Exam 4 multiple choice and true false

About 25 billion throwaway Styrofoam cups, the main purpose of which is for drinking coffee, are used in a. America b. France c. Brazil d. Columbia

a. America

Which of the following principles does not contribute to a transition to a low-waste society? a. Economic growth and free markets reduce waste. b. Everything is connected. c. There is no "away." d. Reduce, reuse, recycle are the best priorities for using matter. e. Dilution is not always the solution to pollution.

a. Economic growth and free markets reduce waste.

Major climate models project all of the following except a. a greater rise in temperature near the equator than in middle and high latitudes. b. an Earth warmer than at any time in the last 10,000 years. c. more warming of the air over land than over oceans. d. more warming in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere. e. a 1.0- to 3.5-degree centigrade rise in Earth's mean surface temperature by 2100.

a. a greater rise in temperature near the equator than in middle and high latitudes.

Urban sprawl arises due to a. cheap and affordable land b. rising gas prices c. lack of entertainment and culture within cities d. high crime rates in the suburbs 86.

a. cheap and affordable land

Environmentalists criticize the Clean Air Act of 1990 for all of the following except a. failing to establish primary ambient air quality standards. b. failing to increase the fuel-efficiency standards for cars and light trucks. c. doing too little to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. d. relying primarily on pollution cleanup rather than pollution prevention.

a. failing to establish primary ambient air quality standards.

Garbage produced directly by households and businesses accounts for _____ of the solid waste produced in the United States. a. less than 2% b. 5% c. 10% d. 15% e. 20%

a. less than 2%

An ecocity would be characterized by all of the following except a. superhighways and parking garages. b. community gardens. c. high energy-efficiency standards for buildings and motor vehicles. d. plenty of trees.

a. superhighways and parking garages

The Superfund program pays a. to clean up inactive or abandoned hazardous waste dump sites. b. to monitor hazardous wastes. c. for testing for lead in paint, water, and air samples. d. the doctors' bills and lawyers' fees for pollution events.

a. to clean up inactive or abandoned hazardous waste dump sites.

Warming or cooling by more than _____ degrees centigrade over a few decades could be disastrous for Earth's ecosystems. a. 0.5 b. 1.0 c. 2.0 d. 3.0 e. 4.0

b. 1.0

If a small business produces less than ___ pounds of a waste per month, the EPA does not consider the material hazardous. a. 120 b. 220 c. 320 d. 420

b. 220

Which of the following statements of cause and effect is false? a. The differential in solar energy striking the equator versus the poles sets up general global air circulation patterns. b. Earth is rotating faster under air at the poles, which causes the prevailing winds. c. Earth's rotational tilt and revolution around the sun cause seasonal variations in temperature. d. Earth's rotation, the inclination of Earth's axis, prevailing winds, and differences in water density cause ocean currents.

b. Earth is rotating faster under air at the poles, which causes the prevailing winds.

_____ is a gas which can be collected from landfills and burned for energy. a. Propane b. Methane c. Hydrogen sulfide d. Butane e. Ethanol

b. Methane

What do those scientists urge who claim that the global climate system is so complex we will never have the level of certainty wanted by decision-makers? a. Take no action now because global warming is all hype. b. Take action now based on the precautionary principle. c. Take no action until we get more data. d. Take action to reverse the climate changes we have caused thus far. e. Take no action until we see a greater effect.

b. Take action now based on the precautionary principle.

Which of the following statements about incinerators is false? a. They are expensive to build, operate, and maintain. b. They create many long-term jobs. c. They emit toxic air pollutants. d. They produce toxic ash. e. They do not eliminate air pollution by using scrubbers.

b. They create many long-term jobs.

The term greenhouse effect a. describes occupational diseases of florists. b. describes the trapping of heat energy in the troposphere by certain gaseous molecules. c. describes the trapping of heat energy in the stratosphere by nitrogen. d. describes efforts being made by the White House to support environmental legislation.

b. describes the trapping of heat energy in the troposphere

All of the following are advantages to incineration of waste except a. reduces trash volume b. encourages recycling c. lowers water pollution d. need less landfills

b. encourages recycling

The quickest and cheapest way to reduce the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is to a. switch from fossil fuels to nuclear fuels. b. increase the efficiency of energy use. c. plant trees to trap more carbon dioxide. d. stop deforestation. e. slow population growth.

b. increase the efficiency of energy use.

The smallest producer of solid waste in the United States is a. industry. b. municipalities. c. mining. d. agriculture. e. oil and gas production.

b. municipalities.

