Chapter 1 Intro to Environmental Science
Select the item that presents an accurate description of a hypothesis as it relates to using the scientific method. -Involves formulating a proposed explanation that aims to answer a question -It is testable through experimentation -Both answers accurately describe a hypothesis -Neither answer describes a hypothesis
Both answers accurately describe a hypothesis
What were John Muir and Gifford Pinchott's motivations to get involved in the land management issues?
Both of them were interested in the environment because of deforestation
List of legislative acts passed during the 70s
Clean Air Act of 1970 Clear Water Act of 1972 Marine Mammals Protection Act of 1972 Endangered Species Act of 1973 Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974
______________ are the environment's natural processes that provide us with the resources we need to support life.
Ecosystem services
Which act of the late 20th century was the first legislation that acknowledged a connection between human actions and the environment?
Environmental Policy Act
The Silent Spring by Rachel Carson caught the attention of President Kennedy and led to the formation of which two acts?
Environmental Policy Act and Wilderness Act of 1964
In 1970, the _______ ________ _______, also known as the EPA, was established to regulate water quality, air pollution, solid waste and other environmental issues.
Environmental Protection Agency
_______________ is a social movement which is based on political and ethical views of the environment.
Environmentalism
True or false: Unlike natural resources, ecosystem services are unlimited and won't be used up if not regulated.
False Ecosystem services are limited and can be used up if not regulated.
True or false: During the Political Action step of scientific evaluation, opinions voiced by people are not factored into the legal decisions about the environmental problem.
False; the opinions voiced by people ARE often factored into the legal decisions about the environmental problem
Who founded the organization that would become the U.S. Forest Service?
Gifford Pinchot
Why is the case of the wooly spider monkeys of Brazil interesting in the context of land management?
It is an example where both the conservation and preservation view were applied with positive results
Name the preservationist who became very involved in the environmental movement of the late 19th century.
John Muir
Who helped establish the Sierra Club?
John Muir
Who was influential in preserving the Yosemite area as a National Park?
John Muir
Which act in the early 20th century banned the hunting of migratory birds in the US?
Migratory Bird Act of 1918
2 environmental organizations established in the early 20th century
National Audubon Society and Ecological Society of America
Which act in the early 20th century created the National Park System?
National Park Service Act of 1916
_______________ believe that humans can have access to the land, but they should only utilize it for its natural beauty and inspiration.
Preservationists
How did the preservationist view differ to that of the conservationists regarding the debate over the Hetch Hetchy Valley?
Preservationists wanted the valley to remain in its pristine state. Conservationists wanted it to be flooded in order to help people with limited access to water.
Who authored the Silent Spring published in 1962?
Rachel Carson
The famous and trendsetting environmental protectionist John Muir helped to establish and found the _____. -Sierra Club -Conservation Society of Northern CA -Redwoods Club
Sierra Club
Why was the Environmental Protection Agency established in 1970?
The EPA was established to regulate water quality, air pollution, solid waste and other environmental issues.
What is the next step if the data doesn't support the hypothesis?
The hypothesis is rejected and a new hypothesis is developed
2 government services established in early 20th century
U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Which of the following is NOT a piece of legislation passed during the 1970s? -Clean Air Act -Endangered Species Act -Wilderness Act -Clean Water Act
Wilderness Act
Which act designated over 100 million acres of wilderness and gave the land the highest level of protection?
Wilderness Act of 1964
Why is the final step in the scientific evaluation of environmental problems important?
Without monitoring, it would be impossible to know if the solution was working.
What was the first national park designated in the United States?
Yellowstone
For most of human history, the population has been less than ________ people, but the current population has skyrocketed to over seven billion people.
