Ecology Test 11/14
According to the laws of supply and demand, _______________. A. low demand for a product or service should drive its price down B. high demand for a product or service should drive its price down C. if the price of a product or service goes down, demand for it would decrease D. if the price of a product or service goes up, demand for it would increase
A
All of the following greenhouse gases naturally occur in the atmosphere, except A. CFCs B. methane C. carbon dioxide D. nitrous oxide
A
Analyses indicate that only ~2% of the net climate forcing of the atmosphere since 1750 is a result of ___________. A. natural changes in solar energy reaching Earth B. desertification C. human-induced increases in atmospheric greenhouse gases D. the burning of fossil fuels
A
Because of the negligence of an employee at a local meat-packing plant, a popular tourist lake becomes heavily contaminated with hazardous by-products from the plant. Which type of law would address lost fishing and tourism income caused by the negligence? A. Civil law B. Administrative law C. Criminal law D. Contract law
A
Burning gasoline releases pollutants that cause harm to human health. Each year, these pollutants result in millions of dollars of additional health care costs. What economic argument would a government use in deciding to make up for these costs by adding a tax to the cost of gasoline rather than adding an extra tax on income (paychecks, for example)? A. A tax on gasoline would make the price of gasoline closer to the actual costs associated with the production and consumption of the product. B. A tax on income would be more regressive, meaning that it would have more effect on poor people than rich people. C. A tax on gasoline would reduce the consumption of gasoline. D. An extra tax on paychecks wouldn't raise enough money to pay for the health care impacts.
A
For a bill to make it to the President, it must be _________. A. approved by majority vote in both the House and Senate B. approved by a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate C. written by a House committee and approved by a 60% vote in the Senate D. approved by a 60% vote in both the House and Senate
A
Generally speaking, who enforces international treaties? A. The countries involved in the treaties B. The Justice League C. The World Trade Organization D. The United States
A
Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere when A. shortwave radiation from the sun is absorbed by Earth's surface and reradiated as infrared radiation B. heat being emitted by the sun enters Earth's atmosphere C. infrared radiation from the sun is converted to shortwave radiation D. shortwave radiation from the sun is absorbed by the molecules in the atmosphere
A
How do we know what global temperatures were before we had a widespread network of thermometers? A. We can determine this by looking at the patterns of tree rings or the isotopes of certain elements that vary with temperature. B. We know this by measuring temperatures through the atmosphere because the upper atmosphere records older temperatures than the surface atmosphere. C. We know this mostly from records in texts and records kept by human societies. D. We have no records from this period.
A
Imagine a town has a large area of undeveloped space. A condo developer comes forward with a plan to build condos and estimates that this development would provide $10 million worth of net economic benefit to the town each year. Which of the following describes an environmental economics approach to determining whether or not this development should proceed? A. Compare the economic benefits of the proposed project to the economic benefits associated with leaving the area undeveloped (such as tourism and recreation). B. Examine the costs of the project and compare these to the economic benefits they will provide to the city. C. Propose canceling the project because it only represents anthropocentric values rather than a broader set of ecocentric values. D. Estimate the option value of the undeveloped land; if it is larger than $10 million dollars, then recommend canceling the project.
A
In 2013 the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado, experienced a deadly wildfire that destroyed over 500 homes on the western side of the city, where people had built homes up into the foothills of the Rockies. Farther north, the city of Boulder is somewhat more protected from such wildfires because much of the front edge of the foothills has been designated as open space. Who legislates such rules regarding areas to be designated as open space? A. Local governments B. State legislators C. City planners D. U.S. Congress
A
Lobbying is an attempt to influence __________. A. elected officials B. federal judges C. public opinion D. the President
A
One of the approaches that some economists and scientists think can be used to reduce the environmental harm of economic activity is to place a value on different parts of the natural environment. Which of the following answers has a values perspective that is consistent with this suggestion? A. This example could involve components of several different values perspectives, depending on the reasons that are given for emphasizing the value of the environment. B. This is an example of the biocentric perspective because it places the environment before human welfare. C. This is an example of the utilitarian perspective because it places the good of the many over the good of the few. D. This is an example of the anthropocentric perspective because it is intended to place human welfare over the welfare of other organisms.
