Envir 130 ch 13
7) Discuss four of the findings that urban ecologists have described from their intensive analysis of Baltimore and Phoenix.
1. In Baltimore, the amount of forest has remained the same for the past 100 years, but development has fragmented the forest into smaller patches. 2. In Baltimore, studies revealed that soil compaction and rooftop drainage results in poor infiltration into soils and rapid runoff into streams. The rapid flow cuts streambeds deeply into soils while at the same time leaving the soil drier. This has resulted in wetlands-adapted plants being replaced by more dry-adapted species. 3. In Baltimore, because wetlands have dried up in many areas, nutrient-rich runoff from lawns is not broken down and metabolized as it should be in a healthy riverine ecosystem. Instead, Chesapeake Bay receives high loads of nutrients and has become eutrophic with a large hypoxic dead zone. 4. When roads are salted in Baltimore, the salt makes its way into streams where concentrations can be as much as 100x normal, killing organisms and impairing the streams' capacity to remove nitrogen. 5. In both cities, residents import non-native plant species for landscaping which have become far more common than native species. Also, soil compaction and other factors have favored weedy generalist species rather than the more specialized native species of plants. 6. In Phoenix, food webs and relationships between species have been altered by several factors. Food is available to wildlife because of bird-feeders and garbage. Watering boosts primary productivity, and the urban heat island effects tends to moderate the climate, especially in the cool seasons. The result is that there are higher densities of animals, but with decreased biodiversity, as generalists replace specialists. 7. In both cities, researchers found that sources of industrial pollution tend to be located in neighborhoods that are less affluent and that contain racial and ethnic minorities. Mapping of air pollution and toxic chemical releases showed that children in these areas suffered from abnormally high rates of asthma. 8. In both cities, it was found that residences near to urban parks had a higher value, unless the robbery rates were very high (as in Baltimore) in which cases the property value decreased if it was close to a park. Section: 13.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
2) Explain at least three of the principles of smart growth.
1. Mixed land uses; providing for easy access within walking distance of homes, businesses, schools, and shopping 2. Compact building design; building up rather than out 3. Ranges of housing choices; large and small family units available at reasonable cost 4. Walkable neighborhoods to improve health by increasing activity levels 5. Distinctive communities with a strong sense of place; minimize grass lawns on mountaintops and in deserts, don't bring tropical plants to the northern United States, and enjoy what is distinctive about where you live 6. Preservation of open spaces, farmlands, and critical environmental areas, all needed to provide resources, goods and services, and to absorb and neutralize the wastes produced by cities 7. Development and strengthening of existing communities; spending money to maintain and improve what is present now, rather than focusing on new growth and allowing current communities to languish and decline 8. Varied transportation choices; having flexible, low-cost, timely bus service, light rail, subways, or other systems to discourage automobile traffic and improve congestion, lowering pollution 9. Predictable, fair, cost-effective development decisions, with development fees and taxes for trucks, factories, and other sources that create wastes and damage resources. Don't spend money on new resources without recycling and maintaining what is already available 10. Encouraging community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions; don't leave decisions to business people, whose major consideration may be short-term profits, or to politicians, who may not consider all their constituents. All voters need to be informed and to provide input to their regulatory bodies when new decisions are being made. Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
5) The practice of classifying areas for different types of development and land use
A) zoning Section: 13.2, 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
5) In 2010, Metro Portland made a historic agreement between landowners and citizens which________. A) included a regional plan to identify exactly where urban growth would be allowed B) put up undeveloped land at auction to be sold to the highest bidders, public or private C) converted all undeveloped land to restored natural ecosystems D) prohibited agriculture on any undeveloped land in the region E) each individual landowner was given an equal portion of the region's land
Answer: A Section: 13.0 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
12) Suburban living encourages ________. A) increased use of automobiles B) walking C) riding bicycles D) driving electric cars E) increased use of farming
Answer: A Section: 13.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
