Chapter 13-16

Which of the following statements is false? A) Improving standards of living have been repeatedly demonstrated to require increased energy consumption. B) An average house built today requires only half the energy used by a new home in 1974. C) For an average home, standby appliances consume up to 25% of the electricity used in a month. D) Most potential heat from fuel is lost as waste heat.

A) Improving standards of living have been repeatedly demonstrated to require increased energy consumption.

Energy is measured in what units? A) Joule B) Power C) Calorie D) Amps

A) Joule

_____________________ can easily be moved across land in pipelines, but must be transported in special refrigerated ships to move across oceans. A) Natural gas B) Anthracite C) Light oil D) Methanol E) Heavy crude

A) Natural gas

In 2000, what continent had the highest percentage of people living in urban areas? A) North America B) Europe C) Asia D) South America E) Africa

A) North America

A large lending institution is evaluating the long-term pros and cons of building a hydroelectric dam in the Amazon rainforest. First, the lending institution is identifying the appropriate factors and then quantifying them. The factors include, but are not limited to, the direct expenses of building the dam, the lost opportunities from placing a dam on the river, and the profit from the dam. Also included is an analysis of who will be affected by the dam. Which of the following is not a major criticism of this type of analysis? A) People are willing to answer questions about how much they would spend to save the Amazon rainforest. B) The quantification process compares the value of the lives of indigenous people's lives with the lives of people in the city who would be receiving the electricity. C) The focus of this type of analysis would be mainly on the hydroelectric project rather than alternatives. D) Monetary values are placed on intangible things like the river running freely. E) These are all criticisms of this type of analysis.

A) People are willing to answer questions about how much they would spend to save the Amazon rainforest.

In terms of cost and safety, one of the best ways to manage hazardous waste is to produce less hazardous waste. A) True B) False

A) True

The Student Environmental Acting Coalition is the largest student environmental group in North America. A) True B) False

A) True

The Christmas Bird Count is an example of _____________________. A) citizen science B) ecosystem management C) environmental literacy D) international treaty

A) citizen science

Illegal dumping and storage of hazardous waste A) continues to threaten public health. B) has completely stopped since the Superfund Act. C) has not stopped completely but is rare. D) has become a problem mainly since the Superfund Act. E) will always be present because people are not concerned about toxic wastes.

A) continues to threaten public health.

In a criminal case, being found guilty can result in _________________ and in a civil case being found guilty can result in _______________. A) fines and jail sentences; only financial penalties B) only financial penalties; fines and jail sentences C) fines and jail sentences; fines and jail sentences D) only financial penalties; only financial penalties E) only jail sentences; only financial penalties

A) fines and jail sentences; only financial penalties

Individual efforts to reduce the volume of the waste stream A) have enormous cumulative effects. B) are fairly useful because it demonstrates to corporations that we care. C) have some effects, but we need to target industries to reduce their waste stream instead. D) have little effect but make people feel better. E) matter very little.

A) have enormous cumulative effects.

In many U.S. cities, poor, undereducated, minority, and other less powerful groups are often concentrated A) in urban centers. B) at city margins. C) outside of the city entirely. D) in a ring of satellite settlements around a city.

A) in urban centers.

The questions of ____ and _________ are among the biggest problems in cleaning up hazardous waste sites. A) liability; degree of purity required B) appropriate technology; location C) appropriate technology; liability D) degree of purity required; appropriate technology E) location; cost

A) liability; degree of purity required

Historically, international treaties and conventions were ________________ while more recently they are characterized by ___________________. A) negotiated by a panel of experts and no nations participating; broad participation and increased speed in the agreements taking force B) characterized by broad participation; a panel of experts with no participating nations C) characterized by broad participation and increased speed in enforcement; a panel of experts with no participating nations and slow enforcement D) characterized by increased speed in enforcement; a panel of experts with no participating nations and slow enforcement E) negotiated by a panel of experts from nations that are participating; narrow participation and relatively slow action in the agreement taking force

A) negotiated by a panel of experts and no nations participating; broad participation and increased speed in the agreements taking force

Using a refillable beverage container (returnable bottles) would be an example of __________ materials. A) reusing B) recycling C) reducing D) redefining

A) reusing

For much of the past decade, battles have been going on over oil and gas drilling in A) the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. B) the Everglades National Wildlife Refuge. C) Buffalo Commons Wildlife Refuge. D) Yellowstone National Park.

A) the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) is also known as A) the Superfund Act. B) the Clean Water Act. C) the Toxic Substances Control Act. D) the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

A) the Superfund Act.