A
Some people have said that water vapor is a more powerful greenhouse gas than industrially produced gases such as CO2, and for this reason, we shouldn't worry about the rising concentrations of industrially produced greenhouse gases. What is wrong with this claim? A. Water vapor has a short residence time in the atmosphere and therefore cannot serve as a forcing for climate change. B. Water vapor is actually not a greenhouse gas. C. The release of water vapor to the atmosphere is controlled by the temperature of the oceans and is therefore unrelated to climate. D. Water vapor is present only in the troposphere and this means it can't change climate.
A
The Antarctic Treaty established which of the following? A. A land mass owned by no nations that can be used for only peaceful purposes B. Regulations for extracting minerals and other valuable resources from Antarctica C. A land mass divided up into territories owned by the nations signing the treaty D. A penguin reserve where no hunting is allowed
A
What is a dependency ratio, and why is it important? A. The ratio of non-working to working people; because non-working people require the support of the working population B. The ratio of old to young people; because older people use more resources than younger people C. The ratio of dying people to living people; because dying people require a large amount of health care D. The ratio of non-working to working people; because working people are a burden on society
A
What is the major difference between GDP and alternative indices such as HDI? A. Alternative indices all include measures of human welfare B. Alternative indices do not include economic data C. Alternative indices generally rise at a faster rate than GDP D. Alternative indices all include measures of environmental health
A
What line of evidence most strongly suggests that current global climate change is a result of increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere rather than increased solar radiation? A. Temperatures in the stratosphere are actually decreasing, suggesting that the atmosphere is not warming because of increased solar radiation. B. We know that greenhouse gas concentrations in the troposphere are increasing, and we know that greenhouse gases retain heat. C. Greenhouse gases accumulate in the stratosphere, causing the observed increases in temperature of this layer of the atmosphere. D. Greenhouse gases have increased throughout both the troposphere and stratosphere, causing the observed increases in temperature of both layers of the atmosphere.
A
Which of the following is an NGO? A. Environmental Defense Fund B. Amazon C. Yellowstone National Park D. Environmental Protection Agency
A
Which of the following scenarios would result in a negative feedback loop? A. As the atmospheric carbon dioxide level and temperature increase, more carbon is available for plants to take up during photosynthesis, causing increased uptake of carbon dioxide by plants. B. Increased global atmospheric temperatures cause an increase in evaporation of water from Earth's surface, resulting in more water vapor in the atmosphere. C. Increased air temperatures in polar regions result in the thawing of permafrost (frozen soil), releasing methane that has been trapped in the permafrost for millennia. D. Increased air temperatures in polar regions result in the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps.
A
Why did the global population start to grow so quickly in the 1700s? A. Because improved sanitation and medicine associated with the technological advances of the industrial revolution increased human life expectancy B. Because birth control was outlawed C. Because fertilizers were invented and there was finally enough food to support the world population D. Because there was a large increase in the fertility rate at the start of the industrial revolution as people became more well off and therefore had more children
A
Why does it take less and less time to add each additional billion people to the planet? A. Because as the population increases, the total number of births increases B. Because the growth rate increases as the population rises C. Because social behaviors change and people decide to have more children D. Because the total fertility rate increases with population size
A
Which of the following were associated with the warmest periods of the past 500 million years of Earth's history? (Select the three correct answers.) A. atmospheric carbon dioxide levels far higher than those of today B. fewer shallow areas in the oceans C. lush vegetation D. the lack of polar ice caps E. smaller seas
A C D
Which of the following are responsibilities of the judicial branch of the federal government? (Select the three correct answers.) A. Interpreting how laws should be applied B. Enforcing laws C. Ruling on the constitutionality of laws D. Creating laws E. Turning laws into enforceable regulations F. Settling disputes between states
A C F
Scientists use several types of analyses to demonstrate that human activities are responsible for Earth's warming trend. Select all of the lines of evidence that show that human activity is responsible for warming trends. (Select the three correct answers.) A. comparisons of computer models using both human and natural forcings with those using only natural forcings to see which fits past global temperatures better B. the measurement of global temperatures using satellite observations to determine that global temperatures are rising C. the use of temperature profiles through the stratosphere and troposphere to indicate that warming is due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases, not increased solar radiation D. a numerical analysis of many different forcings which indicates that human factors result in larger forcings than do changes in solar radiation
A, C, D
Which of the following might an economist study? (Select the four correct answers.) A. The relationship between supply and demand in the pricing of goods B. The effects of consumer choices on happiness levels C. How governmental decisions affect economic growth D. Whether religious practices influence crime rate E. The decisions that govern resource allocation F. Why consumers make the decisions they do
A, C, E, F
A market failure occurs when ________. (Select the two correct answers.) A. the market fails to regulate common pool resources B. a market crashes, such as the crash that occurred to the stock market in 1929 C. negative externalities fail to offset positive internalities in a market system D. a market does not take into account certain externalities when pricing goods or services E. economists are unable to predict the behavior of consumers
A, D
Albedo is the measure of a surface's ability to reflect solar radiation. Which of the following has the highest albedo, absorbing the least light? A. the vegetation growing along a trail leading to the summit of a dormant volcano B. the snow on top of a dormant volcano C. the black rock on top of a dormant volcano D. the red car that the hiker parked at the trailhead leading to the summit of a dormant volcano
B
All of the following are logical policies that could be instituted to deal with the problem of property damage due to catastrophic wildfires except __________. A. instituting higher property taxes in fire-prone areas to pay for increased fire-suppression measures B. requiring insurance companies to provide homeowner's insurance to all homeowners C. instituting strict building codes requiring the use of flame-resistant building materials D. instituting zoning ordinances prohibiting the building of homes in remote forested areas
B
All of the following can dictate the price of a renewable resource except _______________. A. the available supply of the resource B. the demand for the resource compared to the size of the recoverable reserves of the resource C. the rate of production of the resource D. the demand for the resource
B
Based on your understanding of projections of future climate change, which of the following statements is true? A. The amount of 21st-century warming is already set in place and no amount of societal change can affect it. B. The amount of 21st-century warming will depend to a large degree on the speed with which we reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. C. Climate change is a natural process unaffected by human activity so there is little we can do to affect it. D. The amount of 21st-century warming is mostly controlled by the oceans and land and how these two systems respond to a warming climate.
B
In order to reduce the amount of pollution generated in vehicles, a government requires car makers to use a fleet mileage standard, which is a measure of the average miles per gallon (fuel efficiency) of the vehicles they produce. If the companies fall beneath this standard, they are fined. What kind of approach to policy does this represent? A. A market-based policy approach, because car prices might change B. A punitive approach, because fines are involved C. An administrative approach D. A voluntary approach, because the companies can choose how to meet the standard
B
In the context of environmental decision making, which of the following best illustrates the concept of instrumental value? A. Wolves are valuable in the Yellowstone ecosystem because their activities keep elk herds and forests healthy. B. A lake free of pollution is valuable because we can safely use the water for recreation, fishing, and drinking. C. Future generations of humans have the same value as today's humans. The fact that they do not yet exist does not negate the fact that they will be as human as we are. D. A forest in northern Minnesota is valuable because it sustains an entire community of organisms, from woodpeckers and butterflies to earthworms, fungi, and forest plants.
B
In which situation below would a voluntary approach to environmental policy potentially be more effective than a punitive one? A. Reductions in pollution emissions from power plants B. Household energy use C. Prevention of water pollution from factories D. Prevention of the illegal harvesting of endangered species
B
Most of the species that have been placed on the endangered species list __________. A. have recovered and been delisted B. are still on the list C. have gone extinct D. should technically not be on the list, but political wrangling has resulted in them being listed
B
One concern with a warming climate is how it will affect ecosystems. In one scenario that scientists are studying, a warming Arctic climate will melt permafrost (permanently frozen ground), which will then stimulate the decomposition of frozen organic matter, thus increasing the release of large quantities of CO2 and CH4 and causing further warming of the climate. This scenario would be an example of which of the following? A. a sequential feedback loop B. a positive feedback loop C. industrial greenhouse gas production D. an uncontrolled ecological cascade that will have impacts on the Arctic but little effect on climate
B
One of the projections of the effects of climate change is an increase in the intensity of extreme events such as floods and droughts. Would this be important to human society and why or why not? A. No, extreme events happen infrequently and therefore have little impact on humans. B. Yes, extreme events are difficult to plan for and place a large amount of stress on human systems and infrastructure. C. There is no way to tell; because these are projections and not observations, we can't evaluate their impacts on society. D. Maybe, but it's impossible to know whether or not floods or drought would affect society.
B
One reason why some people argue for strong environmental regulations for the production of pollution is that these regulations could actually save money overall. How could this be the case? A. Regulations like this are paid for using taxes, and taxation is the main way that governments make money. B. Regulations on pollution reduce negative externalities and can save money that would otherwise be spent addressing these externalities C. Regulations on pollution lead to a cleaner environment, which then leads to improved life satisfaction and therefore results in a higher GDP. D. Pollution regulations require companies to spend money, which increases employment and leads to the generation of more income.
B
The Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act are administered by the ___________. A. Department of Clean Air and Water B. Environmental Protection Agency C. U.S. Congress D. judicial branch of the government
B
The combustion of coal produces _______________, which tend(s) to have a cooling effect on the climate. A. carbon dioxide B. sulfate aerosols C. soot D. water vapor
B
The goal of the Kyoto Protocol was to _______. A. regulate emissions of gases that produce ozone B. regulate emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide C. protect endangered and threatened species by restricting trade of these species and their body parts D. oversee agreements on agricultural activities and waste transport across international borders
B
What collection of measures below is likely to be found in metrics such as GNH, BLI, HDI, or GPI but not in GDP? A. Education, pollution production, goods and services produced, gender equity B. Education, pollution production, effectiveness of government, life satisfaction C. Pollution production, gender equity, education, money spent on services D. Money spent on goods, high school literacy, access to health care, greenhouse gas emissions
B
What does it mean when an economist is "discounting" natural resources? A. Making the resources less expensive so they can sell more quickly when the supply is too high B. Estimating the present value of resources based on their value in the future C. Ignoring the value of natural resources in their calculations D. Downplaying the importance of the value of the resources in the economy
B
What is the difference between NEPA and other environmental laws? A. NEPA focuses on federal government and individual decisions, whereas the other laws focus on private industry. B. NEPA has a broader focus than other environmental laws because it applies to all federal decision making, as well as a range of private activities on federal lands. C. NEPA focuses on land management, whereas the other laws focus on pollution or endangered species. D. NEPA is used to evaluate the success of air, water, and endangered species regulation and so is not a law in the same way that other environmental regulations are.
B
When air pollution from a U.S. factory drifts across the border to Canada, what policies can be used to address the resulting problems in Canada? A. This type of pollution is addressed by the Montreal Protocol, which was created specifically to deal with pollution from the United States. B. The U.S. and Canada could create an agreement or treaty to address the problem. C. Canada could enforce the U.S. Clean Air Act. D. Canada could sue the United States for violation of international agreements; this case could then be heard and addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
B
Which of the following areas has experienced the greatest surface temperature increase since 1900? A. the South Pacific B. Siberia and northern Canada C. the southern United States and Mexico D. the North Atlantic
B
Which of the following best represents a common pool resource? A. The money being bet in a poker game B. Groundwater in the Ogallala Aquifer, which farmers rely on to irrigate their crops C. The rangeland owned by a rancher, where the rancher's cattle graze D. A municipal swimming pool
B
Which of the following best represents economic valuation of the environment being used in economic decision-making? A. A family deciding not to visit Yellowstone National Park because they heard that the park's environment is suffering from having too many visitors B. The government instituting a "gas guzzler" tax on vehicles that get low gas mileage, with the proceeds going into a fund to clean up oil spills in U.S. waters C. A large power company backing down from plans to build a new power plant because of strong resistance from residents in the area D. An electric generation facility switching away from using coal because natural gas is cheaper to purchase and doesn't require mining
B
Which of the following is an example of an aerosol? A. carbon dioxide B. volcanic ash C. nitrogen gas D. water vapor
B
Which of the following represents an attempt to combat a market failure? A. Firing the economists who caused the market failure and hiring more competent replacements B. Instituting a carbon tax on the amount of carbon dioxide pollution produced by a car C. Avoiding the placement of a market where there is not already a competing market D. Making sure all internalities are considered when pricing a product
B
Which of the following scenarios is projected by the IPCC if we were to dramatically reduce our global greenhouse gas emissions immediately? A. a leveling off and eventual decrease in global temperatures over the next century B. continued global warming, but less warming than would occur without greenhouse gas reduction C. a decrease in global temperatures to those prior to the Industrial Revolution D. the leveling off of global temperatures to an average near those currently being experienced across the globe
B
Which of the following statements would be a reasonable criticism of using the gross domestic product (GDP) to measure progress toward the development of sustainable environmental practices such as reductions in pollution and loss of natural ecosystems and species? A. GDP measures consumption of natural resources and inflation, but these two metrics alone are not enough to provide real information on sustainable environmental practices. B. GDP measures a specific aspect of economic growth and doesn't explicitly capture many of the other details of environmental change that may be associated with economic growth. C. GDP does not measure environmental change directly, so it can't be used in any way to evaluate environmental progress. D. GDP is a measure of greater democratic progress and captures important aspects of societal change without attention to environmental factors.
B
Which of the following statements would be a reasonable explanation of why the gross domestic product might provide some information on progress toward the development of sustainable environmental practices such as reductions in pollution and loss of natural ecosystems and species? A. If GDP is high, then, in principle, more people will be employed, so they will purchase fewer goods thus reducing resource use. B. A strong economy with a high GDP should, in principle, be associated with high rates of employment and technological innovation. These changes could, in principle, lead to improvements in sustainable environmental practices. C. The equations used to calculate GDP include terms that specifically address environmental change. D. A high GDP will mean reduced rates of resource consumption and pollution generation.
B
Who are the stakeholders in environmental policy? A. Those who pay for the implementation of the policy B. Those who are affected by the policy C. Those who enforce the policy D. Those who write the policy
B
Your friend argues that we need to take care of the environment for the sake of our great-grandchildren. This perspective most closely matches ______________. A. biocentrism B. anthropocentrism C. instrumentalism D. ecocentrism
B
Which of the following generally occurs when a country experiences economic growth? (Select the three correct answers.) A. Increased concentration of GDP B. Increased natural resource use C. Improved welfare for all its citizens D. Increased pollution E. Increased energy consumption
B D E
Which of the following are factors that are needed to produce goods and services?(3) A. How a business deals with scarcity B. The availability of natural resources C. The availability of the necessary tools, machines, and infrastructure D. The location of the market E. The demand for the goods and services F. Human capital
B, C, F
A person espousing virtue ethics is most likely to make which of the following statements? A. I should not shoot that bald eagle because there are federal laws and international treaties that prohibit me from doing so. B. I should shoot that bald eagle because it's fun to kill things. C. I should not shoot that bald eagle because I believe that it would be wrong to deprive any animal of life. D. I should shoot that bald eagle because it is awesome and majestic and will therefore look great mounted on the wall in my dorm room.
C
All of the following are components of Milankovich cycles except A. changes in the tilt of Earth relative to the sun B. changes in the amount of wobble in Earth's rotation C. changes in the distance and shape of the moon's orbit around Earth D. changes in the shape of Earth's orbit around the sun
C
Environmental policies can be created at both the national and international level. Which of the following is the best reason why it is easier to enforce a national policy than an international one? A. National policy is easier to enforce because there tends to be more agreement on the usefulness of environmental policy within a country than between countries. B. It is difficult to enforce international policy because measuring the effects of any individual action at the international scale is challenging, making it impossible to impose fines or take action against violators of a specific policy. C. National policy is easier to enforce because tools such as taxation, punitive actions, and civil law are largely created and enforced at the national level.
C
General circulation models (GCMs) suggest that A. oceans have warmed much more rapidly than originally predicted B. Earth's climate would average 3.78°C colder without the human-induced forcings that are keeping the atmosphere warm C. Earth's recent warming trend cannot be explained solely by natural forcings D. most of Earth's recent warming trend cannot be attributed to natural and human-induced forcings
C
How do state environmental policies compare to federal policies? A. State policies cannot be stricter than federal policies. B. State policies may be more relaxed than federal policies. C. State policies may be more restrictive than federal policies. D. Environmental policies are dictated by the federal government, and no states are allowed to have their own environmental policies.
C
In the United States, treaties are negotiated by the _____________ and approved by __________________. A. House of Representatives; the President B. President; a majority vote in the Senate C. President; a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate D. Senate; the President
C
One approach to pollution reduction is to allow companies to buy and sell pollution emission permits. In this way, companies can choose to reduce their own pollution or pay another company to reduce their pollution instead. Why would this type of approach make sense economically? A. It connects macro- and microeconomics by having governments and business work together. B. In this type of trading scheme, companies will always save money. C. This approach provides a market which then can be used to find the most economically efficient approach to pollution regulation. D. Companies work best when they collaborate on pollution regulation.