3) Members of several local environmental groups propose that nearly all of the buildings be removed and the area turned into a regional hiking and camping area, with very limited vehicle access. This will preserve the natural areas while providing recreation for the city dwellers. One issue that is raised by opponents is ________. A) whether revenue generated from users will pay for the changes and the maintenance of such a facility B) whether water sports be accessible to all C) whether there be sufficient space for RV camping D) that no one will be interested in that kind of recreation E) that it will not be sustainable
Answer: A Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
19) The new urbanism tries to ________. A) develop walkable neighborhoods, with homes and businesses close together B) use zoning to keep small neighborhoods intact C) keep business in a central location, near transportation centers D) provide low-cost, long-distance, mass transit systems E) use tiered taxation to maintain inner cities as vibrant, livable communities
Answer: A Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
21) A greenway ________. A) is the link that provides pathways for wildlife to travel between parks and preserves B) contains parks that are large enough to harbor populations of exotic flora and fauna C) prohibits hiking and biking or recreational opportunities D) is an urban golf course E) is a waterway within a city park
Answer: A Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
24) A resource sink is ________. A) an area that produces almost none of the things that it needs B) an area that is able to trade for all of the things that it needs C) an area that produces many things and needs to export them to a variety of places D) an area that produces a single resource and can control the price of that commodity or service E) a resource that is desirable, such that different cities must compete to obtain enough of it for their citizens
Answer: A Section: 13.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
4) Oregon's strong policy of enforcing UGBs (urban growth boundaries) to create livable cities has been exemplary for many years, but between 2004 and 2007, voters ________. A) have gone further by passing a bill capping population in all major cities B) passed a bill giving property owners some exceptions from UGB rules C) passed a bill promoting unregulated development throughout the state D) passed legislation forbidding the construction of any new single-family homes E) voiced their desire to have a state as populous as neighboring California
Answer: B Section: 13.0 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
6) The world's urban populations are ________. A) shrinking, compared to rural populations B) growing at a faster rate than the global population as a whole C) growing at about the same rate as the rural populations D) growing most rapidly in the developed nations E) shrinking in developing nations
Answer: B Section: 13.1 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
8) American cities in the northern United States, such as Chicago, Philadelphia, and Detroit, ________. A) have steadily lost population over the past 100 years B) grew very rapidly in the 19th and early 20th centuries C) have always grown rapidly and continue to do so D) have maintained a steady state population since the 1970s E) have increased their rate of growth dramatically in the past 20 years
Answer: B Section: 13.1 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
22) Urban sprawl typically results in A) narrower highways. B) increased commuting distances. C) increased population densities. D) decreased reliance on automobiles. E) high-density housing outside of the central city.
Answer: B Section: 13.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
17) A city planner needs to consider ________ as a first priority. A) the amount of money investors have available for new business B) optimal land use strategies for different areas of the city C) local laws pertaining to property rights D) railroads, subway systems, and how much they charge riders E) the best use of sales tax money within the city proper
Answer: B Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
4) The city decides to do further study. You are hired as an assistant city planner who has expertise in ecological resource management to study the feasibility of several of the proposals. One of your first tasks will be ________. A) to find out the zoning currently in place for the base and the required changes B) to study potential environmental impacts and resource needs C) to map out area required by different proposals D) to investigate which proposal will bring in the most city revenue E) to talk to the investors for each proposal to determine if they can afford to fulfill their plans
Answer: B Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
20) Which of the following is a method that governments use to improve urban transportation? A) Give tax rebates to people who use only public transportation. B) Designate lanes as carpool-only. C) Make some public buildings and some communities accessible only by public transportation. D) Provide bicycle lanes on freeways. E) Provide motorcycle lanes in the center of rail lines.
