EVR Final Exam Study Guide

_________ costs include manufacturing costs, labor, taxes, utilities, insurance, and rent. A. Internal B. External C. Safety D. Potential E. True

A. Internal

Which of the following is probably the MOST compelling reason to use unconventional sources of oil and natural gas in the United States? A. There are a lot of them in North America. B. They are easier to extract than conventional sources. C. They are cleaner to burn than conventional sources. D. Their extraction process is more environmentally friendly than conventional extraction. E. They have a higher EROEI than conventional sources.

A. There are a lot of them in North America.

The Green Revolution 2.0 is __________________. A. a movement that focuses on the production of genetically modified organisms to increase crop productivity B. associated with feed conversion rates C. a movement focused on recycling D. a plant-breeding program that dramatically increased crop yields and led the way for mechanized, large-scale agriculture E. a program used by modern farmers to spread the use of organic agriculture

A. a movement that focuses on the production of genetically modified organisms to increase crop productivity

Energy is defined as the __________. A. capacity to do work B. ability to generate heat C. capacity to generate electricity D. power available in fossil fuels E. source of electricity

A. capacity to do work

The three principle fossil fuels are __________________. A. coal, oil, and natural gas B. oil, natural gas, and tar sands C. oil, natural gas, and oil shale D. coal, peat, and lignite

A. coal, oil, and natural gas

What is the goal of integrated pest management? A. controlling pest species while minimizing chemical toxins B. eliminating all pest species through any means necessary C. controlling pest species using only biological control methods D. eliminating all insect species in agricultural areas E. controlling pest species with traditional agricultural techniques

A. controlling pest species while minimizing chemical toxins

You want to buy a t-shirt labeled as "eco-friendly" from a business, but you cannot find any evidence of sustainable actions from the business. This may be ___________. A. greenwashing B. ecolabeling C. fair trade D. ecowashing E. a share program

A. greenwashing

The EROEI must be ____________ for any fuel to be worth harvesting. A. positive B. negative C. positive or negative, it does not matter D. fluctuating E. EROEI is not associated with profitability.

A. positive

What process allows for primary production of oil from a well? A. significant pressure on the oil from millions of tons of rocks pressing down and Earth's heat B. drilling of injection wells C. water pumping through injection wells into the ground D. injection of carbon dioxide or steam into the reservoir E. use of hydraulic technologies in the well

A. significant pressure on the oil from millions of tons of rocks pressing down and Earth's heat

Many factors can contribute to the inability of a country to be food self-sufficient. Which of the following choices is NOT one of those factors? A. the use of high-yield crop varieties B. armed conflict C. degraded land D. natural disasters E. poor food distribution

A. the use of high-yield crop varieties

Which of the following would be part of an environmental economist's agenda? A. to consider the long-term impact of our consumption choices on human society and the environment B. to discount the future value of ecosystem goods and services C. to price the product of a service such that costs associated with manufacturing, labor, and utilities are accounted for, but costs associated with pollution and resource depletion are not D. to emphasize a linear, product-oriented economic system E. to maximize the size of the ecological footprint associated with a product or service

A. to consider the long-term impact of our consumption choices on human society and the environment

If everyone lived like the average person in the United States, we would need the landmass of ______ Earths to sustain everyone. A. 2 B. 5 C. 7 D. 10 E. 15

B. 5

Which scenario would be found in a population that is food secure? A. The only local food source is many miles away. B. Regardless of income, members of the community have access to high-quality food. C. The highest quality and quantity of food is given to those in positions of power. D. The cost of high-quality food is prohibitive to many in the community. E. The lowest grade of meat is sold only in stores in lower-income neighborhoods.

B. Regardless of income, members of the community have access to high-quality food.

__________________ is removing dirt and rock that overlays a mineral deposit close to the surface in order to access that deposit. A. Subsurface mining B. Surface mining C. Fracking D. Deep mining E. Hydraulic mining

B. Surface mining

How does the use of coal cause acid precipitation? A. The acid drainage from mining evaporates, which puts the acids into the air. B. The burning of coal puts out gases like sulfur dioxide, which can combine with water to form acids. C. Acids, which leach into the soil from the mining process, are transpired by plants that have taken them up. D. The equipment used for mining releases sulfur and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. E. The transporting of the coal mining releases sulfur and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

B. The burning of coal puts out gases like sulfur dioxide, which can combine with water to form acids.

Why is meeting our future energy needs considered a wicked problem? A. We are running out of oil and will have to rely on other countries to provide it. B. We need reliable energy, but our energy choices create problems. C. We don't have the ability to use renewable energy sources. D. There is no viable energy source available to replace fossil fuel use.

B. We need reliable energy, but our energy choices create problems.

Which of the following farming techniques is considered non-GMO and nonindustrial? A. Bt corn B. Zaï pit C. high-yield varieties D. irrigation systems E. synthetic fertilizer

B. Zaï pit

What is a proven reserve? A. the moment in time when oil will reach its highest production levels and then steadily and terminally decline B. a measure of the amount of fuel that is economically feasible to extract from a deposit, using current technology C. a liquid deposit that contains free-flowing oil or oil that can be pumped out D. the value of a barrel of oil at any given time

B. a measure of the amount of fuel that is economically feasible to extract from a deposit, using current technology

How can consumers influence businesses to be more environmentally sustainable? A. buying any product from any business B. buying more fair trade items to ensure methods support sustainable practices and social justice C. buying any item with an ecolabel, regardless of any verification for the label D. buying a product instead of renting or borrowing E. purchasing more goods and services from businesses to increase the economy

B. buying more fair trade items to ensure methods support sustainable practices and social justice

A product system in which the product is folded back into the resource stream when the consumer is finished with it is a(n) _________. A. open-loop system B. circular system C. linear system D. one-way system E. cradle-to-grave system

B. circular system

Rearing meat or dairy animals in confined spaces, maximizing the number of animals that can be grown in a small area, is referred to as a __________. A. sustainable agriculture system B. concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) C. monoculture D. traditional agriculture system E. transgenic operation

B. concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO)

Unconventional reserves of oil or natural gas _________________. A. can usually be recovered with traditional methods B. may be recoverable with alternative techniques C. will not be recoverable at all D. cannot be used if they are recovered E. are too expensive to recover

B. may be recoverable with alternative techniques

Coal is a solid fossil fuel formed when plant material is buried in _______________ conditions and subjected to _________________ over a long time. A. oxygen-rich; high heat and pressure B. oxygen-poor; high heat and pressure C. oxygen-poor; low heat and pressure D. oxygen-rich; low heat and pressure

B. oxygen-poor; high heat and pressure

Overburden is associated with what type of coal mining? A. subsurface mining B. surface mining C. fracking D. deep mining E. hydraulic mining

B. surface mining

The coordinated global effort to eliminate hunger by improving crop performance using modern agricultural technologies in developing countries is called _______. A. organic farming B. the Green Revolution C. eutrophication D. the Food Act E. None of these answers fits the description.

B. the Green Revolution

Which factor(s) contribute(s) to the emergence of pesticide-resistant crop pest populations? A. lack of genetic diversity in the pest population B. the ability of individual pests within a population to survive exposure to the pesticide and reproduce C. organic farming techniques D. the ability of pesticide reapplication to kill all pests in a population E. All of these answers are factors that contribute to the emergence.

B. the ability of individual pests within a population to survive exposure to the pesticide and reproduce

A(n) _______ organism is one that contains genes from another species. A. hybrid B. transgenic C. diploid D. asexual E. native

B. transgenic

Maintaining genetic diversity in plants and animals is important, since _______. A. we need different types of plants and animals to eat B. without genetic diversity, plants and animals are more vulnerable to pests and diseases C. all plants and animals will adapt to climate change quickly without genetic diversity

B. without genetic diversity, plants and animals are more vulnerable to pests and diseases

Which of the following is an advantage of organic farming? A. Fruits and vegetables grown without pesticides are typically blemish-free and have a long shelf life, since they are picked when ripe and waxed as protection. B. Organic food is less expensive, since there are many subsidies available to organic farmers that get passed on to customers. C. Food is healthier, as there is no pesticide residue on the produce and organic food may contain more antioxidants. D. There is more genetic and species diversity, as crops can be grown without concern for what is climatically suitable to a given area. E. Labels on organic food are clear and never misleading, as the certification process is stringent but straightforward.

