ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE UNIT 5-6
An example of something that is biodegradable is __________.
) a leaf in a compost pile
How much solid waste does the average person in the U.S. produce each day?
2 kilo
What percentage of the world's electricity is produced from hydroelectric power?
20%
About _____ percent of the world's salt comes from the solar evaporation process.
30
What percentage of the energy used in making aluminum cans from ore is needed to make recycled aluminum cans from used aluminum cans?
5%
About ______ animal species have been domesticated.
50
What percentage of energy used in developed countries comes from fossil fuels?
90 percent
Metallic minerals become concentrated in liquid magma because they __________.
ARE HEA
Which of the following is a true statement about recycling?
After they are collected, recyclable materials are cleaned and processed.
Which of the following accurately describes the use of fossil fuels for energy?
Burning fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
All of these are soil conservation methods EXCEPT __________.
CONOTOUR PLOWING NO TILL
Which of the following best describes why many people in the world go hungry?
Food production has not been increasing as fast as the human population.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a mineral?
OCCURS
The human body depends on food to build and maintain __________.
PROTEINS
How is electricity generated in a coal-fired power plant?
The heat generated from burning coal turns water into steam, which turns a turbine, thus running the electric generator.
Naturally occurring pollutants can become hazardous to health when they are __________.
above normal levels
A heat exchanger is used in __________.
active slolar
Two or more metals can be combined to form a(n) _____.
alloy
What do crops of the green revolution need in order to produce high yields?
ample water, fertilizer, and pesticides
Evaporites most commonly form in __________.
arid regions where rates of evaporation are high
Persistent pesticides are those that __________.
become concentrated in organisms high on the food chain
It is true that soil loss caused by wind and water __________.
can be reduced by incorporating strips of vegetation into plowed land
Which of the following pollutants are added to air by burning fuels for vehicles?
carbon monoxide and many kinds of particulates
Which livestock population has increased by the greatest percentage in the last 40 years?
chickens
Which fossil fuel is used to generate more than half of the electricity in the United States?
coal
The North Atlantic _____ industry has collapsed because of overharvesting.
cod
Unlike native elements like gold and silver, most minerals are _____.
compounds
Which of the following is an environmental change that may result in more pathogens making a cross-species transfer to humans?
destroying habitats
Which of the following issues hinders efforts to achieve sustainability?
determining, responsible, determining pays, determining sole
Dredging streambeds may be an effective technique for mining _____.
gold
Pyrite is called "fool's gold" because it looks a lot like gold. Which property can be used to tell gold and pyrite apart?
hardness
From 1970 to the present, the percentage of waste that is recycled has __________.
increased from 6.6 percent to 28 percent
Which of the following is NOT an acceptable way to reduce the amount of solid waste?
make each person responsible for disposing of his or her own waste on his or her own property
Which of the following is an example of a hormone disruptor?
male trout and eels downstream
Plastics and other synthetic fibers are __________.
nonbiodegradable
Making products from recycled materials __________.
often saves energy and other resources during the manufacturing process
The main problem with so-called biodegradable plastic is that __________.
only its organic portion actually decomposes
Which of the following are minerals that contain valuable substances?
ore inerals
Collapse of __________ can lead to subsidence.
pillars in abondoned mines
In environmental issues, people often respond to __________.
positive approaches that are fun and message-rich
The difference between a sanitary landfill and a dump is that the landfill __________.
protects groundwater from hazard
People in developed countries eat more _________ than people in less-developed countries
protein and fat
A government restricts the production of a certain chemical. This is an example of a(n) __________.
regulation`
Where do heavy metals occur naturally?
rocks and soil
Which of the following is NOT a surface mining technique?
room-and-pillar
Which of the following is not considered hazardous waste?
rotting meat and other food waste
Which of the following lists two forms of renewable energy that have promising applications in developing countries?
soalr cells and micro-hydropower
Which of the following is a strategy for reducing the amount of waste in our society?
source reduction
Which minerals mix with water to create acid mine drainage?
sulfur minerals
Which of the following is a water contaminant that can cause acid mine drainage?
sulfuric acid
Soil layers, listed from the surface down, are __________.
surface litter, topsoil, leaching zone, subsoil, and bedrock
What is one cause of subsidence?
the roof of a mine room collapses
New nuclei and neutrons result from __________.
the splitting of an atom's nucleus
Why are cross-species transfers so dangerous to humans?
the viruses have developed in the systems of other animals, but when grown in humans, the systems aer different and the effects are unpredictable
What do room-and-pillar, longwall, and solution mining all have in common?
they are all methods of subsurface mining
Ilmenite is an ore that produces __________.
titanium
Raising cattle in feedlots creates problems in __________.
waste treatment and infection control
Which of the following are problems associated with landfills?
A ) leachate and methane production d. all of these
Farmland may become desertified if __________.
A ) too many crops are grown on the land and the land gradually loses its fertility B ) domestic animals are allowed to overgraze the land D ) as a result of erosion, there is no fertile soil left to grow plants
Much of the oil and natural gas in the United States is located in __________.
Alaska, Texas, California, and the Gulf of Mexico
Which of the following statements about composting is correct?
Composting could reduce the amount of waste that restaurants, food-processing plants, and animal feedlots send to landfills.