Answer: B Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
23) The role of zoning is to ________. A) promote urbanization B) classify areas for different types of urban development and land use C) integrate agriculture with urban land use D) run city governments like the federal government E) promote taxation according to land use
Answer: B Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
3) Curitiba, Brazil, has shown us that ________. A) unregulated urban sprawl produces severe air pollution B) a walkable city center and expanded bus system can solve a large city's traffic congestion C) once roads are widened, traffic congestion decreases D) prohibition of motorized vehicles in urban reduces pollution and saves energy E) traffic flows smoothly once pedestrians and bicycles are eliminated
Answer: B Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
28) The urban heat island effect is caused by ________. A) green buildings B) heat-generating buildings and dark, heat-absorbing surfaces C) nuclear power plants venting excess heat into the urban landscape D) street lighting and burning of wastes in landfills E) air warmed over adjacent oceans blowing into urban areas
Answer: B Section: 13.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
13) Air travel, the Internet, cheap fossil fuels, and television all have allowed people to ________. A) consume less energy and materials B) live more densely packed into urban areas C) remain connected while living in less centralized communities D) return to an agricultural society E) live within the UDB's demanded by smart city design
Answer: C Section: 13.1 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
1) What drives the move to the suburbs from cities? A) desire to have a garden B) availability of more jobs in suburbs C) desire to live in less crowded, more peaceful conditions D) concern over demographic transitions E) desire for close-knit communities
Answer: C Section: 13.1, 13.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
2) The greatest general problem with suburbs is ________. A) the high population density B) the lack of resources C) that they spread environmental impact over a larger area D) that they decrease water quality E) the lack of nearby shopping
Answer: C Section: 13.1, 13.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
3) Given the energy consumption and operating costs per passenger-mile, one of the best overall strategies for cities to consider is ________. A) to create carpool lanes on all major routes B) to increase affordable, high-rise parking sites in multiple locations throughout the city C) to create or improve a convenient, affordable, rail transit system D) to create more suburban communities with work, shopping, and housing in central locations E) to improve and increase city bus routes, providing affordable, pleasant buses
Answer: C Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
2) A development group wishes to turn the area into a recreational facility, including an RV resort, a major-league sports arena, a small-craft harbor for water sports, a hunting lodge, and off road activities, including motocross racing and dune buggy areas. An important ecological concern about this proposal would be ________. A) that the parking facilities would need to be increased B) that the developer's fees might not be enough to justify the long-term lease C) the impacts on the woodlands, wetlands, and waterways D) a need to widen the highway to sustain the increased traffic E) whether the development group can attract major sports teams to a new arena
Answer: C Section: 13.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
25) People who live entirely within an urban environment ________. A) have too many luxury goods at too expensive a price B) are never provided enough quality housing, even for those who can afford it C) may become disconnected from nature and from the true costs of their needs and activities D) have insufficient choices for activities and lifestyles E) pay less for food and gasoline than rural areas
Answer: C Section: 13.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
10) Around the world, most major cities are situated ________. A) at elevations above 500 meters B) near mountains, usually in a valley C) on the more northern continents D) along rivers, oceans, roads, or train routes E) in agricultural areas
Answer: D Section: 13.1 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
7) In developing nations such as India and Nigeria, ________. A) most of the population is moving to the suburbs from the city centers B) very little change has occurred in the past 40 years regarding where people live C) small numbers of people have moved into the cities D) rural people are moving to the cities in large numbers E) more people are moving to the suburbs than to the city centers
Answer: D Section: 13.1 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
9) Worldwide, the fastest growing cities today are mostly ________. A) cities in the northern United States, such as Chicago, Illinois, and Portland, Oregon B) small cities in the southern United States, such as Austin, Texas, and Raleigh, North Carolina C) the megacities such as Tokyo, Mexico City, and New York City D) cities in developing nations, such as Delhi, India E) large cities worldwide, such as Paris, London, and Los Angeles
Answer: D Section: 13.1 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
16) Pat and Terry are considering moving from near the center of a large city into the suburbs. Which of the following discussion points is valid? A) If they move to the suburbs, it will cost much less for transportation. B) If they stay in the city, they'll probably get less exercise. C) If they stay in the city, they will contribute more to local pollution. D) It will be easier to have a place for a vegetable garden if they move to the suburbs. E) They'll experience more stress if they move to the suburbs.