"Waste stream" is a term describing A) the steady production of all waste products that humans produce. B) the process of eliminating domestic and commercial waste. C) the production of solid waste, specifically. D) the intermittent production of particular wastes. E) the production of liquid waste, specifically.

A) the steady production of all waste products that humans produce.

Biological treatments of hazardous waste involve ___________ hazardous substances. A) using plants, bacteria or fungi to absorb and detoxify B) the genetic alteration of species suffering from C) using microorganisms to disperse D) special organic chemical processing of E) None of these are correct.

A) using plants, bacteria or fungi to absorb and detoxify

Which country is the world leader in wind energy? A) The United States B) Denmark C) France D) Japan E) Brazil

B) Denmark

A megacity is defined as having more than 50 million residents. A) True B) False

B) False

A primary goal of sustainable development is the reduction of the world's population by at least 30%. A) True B) False

B) False

CITES is an international agreement to restrict trade in hazardous chemicals. A) True B) False

B) False

Cogeneration is the combined production of methane and coal. A) True B) False

B) False

Suburbs are known for the presence of artistic and cultural opportunities. A) True B) False

B) False

The Koyoto Protocol is an example of an international treaty that was easily passed and has been ratified by all nations. A) True B) False

B) False

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the government to take the least environmentally harmful option in any decision. A) True B) False

B) False

The US stopped all dumping of municipal refuse into oceans in 1958. A) True B) False

B) False

The down side of using palm oil as a biofuel is the loss of nutrients being placed back into the soil from decomposition of dead vegetation. A) True B) False

B) False

Tidal power stations operate by using the energy from waves as they crash on the shore. A) True B) False

B) False

Using bacteria to 'eat' the oil from an oil spill would be an example of A) energy recovery. B) bioremediation. C) phytoremediation. D) brownfield recovery.

B) bioremediation.

The most likely disaster in a nuclear power plant is that A) the plant would explode like a nuclear bomb. B) cooling systems could fail, causing rapid overheating. C) fuel rods could fail to maintain chain reactions. D) nuclear fusion would get out of control and cause explosions.

B) cooling systems could fail, causing rapid overheating.

When a factory pollutes a river, the costs and losses that affect people downstream would be called A) indirect costs. B) external costs. C) incidental costs. D) internal costs. E) social costs.

B) external costs.

A major factor in the conversion from fossil fuels to renewable forms of energy is A) money. B) infrastructure. C) access to renewable forms. D) a lack of technology to develop renewable forms.

B) infrastructure.

A reason to encourage green building designs would be that A) it would eliminate the need for fossil fuels. B) it would save money that would be spent on energy needs. C) it would utilize natural gas. D) it would eliminate brownfields.

B) it would save money that would be spent on energy needs.

Reduction of poverty and promoting gender equality are tenants of A) adaptive management. B) millennium development. C) sustainable development. D) environmental literacy. E) non-governmental organizations.

B) millennium development.

After an original idea is turned into a bill, it A) is introduced in the House and Senate. B) needs to be sponsored by a legislator. C) is referred to a committee. D) undergoes subcommittee hearings. E) needs to be marked up.

B) needs to be sponsored by a legislator.

Photovoltaic cells work because solar energy striking their surface A) causes the cells to liquefy as they heat. B) releases electrons, causing an electric potential in attached wires. C) is collected in the form of photons and sent through attached wires. D) causes an uneven magnetic charge to develop. E) changes to chemical energy.

B) releases electrons, causing an electric potential in attached wires.

Most useful oil deposits are usually found A) in a liquid pool under a layer of impermeable shale. B) saturating porous rocks, like water in a sponge. C) locked in the mineral structure of a rock formation. D) in pools on the earth's surface, where geologic pressures have forced them to collect. E) in small pools directly above the bedrock.

B) saturating porous rocks, like water in a sponge.

Which is an example of a pull factor for an urban area? A) unemployment in rural areas B) the availability of arts and cultural activities C) heavy traffic on city streets D) the lack of clean drinking water in rural areas

B) the availability of arts and cultural activities

Which of the following is a push factor for urban growth? A) jobs in rural manufacturing B) unemployment in farming communities C) better access to education at big universities D) high unemployment in cities E) opportunities for specialization in an occupation

B) unemployment in farming communities

Toxic landfills are frequently located in ________ areas. A) wilderness B) urban C) rural D) nonpopulated E) suburban

B) urban

Transportation consumes about ______ percent of all energy used in the US each year. A) 13 B) 20 C) 27 D) 33 E) 39

C) 27

According to the principle of new urbanism, what is the ideal size of a city? A) less than 15,000 people B) 15,000-30,000 C) 30,000-50,000 D) 50,000-100,000 E) up to 150,000

C) 30,000-50,000

The first college to get all of its energy from renewable resources was________________. A) University of Alberta B) University of California at Berkeley C) Concordia University D) Emory University E) College of William and Mary

C) Concordia University

Statutory law is established by __________________. A) the President B) the courts C) Congress D) State legislatures E) none of these are correct.