a million
Which of the following is the appropriate definition of a hypothesis? -the reason for an observation -a law that has been proven -a theory about a problem -a proposed explanation that is testable -a proposed explanation that is already known
a proposed explanation that is testable
Which of the following procedures is most compatible with employing the environmental risk assessment step of the scientific evaluation process? a. Examining human health concerns caused by dangerous pollution known to be emitted from a local factory b. Lobbying the local city council to adopt stricter environmental protection regulations c. Observing a local river to determine if there are levels of dangerous fertilization runoff occurring
a. Examining human health concerns caused by dangerous pollution known to be emitted from a local factory
Identify which of the following problems does NOT fall into the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): a.Negotiating and implementing international environmental treaties, such as the Paris Treaty or Kyoto Protocol b.The quality of water and the fact that the water in Flint is potentially poisonous c.Monitoring the fact that in Boston there are difficulties in implementing waste disposal policies
a.Negotiating and implementing international environmental treaties, such as the Paris Treaty or Kyoto Protocol
Which of the following fields are incorporated into environmental science? -geology -biology -all answers are correct -chemistry
all answers are correct
Which of the following is not an example of a renewable natural resource? -wind -sunlight -all of these are renewable energy sources -timber
all of these are natural energy sources
What was the Hetch Hetchy Valley being considered for in the 1880s?
as a potential site for a reservoir
How did the Silent Spring impact the public's view on environmental issues? a. Bowl's book increased the awareness about environment issues by discussing the effect of greenhouse gas emission. b. Carson's book increased the awareness about environment issues by discussing the effect of pesticides and herbicides. c.Muir's book decreased the awareness about the environment because it focused on the Vietnam War.
b. Carson's book increased the awareness about environment issues by discussing the effect of pesticides and herbicides.
People are important to environmental science practice because they interact with and _____ the environment around them. a.buy b.change c.sell d.trade
b. change
Why was the Soil Conservation Act of 1935 passed?
because of severe drought in the 1930s, known as the Dust Bowl
During Pinchot's life, forests were being __________, which is when all of the trees are removed at the same time.
clear-cut
Name some nonrenewable natural resources
coal, oil, natural gas, minerals
Gifford Pinchot, who lived from 1865-1946, was a leader in the ________ movement.
conservation
What environmental science principle permits the use of natural resources by humans? -green chemistry -preservation -reduce, reuse, recycle -conservation
conservation
What environmental strategy is being practiced if a technician builds an enclosed, elevated trail through a forest area that provides people limited access for jogging, walking, or sightseeing? -conservation -green chemistry -environmental activism -preservation
conservation
While Pinchot was in charge of the U.S. Forest Service, the federal government adopted the __________ method for managing land.
conservation
In a __________ experiment, the scientist is in control of how each variable influences the experiment.
controlled
Identify the field(s) of science that is (are) often incorporated into the practice of environmental science a.biology b.chemistry c.physics d.biology and chemistry are often included
d. biology and chemistry are often included
What is the factor in an experiment that is being measured?
dependent variable
Water purification, air purification, and the recycling of waste are examples of: -nonrenewable resources -environmental services -ecosystem services -renewable resources
ecosystem services
During this step of scientific evaluation, the scientist would investigate the potential harm to human health or the environment as a result of the specific problem or the management option.
environmental risk assessment
This step of scientific evaluation investigates the potential harm to human health or the environment as a result of the specific problem or the management options.
environmental risk assessment
What scientific discipline would be best applied to address and better understand potential ground water contamination issues near a landfill? -environmental science -geology -sociology -climatology
environmental science
the field of science that studies the interactions of the physical, chemical, and biological components of the environment and also the relationships and effects of these components with the organisms in the environment
environmental science
Jane is studying the effects of acid rain on Mt Rushmore. She collects rainwater in the area for sampling. Jane is most likely: -an environmental scientist -a meteorologist -an environmentalist -a chemical engineer
environmental scientist
What are secondary growth forests?
forests that are re-grown after a disturbance
What are the social science fields that are incorporated into environmental science?
geography, economics, and political science
In the scientific method, a _________ is a proposed explanation that aims to answer the question formulated, and must be testable through experimentation.
hypothesis
Where is the Hetch Hetchy Valley located?
in the northwest corner of Yosemite National Park
Although environmental scientists and environmentalists may have a similar passion for the world we live in, how do they differ?
in the way they approach and address their passion
Which type of experimental variable is the factor the scientist is altering? -control variable -changed variable -dependent variable -altered variable -independent variable
independent variable
Environmental science is also referred to as an ______________ field because it incorporates information and ideas from multiple disciplines.
interdisciplinary
Preservationists believe the land has _______ ______, meaning that it is valuable in itself simply by existing.
intrinsic value
During the ______, people in the United States started to become more aware of how the env was being treated, how resources were being used, & how humans were influencing the env. -late 19th century -late 20th century -early 20th century -early 19th century
late 19th century
When was the National Wildlife Federation established?