Answer: D Section: 13.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
14) Any consideration of the true costs of sprawl must include ________. A) the restoration of natural areas to inner cities B) the problems of decreased water and energy consumption C) increased use of pesticides D) increased use of fossil fuels E) more time for families to be together
Answer: D Section: 13.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
15) One major contributor to sprawl is ________. A) the steady state of human populations B) the steadily increasing prices for gasoline C) zoning D) the trend toward increasing the per capita land consumption E) developer's fees
Answer: D Section: 13.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
1) According to the graphs, the energy consumption per passenger mile ________. A) rises as you get farther from the city center B) is more than twice as high for automobiles as it is for any other form of transportation C) is only half as high for bus riders as it is for people in cars D) is higher for all types of road use than it is for rail use E) continues to increase for all types of transit
Answer: D Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
5) As an ecological resource manager, your preliminary environmental studies should include inquiry into whether ________. A) the financial situation of some potential investors is shaky B) the city needs to obtain a great deal of revenue from the final choice C) a new housing development just outside the city limits may increase traffic on the connecting highway D) the wetlands include oyster beds and shallow estuaries that are habitats for shrimp, crabs, and fish, which are supporting many local industries E) the lake should be provided with docks and a marina for sport fishermen
Answer: D Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
11) Throughout history, cities have ________. A) been self-sustaining in food production B) had disagreements with the rural areas surrounding them C) destroyed the rural areas surrounding them through conquest or politics D) drawn resources from surrounding agricultural areas E) been major sources of labor for the rural areas surrounding them
Answer: D Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
18) An urban growth boundary (UGB) is intended to ________. A) ensure that businesses do not locate in residential areas B) enforce certain restrictions within neighborhoods C) help an area retain its distinctive character D) provide guidelines for city development to separate areas desired to be urban from areas desired to be rural E) maintain low housing costs for the average homeowner
Answer: D Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
26) Urban sustainability advocates urge us to ________. A) maintain a steady pattern of growth and development B) use zoning and taxation to promote livable cities C) oppose strict limits on growth (UGBs) D) use renewable energy sources and recycle materials E) find a balance between imports and exports of resources
Answer: D Section: 13.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
27) LEED-certified buildings could be described in all of the following ways, except ________. A) they are energy efficient B) they are built with sustainable materials C) they have a reduced ecological footprint D) their construction costs much less than for conventional buildings E) they limit pollution and recycle wastes
Answer: D Section: 13.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
1) One group proposes to convert the base to a new city suburb, with low-cost housing for several thousand of the current inner-city residents. A possible major problem with this might include ________. A) that there is no guarantee that the buildings are in good condition B) that the inner-city residents may not be able to fully appreciate the natural areas and miss the inner-city quality of life C) the highway traffic to and from the city D) insufficient recreational opportunities for the new suburb E) the lack of jobs in the new suburb
Answer: E Section: 13.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
2) The operating costs for transportation ________. A) clearly show the economies of scale, with large cities costing less per automobile than small cities B) show that bus transport is the least expensive when all costs are included C) indicate that city planners should invest more in parking lots D) take into account the costs to public health and to the environment of vehicle emissions E) indicate that, when all operating costs are included, rail is the most sensible means of transport
Answer: E Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
6) You choose two of the proposals as the ones that you will recommend. You do this on the basis of ________. A) the projected revenue they will bring in to the city B) the financial standing of the investors and their proven ability to finish projects C) the best use of the land for the highest numbers of people D) the suggestions made to you by members of the city council E) sustainability of the uses and compatibility with the environment
Answer: E Section: 13.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
29) The ecological footprint of a large city is ________ than/as the surrounding rural area. A) much lower B) slightly lower C) about the same size D) slightly higher E) much higher
Answer: E Section: 13.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
3) What are some of the reasons for the development of parks and protected areas in and around U.S. cities?