All of the following would characterize a waste-prevention system except a. using returnable bottles. b. putting yard wastes in landfills. c. taxing gas-guzzling cars and throwaway products. d. recapping tires.

b. putting yard wastes in landfills.

Environmentalists are likely to claim that all of the following are primary benefits of recycling except a. reduced throughput of matter and energy resources. b. reduced use of landfills and incinerators. c. reduced use of virgin resources. d. reduced pollution.

b. reduced use of landfills and incinerators.

The part of the world that has been warming fastest in the last 50 years is __. a. the mid-latitudes b. the Arctic region c. North America d. the Tibetan Plateau

b. the Arctic region

Current global climate models suggest that climate change a. will never happen. b. will be toward the warmer side over the next century. c. will be toward the colder side over the next century. d. will reach stabilization after 200 years. e. will be toward the colder side over the next 50 years.

b. will be toward the warmer side over the next century.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is made up of more than _____ climate experts from 70 nations. a. 1000 b. 1500 c. 2000 d. 2500

c. 2000

Breathing the air of Mexico City is like smoking ____ pack(s) of cigarettes each day. a. 1 b. 2 c. 3

c. 3

With about 4.6% of the world's population, the United States produces _____ of the world's solid waste. a. 13% b. 23% c. 33% d. 43% e. 53%

c. 33%

Which of the following statements is false? a. Motor vehicles have helped create urban sprawl. b. Motor vehicles are the largest source of air pollution. c. Constructing more roads reduces automobile travel and congestion.

c. Constructing more roads reduces automobile travel and congestion.

Which of the following statements about the potential effects of global warming on human health is false? a. Food and freshwater supplies are likely to be disrupted. b. People are likely to be displaced. c. Insect-borne diseases are likely to decrease in today's temperate zones. d. Sanitation systems in coastal cities may be flooded. e. Respiratory disease are likely to increase.

c. Insect-borne diseases are likely to decrease in today's temperate zones.

Which of the following strategies would help protect the atmosphere? a. Use a city-by-city rather than regional approach to air quality control. b. Shift from renewable to more efficient nonrenewable energy resources. c. Integrate air pollution, water pollution, energy, land-use, and population regulation policies. d. Exclude social costs of air pollution from pricing strategies.

c. Integrate air pollution, water pollution, energy, land-use, and population regulation policies.

Which of the following statements about hazardous waste cleanup is false? a. According to the Waste Management Research Institute, cleanup of a final priority list of 10,000 sites could cost one trillion dollars. b. Superfund cleanups are based on the polluter-pays principle. c. It costs 10-100 times more to prevent hazardous waste releases than to clean them up. d. Cleaning up toxic military dumps and contaminated Department of Energy sites used to make nuclear weapons could run between $100 billion and $200 billion.

c. It costs 10-100 times more to prevent hazardous waste releases than to clean them up.

Since 1920, U.S. urban areas have seen a. deteriorating working and housing conditions. b. greater incidence of transmissible diseases. c. better public water supplies. d. an increase in green space.

c. better public water supplies.

Individuals can reduce inputs of hazardous waste by all of the following except a. using rechargeable batteries. b. using biodegradable cleaning products. c. changing automobile oil and dumping it carefully in marked storm drains. d. consulting local environmental agencies for safe disposal methods for hazardous chemicals. e. recycling.

c. changing automobile oil and dumping it carefully in marked storm drains.

Experience suggests that the best recipe for slowing population growth includes all of the following except a. elevating the status of women. b. family planning. c. coercion using financial incentives. d. reducing poverty.

c. coercion using financial incentives.

Davis, California, has instituted all of the following policies except a. building codes encouraging solar energy for space and water heating. b. planting of shade trees. c. development of surrounding farmland. d. many bicycle paths.

c. development of surrounding farmland.

A limiting factor that produces compact, generally more energy-efficient cities is a. population. b. water supply. c. land availability. d. air quality.

c. land availability.

Bioremediation a. involves training bacteria to eat new foods. b. results in the production of low-level hazardous wastes. c. may be used at considerably less expense than landfills and incineration. d. is widely accepted as the best way to cut hazardous wastes. e. does not yet exist.

c. may be used at considerably less expense than landfills and incineration.