late 19th century
The _______ century is known as the era of the modern environmental movement.
late 20th
Give the item that completes the list of processes of scientific evaluation of environmental problems: risk assessment; political action; public engagement; _____.
long-term management
Which step of the scientific evaluation process of environmental science is employed after a solution is implemented, and plans are made to continue to collect data, and observe the affected area to follow-up on the effectiveness of the solution? a.long-term management b.political action c.public engagement d.environmental risk assessment
long-term management
After which step in the scientific method can a peer review occur?
making conclusions
Natural resources have been referred to as the __________ produced by the environment, and in this respect, ecosystem services are the __________ that we rely on to help produce the ___________.
merchandise, facilities, merchandise
What is the term that describes a variety of substances and energy sources that we take from the environment and use?
natural resources
_____________ natural resources are substances that are in finite supply and will run out.
nonrenewable
What is the correct order of the steps of the scientific method?
observations, questions, hypothesis, experiment, interpreting results and making conclusions
Scientific journals are _____________, meaning that other scientists comment on and approve proposed manuscripts.
peer-reviewed
What are the humanities fields that are incorporated into environmental science?
philosophy and ethics
During this step of scientific evaluation, the risks associated with each possible solution are weighed against each other by politicians, and a legal decision is made about how to handle the environmental problem.
political action
The method of __________ is much stricter than the conservationist approach.
preservation
Under __________of the environment, lands and their natural resources should not consumed by humans.
preservation
Which environmental principle is applied by a group who purchases land and mandates that the property remain as is, with no improvements, and rules against any construction or observation stations on the property? -preservation -trailblazing -exploration -conservation
preservation
During this step of scientific evaluation, citizens are informed about the environmental problem and presented with potential solutions and risks associated with the problem.
public engagement
The number of people that are knowledgeable about the problem increases during which phase of scientific evaluation?
public engagement
_________ natural resources are substances that can be replenished over a period of time, such as sunlight, wind, soil and timber.
renewable
During an environmental risk assessment, which risks are associated?
risks to human health and the environment
During this step of scientific evaluation, information is gathered about the problem through observations and experiments.
scientific assessment
During which of the five steps, of scientific evaluation, is information gathered about the problem and the cause determined?
scientific assessment
What is the correct order and names of the fives steps in the process of using scientific evaluation to solve an environmental problem?
scientific assessment, environmental risk assessment, public engagement, political action, long-term environmental management
The ____________ __________ is a structured technique used to test ideas and potential answers to scientific questions.
scientific method
For most of human history, the population has been less than a million people, the the current population has skyrocketed to over _______ __________ people.
seven billion
Name some renewable natural resources
sunlight, wind, soil, timber
What term describes the practice of using natural resources in a manner that will meet the present day needs for the resource without jeopardizing the supply of the resource for future generations?
sustainability
What did a preservationist believe?
the environment should be maintained in its pristine form and its resources should not be harvested for human use
Based on the conservationists view, which of the following is NOT the value of the environment? -the spiritual inspiration a writer feels from seeing the woods -coal which can be used as a resource -old maple wood that can be used to make expensive furniture -common drinking water from a river
the spiritual inspiration a writer feels from seeing the woods
How many main goals of environmental science are there? -five -three -four -two
three
Why was the Sierra Club established?
to help increase public awareness and preservation of the environment
Why was the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established in 1970?
to regulate water quality, air pollution, solid waste and other environmental issues
Most environmentalists are people who are dedicated to protecting the environment and the resources it provides to ensure life for all species.
true
An experiment involves multiple ______, which are specific factors that can be manipulated.
variables
Define the Dust Bowl
-a major drought in the 1930s that resulted in severe erosion across the prairielands of the US -increased public awareness of the environment and made more people aware of the benefits of preserving the environment
The 3 main goals of environmental science
-learn how the natural environment works -understand how we as humans interact with the environment -determine how we affect the environment and finding ways to deal with these effects
In what year and where was the first wildlife refuge established?
1870, Lake Merritt in California
In what year, was Yellowstone, the first national park created?
1872
When was the first Earth Day celebrated?
1970
The ____ were one of the most productive times in the environmental movement.
1970s