C
The federal government owns large areas of land in the United States that are managed by agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service. If the U.S. Forest Service needs to make a decision about building roads in a national forest, what would be required to make this decision? A. The U.S. Forest Service would have to consult with local governments to ensure that any decisions were in compliance with local NEPA laws. B. The Forest Service would hold public hearings as required by NEPA; if there is no local opposition to the roads, then they would be built. C. The road development would have to be evaluated under the NEPA law and any environmental impacts would need to be determined. D. The legislative branch of the U.S. government would need to pass a law allowing the road development.
C
The objective of the Montreal Protocol was to _______. A. divide eastern Canada into territories owned by the nations signing the treaty B. regulate emissions of gases that produce ozone C. phase out the use of chemicals that deplete the ozone layer D. regulate emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide
C
The sun releases energy across the electromagnetic spectrum. Which forms of electromagnetic energy from the sun affect climate? A. energy with the shortest wavelengths, such as gamma rays B. all forms, from the longest wavelengths to the shortest wavelengths C. shortwave radiation, such as visible light D. energy with the longest wavelengths, such as microwaves and radio waves
C
The thawing of permafrost from rising temperatures in the Arctic is expected to A. slow climate change via a negative feedback loop as carbon dioxide becomes trapped in the thawed soils B. accelerate climate change via a negative feedback loop as carbon dioxide and methane are released from these soils C. accelerate climate change via a positive feedback loop as carbon dioxide and methane are released from these soils D. slow climate change via a positive feedback loop as carbon dioxide becomes trapped in the thawed soils
C
Urban heat islands occur in metropolitan areas where the air temperature is several degrees warmer than the surrounding rural areas. How can the concept of a climate forcing be used to explain the urban heat island phenomenon? A. The extensive use of energy in urban areas produces "waste heat" that is retained in the atmosphere. B. Higher temperatures in urban areas allow for an extended growing season, allowing people with urban gardens the ability to grow a wider variety of crops than can be grown in the surrounding rural areas. C. Urban areas contain vast expanses of paved surfaces and other surfaces that absorb shortwave radiation and reradiate it as heat. Rural areas tend to be more heavily vegetated and so reflect more shortwave radiation. D. The number of very tall buildings restricts airflow, which increases the temperature in city centers.
C
What are the two most populated continents of the world? A. Asia and Oceania B. Europe and Asia C. Africa and Asia D. North and South America
C
What is a potential regional benefit of a slight increase in atmospheric temperatures during the 21st century? A. Polar bears would be limited in their ability to hunt in the ocean, forcing them onto land and allowing a greater number of them to be hunted. B. A higher sea level would create more shallow areas for fish spawning and fishing. C. Improved agriculture would allow for increased food production. D. Increased air temperature would decrease the prevalence of temperature-sensitive pathogens such as malaria and smallpox.
C
When pollutants are released from a factory, they enter the atmosphere and can be harmful to the health of surrounding populations. If those pollutants are released during the production of a product that is then sold in stores, which of the following mechanisms would provide a market-based solution to the problem? A. Impose a pollution tax on the factory by the federal government B. Organize a protest to convince the factory owners to stop producing so much pollution C. Develop a system where all similar plants in the region must collectively reduce their emissions and where these plants can interact through the buying and selling of pollution credits D. Allow the plant to voluntarily reduce the pollution depending on whether or not the public decides to stop buying the product at stores
C
Which of the following best represents a resource that has direct use value, indirect use value, and existence value? A. Black-footed ferrets, a mammal that was once thought to be extinct but was rediscovered in 1981 in Wyoming B. A state forest in northern Wisconsin, where rotational clear-cutting is used to harvest trees to make newspapers C. A wetland along the Mississippi River that has been restored for the purposes of flood control and hunting, where wolves and bald eagles have recently been seen D. A large seam of coal near Gillette, Wyoming, that will provide mining jobs for the next 20 years
C
Which of the following describes the global warming potential of a gas? A. the amount of heat a gas can trap in the atmosphere in a certain amount of time, multiplied by its atmospheric concentration B. the amount of heat a gas can trap in the atmosphere in a certain amount of time, multiplied by its average lifespan C. the amount of heat a gas can trap in the atmosphere in a certain amount of time D. the atmospheric concentration of a gas, multiplied by its average lifespan
C
Which of the following most accurately describes average global temperature changes since 1900? A. Average global temperatures have been relatively stable since 1900 but are much higher than they were during the 1800s. B. Average global temperatures have steadily climbed since 1900. C. Although average global temperatures rose from 1900 to 1950, the majority of the warming in the recent past has occurred since 1960. D. Average global temperatures declined during the first half of the 20th century but have increased rapidly since then.
