Which statement is true about chemical control as a pest management method?

• A. It is obsolete
• B. It is optional
• C. Pesticides play a key role in pest management programs and sometimes are the only control method available
• D. Pesticides are never used

Answer: (C)

Chemical control uses pesticides to manage pest problems, and in pest management programs these chemicals often play a central role. They can provide fast, reliable suppression when pests threaten crops or property, and in many situations they are the only practical option to achieve timely control. While integrated pest management encourages using a mix of tactics to reduce reliance on chemicals, pesticides remain a key tool because some pests cannot be managed effectively by cultural, mechanical, or biological methods alone. That makes the statement true: pesticides play a key role and sometimes are the only control method available. The other ideas aren’t accurate because pesticides are not obsolete, they aren’t merely optional, and they are indeed used in real-world pest management scenarios.