Environmental Science

Which of these energy sources is the MOST consumed fuel in the world?

Oil

Which policy response sets an allowable emissions standard and then creates a market for pollution allowances?

cap and trade

Synthetic pesticides are industrially produced chemicals that

combat insects and weeds.

What are oil reserves?

known deposits of oil that can be technically accessed at current market prices

Both the United States and Russia have attempted to drill down into the Earth as far as possible. The deepest that they have been able to reach is into the

crust

A city might have certain regions where agricultural use is allowed, other regions where housing developments are allowed, and still other areas where development is not allowed. These designations would collectively be referred to as

zoning ordinances

Which of these fossil fuels formed mainly from the remains of ancient plants that lived millions of years ago?

Coal

Select the correct description of salinization.

As water vapor evaporates from soil, mineral salts are drawn upward and accumulate in the topsoil, eventually building up to amounts damaging or lethal to plants.

Nuclear reactions harness the power of ____________, a process where the nuclei of atoms are split to release energy.

Fission

Which of the following would result if the magnetosphere were diminished in the future?

Harmful particles from the sun could impact Earth.

Geothermal power includes which of these applications?

Heat pump systems circulate air underground where the temperature is constant. The steam from deep wells is piped throughout buildings to provide heat. Deep wells bring hot water to the surface to turn a steam turbine and generate electricity All of these are correct

Synthetic fertilizers greatly increase crop yields. However, excessive applications of nitrogen fertilizers can cause which of these problems?

Increased nutrient runoff leads to the eutrophication of aquatic environments.

Tilling the soil can impact the land in several ways. Which of the following is considered a negative impact?

It increases wind erosion of the soil.

Based on your understanding of topography, predict the difference between a topographic map and a standard map.

Only topographic maps include the shape of the land.

Which of the following is a supporting service related to plants?

Plants can convert sunlight into chemical energy for the ecosystem.

What of the following is a role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in regulating pollution?

The EPA sets minimum standards for pollutants. The EPA passes legislation on drinking water standards. The EPA prioritizes hazardous waste sites for cleanup. All these are correct.

If an area is found to contain igneous rock, that would indicate that at one time there was a(n) _________ in that location.

Volcano

In hydropower, _____________ is used to spin turbines and generate electricity.

Water

Select the example of a monoculture

a field of corn engineered to resist insect pests

A hotel chain is trying to encourage its customers to reduce their water usage during their stays. Which of the following would be the most effective feedback to reduce water usage?

a gauge that measures the amount of water people use in comparison with other guests

What event 10,000 years ago powered population growth?

a switch from "hunting and gathering" to an agricultural society

Often when a person is confronted with an addiction, they will claim there is not an issue and they can stop their behavior whenever they want. This is known as which type of emotional defense mechanism?

denial

What was responsible, in part, for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which was passed in 1918?

fashion trends that required bird feathers

The literate life expectancy is 69.6 for Italy. This means that the average Italian

has the ability to read and write for nearly 70 years

What is a positive externality that results from high oil prices?

innovation in oil extracting technologies

Select the correct pairing of a term with its cause.

leaching; intensive irrigation

A utility company is trying to increase renewable source of electricity. It would like to encourage customers to install solar panels or wind turbines. What would be one way the company could encourage this change in incentives?

offer a reduction in electricity rates for those people installing renewable energy sources

The mortality transition stage of the demographic transition is associated with

rapid population growth.

If an automobile manufacturer has been shown to be engaging in unethical behaviors, one way to lead to change is through a boycott. Which of the following is an example of a boycott?

refusing to purchase a car from this manufacturer and encouraging others to do the same

In wind power, the capacity for electricity production changes according to the time of day, weather conditions, and other factors. This challenge of wind power is called

variable generation