C. Food is healthier, as there is no pesticide residue on the produce and organic food may contain more antioxidants.

How is fracking different from conventional oil wells? A. It uses a quaternary production method. B. It causes no environmental damage. C. It uses fractures in the rock to release oil or natural gas. D. It uses strip mining. E. No chemicals are used in fracking.

C. It uses fractures in the rock to release oil or natural gas.

Why does microfertilization reduce the amount of water pollution from farms that employ this technique? A. Since no fertilizer is used, there is no contamination by fertilizer from water runoff of the farm. B. Microfertilization employs a biodegradable nitrogen source that does not pollute water sources. C. Since only a small amount of fertilizer is used, less will end up in the local water supply. D. With this technique, all of the fertilizer applied is used by the plant; thus there isn't a chance for it to end up in the water supply. E. Microfertilization actually increases the amount of water pollution seen in local sources.

C. Since only a small amount of fertilizer is used, less will end up in the local water supply.

Which of the following choices is NOT typical for converting coal to electricity? A. creating steam B. burning the coal C. converting the coal to a liquid form D. spinning a turbine

C. converting the coal to a liquid form

Which of the following sustainable farming techniques disrupts the life cycle of pests, making it difficult for pest populations to build up and cause outbreaks? A. contour farming B. cover crops C. crop rotation D. terrace farming E. reduced tillage

C. crop rotation

One of the limitations of mainstream economics is that it does not take into account ___________ costs when a price is assigned to a product or service. A. safety B. internal C. external D. marginal E. fringe

C. external

Modern industrial agriculture methods __________________. A. rely on renewable energy sources to power modern farming equipment B. maintain and enrich ecosystem services C. focus all resources on a single crop D. avoid the use of chemical fertilizers E. are referred to as organic

C. focus all resources on a single crop

Food self-sufficiency refers to the ability of an individual nation to _________. A. grow enough food to feed the majority of people in the world B. export food crops for a profit C. grow enough food to feed its people D. control its own food system E. import enough food to feed its people

C. grow enough food to feed its people

Which of the following is an example of an external cost? A. a federal tax that is placed on a product sold by a business B. a fee a company pays to have its product shipped internationally C. health costs stemming from the hazardous wastes produced during the making of a product D. the extra money a business pays to make its products or services sustainable E. labor

C. health costs stemming from the hazardous wastes produced during the making of a product

By planting corn one year and beans the next on a given plot of land, or by planting alfalfa as a cover crop during the off-season, a farmer reduces the need for ___________ because beans and alfalfa fix nitrogen in the soil. A. herbicides B. pesticides C. inorganic fertilizers D. expensive irrigation techniques E. harvesting machinery

C. inorganic fertilizers

Since peaches are a soft fruit, they can be bruised during shipping and handling. When they arrive at the store with bruising, they are generally not bought and have to be thrown out. A gene research lab has turned off a gene in peaches which causes bruising. This technique of genetic engineering is called _______ genetic engineering. A. transgenic B. cisgenic C. intragenic

C. intragenic

Unlike coal, the starting material for oil and natural gas was _________________. A. mossy plant material B. petrified wood C. marine organisms D. fossilized birds E. dinosaur bones

C. marine organisms

What is the definition of "unconventional oil reserves"? A. unrecoverable oil that is found in rock, sand, or clay, whose extraction is cheap and environmentally sound B. recoverable oil that is found in rock, sand, or clay, whose extraction is cheap and environmentally sound C. recoverable oil that is found in rock, sand, or clay, whose extraction is expensive and environmentally costly D. unrecoverable oil that is found in rock below natural gas deposits E. unrecoverable oil that is found deep below the ocean floor

C. recoverable oil that is found in rock, sand, or clay, whose extraction is expensive and environmentally costly

The 1930s Dust Bowl was caused by severe drought in prairie lands, coupled with farming techniques that left the bare soil vulnerable to wind erosion. Which of the following sustainable farming techniques would help prevent such a phenomenon from happening again? A. contour farming B. depression farming C. reduced tillage D. terrace farming E. strip cropping

