Environmental Science 100 Exam 1 Study Guide

Approximately ________% of the food we consume comes from ________ crop species. A) 90; 15 B) 90; 100 C) 50; 20 D) 50; 50 E) 10; 100

A) 90; 15

The first event that began a remarkable increase in human population was the ________ revolution. A) agricultural B) industrial C) chemical D) informational E) green

A) agricultural

Aquaculture ________. A) can bring economic benefits and food security to many developing regions B) has no real environmental disadvantages C) frequently results in unintended catch of nontarget species D) requires the flooding of fields to produce water-intensive crops such as cotton and rice E) produces less fish per unit area compared to ocean water harvesting

A) can bring economic benefits and food security to many developing regions

Raising which of the following requires the least land and water per kilogram of protein produced? A) eggs and chicken B) beef and chicken C) pork D) milk and eggs E) beef and milk

A) eggs and chicken

During the past half century, global food production has ________ world population growth. A) increased at a faster rate than B) fallen behind C) stayed about even with D) surpassed by several orders of magnitude E) fallen to critical levels compared to

A) increased at a faster rate than

According to the IPAT model, technology that enhances our acquisition of minerals, fossil fuels, timber, and ocean fish ________. A) increases environmental impact B) decreases environmental impact C) increases population D) increases sensitivity E) decreases sensitivity

A) increases environmental impact

The invasive European buckthorn invades a local forest preserve. Initially, the population of buckthorn rapidly increases, and then it begins to level off. This pattern of population growth most closely resembles ________. A) logistic growth B) exponential growth C) unlimited growth D) rapid and steady rate growth E) slow and constantly changing growth

A) logistic growth

The carrying capacity is the ________. A) maximum sustainable population that a given environment can support B) greatest number of different niches possible in a given area C) potential growth in the number of species in a given area D) limitation on numbers of species in a community E) average number of offspring carried to term by a species

A) maximum sustainable population that a given environment can support

A niche specialist is ________. A) more likely to go extinct than a niche generalist B) more likely to adapt to climate change than a niche generalist C) more likely to thrive in human-modified environments than a niche generalist D) more likely to have a large geographic distribution than a niche generalist E) more likely to use a wide variety of resources than a niche generalist

A) more likely to go extinct than a niche generalist

pH influences ________. A) plant growth B) erosion C) soil compaction D) the number of soil horizons E) soil clumpiness

A) plant growth

It is more energetically efficient for us to eat more ________. A) plant-based foods B) herbivorous animals like cattle and chicken C) carnivorous animals like fish and alligator D) GM foods E) foods grown using IPM methods

A) plant-based foods

The concept of sustainable development includes ________. A) the needs of future generations B) growth in profits from international trade C) the importance of developing the arts D) each nation being sovereign over its own resources, to be used as its citizens deem appropriate E) convenience and global economic improvements

A) the needs of future generations

Contour farming and terracing are strategies used mainly to reduce ________. A) water erosion B) tillage C) wind erosion D) overgrazing E) deforestation

A) water erosion

A hypothesis is ________________. A. a prediction about something that has not yet been observed B.a statement that explains an observed phenomenon or answers a scientific question C. an instrument that is used to examine environmental conditions. D. the design of an experiment that can be used in scientific inquiry E. a proven scientific fact

A. a prediction about something that has not yet been observed

Roberto lives near a wind farm and is wondering about the environmental effects of the wind turbines. He ________ that the turbines make a sound like faint airplane engines and also that there are far fewer meadowlarks living near the windfarm than lived there before the windfarm was built. A. hypothesizes B. predicts C. observes D. theorizes E. guesses

A. hypothesizes

A study's results are deemed worthy of acceptance into the body of scientific knowledge if they are published in journals that ________. A) use the peer review process B) charge a high fee for acceptance C) are funded by corporations financing the research D) meet guidelines advocated by environmentalists or consumer groups E) conform to current political and religious views

A. use peer review process

________ is the world's most populous nation, home to ________ of the people living on Earth. A) China; half B) China; one-fifth C) The United States; half D) The United States; one-fifth E) India; one-third

B) China; one-fifth

Populations in which the probability of dying is constant at every age exemplify ________. A) Type I survivorship B) Type II survivorship C) Type III survivorship D) arithmetic growth E) natural selection

