US HISTORY UNIT 10

Conservation efforts have been effective in _______.

preserving wildlife habitats

What is the main goal of the Pacific Region Coastal Program?

restore wetland and forest habitats

Which of the following do scientists claim is evidence of climate change?

rising global temperatures

Energy efficiency is usually obtained through _______.

technology

Which of the following names two Congressional actions, one intended to prevent pollution and another intended to clean toxic sites?

the Clean Air Act and the Superfund

Which of the following best describes the purpose of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol?

to reduce greenhouse emissions worldwide

Water usage in the United States has

tripled during the last fifty years.

The Alliance to Save Energy seeks to increase energy efficiency through _______.

lobbying for policy changes

Ecosystem services are services provided by _______.

nature that benefit mankind

What is the stated claim in the following argument? -- I should not have to go to school today. My cat had to be taken to the emergency room last night and I barely got any sleep. I don't really have any important tests or anything. What good would it do for me to get into a car wreck on the way to school because I fell asleep at the wheel?

A. I should not have to go to school today.

The National Wildlife Refuge supports _______ wildlife refuges.

550

Explain how the cap and dividend policy could help reduce carbon emissions over time.

A cap and dividend policy involves issuing permits to industries that contribute to overall carbon emissions. These industries would have a limit to how much they could contribute to carbon emissions, and each year the number of permits would decrease. This would force industries to adapt to changes in carbon emissions and reduce the overall amount of carbon emissions over time.

The following is an excerpt from Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. It was a spring without voices. On the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of robins, catbirds, doves, jays, wrens, and scores of other bird voices there was now no sound; only silence lay over the fields and woods and marsh. What has already silenced the voices of spring in countless towns in America? This book is an attempt to explain. -- What is implied in this passage?

A. This imagined town will soon become reality for every town in America if nothing is done.

The following excerpt is from "Save the Redwoods" by John Muir. Any fool can destroy trees. They cannot defend themselves or run away. And few destroyers of trees ever plant any; -- Which of the following is an implicit premise found in this section of "Save the Redwoods"

A. Those who cut down the trees are going against God by destroying his innocent creations.

The following excerpt is from "Save the Redwoods" by John Muir. Any fool can destroy trees. They cannot defend themselves or run away. And few destroyers of trees ever plant any -- Which of the following options BEST identifies the rhetorical strategy used here?

A. appeal to emotion

What is the implicit premise in the following argument? -- My boss should let me go home early today. Last night I played an epic 12-hour marathon of Halo.

B. The person speaking did not get any sleep last night.

Compare the conservation efforts of the National Wildlife Refuge System to the Pacific Region Coastal Program.

Both the National Wildlife Refuge System and the Pacific Region Coastal Program are programs that provide habitats for wildlife. The National Wildlife Refuge System occurs throughout the country, while the Pacific Region Coastal Program is focused on conservation efforts along the Pacific Coast. The Pacific Region Coastal Program is focused on restoring wetlands and forests for use as a wildlife habitat, while the National Wildlife Refuge System is focused on retaining areas for wildlife habitats.

Which of the following happens when fossil fuels are burned?

Carbon dioxide and other pollutants are released into the air.

Why are coastal areas a focus of conservation efforts?

Coastal areas are a focus of conservation efforts because they support a variety of wildlife. They are also important for a number of migrating species. The loss of coastal habitats, therefore, affects a number of different species, causing conservationists to focus on their preservation.

When are conservation efforts most effective?

Conservation efforts are most effective when multiple groups cooperate.

Explain how conservation efforts have positively impacted ecosystems.

Conservation efforts have had a positive impact on ecosystems that have been previously harmed due to human activity. Conservation efforts have helped preserve and even restore habitats that had been damaged or threatened by human activity. They have also helped protect endangered species.

The following is an excerpt from Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. It was a spring without voices. -- What is the explicit claim made by Carson in this passage?

D. Many of the things described in the imaginary town have happened in real towns all over America.

Which of the following correctly identifies the rhetorical strategy used in this poster?

D. appeal to emotion

Which of the following are explicit indicators?

D. because, for, and since

Which of the following is a result of government attempts to increase energy efficiency?

Energy Star

Explain what is meant by the term environmental justice.

Environmental justice encompasses the idea that all members of society should have a meaningful opportunity to participate in the decision making that might impact the environment. It also includes the idea of fair treatment, that no group (ethnic, religious socioeconomic) should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences of decisions or policies. Environmental justice is concerned with ensuring that the haves and have-nots both have a say in environmental policy and share the burdens of the consequences of those policies.

All international conservation programs were started in the 1990's.

F

Energy efficiency strategies are based on the assumption that consumers will be willing to pay more in exchange for reduced energy use.

F

Environmental journalists are prohibited from direct participation in environmental advocacy movements.

F

In recent years, the controversy surrounding environmental issues has decreased.

F

Smart growth is an urban planning theory that promotes the development of suburbs surrounding major city centers.

F

The National Environmental Policy Act was established in 1965.

F

The United Nations Environment Program regulates the environmental policy for all countries.

F

The environmental movement does not have tools to intervene with environmentally damaging practices on private property.

F

How have government and businesses impacted energy efficiency?

Government programs aim to increase incentives for consumers and producers to move toward energy efficiency. Energy efficient products are marked with a label designating them as such under the Energy Star program. This helps consumers make informed decisions when buying products that consume energy. The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of businesses that work together to effect policy changes that will improve energy efficiency.

Describe John Muir's argument in the excerpt "Save the Redwoods." What claim does he make and what premises (explicit or implicit) does he use to support his claim?

In "Save the Redwoods," Muir makes the claim that the redwood trees should be saved. One of his explicit premises is that unecesary and, in some cases, ridiculous wrongs have been done to the trees. One of his implicit premises is that the trees should be saved because they are God's creations and it is sinful to destroy or kill what God creates.

Explain how increased energy efficiency is beneficial.

Increased energy efficiency allows for the same level of service to be achieved with reduced energy use. Energy use is associated with greenhouse gas emissions, so by decreasing energy use greenhouse gas emissions will be decreased as well. Nonrenewable resources that are used for energy production, such as coal and oil are used at a slower rate with greater energy efficiency as well. Increased energy efficiency results in lower costs for energy consumers.

How are the international efforts at reducing resource and ecological depletion similar?

International efforts to reduce resource and ecological depletion operate on a volunteer basis rather than a mandatory one. This is due to the fact that nations do not have jurisdiction over each other.

Explain why land use planning has to incorporate such diverse disciplines as architecture, urban planning, and environmental planning

Land use planning is about more than addressing the physical layout of development, how much it will cost, where it will be located and aesthetics. Land use planning also incorporates environmental impacts such as chemical pollution, noise pollution, flooding due to the loss of trees and plants, etcetera. In order to meet all these requirements land use planning must draw from a wide array of disciplines' expertise.

Why is the idea of climate change controversial?

Not everyone agrees on its causes or its possible solutions.

Identify and analyze one rhetorical strategy used by Rachel Carson in Silent Spring. Evaluate the effectiveness of the rhetorical strategy Carson used. In other words, did you find yourself persuaded by her strategy? Why or why not?

Responses will vary. A sample response follows: Answers may vary given students' opinions of the strategy's effectiveness, but each answer should identify and explain one strategy and evaluate it's effectiveness. Carson's strongest use of rhetorical strategies is her appeal to logic. Carson uses strong scientific evidence to prove that pesticides are killing birds and affect the reproduction of other animals. She uses sensible logic to persuade her audience that if pesticides are doing harm to these animals they are very likely harming humans. I was persuaded by her strategy because of the clear connections she made.

Identify and analyze one rhetorical straegy used by John Muir in "Save the Redwoods." Evaluate the effectiveness of the rhetorical strategy Muir used. In other words, did you find yourself persuaded by his strategy? Why or why not?

Responses will vary. A sample response follows: Answers may vary given students' opinions of the strategy's effectiveness, but each answer should identify and explain one strategy and evaluate it's effectiveness. Muir's strongest use of rhetorical strategies are his appeal to emotion and morality. Muir argues that trees are majestic, almost holy, and as creations of God should not be destroyed. I find these rhetorical strategies effective because Muir succeeds in giving the trees human characteristics, thereby allowing the audience to feel for the trees and to see the destruction of the trees as murder.

Both Muir and Carson's pieces are about the environment. Compare Carson's Silent Spring to Muir's "Save the Redwoods." How are the two texts similar and how are they different? How are the authors' arguments and styles similar and how are they different?

Responses will vary. A sample response follows: Both Muir and Carson advocate for the environment. Carson argues against the use of pesticides, while Muir argues against the logging of redwood trees, but both see the actions of humans as dangerous to the Earth and to humanity. Carson's approach is more scientific and she uses lots of facts and scientific studies as evidence. Muir's approach is more poetic, and he uses more emotion and religion as evidence. Both authors' approaches are effective in persuading their readers, and their texts helped cause significant changes in environmental law.

Describe Rachel Carson's argument in the excerpt Silent Spring. What claim does she make and what premises (explicit or implicit) does she use to support her claim?

Responses will vary. A sample response follows: In Silent Spring, Rachel Carson claims that all pesticides are dangerous. Explicitly, she uses the premise that pesticides are killing birds to support her claim, which leads to her implicit premise that if pesticides are dangerous to birds they are dangerous to other animals and humans.