C. reduced tillage

The negatives involved in removing contaminants from coal before using it are ____________________. A. the hazardous waste created and the fact that the product is a liquid or gaseous fuel B. the fact that the product is a liquid or gaseous fuel and the energy needed to complete the process lowers the EROEI C. the hazardous waste created and the energy needed to complete the process lower the EROEI D. the fact that the product is a liquid or gaseous fuel and the inefficiency of the process E. the amount of water needed and the energy needed to complete the process lower the EROEI

C. the hazardous waste created and the energy needed to complete the process lower the EROEI

The Hobet 21 mine is best known as ___________. A. the mine with the least environmental impact B. the mine that the Environmental Protection Agency recently rejected the permit for C. the largest mining operation in the Appalachian region D. a surface mine in Wyoming

C. the largest mining operation in the Appalachian region

What does it mean if a country is "energy independent"? A. A country can pay to have all of its energy imported from other countries without having to borrow money. B. A country uses a hybrid plan of energy production and energy imports to provide a stable supply of electricity for its citizens. C. A country has access to enough reliable and affordable energy resources to meet its needs. D. A country can meet of all of its energy needs without importing any fuel.

D. A country can meet of all of its energy needs without importing any fuel.

Which of the following is an advantage of sustainable farming for the farmer/environment? A. The soil is not degraded. B. There is less potential for water pollution. C. Beneficial insects are not killed. D. All of these answers are advantages. E. None of these answers is an advantage.

D. All of these answers are advantages.

What is a common criticism of mountaintop removal mine reclamation? A. The evidence suggests that the original native species will never recolonize the reclaimed site. B. The artificial channels do not host the same amount of biodiversity as the natural streams. C. The Appalachian Mountains are a region of extremely high biodiversity, and the reclaimed sites will not recover similar levels of diversity. D. All of these answers are correct. E. None of these answers are correct.

D. All of these answers are correct.

Which method of fracking wastewater disposal has a negative impact on the environment? A. storage in open pits B. injection into deep wells C. use as a roadway desalter D. All of these answers have negative impacts on the environment.

D. All of these answers have negative impacts on the environment.

How can you help decrease oil and natural gas use? A. run errands at once and not over multiple trips B. encourage public transportation or increased biking on your campus C. reduce your use of energy and disposable plastics D. All of these choices will help decrease oil and natural gas use.

D. All of these choices will help decrease oil and natural gas use.

Which of the following is an INCORRECT statement regarding GMOs? A. GMOs are patented by a few corporations and are generally expensive. B. Certain countries have banned GMOs. C. Some people are concerned about health impacts and environmental consequences that could be associated with GMOs. D. GMOs have been exhaustively shown to not pose a threat to living organisms, including humans. E. All of these answers are true statements about GMOs.

D. GMOs have been exhaustively shown to not pose a threat to living organisms, including humans.

Which of the following is a characteristic of subsurface mining? A. It permanently alters the landscape and its contours. B. It delivers silt and acidic compounds to downstream rivers. C. It damages the ecosystem by dumping overfill into valleys. D. It has dangerous conditions including tunnel collapses, released gases, particulates in the air, low oxygen, and heat.

D. It has dangerous conditions including tunnel collapses, released gases, particulates in the air, low oxygen, and heat.

How does the preliminary search for oil reserves cause environmental degradation? A. Drilling to try to find oil may release oil from reserves that then affects ecosystems. B. Searching for oil can often cause spills that negatively affect ecosystems. C. When searching for oil, companies often have to clear-cut areas of forest. D. Seismic waves sent into the ground by companies searching for reserves can disorient marine and other wildlife.

D. Seismic waves sent into the ground by companies searching for reserves can disorient marine and other wildlife.

What is the relationship between the Green Revolution and industrial agriculture? A. The Green Revolution focuses on sustainable, organic farming methods, while industrial agriculture focuses on chemicals and technology. B. The Green Revolution increased food production in less developed nations, while industrial agriculture increased food production in more developed nations. C. The Green Revolution focuses only on naturally available crops, while industrial agriculture focuses on high-yield varieties of crops. D. The Green Revolution took practices from industrial agriculture—like pesticide use, irrigation technologies, and high-yield crops—and brought them to developing nations like China and India. E. The Green Revolution focuses on small-scale, family-owned farms while industrial agriculture focuses on multifarm corporate companies.