B) Type II survivorship

In order for livestock to be considered organic, ________. A) hormones and antibiotics are permitted, but not vaccines B) animals must be fed 100% organic agricultural feed C) animals cannot be transferred from regular treatment to organic standards D) no vitamins and mineral supplements can be used E) animals must be reared under natural conditions in intact ecosystems

B) animals must be fed 100% organic agricultural feed

Groups of organisms with low biotic potential, such as gray whales, ________. A) are r-selected B) are K-selected C) are not subject to density-dependent limiting factors D) show the initial stages of the extinction process E) have escaped from the processes of natural selection and adaptation

B) are K-selected

Zero population growth occurs in a population when ________. A) people have as many children as they can in the first five years of marriage B) birth rate equals death rate and there is no migration C) the carrying capacity is larger than the ecological footprint D) the ecological footprint is larger than the carrying capacity E) the total fertility rate exceeds the average replacement rate

B) birth rate equals death rate and there is no migration

Dog breeds are a classic example of artificial selection. Which of the following is another example of artificial selection? A) crossing a lion and a tiger to get a sterile animal called a liger B) breeding wild cabbage to create broccoli and cauliflower C) choosing what kind of holiday greenery to purchase D) inserting a gene for herbicide resistance into soybeans E) chimney swifts adapting to human presence and selectively nesting in chimneys

B) breeding wild cabbage to create broccoli and cauliflower

Worldwide per capita meat consumption has ________ since 1950. A) dropped by 50% B) doubled C) tripled D) increased by 50% E) increased fivefold

B) doubled

The average consumer can reduce his or her ecological footprint the most by ________. A) eating more locally grown foods B) eating less meat and dairy products C) eating more meat and less grains D) drinking bottled water that is high in mineral content E) eating mainly foods that are shipped in large, bulk shipments

B) eating less meat and dairy products

The results of the overapplication of fertilization can include ________. A) very large fruits and vegetables B) eutrophication in nearby waters C) large crop yields per acre D) crops spreading rapidly into nearby areas E) very fertile soils in future years

B) eutrophication in nearby waters

Unregulated populations tend to increase by ________. A) linear growth B) exponential growth C) pyramidal growth D) emigration E) immigration

B) exponential growth

Planting ________ between other crops will help replace depleted soil nitrogen. A) corn B) legumes C) wheat D) trees E) pineapples

B) legumes

Drip irrigation is ________. A) more likely to result in soil salinization than other irrigation techniques B) more than twice as efficient at conserving water as traditional conventional irrigation C) only half as efficient at conserving water as center-pivot irrigation D) typically used in combination with flood-and-furrow irrigation E) used in aquaculture

B) more than twice as efficient at conserving water as traditional conventional irrigation

Neonicotinoids are used ________. A) as a toxin by milkweed plants B) on seeds to protect the plants from insects after the seeds germinate C) in the treatment of brain and bone cancer D) as fertilizer for tobacco crops E) in the manufacture of cigarettes

B) on seeds to protect the plants from insects after the seeds germinate

Which of the following factors drives TFR down? A) rural lifestyle B) social and economic security C) poverty D) history and tradition E) high infant mortality

B) social and economic security

The planet loses 5 to 7 million hectares of productive cropland per year to ________. A) forest replanting and regeneration B) soil degradation C) recreational land use D) soil conservation efforts E) abandonment, feralization, and other factors

B) soil degradation

All of the following are examples of quantitative data except ________. A) the number of siblings that students have B) the gender of the students in a class C) the cholesterol levels of the students in a class D) the amount of sleep normally gotten by the students in a class E) the exam scores for the students in a class

B) the gender of the students in a class

Humus is ________. A) an artificial fertilizer applied to monocultures B) the organic soil component that holds soil moisture and enhances soil fertility C) the layer sometimes found in a soil horizon that is created by eluviation; it causes serious problems in agricultural fields D) caused by agricultural runoff into waterways or into the water table E) one of the primary causes of desertification if it is present in excess

B) the organic soil component that holds soil moisture and enhances soil fertility

