Final answer:
In the experiment to determine the effectiveness of different types of fertilizer for growing corn, distance from the highway is a lurking variable.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the experiment to determine if a new type of fertilizer is better than the current 'standard' fertilizer for growing corn, distance from the highway is a lurking variable. A lurking variable is a variable that is not directly measured or controlled in the experiment but could still affect the results. In this case, the distance from the highway is not deliberately manipulated by the researcher, but it is found to have an effect on the corn yields.