C) Congress

Which of the following statements is true? A) World coal reserves are substantially smaller than petroleum reserves. B) The fossil fuel most readily available and abundant in the United States and Canada is petroleum. C) The United States has only enough proven oil supplies to last 4 years at current rates of consumption. D) World coal reserves are only large enough to provide power for about 100 years. E) Under normal operating conditions, you are likely to get a higher dose of radiation living next to a nuclear plant than a coal-burning plant.

C) The United States has only enough proven oil supplies to last 4 years at current rates of consumption.

The US Department of Energy plans to deposit high-level nuclear waste at _________________ for long term storage. A) Las Cruces, New Mexico B) Carson City, Nevada C) Yucca Mountain, Nevada D) Tempe, Arizona E) Death Valley, California

C) Yucca Mountain, Nevada

Biofuels can be produced commercially using all of the following except A) corn. B) sugarcane. C) algae. D) soybeans. E) palm oils.

C) algae.

Traditional suburban development does not A) consist of only house lots and streets. B) typically consist of identical parcels of land without open space. C) facilitate social interactions among neighbors. D) consume agricultural land and wildlife habitat.

C) facilitate social interactions among neighbors.

The "group of 10" environmental organizations are most useful in A) spearheading truly radical environmental change. B) inspiring individual direct actions by all members. C) having strong, respected, and organized influence on national environmental policy setting. D) initiating student environmental activism on local environmental issues. E) inspiring individual direct actions by at least half of all members.

C) having strong, respected, and organized influence on national environmental policy setting.

Landfills differ from open dumps in that A) landfills are smaller. B) dumps are cleaner and smell less. C) landfilled waste is compacted and covered. D) landfills are cheaper to operate. E) Landfills and dumps are the same thing.

C) landfilled waste is compacted and covered.

Natural capital is that which is created by A) industrial processes. B) human labor. C) natural Earth processes. D) animal labor.

C) natural Earth processes.

In recent decades, unregulated open dumps have ____________ in developing countries. A) nearly disappeared B) mostly become regulated C) remained the primary disposal method D) been replaced by incineration and methane generation E) been replaced by sanitary landfills

C) remained the primary disposal method

After a problem is identified, the next step in the policy cycle is to A) build support for the problem. B) develop proposals. C) set an agenda. D) suggest changes. E) implement policy.

C) set an agenda.

An open access system will lead to A) smart growth. B) sustainable development. C) tragedy of the commons. D) urban sprawl.

C) tragedy of the commons.

Composting is a waste disposal method that A) is useful only for single households. B) is technologically complex. C) vastly reduces total waste volumes. D) is more environmentally costly than landfilling. E) is not realistic for college students.

C) vastly reduces total waste volumes.

According to the EPA, the US produces _____ tons of solid waste per year. A) 9 million B) 70 million C) 800 million D) 11 billion E) 123 billion

D) 11 billion

In 1950, only ____ percent of the world's population lived in cities. A) 16 B) 22 C) 31 D) 38 E) 43

D) 38

Which would be an example of sustainable development? A) Current use of fossil fuels in the U.S. B) Heap-leach extraction of gold. C) Harvest of food species to the point of extinction. D) Development of brownfields in urban areas. E) Suburban development programs.

D) Development of brownfields in urban areas.

Which of the following actions would probably not encourage efficiency and recycling programs? A) discontinue energy and water subsidies to industries when they are processing raw materials. B) discontinue subsidies that favor the extraction of raw materials. C) consumers asking for and buying products made from recycled products. D) charging a surcharge on materials when purchased that is redeemable when the consumer recycles the product. E) discontinue subsidies that favor the extraction of raw materials and consumers asking for and buying products made from recycled products are correct because industries do not receive water and energy subsidies.

D) charging a surcharge on materials when purchased that is redeemable when the consumer recycles the product.

Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland have higher standards of living by most measures than Americans or Canadians A) because their energy consumption is much greater. B) because they are closer to energy supplies. C) even though their energy use is about equal to ours. D) even though their energy use is much less than ours. E) Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland do not have higher standards of living compared to Americans or Canadians.

D) even though their energy use is much less than ours.

Urban curbside recycling costs cities A) a great deal, but citizens approve the expense anyway. B) nothing at all because the materials pay for expenses. C) more than any other disposal method. D) far less than landfilling or incinerating. E) nothing, in fact, all cities make money with recycling.

D) far less than landfilling or incinerating.

