correct answer is: Food processing and transport

Energy is crucial in food production, particularly in food processing and transport, which involves a variety of tasks requiring power. During processing, machines are used for grinding, cooking, preserving, and packaging food items, all of which consume significant energy. For transport, energy is needed to move food products from farms to processing facilities and ultimately to retail outlets, often involving vehicles that run on fossil fuels or electricity. The other areas listed require less energy directly related to the processes of food production. Transplanting trees involves physical labor and can sometimes rely on manual efforts, with energy often derived from human labor or basic tools rather than high energy consumption technology. Quality control of seeds, while important, generally involves inspection and testing processes that do not demand extensive energy. Waste management, while necessary, relates more to the disposal and recycling of materials rather than directly to the production and transport of food.