The "sensitivity factor" in the model used to represent human environmental impact denotes ________. A) human sensitivity to what needs to be done to protect the environment B) the sensitivity of an environment to human pressures C) the sensitivity of endangered species to human population infringement D) the sensitivity of governments to carrying capacity demands E) economic sensitivity to resource use

B) the sensitivity of an environment to human pressures

Staple grain crops are pollinated by ________, while most fruits and vegetables are pollinated by ________. A) insects; wind B) wind; insects C) water; insects D) wind; water E) insects; insects

B) wind; insects

Which of the following statements best embodies the qualities of a scientific theory? A) Squirrels in central Illinois prefer to build their nests in oak trees instead of hickory trees. B) All gases, liquids, and solids consist of atoms. C) Prairies that have large herds of bison show greater plant diversity than prairies without bison. D) Dangerous wildfires in California could be avoided by better fire prevention strategies. E) Students who study for their environmental science exams will perform better on those exams than those who do not.

B. All gases, liquids, and solids consist of atoms

The substances and energy sources that we take from the environment are ________. A. ecosystem services B. natural resources C. sustainable resources D. green infrastructure E. variables

B. natural resources

Geothermal energy, wind energy, and solar radiation are all examples of ________. A. nonrenewable resources B. renewable environmental resources C. biotic environmental factors D. quality control E. biodegradable materials

B. renewable environmental resources

The annual global growth rate of the human population peaked at 2.1% in the ________ and has been declining ever since. A) early 1900s B) 1950s C) 1960s D) 1990s E) year 2000

C) 1960s

A population that is neither growing nor declining will have a TFR of ________. A) zero B) 1.2 C) 2.1 D) greater than 2.1 E) less than 1.0

C) 2.1

The United Nations currently predicts that Earth will be home to almost ________ billion people by the year 2050. A) 11 B) 10 C) 9.8 D) 8 E) 5

C) 9.8

Which statement most accurately describes the population control efforts in China? A) There is minimal governmental financial support for birth control for all couples. B) Changing public attitudes about family size through communication, education, counseling, and contraceptives have reduced the population growth rates. C) A one-child policy enforced through taxation and penalties may have been too successful in controlling population growth. D) Increasing child survival, elevated status and employment levels for women, and increased literacy in the general population have decreased fertility rates. E) A one-child policy that requires all women to work and guarantees education for all has decreased fertility

C) A one-child policy enforced through taxation and penalties may have been too successful in controlling population growth.

Which recently introduced genetic editing tool allows for extremely precise changes in the genomes of crops and livestock? A) selective breeding B) PCR C) CRISPR D) eDNA E) IPM

C) CRISPR

_______ is the loss of more than 10% of soil productivity in arid areas due to such factors as erosion, soil compaction, overgrazing, and forest removal. A) Climatization B) Alkalinization C) Desertification D) Salinization E) Stratification

C) Desertification

Many fish and insects produce vast amounts of offspring of whom only a small percentage survive; this leads to a Type ________ survivorship curve. A) I B) II C) III D) IV E) V

C) III

A population is ________. A) a group of individuals of several interacting species that live in one area B) a group of individuals of several interacting species that interact in multiple ecosystems C) a group of individuals of a single species that live and interact in one area D) the sum of all individuals of a species in all locations E) a group of cells that have similar function

C) a group of individuals of a single species that live and interact in one area

Ecosystem services ________. A) contribute to keeping ecosystems productive B) are actions humans must take in order to protect and serve ecological systems C) are economically valuable services provided by natural systems D) are valuable to natural systems but not to human-created systems E) are required to rebalance natural systems that we have disturbed

C) are economically valuable services provided by natural systems

When a population approaches its carrying capacity, its resources ________. A) increase in supply because the population size is decreasing B) generally become infinite in supply C) become more scarce as population growth rate decreases D) decrease in supply but are more accessible to competitors E) increase in supply as the population size decreases

C) become more scarce as population growth rate decreases

IPM is a ________. A) new method for producing GM crops B) extremely potent pesticide that has been banned by the European Union C) combination of multiple strategies that maximizes pest control while reducing impacts D) process that lawmakers use when determining the safety of pesticides E) disease that is crippling the honeybee industry

C) combination of multiple strategies that maximizes pest control while reducing impacts