The top four components of municipal solid waste that is buried in U.S. landfills, listed from highest to lowest, is a. paper, food waste, yard waste, and plastics b. plastics, paper, yard waste, and food waste c. paper, yard waste, food waste, and plastics d. yard waste, paper, food waste, and plastics e. plastics, food waste, yard waste, and paper

c. paper, yard waste, food waste, and plastics

The top priority in a pollution prevention approach to solid waste would be a. recycling. b. reusing. c. reducing. d. burning. e. burying.

c. reducing.

Environmentalists would most object to plastics used in a. lunch boxes. b. shampoo bottles. c. single-use packaging. d. refrigerator storage containers. e. cars.

c. single-use packaging.

Melting the Arctic permafrost is not likely to ___. a. release methane trapped in the permafrost b. result in habitat loss for many species c. spread tropical disease to Arctic areas d. alter lifestyles for Native Alaskans e. allow for saltwater inundation of coastal areas

c. spread tropical disease to Arctic areas

To help reduce emissions of _____, the Clean Air Act of 1990 allows utilities to buy and sell pollution rights. a. nitrous oxide b. carbon monoxide c. sulfur dioxide d. ozone

c. sulfur dioxide

The major greenhouse gases include all of the following except a. chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). b. carbon dioxide. c. sulfur dioxide. d. water vapor.

c. sulfur dioxide.

Some European countries have established cradle-to-grave responsibility laws that require companies to a. keep track on all of its hazardous waste b. bury its waste in hazardous waste landfills c. take back the consumer products they sell d. use only new materials in manufacturing e. exchange their wastes with other companies

c. take back the consumer products they sell

We have the most certainty about a. variations in solar output. b. the role the oceans will play in global warming. c. temperature fluctuations over the last 100 years. d. the role of polar ice in global warming. e. how changes in the Earth's reflectivity will affect atmospheric temperature.

c. temperature fluctuations over the last 100 years.

The real cost of dumping hazardous wastes is borne by a. the producer of the waste. b. the disposer of the waste. c. the people whose health is affected by waste disposal. d. activist groups protesting hazardous waste sites. e. recyclers of the waste.

c. the people whose health is affected by waste disposal.

All of the following greenhouse gases have increased in recent decades except a. carbon dioxide. b. methane. c. water vapor. d. nitrous oxide.

c. water vapor.

Since the 1990's, ____ years were among the hottest in the 114-year history of land surface temperature measurements. a. 3 b. 5 c. 8 d. 10

d. 10

The most recent global climate change models indicate that the world needs to reduce its emissions from 1990 levels by ___ to stabilize greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere by 2050. a. 5-7% b. 10-12% c. 20-25% d. 30-60% e. 75%

d. 30-60%

Currently, about ____ by weight of the solid waste produced in the United States is buried in landfills. a. 25% b. 35% c. 45% d. 55% e. 65%

d. 55%

Scientists estimate that a low-waste society could use reduction, reuse, and recycling to cut its waste by a. 10-20%. b. 35-50%. c. 40-60%. d. 75-90%.

d. 75-90%.

In the United States, ____ of all urban transportation is by car. a. 68% b. 78% c. 88% d. 98%

d. 98%

According to a 2005 report by the Basel Action Network, about 50-80% of U.S. e-waste is shipped to a. China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Kenya b. India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria c. India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Kenya d. China, India, Pakistan, and Nigeria e. China, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nigeria

d. China, India, Pakistan, and Nigeria

Which of the following statements is false? a. It is more economical to have consumers separate trash before pickup than to use materials recovery facilities. b. Glass, iron, and aluminum can be recovered from solid wastes. c. The source-separation approach usually involves consumers separating trash into four collections: glass, paper, plastic, and metal. d. Materials-recovery facilities provide many more jobs than low-technology recycling.

d. Materials-recovery facilities provide many more jobs than low-technology recycling.

Which answer best states the author's position about global warming? a. There is no problem—it's a hoax. b. There is no need to worry. The projected change in temperature is no more than we experience on any given day. c. The problem is the potential rise in average global temperature. d. The problem is the quick rate of change in average global temperature. e. The problem is the slow rate of change in average global temperature.

d. The problem is the quick rate of change in average global temperature.

Evaluations of bioremediation indicate that it is most effective for a. toxic metals. b. concentrated chemical wastes. c. complex mixtures of toxic chemicals. d. a few specific organic wastes. e. none of these answers

d. a few specific organic wastes.