Explain how smart growth promotes long-term sustainable development.

Smart growth planning concentrates development in the center of a city, preventing urban sprawl. This strategy reduces the need for automobile use, reducing pollution and the other environmental consequences arising from building roads and such. Smart growth also advocates more mixed-use development, which distributes the costs, benefits, and burdens of city development more broadly and equitably.

Earth houses are predominantly illuminated with natural light.

T

Environmental degradation is a consequence of previous technological advances.

T

Environmental issues have undergone changes since the 1970's.

T

Modern environmentalism works with businesses to promote sustainable development.

T

The National Wildlife Refuge provides land for fish, wildlife, and plants.

T

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service helps protect endangered species.

T

Waste management is an environmental issue that has been addressed by environmental policy.

T

Explain how the failure to regulate detrimental practices on private property might have widespread negative environmental consequences on public lands.

The environmental impacts of detrimental practices on private property are not necessarily limited to the private property. Water polluted on private property might flow into a local river or aquifer used for public purposes like recreation or drinking water. Landowners that kill migrating animals on their property are destroying organisms that, by definition, are part of a larger ecosystem; the loss of these organisms will impact all the ecosystems along the migratory path.

Explain the goals of sustainable development.

The goals of sustainable development center around making use of available resources to meet human needs while preserving the environment. Either goal can easily be met independently; not gathering the resource preserves the environments, while gathering it makes it available for human use. Sustainable development is the attempt to achieve both goals by meeting human needs for a resource without permanently depleting it.

Scientific knowledge has, in some cases, led to _______.

a better quality of life

Why is it important to cooperate with other countries on environmental issues?

a. Environmental issues are not always localized.

Which of the following statements about the environmental movement is true?

a. It incorporates the conservation movement.

What was an effect of major environmental issues that occurred in the 1960's?.

a. The national government instituted regulations to handle environmental issues.

Which of the following statements about the cap and dividend policy is not true?

a. The number of issued permits under the cap and dividend policy increases year to year.

Permits in the cap and dividend policy are issued for _______ production.

a. carbon dioxide

The level of environmental protection enacted typically depends on _______.

a. the perceived benefit of the action

It is important for _______ to participate in conservation efforts.

all of the above

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services collaborates with _______.

all of the above

Which of the following environmental protection issues is a direct result of human involvement?

all of the above

Which of the following is a possible future milestone in environmental policy?

b. implementation of a cap and dividend policy

What historically has had the greatest impact on the development of environmental policy?

b. large-scale public environmental events

The ultimate goal of sustainable development is to _______.

b. meet current and future resource needs

Water pollution control came about as a result of _______.

b. the Cuyahoga River fire of 1969

The main ecological benefits of earth houses lie in their _______.

b. use of natural insulation

The Kyoto protocol works by _______.

b. voluntary involvement

Land use planning is best described as _______. iting urban development

c. a branch of public policy for ordering and regulating the development of land

Environmental policy addresses all of the following issues except _______.

c. natural disasters

What is the main goal of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change?

c. to prevent the continued rise of greenhouse gas concentrations

One problem that arises with monitoring freshwater supplies is that

it can take years to detect pollution in underground water.

The _______ was a result of the 1992 Earth Summit.

d. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Which of the following are smart growth tools?

d. all of the above

Which of the following disciplines is(are) encompassed by land use planning?

d. all of the above

Which of the following fields is(are) part of the environmental movement?

d. all of the above

Which of the following is a difficulty associated with environmental protection?

d. all of the above

Which of the following is an area targeted by countries to reduce environmental impact?

d. all of the above

Which of the following would not be a topic of concern to environmental sociology?

d. none of the above

What was the greatest impact of the National Environmental Policy Act?

d. requiring governmental agencies to prepare environmental assessments and impact statement

Environmental journalism is controversial because _______.

d. some environmental journalists are not objective reporters

The most basic level of land use planning is likely to include _______.

d. zoning and transport infrastructure

Which of the following best describes where fossil fuels come from?

decayed plant material

Which of the following is not a benefit of increased energy efficiency?

decreased energy services

Which of the following most contributes to soil erosion?

deforestation

The Office of Ecology and Natural Resource Conservation works to _______.

develop foreign policy regarding the sustainable use of natural resources

The 1974 Congressional Safe Drinking Water Act

empowered the EPA to protect groundwater in the United States.

Economic incentives are used in environmental policy to _______.

encourage compliance

Organizations and agencies are a result of _______ in environmental protection issues.

government involvement

Which of the following is a negative consequence of scientific advancements on society?

increased pollution

Which of the following is a negative consequence of the application of scientific knowledge?

industrial pollution

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy works to _______.

invest in clean energy technologies that will strengthen the economy