Most of the world population growth in the near future will be in ________. A) Europe B) North America C) developing countries D) developed countries E) currently uninhabited areas such as Antarctica

C) developing countries

Genetic change over time is ________. A) population ecology B) age structure C) evolution D) ecology E) speciation

C) evolution

Which of the following is not a strategy for campus sustainability? A) increasing energy efficiency B) water conservation C) fossil fuel investment D) improving transportation options E) reducing waste

C) fossil fuel investment

In order to determine the population growth rate, ________ must be included in addition to birth and death rates. A) immigration B) emigration C) immigration and emigration D) carrying capacity E) sex ratio

C) immigration and emigration

Industrial agriculture ________. A) had no impact on agriculture B) is necessary today for all cultures C) increased our ability to obtain more food from the same area D) permanently improved soils, providing more food from less space E) rapidly deteriorated soils, requiring continuous movement to new croplands

C) increased our ability to obtain more food from the same area

Which of the following is permissible for use on certified organic crops? A) Roundup B) sewage sludge C) manure D) radiation E) synthetic fertilizers

C) manure

Which of the following actions would increase the size of a person's ecological footprint? A) taking public transportation instead of driving B) planting a vegetable garden C) moving out of mom and dad's basement into one's own house D) installing a photovoltaic solar panel on one's roof E) turning down the thermostat in the winter

C) moving out of mom and dad's basement into one's own house

A major change in scientific thought or the dominant view is known as a(n) ________. A) theory founding B) peer review C) paradigm shift D) primary source E) environmental discovery

C) paradigm shift

Seed banks are important for ________. A) agricultural investments in developing countries B) protecting monoculture productivity C) protecting crop genetic diversity D) loans to developing countries to promote organic agriculture E) providing farmers with the current year's GM crops

C) protecting crop genetic diversity

In Japan, the presence of ducks and the aquatic fern Azolla in rice cultivation has shown that ________. A) invasive species diminish rice yields B) the ferns provide an excellent food for ducks C) restoring portions of the biodiversity of a natural ecosystem can increase crop yields and profits D) ducks and other birds must be eliminated from rice fields E) GM crops such as rice cannot succeed without ferns to provide shade and ducks to provide pollination

C) restoring portions of the biodiversity of a natural ecosystem can increase crop yields and profits

Leaching and the rate of movement of water would be greatest in a soil classified as ________. A) clay B) silt C) sand D) organic E) hypersaline

C) sand

Soil texture refers to the relative amounts of ________ in soil. A) detritus and humus B) organic matter and minerals C) sand, silt, and clay D) water, organic matter, and minerals E) mineral content and water saturation

C) sand, silt, and clay

The Dust Bowl of the early 1930s led to the creation of ________. A) the Clean Water Act B) the U.S. Department of Agriculture C) the Soil Conservation Act D) no-till farming E) irrigation

C) the Soil Conservation Act

The term demographic transition refers to ________. A) a requirement for a population to reach a specific size before it becomes stable B) the slowing down in the growth of a population as it approaches the carrying capacity C) the decline in death rates and subsequent decline in birth rates that occur as a country economically develops D) the decline in death rates followed by a decline in birth rates that occurred because sanitation levels in areas improved E) the slowing down in the growth of a population as it approaches its biocapacity

C) the decline in death rates and subsequent decline in birth rates that occur as a country economically develops

Heavy rains and mudslides cause a river to change course, isolating two groups of lizards from one another. If they remain isolated for a long period of time, ________. A) one group will probably become an endemic species B) both groups will probably become native species C) the groups will probably diverge genetically, and speciation may occur D) one or both groups will probably emigrate E) one or both groups will probably become invasive species

C) the groups will probably diverge genetically, and speciation may occur

In a controlled experiment, ________. A) the researcher has several hypotheses, one of which will be proven correct B) the researcher knows the outcome before beginning the experiment C) the researcher controls for the effects of all variables except one D) the researcher controls for the effects of only one variable E) you need only a single experimental organism that is tested again and again

C) the researcher controls for the effects of all variables except one

Factors involved in soil formation include ________. A) nitrogen-fixing bacteria and grazing by herbivores B) erosion, level terrain, and the absence of rooted vegetation C) weathering of parent material and the addition of organic material D) tropical climate, acid precipitation, and frequent wildfires E) seasonal changes in the tides