D. The Green Revolution took practices from industrial agriculture—like pesticide use, irrigation technologies, and high-yield crops—and brought them to developing nations like China and India.

Which of the following is NOT a problem associated with mountaintop removal mining? A. This type of surface mining causes permanent, irreversible changes to the landscape. B. Runoff from the mined area can deliver sulfur and other toxic compounds to streams downstream. C. The reduction in forested areas can lead to increased frequency and severity of flooding. D. While having environmental impacts, it leads to greater employment for residents.

D. While having environmental impacts, it leads to greater employment for residents.

Which food likely has the smallest carbon footprint? A. a pineapple shipped from Hawaii B. a soybean from a local commercial farm C. an organic banana shipped from Costa Rica D. an organic strawberry from a local farm E. Both an organic banana shipped from Costa Rica and an organic strawberry from a local farm have equally small footprints.

D. an organic strawberry from a local farm

The form of coal with the highest energy content is _______________. A. lignite B. bituminous C. peat D. anthracite E. vegetation

D. anthracite

Fly ash can be taken to a landfill that is expensive and not environmentally friendly, or it can be used to make _____________, which benefits both the power plant and the environment. A. tar paper B. shingles C. sandpaper D. concrete E. glass

D. concrete

What is cradle-to-cradle management? A. accounting for part of the life of a product B. considering how to produce a product and dispose of the product at the end of its life C. a program to return a product to the producer when consumers are finished with it D. considering the entire life cycle of a product from raw materials to final disposal or recycling E. leasing a product to a consumer rather than selling it

D. considering the entire life cycle of a product from raw materials to final disposal or recycling

A nonrenewable natural resource formed millions of years ago from plant or animal remains that is used as an energy source is called a ___________________. A. hydrocarbon B. peat C. unconventional source D. fossil fuel

D. fossil fuel

What is the first step in integrated pest management? A. developing an action plan B. setting an action threshold C. monitoring pest species D. identifying true pests E. using cultural control methods

D. identifying true pests

Natural gas is predominantly which greenhouse gas? A. carbon dioxide B. water vapor C. ozone D. methane E. nitrous oxide

D. methane

Sustainable use of forests allows us to use the trees to produce goods without depleting them. The amount of net resources produced from the forest or any other form of natural capital is known as ____________. A. an ecological footprint B. internal cost C. raw material D. natural interest E. true cost

D. natural interest

What three factors are multiplied in the IPAT model to gauge a population's ecological footprint? A. predisposition, annual income, and taxation B. population growth, agriculture, and textiles C. perception, action, and time D. population, affluence, and technology E. people, animals, and technology

D. population, affluence, and technology

Choose the correct pairing of nutrient deficiency with its resulting disease. A. vitamin B deficiency — anemia B. vitamin A deficiency — kwashiorkor C. iron deficiency — blindness D. protein deficiency — kwashiorkor E. vitamin D deficiency — marasmus

D. protein deficiency — kwashiorkor

Secondary production of oil consists of _________________. A. pumping steam into the well to force the oil out B. drilling a vertical well into the Earth C. using natural pressure to allow the oil to move upward D. pumping water into the well to force the oil out E. drilling a horizontal well into the rock layers

D. pumping water into the well to force the oil out

Clean coal technologies are being developed to _________________. A. reduce CO2 emissions B. store emitted CO2 C. remove toxins from coal prior to combustion D. reduce CO2 emissions, store emitted CO2, and remove toxins from coal prior to combustion E. None of these answers are correct.

D. reduce CO2 emissions, store emitted CO2, and remove toxins from coal prior to combustion

How is oil extracted from Canadian tar sands? A. fracking B. conventional oil wells C. subsurface mining D. strip mining E. mountaintop removal

D. strip mining

Fossil fuels still account for ______ of U.S. energy production. A. 40% B. 50% C. 60% D. 70% E. 80%

E. 80%

What is a known problem associated with industrial agriculture? A. greenhouse gas emission B. water pollution C. pesticide-resistant pests D. the disappearance of local, small, family-owned farms E. All are these answers are known problems.

E. All are these answers are known problems.

Drilling could detrimentally affect which species in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? A. Arctic fox B. polar bears C. caribou D. migratory birds E. All of these answer choices are correct.