C
Order the items from most (4) to least (1) powerful in terms of their positive climate-forcing impacts during the 20th century. Show instructions Carbon dioxide Methane Nitrous oxide Aerosol cloud effects
Carbon dioxide - 4 Methane - 3 Nitrous oxide - 2 Aerosol cloud effects -1
A cap-and-trade policy __________. A. does not take into consideration the fact that some polluters would experience greater financial hardship if all polluters were forced to decrease their pollutants to the same level B. prohibits any power plant from releasing more than a predefined amount of pollution into the environment C. requires power plants to place caps on their smokestacks to prevent the release of pollutants into the environment D. would allow some polluters to pollute more than others, so long as the amount of pollution released in a region stays within governmental limits
D
A person espousing deontological ethics is most likely to make which of the following statements? A. I should not shoot that bald eagle because it is awesome and majestic. B. I should shoot that bald eagle because it is awesome and majestic and will therefore look great mounted on the wall in my dorm room. C. I should shoot that bald eagle because its meat will provide my family with sustenance, and its feathers can be used to stuff pillows. D. I should not shoot that bald eagle because there are federal laws and international treaties that prohibit me from doing so.
D
All of the following are predicted to directly result from rising global temperatures except A. rising sea levels B. the melting of Greenland's ice sheets C. the submerging of low-lying coastal areas D. the increased acidity of oceans
D
All of the following are proxy records of global temperature except A. glacial ice cores B. ocean and lake sediments C. width of tree rings D. thermometer readings
D
CITES endeavors to _______. A. oversee agreements on agricultural activities and waste transport across international borders B. regulate emissions of gases that produce ozone C. regulate emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide D. protect endangered and threatened species by restricting trade of these species and their body parts
D
How many people are added to a population of 100,000 each year with a one percent growth rate? A. About 10,000 B. About 100 C. About 1 D. About 1,000
D
If a cost-benefit analysis is performed, a project would be supported when ____________. A. the costs of performing the analysis are less than the benefits of performing the analysis B. the costs of the project are greater than the benefits C. the costs of the project are greater than the benefits but are less than the difference between the costs and the benefits D. the benefits of the project are greater than the costs
D
If a large international treaty is negotiated to address climate change and is successfully accepted by the U.S. government, how could the details of the treaty be put into place in U.S. environmental policy? B. If a treaty were agreed to, then it would be up to the President of the United States to decide which agency in the executive branch would need to write and pass legislation to enforce the details of the treaty. C. Once the treaty was passed by the U.S. Congress, the agreement would already be in place, and the subsequent enforcement of the treaty would occur through the judicial branch of the U.S. government. D. Once the treaty went into effect, the U.S. Congress would either need to create new laws to enforce the details of the treaty within the United States or need to enforce those details through the existing structures within the executive branch of the U.S. government.
D
Imagine a scenario in which a company is producing a new type of hair spray. This hair spray works really well but actually causes respiratory (breathing) distress in people who are nearby when it is used. This distress is severe enough that some people end up in the hospital. Assuming this product stays on the market, why is the respiratory distress an externality? A. There are "external" health impacts of the use of this product. B. The product doesn't just affect the user, it also affects people who are "external" to the decision to use the hair spray. C. Any type of negative environmental impact that results from the use of a product is an externality. D. There are costs associated with the hospitalization that aren't part of the cost of the product.
D
In many cases, local governments play a major role in decisions about how land is used. Which of the following would be a case where federal law would become more important than local or state law? A. A landowner donates natural forest areas to be developed under the responsibility of the U.S. Forest Service. B. The land contains a weed that might spread to nearby crop fields if the area is disturbed. C. The ownership of the land is in dispute, so the federal government would need to make a determination about the legality of any proposed development. D. The land in question contains an endangered plant species.