C) weathering of parent material and the addition of organic material

No-till farming would be most beneficial for farmers ________. A) with steeply sloped fields B) who plant a cash crop every third year C) who typically experience minimal soil erosion D) using contour strip cropping E) whose cropland is in the Conservation Reserve Program

C) who typically experience minimal soil erosion

Roberto lives near a wind farm and is wondering about the environmental effects of the wind turbines. He ___________ that the turbines make a sound like faint airplane engines and also that there are far fewer meadowlarks living near the wind farm than lived there before the wind farm was built. A. Hypothesizes B. Predicts C. Observes D. Theorizes E. Guesses

C. Observes

The process by which several researchers review another researcher's manuscript prior to publication to ensure research quality is referred to as ________. A. overkill B. investigative inquiry C. peer review D. biodiversity E. critical analysis

C. peer review

An environmental scientist is least likely to be involved with which of the following? A. determining the best fuel to generate electricity for a growing city in Arizona B. helping a rancher determine the best ways to rotate herds of cattle to reduce erosion C. studying X-ray emissions for evidence of black holes D. launching NASA satellites that monitor changes in carbon dioxide production on Earth E. studying the relationship between soil fungi and aspen trees in areas that are being restored after oil sand mining

C. studying x-ray emissions for evidence of black holes

The current global human population is approximately ________. A) 1.5 million B) 7.6 million C) 1.5 billion D) 7.6 billion E) 10.2 billion

D) 7.6 billion

Globally, approximately how many people are undernourished? A) 1 million B) 1 billion C) 800 thousand D) 800 million E) 1 trillion

D) 800 million

________ describes the relative numbers of individuals from different ages within a population. A) Sex ratio B) Population density C) Life history D) Age structure E) Biodiversity

D) Age structure

The nations with the highest rate of contraceptive use (84%) are ________. A) South Africa and Botswana B) United States and Canada C) New Zealand and Denmark D) China and United Kingdom E) Australia and Nepal

D) China and United Kingdom

Managing crop competitors and pests has been challenging to agronomists for centuries. One approach, integrated pest management, ________. A) uses only synthetic chemical pesticides B) uses no pesticides of any kind C) uses only natural pesticides D) combines synthetic chemical pesticides with biocontrol techniques E) combines a variety of pesticides to combat the pest

D) combines synthetic chemical pesticides with biocontrol techniques

According to the IPAT model, which of the following would most likely reduce the environmental impact of a society? A) construction of industrial plants by wealthy nations to draw on cheaper labor B) the discovery of large reserves of fossil fuels within a nation's borders C) increased use of electricity and natural gas by most members of a society D) greater use of birth control by most members of a society E) providing developing countries with the technologies needed for manufacturing automobiles

D) greater use of birth control by most members of a society

Norman Borlaug, who passed away in 2009, pioneered the development of ________, which saved the lives of almost a billion people and earned him the Nobel Peace Prize. A) organic agriculture B) IPM C) GM crops D) high-yield wheat E) monoculture farming

D) high-yield wheat

Overgrazing can result in all of the following EXCEPT ________. A) the proliferation of weeds B) soil compaction C) soil erosion D) increased water infiltration E) desertification

D) increased water infiltration

Monoculture farming ________. A) is typical of Native American farming techniques B) is always accompanied by no-till agriculture C) requires no chemical fertilizers or pesticides D) is a development of industrial agriculture E) accounts for less than 1% of U.S. croplands

D) is a development of industrial agriculture

Which of the following best illustrates a Type I survivorship curve, with higher death rates at older ages? A) redwood trees B) large open-water ocean fish, such as tuna C) dandelions D) large mammals such as gorillas E) small mammals such as mice

D) large mammals such as gorillas

Organic farming ________. A) began in the 1960s B) has no national standards in the United States C) and organically grown produce have not been supported by the European Union D) must overcome ~20% lower production yields with higher crop prices E) is presently limited to crops of fruits and vegetables

D) must overcome ~20% lower production yields with higher crop prices

Minerals and fossil fuels are examples of ________. A) ecosystem services B) industrial resources C) renewable resources D) non-renewable resources E) ecological footprints