E. All of these answer choices are correct.

Petrochemicals create the raw materials used to produce which of the following? A. pesticides B. plastics C. soaps D. computers E. All of these answer choices are correct.

E. All of these answer choices are correct.

Why is 98% of the world's underfed population found in developing nations? A. war B. political unrest C. inability to recover from natural disasters D. lack of economic means to affect infrastructure solutions E. All of these answer choices are correct.

E. All of these answer choices are correct.

Benefits of using coal as an energy source include ____________________. A. low-cost electricity B. an established distribution system C. ease of isolation D. simple processing E. All of these answers are correct.

E. All of these answers are correct.

By using agroecology, Takao Furuno received financial gains. What was he able to sell from his land? A. rice B. duck eggs C. fish D. duck E. All of these answers are correct.

E. All of these answers are correct.

Environmental issues caused by industrial farming techniques include which of the following? A. eutrophication B. reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizer C. heavy use of pesticides D. formation of a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico E. All of these answers are environmental issues caused by industrial farming.

E. All of these answers are environmental issues caused by industrial farming.

What are some potential drawbacks of using pest-resistant crops? A. water pollution B. the creation of pest-resistant weeds C. the creation of pesticide-resistant pests D. the repelling of beneficial insects E. All of these answers are potential drawbacks of using pest-resistant crops.

E. All of these answers are potential drawbacks of using pest-resistant crops.

What caused the lack of food and resulting riots in 2008 in Burkina Faso? A. extreme weather events B. rising cost of oil C. growing demand for meat D. increased production of biofuels E. All of these answers likely contributed, with other factors as well.

E. All of these answers likely contributed, with other factors as well.

Which of the following is NOT an important reason to maintain an intact ecosystem? A. An intact ecosystem provides numerous ecosystem services. B. An intact ecosystem can renew and recycle resources. C. If we use more resources and goods than the ecosystem can replenish, we will not be able to receive these goods and services. D. Our future health and well-being will be threatened. E. All of these choices are important reasons to maintain intact ecosystems.

E. All of these choices are important reasons to maintain intact ecosystems.

The true cost of an item produced in a factory includes which of the following factors? A. social costs B. environmental costs C. internal costs D. external costs E. It includes all of these factors.

E. It includes all of these factors.

Burning coal to generate electricity creates all of the following types of pollution EXCEPT ____________________. A. water pollution B. particulates C. thermal pollution D. mercury E. None of these answers are correct.

E. None of these answers are correct.

Which of the following is NOT true of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill? A. The oil spill threatened the lives of many Gulf species. B. The oil spill cost millions of dollars in lost fishing revenue. C. The oil spill released close to 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf. D. The oil spill threatened the livelihoods of communities living along the Gulf of Mexico. E. The oil spill was easily and quickly cleaned up.

E. The oil spill was easily and quickly cleaned up.

What is a hazard of burning fossil fuels? A. the release of a variety of air pollutants B. emission of a major anthropogenic contributor to climate change C. higher rates of cancer and heart disease in workers in the petroleum industry D. dangers related to shipping and other transport E. These are all hazards to burning fossil fuels.

E. These are all hazards to burning fossil fuels.

Sustainable agriculture is defined as a ______________________. A. plant-breeding program focused on developing high-yield varieties (HYVs) of grain crops B. plant-breeding program focused on the production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to increase crop productivity or create new varieties of crops C. farming method in which one crop variety is planted over a large area of land with significant inputs of fertilizer, pesticides, and water D. farming method that does not use any synthetic fertilizer, pesticides, or other chemical additives E. farming method that does not deplete resources, such as soil and water, faster than they are replaced

E. farming method that does not deplete resources, such as soil and water, faster than they are replaced

Which of the following choices has the highest energy return on energy investment ratio? A. coal B. wind C. nuclear energy D. natural gas E. hydroelectric

E. hydroelectric

What are obesity and type 2 diabetes typically the result of? A. food insecurity B. kwashiorkor C. vitamin deficiencies D. wasting E. malnutrition

E. malnutrition

Mobile energy sources primarily come from __________. A. solar energy B. geothermal energy C. wind D. coal E. oil

E. oil