Which is not a negative consequence of urban sprawl? A) increased traffic congestion B) abandonment of city centers C) inefficient use of land D) increased lot and land areas for homes

D) increased lot and land areas for homes

Urbanization began to grow especially quickly after the A) development of agriculture. B) beginning of the twentieth century. C) invention of commerce and religion. D) industrial revolution. E) invention of record keeping.

D) industrial revolution.

Civil law is to _______________ as criminal law is to crimes against the state or society. A) legislation rulings B) administrative actions C) standings D) interactions between individuals E) precedents

D) interactions between individuals

In carrying out the policy cycle, which of the following groups would probably use intensive media campaigns or even stage a protest? A) industry associations B) labor unions C) wealthy or powerful individuals D) public interest groups

D) public interest groups

The National Priority List is a list of sites that A) we currently have money to deal with. B) deserve research for possible cleanup. C) will probably never be cleaned up. D) seriously require cleanup to prevent further environmental and health damage. E) are especially vulnerable to hazardous wastes (e.g., aquifer recharge zones) and are not available for future building permits.

D) seriously require cleanup to prevent further environmental and health damage.

In the case of sanitary landfills, the cost of disposing of wastes is _____ as technology provides safer alternatives. A) slowly increasing B) slowly decreasing C) staying relatively stable D) sharply increasing E) sharply decreasing

D) sharply increasing

In the United States about two-thirds of a ton of waste is generated for each person (including children). Compared to the United States, Japan and Europe generate about half that amount. One of the factors that probably does not contribute to this difference is A) the United States collection and dumping processes mix and crush everything together so separation is not possible. B) the fact that Japan is an island with limited space. C) the high rate of recycling in Japan. D) that people in the United States have a higher standard of living than Japan and Europe.

D) that people in the United States have a higher standard of living than Japan and Europe.

An environmental impact statement (EIS) is required for any significant federal action as a part of ______________________. A) the Clean Water Act B) the Clean Air Act C) the Endangered Species Act D) the National Environmental Policy Act E) none of these are correct.

D) the National Environmental Policy Act

In the United States and Canada, the most common problem with using wood as a major heat source is A) the cost. B) wood shortages. C) that it separates people from the utility grid. D) the production of pollutants. E) nothing because using wood as an alternate source is a viable way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

D) the production of pollutants.

In the poorest countries like Ethiopia and Bangladesh, biomass represents ______ percent of their energy consumption. A) 10 B) 30 C) 45 D) 70 E) 90

E) 90

Recycling aluminum is most important for A) saving raw materials (the ore). B) saving energy. C) saving landfill space. D) reducing pollutants in the air and water. E) All of these are correct.

E) All of these are correct.

Which group below is most identified with direct action for environmental causes? A) the Audubon Society B) The Nature Conservancy C) the Wise Use Movement D) the Natural Resources Defense Council E) Earth First!

E) Earth First!

A large lending institution is evaluating the long-term pros and cons of building a hydroelectric dam in the Amazon rainforest. First, the lending institution is identifying the appropriate factors and then quantifying them. The factors include, but are not limited to, the direct expenses of building the dam, the lost opportunities from placing a dam on the river, and the profit from the dam. Also included is an analysis of who will be affected by the dam. What is the name of the process the lending institution is going through? A) a long-term analysis B) a supply-demand analysis C) a tangible-intangible cost analysis D) a benefit-need ratio analysis E) a cost-benefit analysis

E) a cost-benefit analysis

The case of the president of a Colorado company who was sentenced to 14 years in prison for knowingly contaminating the water table is an example of a A) common law case. B) tort law case. C) statute law case. D) administrative law case. E) criminal law case.

E) criminal law case.

Which would not be a goal of smart growth? A) reduction of noise, air and water pollution B) increased access to artistic and cultural opportunities C) reduction of substandard housing D) improved communication among members of the community E) housing areas remote from work and shopping areas

E) housing areas remote from work and shopping areas

Ecological economics is different from the other economic theories because it recognizes the A) scarcity of natural capital. B) recycling of ecological processes and the scarcity of manufactured capital. C) abundance of natural capital. D) fragility of the human economy and power of ecological systems. E) human economy as one part of a dynamic world system.

E) human economy as one part of a dynamic world system.

The emphasis in the traditional U.S. suburban development is on ____. This is reflected by the _____. A) flexible housing; variety of living arrangements supported by most suburban zoning ordinances B) walking; pedestrian-friendly streets C) social interactions; pedestrian-friendly streets and parks D) ease of shopping and running errands; nearby availability of goods and services E) the automobile; prominent streets, garages, and driveways

E) the automobile; prominent streets, garages, and driveways