9. Climate is influenced by a. the amount of incoming solar radiation. b. Earth's rotation. c. the tilt of Earth's axis and Earth's revolutions. d. all of these answers

d. all of these answers

Compost a. is a method to decompose many organic wastes. b. can be produced from biodegradable solid waste in large plants, bagged, and sold. c. is rich in organic matter and soil nutrients. d. all of these answers e. none of these answers

d. all of these answers

Enforcement of Superfund has failed because a. polluters deny responsibility. b. polluting businesses campaign that toxic dumps are not that threatening. c. big polluters sue local governments and small businesses to make them responsible for cleanup. d. all of these answers e. none of these answers

d. all of these answers

Hazardous waste deposited in ponds or lagoons a. may promote smog formation. b. may evaporate into the atmosphere. c. may enter groundwater when there are no liners or when liners leak. d. all of these answers

d. all of these answers

If climate belts move faster than trees migrate, there could be a. large forest diebacks. b. mass extinctions of species that couldn't migrate. c. massive fires. d. all of these answers

d. all of these answers

If you visit Curitiba, Brazil, you would expect to find a. a good recycling program. b. a sophisticated bus system. c. plenty of trees and open space. d. all of these answers

d. all of these answers

In a warmer world, we would expect more a. droughts. b. hurricanes. c. prolonged heat waves. d. all of these answers

d. all of these answers

Increased greenhouse gases originate from a. burning fossil fuels. b. deforestation. c. use of CFCs. d. all of these answers

d. all of these answers

It is generally accepted that enforcement of Superfund could be improved by a. creating a form of triage in which hazardous waste sites are classified by severity and the worst ones get treated first. b. involving people and local governments where sites are located in the decision-making process. c. setting up an Environmental Insurance Resolution Fund. d. all of these answers

d. all of these answers

Obstacles to recycling in the United States include a. lack of inclusion of environmental costs in market prices. b. lack of inclusion of health costs in market prices. c. tax breaks for mining virgin materials. d. all of these answers e. none of these answers

d. all of these answers

To minimize passing our environmental problems on to future generations, citizens could a. focus on pollution prevention. b. reduce waste production. c. reuse materials. d. all of these answers

d. all of these answers

Which of the following substances can be recovered from solid waste? a. metals b. plastic c. paper d. all of these answers

d. all of these answers

The most important greenhouse gas contribution by humans is a. chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). b. water vapor. c. nitrous oxide. d. carbon dioxide.

d. carbon dioxide.

When checkout persons ask, "Paper or plastic?" environmentalists are most likely to a. say, "Plastic." b. say, "Paper." c. walk out of the store and try another. d. give the baggers reusable bags brought from home. e. say, "Either plastic or paper."

d. give the baggers reusable bags brought from home.

Medium-distance travel (600 miles) in the future United States could be improved by the use of a. super-taxis. b. buses that run on propane. c. automobiles. d. high-speed trains.

d. high-speed trains.

Critics of recycling are most likely to claim that a. it isn't worth the effort. b. there is no solid-waste problem. c. incineration is the safest and most efficient way to dispose of solid wastes. d. it doesn't make sense to recycle if it costs more than sending wastes to a landfill or an incinerator.

d. it doesn't make sense to recycle if it costs more than sending wastes to a landfill or an incinerator.

In the United States, "hazardous waste" legally includes all of the following except a. carcinogens and mutagens that exceed established limits. b. flammable materials. c. explosives. d. oil drilling wastes. e. gas drilling wastes.

d. oil drilling wastes.

According to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, which is the most advanced approach? a. recycling materials b. using biodegradable material c. creating more durable products d. reducing the amount of materials used e. substituting less bulky products

d. reducing the amount of materials used

To help reduce solid wastes, individuals can do all of the following except a. use reusable lunchboxes. b. use rechargeable batteries. c. carry groceries in reusable bags. d. release helium balloons at the next Earth Day celebration. e. recycle.

d. release helium balloons at the next Earth Day celebration.

Compost is most completely described as a. manure. b. landfill by-products. c. pure garbage. d. soil conditioner and organic fertilizer. e. toxic.

d. soil conditioner and organic fertilizer.

In 2001, the International Governmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that a. global climate change is a hoax. b. Earth is likely to experience an Ice Age in the next century. c. the slight rise in temperature observed over the last century was caused by changes in solar cycles. d. the slight rise in temperature observed over the last century was probably influenced by human causes. e. none of these answers

d. the slight rise in temperature observed over the last century was probably influenced by human causes.

Environmentalists say that the best way to handle soft-drink and beer containers is to a. use landfills. b. recycle aluminum cans. c. use stainless steel cans. d. use reusable glass bottles. e. bury them.

d. use reusable glass bottles.