Answer: First and most important, these areas keep ecological processes functioning by regulating climate, producing oxygen, and filtering out air and water pollutants. Second, parks have been created in and near cities to satisfy biophilia, our desire to be in contact with other organisms. A third reason we have set aside parks is for tranquility, enjoyment of lush greenery, and escape from the pollution and stress of the urban setting. A fourth reason for city parks (one of the earliest purposes) is as a pleasure ground for the wealthy, a place to relax. Fifth, many of the poverty-stricken immigrants who came to our cities wanted active recreation, as do modern city dwellers, places to play ball games, and needed open spaces to get away from overcrowded living conditions. Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
4) List some of the reasons that urban dwellers move to the suburbs.
Answer: Global interconnectedness makes communication easy. Location on a river or seacoast is not vital because we have jet planes, television, cell phones, and the Internet. Fossil fuels make it easy to commute, as well as to import and export resources, goods, and waste. All of these make it easy to live farther apart from people and places with whom you need to interact. Other reasons why urban dwellers move to the suburbs include the desire to escape the stress, noise,pollution, crime and traffic of a crowded city. Section: 13.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
5) What impact does increased distance from natural areas, as a consequence of urbanization, have on human views of nature? How do we ameliorate this?
Answer: It has caused us to feel isolated from nature and sometimes to fear it, and to feel that nature is merely an exploitable resource. The animals and plants of urban parks and natural lands help to satisfy biophilia, our natural affinity and need for contact with other organisms. For children, these areas with their wildlife give an opportunity for the natural qualities of curiosity and exploration to be expressed, qualities which might otherwise be directed into less inspiring aspects of urban life. Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
1) Why do urbanized societies need stretches of uninhabited and undeveloped land?
Answer: Large stretches of undeveloped land outside cities provide natural resources needed to support urban populations. This includes providing city dwellers with timber, food, and other resources. Areas of natural land of all sizes close and far from urban centers provide ecosystem services, including purification of water and air, nutrient cycling, and waste treatment. Natural lands provide escape from the stresses of urban life. They provide open space, greenery, scenic beauty, and places for recreation. They also provide habitat for wildlife, which serves to satisfy biophilia, our natural affinity for contact with other organisms. In addition to the utilitarian reasons cited above, many people feel an ethical obligation to preserve wild landscapes and biodiversity for the sake of nonhuman organisms and/or the integrity of ecological systems. Section: 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
6) Identify and describe the goals and accomplishments of PlaNYC.
Answer: PlaNYC is an ambitious plan that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg hopes will make NYC "the first environmentally sustainable 21st-century city." It is a 132-item program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve mass transit, plant trees, clean up polluted land and rivers, and enhance access to parkland. As of 2012, PlaNYC's accomplishments included the completion of 100 energy efficiency projects in city buildings; the planting of 560,000 trees; the opening or renovation of 210 school playgrounds; the establishment of 64 community gardens; upgraded wastewater treatment facilities; acquisition of 36,000 acres upstate to protect water supplies; installation of bike lanes and bike racks and the launch of a bike-sharing program; the retrofitting of ferries to reduce pollution; the conversion of 30% of the taxi fleet to hybrid vehicles; and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 13%. Section: 13.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
3) The spread of low-density urban or suburban development outward from an urban center
B) sprawl Section: 13.2, 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
2)Residential/commercial communities that ring cities just outside city limits
D) suburban communities Section: 13.2, 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
6) Broad land use studies that may include several cities and adjoining nonurban areas
F) regional planning Section: 13.2, 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
1) The shift from rural to urban living
I) urbanization Section: 13.2, 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
4) Designing neighborhoods on a walkable scale
J) new urbanism Section: 13.2, 13.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension