Environmental Science Midterm
Which naturalist was fascinated by the country side around Concord, Massachusetts and wrote of his experiences living close with nature A) Henry David Thoreau B) Lewis Thomas C) Rachel Carson D) Ralph Waldo Emerson
A) Henry David Thoreau
in 1994 delegates from around the world gathered for the Conference on population and development. Representatives from developing countries protested that A) a baby born in the US will consume 20 X the resources in its lifetime as an African or Indian baby B) overpopulation is a bigger environmental problem than over consumption C) the US consumes 90% of the world resources D)china has the highest population and consumes 90% of the worlds resources
A) a baby born in the US will consume 20 X the resources in its lifetime as an African or Indian baby
sustainable development is often defined as meeting the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their this is much like A) conservation B) environmental pragmatism C) preservationism D)ecocentrim
A) conservation
Environmental anthropocentrism is a theory which states that A) environmental responsibility is derived from human interest B)all forms of life have an inherent right to exists C) all laws should protect the health of human beings D) the environment deserves direct moral consideration
A) environmental responsibility is derived from human interest
ethics is A) one branch of philosophy B) a characteristic of environmental energy C) not to be used when making environmental changes in tech D) All of these are correct
A) one branch of philosophy
to get around the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 many oil carriers A) use lightly regulated oil barges pulled by tugboats B) have constructed pipelines under the ocean floor C) have increase the use of supertankers D) use unregulated foreign cruise ships
A) use lightly regulated oil barges pulled by tugboats
An ecosystem is A) the transition zone between glassland and desert B) a group of interactive species and their environmental C) a body of freshwater D) the lowland area on either side of the river
B) a group of interactive species and their environment
world food production has doubled in the last 40 years because of A) diseases, world trade, and new sources of water B) fertilizers, pesticides, and high-yielding varieties C) genetic modifications DNA fingerprinting, & international treaties D) organic farming practices, erosion control , and farm labor
B) fertilizers, pesticides, and high-yielding varieties
Malaria is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, with some 525 million cases occurring annually and resulting in one to three million deaths, mainly in young children: A) of the Quechua Indians in Peru B) in Sub- Saharan Africa C) of the Jesuits in Europe' D) of the pilgrims in Massachusetts
B) in Sub-Saharan Africa
biocentrism is also known as A) Ethical communism B)life-centered environmental ethics C)Aldo leopoldism D) bio-ethics
B) life centered environmental ethics
Which is the following is a correct example of interrelatedness? A)Wolves reintroduced -> coyotes decline -> rodents decline-> willow increase B) Wolves reintroduced-> elk declined-> willow increase-> beavers increase C) Wolves reintroduced-> coyotes decline-> rodents increase -> foxes decrease D)Wolves reintroduced -> elk decline-> willows increase-> beavers increase-> water flow stays the same
B)Wolves reintroduced -> elk decline-> willows increase-> beavers increase
Agenda 21 was an agreement by A) seven nations to halt CFC production in 1987 B) 90 nations to enhance global biodiversity in 2000 C) 178 nations for comprehensive sustainable development in 1992 D) 300 nations to limit trade in endangered species in 1985
C) 178 nations for comprehensive sustainable development in 1992
Which naturalist stated that regulated hunting can maintain a proper balance of wildlife A)Rachel Carson B)Lewis Thomas C)Aldo Leopold D)John Muir
C) Aldo Leopold
which of the following books cites the danger of pesticides to food, wildlife, and humans? A) Sandy County Almanac B) Walden C)Silent Spring D) Nature
C) Silent Spring
what is the name of the theory which suggests that the environment has direct rates and qualifies for moral personhood A) environmental justice B) resource exploitation C) ecocentrism D) comprehensive environmental response
C) ecocentrism
much of the credit for increases in "faith-based" environmentalism can go to the A)national religious department of education (NRDE) B)national religious partnership of the earth (NRPE) C)national religious partnership for the environment (NRPE) D)national religious parents for the Environment (NRPE)
C) national religious partnership for the environment (NRPE)
the result of the 1997 kyoto summit was an international commitment to A) reduce the amount rain forest logging B) increase the amount of land placed in conservation easement C) reduce emissions of greenhouse gases D) reduce the number of oil spills
C) reduce emissions of greenhouse gases
the oil protection act of 1990 A) allows the government to regulate oil prices B) regulates pollution from oil refineries C) regulates supertankers and reduces the chances of oil spills D) both allows the gov to regulate oil prices and regulates pollution from oil refineries
C) regulates supertankers and reduces the chances of oil spills
the organization of colleges and universities in the US and Canada that promotes sustainability in higher education is called A)UNCED B)UNESCO C)AASHE D)STARS
C)AASHE
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary area of study that deals with all of the following except A) politics B) economics C) ethics D) All of these are correct
D) All of these are correct
The Earth Summit was A) the first worldwide meeting dealing with environmental concerns B) formerly known as the UNCED C) held in Rio de Janerio in 1992 D) All of these are correct
D) All of these are correct
industries pollute because A) manufacturing consumes energy and produces waste B) they want to cut costs and increase profits C) proper waste disposal is too costly D)All of these are correct
D) All of these are correct
Environment is defined as A) the surrounding conditions that affect organisms B)everything that affects an organism during its lifetime C) all organisms including people affecting many components D)More than one of the choices are correct E)None of the choices are correct
D) More than one of the choices are correct
who was NOT a notable 19th century conservationist philosopher A) Ralph Waldo Emerson B) John Muir C)Aldo Leopold D) Rachel Bilson
D) rachel bilson
what percent of the earths water is undrinkable A)1% B)25% C)55% D)87% E)99%
D)87%
interrelatedness is a central factor of environmental science. Which of the follow is an example of interrelatedness? A)The production of red clover plants in fields in England to the number of cats in the area B)The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone national park to the amount of livestock C) The reintroduction of wolves to yellowstone national park to the water flow through the landscape D) A&B only E)A&C only F) all of the above
E) A&C only
Aldo Leopold published his thoughts on land-use ethics in A Sand County Almanac
True
air pollution generated in china affects air quality in western coastal states in the US and in British Columbia, Canada
True
the basic premise behind the "tragedy of the commons" is: a) a resource becomes over exploited when ownership is shared b)pollution prevention is costs less than pollution clean up c)when assessing risk, people frequently overestimate unfamiliar risks d)all of these are correct
a) a resource becomes over exploited when ownership is shared
"matter" is made up of a) atoms b)proteins c)bases d)pseudo electrons
a) atoms
Risk based corrective action was formed to: a) protect environmental ecological resources b)help depleted ecological resources c)correct environmental process based on ethics d) none of these
a) protect environmental ecological resources
communication is central characteristic of the a) scientific method b)material conference c)scientific action d) all of these
a) scientific method
the goal of a deposit-refund program is to: a)encourage product recycling through the refund of a deposit b)use tax money to fund environmental cleanup programs c)give companies the right to emit specified quantities of pollutants d)inform consumers of the market choices
a)encourage product recycling through the refund of a deposit
which of the following is released as a product of respiration a)energy growth and reproduction b)fats, sugars, and proteins c) oxygen d)chlorine ions
a)energy growth and reproduction
scientists usually experiment by collecting data a)from as large a sample as possible b)from one source only c)from their relatives d)only from other researchers and comparing their results
a)from as large a sample as possible
Reproducibility is an important part of the scientific method and means that a)other scientist are able to repeat the experiment and obtain similar results b)scientists show all the calculations in their work c)scientists have an idea that they are testing d) a control group is always used
a)other scientist are able to repeat the experiment and obtain similar results
We assign value to natural resources based on our perception of their: a)relative scarcity b) relative abundance c)cost to extract d)profit margin
a)relative scarcity
the heat that is transferred from a hot object to your hand is known as a)sensible heat b)latent heat c) entropy d) kinetic energy
a)sensible heat
the scientific method is the process that scientists use to a) evaluate student learning b) rigorously test the solutions to new questions c) study a crime scene d) photograph human behavior
b) rigorously test the solutions to new questions
The second law of thermodynamics states that: a) energy is the ability to do work b) useful energy is lost when converting from one form of energy to another c) energy can neither be created or destroyed d) all energy is either kinetic or potential
b) useful energy is lost when converting from one form of energy to another
scientists distinguish between situations that are merely correlated and those that are correlated and show a)relationship b)cause and effect relationships c)cause and relation d)none of these
b)cause and effect relationships
Energy that cannot be used to do useful work is referred to as a) potential energy b)entropy c) kinetic energy d) enzymatic energy
b)entropy
when the supply of a commodity exceeds the demand: a) producers raise their prices b)producers lower their prices c)producers ask for government subsidies d)producers use tradable emissions permits
b)producers lower their prices
the amount of a good or service available to be purchased is the: a) resource b)supply c)demand d) none of these
b)supply
pollution prevention can: a)waste money b)take on purely economic aspects c)rarely take care of waste management d)rely on enforcement from regulatory agencies to help with implementation
b)take on purely economic aspects
the position of an element in the periodic table tells you a) whether it is organic or inorganic b)the # and position of the parts of the atom c)the amount of potential energy of the atom d)whether it is used in photosynthesis or respiration
b)the # and position of the parts of the atom
what does it mean when a solution has a low pH number a) base b) catalyst c) acid d) has a high number of hydroxyl ions
c) acid
the energy released as water flows downhill from behind a dam is an example of a)water b)fluorescent light c) heat d) radioactivity
c) heat
Risk analysis consists of two primary considerations: a)time and cost b)issues involved and time c)risk and cost d)risk and time
c) risk and cost
which of the following is NOT a pollution cost: a)expenditure to avoid pollution damage once it has occurred b)increased health costs c)sewage treatment d)none of these are correct
c) sewage treatment
which of the following is a pollution prevention technique: a) landfills b)alternative fuels c)sewage treatment d)incineration
c) sewage treatment
which of the follow is NOT a characteristic of sustainable development: a)renewability b) institutional commitment c)assessing value to everything d)adaptability
c)assessing value to everything
which of the following light sources is the most efficient: a) incandescent b)LED c)florescent d)sodium vapor
c)florescent
economic factors should be considered when: a) reducing the number of oil spills b)increasing the amount of waste in logging c)making any environmental decisions d)none of these
c)making any environmental decisions
gasoline engines are a) less efficient than diesel engines b)more efficient than diesel c)more likely to last longer than diesel engines d) 58% more efficient than hybrid engines
c)more likely to last longer than diesel engines
some of these steps followed in the scientific method include a)write a dissertation and present the information at a scientific conference b)analyze historical events and offer your opinion of the key findings c)observation, formulate and test a hypothesis, compare results to others and publish d)interview many people about their reaction to current events
c)observation, formulate and test a hypothesis, compare results to others and publish
which of the following is an example of an extended product responsibility: a)ecotourism b)soft loans for business planning to implement environmental products c)the use of recycled wood products in the manufacture of new products d)tradable emission permits
c)the use of recycled wood products in the manufacture of new products
which of the following does NOT demonstrate the use of renewable resources: a)using wind to power windmills to produce electricity b)using water from a lake to turn turbines in a hydroelectric dam to produce electricity c)using underground coal deposits to produce heat & electricity d)using corn or switch grass to produce fuel ethanol to power our vehicles
c)using underground coal deposits to produce heat & electricity
which of the following is NOT an inorganic household chemical a)ammonia b)salt c)vinegar d)lye
c)vinegar
The scientific method is a) reliable b)impartial c) limited in when it can be used d) all of these
d) all of these
Risk tolerance can be based upon a)users management policy b)risk tolerance programs c) perceptions risk d)all of these are correct
d) all of these are correct
The use of fertilization in agriculture has significantly altered several nutrient cycles including a) nitrogen b) phosphorus c) potassium d) all of these are correct
d) all of these are correct
ecologists have traditionally categorized the roles of organisms in ecosystems into 3 broad categories that include a) producers b) consumers c) decomposers d) all of these are correct
d) all of these are correct
The chief limiting factor to the success of most trout species is a)the ability to reproduce b) the dissolved oxygen content in water c) the amount of plant biomass d) all these are correct
d) all these are correct
what is the fundamental subunit of matter a)molecule b)compound c)mixture d)atom
d) atom
which of the following is NOT a factor in consumer interest in the green economy: a)environmental and economic benefits of energy efficiency b)development of sustainability policies and goals by corporations c)general recognition by business and industry that there will be price on carbon emissions d) general knowledge that the government will be raising taxes on oil
d) general knowledge that the government will be raising taxes on oil
the heat that causes liquid water to evaporate from your skin is called a) sensible heat b) combustion c) evapotranspiration d) latent heat
d) latent heat