Vegetation improves the quality of life in urban areas by all of the following means except a. muffling noise. b. providing wildlife habitat. c. absorbing air pollutants. d. warming the air.

d. warming the air.

In today's affluent societies, many goods that once would be reused have been substituted with one-time use alternatives. All of the following are good examples of such reusable-disposable pairings except a. cotton handkerchief-paper tissue b. cloth napkin-paper towel c. china plate-paper plate d. silverware-plastic utensils e. Styrofoam cup-ceramic mug

e. Styrofoam cup-ceramic mug

Which of the following kinds of companies would be harmed if carbon dioxide was regulated as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act? a. oil b. automobile c. electric utility d. coal e. all of the above

e. all of the above

Bicycles a. are a relatively affordable form of transportation. b. move at about the same speed as automobiles in urban traffic. c. have a larger global market than automobiles. d. produce no pollution. e. all of these answers

e. all of these answers

Compost can be applied to a. golf courses. b. forests. c. roadway medians. d. gardens. e. all of these answers

e. all of these answers

Correspondence between climate models and the real world depends upon a. the design and assumptions of the model. b. the accuracy of the data. c. factors that amplify or dampen changes in average global temperatures. e. all of these answers

e. all of these answers

People migrate to cities a. in search of jobs. b. because agriculture is becoming more mechanized. c. in search of a better life. d. for education. e. all of these answers

e. all of these answers

Plastic materials are a problem because a. they do not decompose readily in landfills. b. toxic lead and cadmium can leach out of plastics. c. they can harm animals that swallow them or become entangled in them. d. they are unnecessarily and excessively used as single-use and throw-away packaging. e. all of these answers

e. all of these answers

Recycling paper a. saves energy. b. lowers water and air pollution. c. creates jobs and saves money. d. decreases production costs. e. all of these answers

e. all of these answers

We are uncertain about how a. carbon dioxide will affect the rate of photosynthesis. b. changes in polar ice will occur. c. ocean absorption of carbon dioxide will affect climate change. d. air pollution might affect climate. e. all of these answers

e. all of these answers

Urban life can hurt human health through a. increased exposure to pollution. b. increased exposure to noise. c. increased chance of physical injuries. d. increased exposure to disease. e. all of these answers.

e. all of these answers.

Water problems in cities include all of the following except a. the need to tap deeper into ground water b. depletion of water in surrounding rural and wild areas c. greater flooding within cities and surrounding suburbs d. degradation of wetlands e. all of these are problems associated with water in urban areas

e. all of these are problems associated with water in urban areas

The Kyoto Protocol was not implemented by __. a. Canada b. United States c. Japan d. Australia e. b and d

e. b and d

Emissions trading since 1990 has contributed little to the success of reducing sulfur dioxide emissions from electrical power plants.

false

In our material-flow economy, manufacturers make more money on a product if it can be recycled because the reduction of raw materials needed.

false

Mass transit helps to create urban sprawl.

false

Megacities have improved significantly over the last decade due to public water supplies and better sanitation.

false

Plastics are routinely recycled because they are composed of pure resins that can be extracted and used for other plastic products.

false

The world's economies are not affected by the effects of climate change.

false

1. Climate change affects the entire planet and will be long-term.

true

At least 24 countries have eco-labeling programs that certify a product or service as having met specified environmental standards.

true

Both solid waste and hazardous waste disposal today compromise the environment.

true

Instead of being sent to landfills, containers made from bioplastic could be composted to produce a soil conditioner.

true

Most scientists think that waste management should be the last priority for dealing with material use and solid waste.

true

Over the past 30 years, the quality of outdoor air in most developed countries has greatly improve.

true

Ozone levels in the stratosphere have offset or disguised much of the global warming from greenhouse gas use.

true

Paying a product's full cost would enable recycling to be more feasible in today's market.

true

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, human activity released few gases into the atmosphere, but now due to population growth,fossil fuel burning, and deforestation, we are severely disturbing the combination of gases in the atmosphere.

true

Reusing products can be a health hazard for the poor in developing countries who dismantle products to extract usable parts.

true

Scientists believe that rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are contributing to global warming but cannot discern to what extent and with what ramifications.

true

Urban areas are attracting more and more residents, partly because of the hope for employment.

true

When the waste outputs of one organism become nutrient inputs for another organism, waste is reduced.

true

in the United States, individuals states and groups of states are taking it upon themselves to reduce emissions, even though the federal government has not set greenhouse gas reduction targets.

true