D
One argument for protecting the biological diversity of an ecosystem (the variation in species and genes) is that doing so will help save important resources such as medicines for people in the future. Which of the following answers has a values perspective that is consistent with this suggestion? A. This is an example of utilitarian ethics because, in this case, protection of nature benefits more people than using the environment for another purpose would. B. This example could involve components of several different values perspectives, depending on the reasons that are given for emphasizing the value of saving resources for the future. C. This is an example of the biocentric perspective because it places protection of the environment before human welfare. D. This is an example of the anthropocentric perspective because it is an action taken to protect human welfare.
D
Taxes used in environmental policy serve all of the following functions except________. A. raising money to fund environmental initiatives B. making environmentally sound products more popular C. encouraging industry to follow more environmentally sound practices D. making legislators more politically popular
D
The Energy Guides that accompany appliances sold in the United States ___________. A. are voluntarily provided by the appliance companies B. require consumers to make purchases that will minimize their energy use C. have been shown to be inaccurate because companies try to make their appliances more environmentally friendly than they really are D. are required by federal law to help consumers make informed, voluntary decisions based on appliance energy use
D
The National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) does which of the following? A. NEPA establishes emission standards to be enforced by the EPA. B. NEPA regulates trade between Mexico and the United States. C. NEPA taxes industries that fail to abide by EPA emission standards. D. NEPA requires an environmental assessment for a major project.
D
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration belong to the _____________ of the federal government. A. legislative branch B. legislative and executive branches C. judicial branch D. executive branch
D
The _____________ has jurisdiction over the safety of chemicals used in food, drugs, and cosmetics. A. judicial branch of the government B. DFDC (Department of Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics) C. USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) D. FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
D
Three people are in a horrible car accident and are brought to the hospital in critical condition. There is another patient just brought into the hospital for a broken leg. There are only three beds available in the emergency room, and one is occupied by the person with the broken leg. From a purely utilitarian perspective, what should the doctors do? A. the decision of whom to save or let live would depend on economic status. Since wealthier people tend to have a greater negative impact on the environment, the doctors should treat the poorest patients first, regardless of the severity of their injuries. B. patient with the broken leg was there first and should be treated first. D. the doctors should give the beds to the three most critically injured patients because doing so creates the greatest good for the greatest number.
D
What would happen to global temperatures if there were no greenhouse gases in the atmosphere? A. There would be little change in temperature because greenhouse gases are present in very low concentrations in the atmosphere. B. Earth would be very hot. C. Earth's temperature would be 2-5°C cooler. D. Earth would be very cold.
D
Which of the following greenhouse gases is short-lived and exhibits the most variation in atmospheric concentrations from season to season? A. carbon dioxide B. methane C. nitrous oxide D. water vapor
D
Your friend argues that economic growth is good and that policies hindering growth should be avoided. Which of the following counterarguments is most valid? A. Economic growth is not good because economic growth requires more education, and it already costs too much to attend college. B. Policies that hinder growth are inevitable because those who experience the least growth wish to inhibit the economic advancement of others. Since the policies are inevitable, they should be embraced, especially by those in the lowest income brackets of society. C. Policies that hinder growth actually stimulate growth by creating new markets in which growth can occur. D. Economic growth may actually have a more negative effect than a positive effect on human welfare because today's economic system ignores many negative externalities.
D
The Younger Dryas involved a cooling of 10°C in the north Atlantic region that occurred over a period of _____________. This cooling event was caused by ___________. A. a decade; the melting of large ice sheets in North America B. 100,000 years; methane gas produced in the digestive tracts of dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex C. 1,000 to 2,000 years; a meteorite that crashed to Earth in present-day Mexico D. 20,000 years; eruption of a mega volcano in western North America
c
A country's GDP is the value of all of the _____ during a specific time period. A growing economy produces a ________ GDP, while ___________________ has the opposite effect on a nation's GDP.
goods and services produced, rising, an economic recession
Because of increased evaporation, precipitation is generally expected to ___ across the globe during the 21st century. During this same time, temperatures will increase across the globe with temperature increases over water being ___ increases over land.
increase, smaller than
As polar sea ice disappears due to warming, it will cause ________ to be absorbed at Earth's surface. This absorption of energy which will function as a(n) _________ climate change.
more energy, positive feedback to