The use of facts and assumptions to estimate the probability of harm to human health or the environment is called: a)negligible risk b)risk management c)sustainable development d) risk assessment
d) risk assesment
Psudeoscience a)is a deceptive practice b)utilizes appearances and language of science c)is misleading d)all of these
d)all of these
which energy conversion system is the least efficient a)electric motor b)home oil furnace c)steam power plant d)automobile engine
d)automobile engine
Many of the negative effects companies have on the environment could be offset by _______ government regulation, but such regulation could also ________ impact industry and the economy. a) increased, positively b)decreased, negatively c)increased, neutrally d)increased, negatively e)decreased, positively
d)increased, negatively
Classically there are three kinds of resources, which are: a)land,water,and air b)oil,labor,and capital c)land,labor, and water d)land, capital, and labor
d)land, capital, and labor
the nucleus of an atom contains a) only electrons b)electrons and protons c) only protons d)protons and neutrons
d)protons and neutrons
which of the following is a disadvantage of a subsidy: a)it places a value on everything including aesthetics b)it increases the demand for a product c)it discourages technological innovation for environmental protection d)the actual cost of a subsidized product is higher because bureaucracy necessary to administer the subsidy costs money
d)the actual cost of a subsidized product is higher because bureaucracy necessary to administer the subsidy costs money
which of the following is an example of an abiotic factors a)the # of individuals of a particular species living in a community b)the interactions between different species in a community c)the diversity of prey and predator species in a community d)the climate of the community in which the species mentioned above inhabit
d)the climate of the community in which the species mentioned above inhabit
which of the following small molecules are converted at form sugar in photosynthesis a)oxygen and water b)hydroxyl ion and hydrogen c)carbon dioxide and oxygen d)water and carbon dioxide
d)water and carbon dioxide
repeatability in an experiment is important because: a)it eliminates bias b)independent investigators must be able to get the same results c)it helps to support the initial hypothesis d)only independent investigators must be able to get the same results and its helps to support the initial hypothesis e) all of these
e) all of these
Industrial ecology is the study of laws which are designed to protect the health of human beings and their environment
false
Sustainable development is a term first used in a US sponsored document called the "Brundtland Report" in 1987
false
Thomas Malthus was an ecologist that declared in his book The Population Time Bomb that worldwide famine was inevitable when human population growth exceeded food production
false
biocentrism is not considered when looking at life centered environmental ethics
false
economic considerations are not involved with environmental decisions
false
environmental justice is a law about cities, states, or individuals the right to sue companies for contamination of water supplies
false
environmental pragmatism is an approach that focuses on ethics rather than policy
false
environmental science is a narrowly defined field of physical and biological sciences
false
the environmental justice movement emerged from the opposition of a PCB landfill in Warren County, North Caroline
false
the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone national park did not have an impact on the ecosystem
false
science is an approach to studying the supernatural world that involves formulating hypothesis and then testing them to see if the hypothesis is supported or refuted
flase
Anthropocentrism is a philosophy of environmental responsibility that focuses primarily on human interests
true
UNCED was the former name for the Earth Summit.
true
biodiversity is fundamental to human welfare and economic development and plays a critical role in meeting human needs by maintaining the ecological processes upon which our survival depends
true
ecosystem boundaries are usually defined by easily identifiable demarcations
true
environmental aesthetics is the study of how to appreciate beauty in the natural world
true
growth, expansion, and domination remain the central sociocultural objectives of most advanced societies
true
in ecocentrism it is suggested that the environment itself, not just living organisms that inhabit it, has moral worth
true
motivated by the Exxon Valdez oil spill, environmentalists formed the CERES group which created a set of ten environmental standards by which business practices could be measured
true
some ecosystems have easily recognized boundaries such as lakes, islands, or floodplains
true
the CERES principles are a set of environmental standards that businesses may adopt voluntarily
true
the ecosystem approach requires scientists to recognize and understand and understand natural interactions and to integrate this with humans= needs for natural resources
true
the word environment is usually understood to mean the surrounding conditions that affect organisms but a broader definition would include everything that affects an organism during its lifetime
true