D) non-renewable resources

Which of the following lists the steps of the scientific method in the correct order? A) hypothesis → prediction → questions → test → observations → results B) questions → prediction → hypothesis → observations → test → results C) hypothesis → prediction → questions → observations → test → results D) observations → questions → hypothesis → prediction → test → results E) questions → observations → prediction → hypothesis → test → results

D) observations → questions → hypothesis → prediction → test → results

An unintended result of industrial large-scale agriculture is ________. A) change in crop yield B) reduced water erosion C) profit loss D) reduced crop diversity E) reduced food production

D) reduced crop diversity

Leaching ________. A) can help plant growth only if done properly B) is caused by movement of water upward through soil from the water table C) adds nutrients to soil naturally D) removes water-soluble nutrients from topsoil E) is a common agricultural practice to improve soil

D) removes water-soluble nutrients from topsoil

Population distribution describes ________. A) the placement of a species around the globe B) the placement of a species within a country's boundaries C) the spatial arrangement of individuals of a single species within a particular area or ecosystem D) the spatial arrangement of multiple species within a particular area E) how near or far away individuals in a population are from a resource, such as water

D) the spatial arrangement of multiple species within a particular area

To determine your specific impacts on the environment, you can A. measure local air pollution and its impacts on your health B. calculate the biodiversity of your local community C. river D. calculate your ecological footprint E. determine your environmental handprint

D. calculate your ecological footprint

The world population growth rate is currently approximately ________%. A) 20 B) 10 C) 5 D) 2.5 E) 1.2

E) 1.2

A healthy woman can bear up to ________ children within her reproductive window. A) 5 B) 10 C) 15 D) 20 E) 25

E) 25

It is estimated that human ecological footprint is ________% beyond what Earth can handle. A) 10 B) 20 C) 30 D) 40 E) 50

E) 50

The richest one-fifth of the world's population possesses approximately ________ times the income of the poorest one-fifth, and the richest one-fifth uses over 86% of the world's resources. A) 10 B) 20 C) 40 D) 60 E) 80

E) 80

58) ________ has been shown to be the one of the greatest strategies for slowing population growth. A) Sex ratio B) Age structure C) Migration D) Economic stimulus E) Family planning

E) Family planning

_______ accounts for half of the world's GM crops. A) Corn B) Cotton C) Tomatoes D) Canola E) Soybeans

E) Soybeans

Biodiversity characterizes the variety of life within and among ________. A) species B) genes C) populations D) communities E) all the of the above

E) all the of the above

Endemic species ________. A) are generalist organisms B) cause disease C) are invasive species that cause extinction D) have high rates of mutations that lead to large numbers of offspring species E) are found only in one place on the planet

E) are found only in one place on the planet

Until about 10,000 years ago, humans depended mostly on ________. A) crops B) hunting and herding C) cattle and goats D) crops and cattle E) hunting and gathering

E) hunting and gathering

High population density can ________. A) hinder organisms trying to find mates B) decrease biodiversity within a species C) decrease competition D) decrease the use of resources E) increase the incidence of disease transmission

E) increase the incidence of disease transmission

Irrigation can result in the salinization of soils because ________. A) shortages of fresh water require the use of saltwater for irrigation B) irrigation is typically used in areas where windblown salts from sea spray can accumulate when the protective vegetation is removed C) the irrigation water washes away soil, leaving behind concentrated salts D) many of the plants grown in these regions excrete salts into the soil E) salts in the water are deposited on the soil surface as water evaporates

E) salts in the water are deposited on the soil surface as water evaporates

Recent research suggests that ________ has/have contributed to the large drop in fertility rates in Brazil over the past several decades. A) legalization of abortions B) AIDS and malaria C) laws preventing women from having more than one child D) exposure to environmental estrogens E) soap operas

E) soap operas

A child named Emma in Uganda has a large abdomen and reddish, deteriorated hair that used to be black, suggesting that Emma probably ________. A) is overnourished B) has anemia C) suffers from iron poisoning D) has too much iodine and beryllium in her diet E) suffers from kwashiorkor

E) suffers from kwashiorkor