The __________ regulates the release of hazardous substances into the air, soil, and water by mining.
Comprehensive Response Compensation and Liability Act
An example of something that is biodegradable is __________.
a leaf in a compost pile
During the process of nuclear fission, __________.
a neutron splits a uranium-235 atom, forming new elements and releasing several neutrons, plus energy
In the United States, which of the following would increase energy efficiency?
all of the above
Hydrogen could be used as a fuel source in the future because it __________.
all of thes
Which of the following is an example of how biomass fuel is currently used?
all of these
Which of the following is not a method of reducing hazardous waste?
allowing fungi to break down petroleum sludge
A hybrid car uses __________.
an efficient gasoline engine and an electric motor
A quarry also could be called __________.
an open pit
Biological mechanisms of pest control include all of the following EXCEPT __________.
applying an organophosphate chemical with a short half-life
Plowing with machines, irrigating with drip systems, and __________ are all modern agricultural methods.
applying chemical ferttilizers
Which country uses the least amount of energy per person?
argentina
Which of the following pollutants is caused by poor sanitation and can lead to gastrointestinal infections?
bacteria in food
Erosion is most likely when the soil is __________.
bare and exposed to wind and rain
Which of the following products produces toxic waste when it is incinerated?
batteries
The major ore for aluminum is called _____.
bauxite
Pest populations that damage plants __________.
become resistant to pesticides via natural selection
In 1940, it was discovered that uranium could be artificially changed to plutonium, a process called transmutation. What combination of decay processes would convert U-239 (92 protons) into Pu-239 (94 protons)?
beta decay followed by beta decay
Integrated pest management can include chemical pest control, __________, and a mix of farming methods.
biological pest control
Which of the following is a major source of biomass fuel in developing countries?
both a and b corn dung
Surface mining can cause __________.
both air and noise pollution
Inside the combustion chamber of a coal-fired power plant, __________.
burning fossil fuels release energy in the form of heat
Aquaculture began about 4,000 years ago in __________, still the leading producer of cultured freshwater fish.
china
Geothermal heat pumps can heat homes by __________.
circulating fluid underground to absorb heat from Earth
Which of the following is NOT a type of land disposal for hazardous wastes?
composting
Which of the following environmental changes is most likely to lead to the spread of parasites such as hookworm?
contaminated soil
Genetic engineering of food crops __________.
continues to be debated among scientists
Which safety feature of nuclear power plants can slow down and stop the nuclear reaction?
control rods of graphite or cadmium
Electric generators work by __________.
converting mechanical energy into electrical energy
Which of the following is not a main use of fuel in industrialized nations?
cooking
Which of the following converts light into chemical energy?
corn
Which of the following describes new wind turbines?
cost-effective
The process of composting __________.
could effectively handle a variety of wastes
What is one of the chief dangers of contact between industrial nations and indigenous tribes of the rain forest?
disease
What do hot subsurface waters contain when they are identified as hydrothermal solutions?
dissolved minerals
What must hot subsurface waters contain to be considered hydrothermal solutions?
dissolved minerals
Which of the following actions contributes to soil erosion?
driving farm machinery over fields
In China, an integrated system of agriculture around rice paddies produces __________.
ducks, silk, rice, and fish
Which of the following is NOT a proper way to dispose of solid waste?
dumo in the ocean
In 1992, representatives at the Earth Summit agreed upon a plan called Agenda 21, which strove to balance __________.
economic and environmental concerns
A government offers low-interest loans to people who build solar homes. This is an example of a(n) __________.
economic incentive
Which of the following is NOT an example of a cross-species transfer of viruses?
gonorrhea
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a nonmetal?
good conductor of electricity
For mining to be profitable, the price of the final product must be __________.
greater than the costs of extraction and refining it
One of the challenges of modern agriculture is to __________.
grow more food in less space
Which of the following would not likely be mined using solution mining?
gypsum
Acid mine drainage __________.
harms or kills aquatic life
Gangue minerals __________.
have no commercial value
Under the Superfund Act, __________.
he EPA can sue companies that dump hazardous waste illegally
The problem with persistent pesticides is that __________.
hey do not break down but accumulate in the soil
Which criterion below does NOT describe what alternative energy must be?
highly innovative
Air pollution is a major health problem caused by the burning of fuels in __________.
home, power, vehicle
After an outbreak of an illness, scientists use epidemiology to try to find __________.
how to prevent, origin, how the disease
A true statement about nutritional requirements in humans is that __________.
humans need to get eight essential amino acids from the proteins they eat.
The most energy-efficient vehicles available today are __________.
hybrid cars
Veins of ore deposits are formed by __________.
hydrothermal solutions
Which of the following is a common practice for passive solar heating?
in north america, putting
Solutions to environmental problems require __________.
individual, the, a basis
Most of the energy consumed in the United States is used for __________.
industrial purposes
Which of the following is a disadvantage for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion?
inefficient plants
Lobbying is an attempt to _________.
influence governmental policies and decisions
Which of the following pathogens have made a cross-species transfer to humans?
influenza, hantavirus,west
The most consumed ore in the United States is __________.
iron ore
Hydraulic mining was such an ecological disaster that __________.
it became the basis for the first environmental ruling in the united states in 1884
How does the Nature Conservancy preserve ecosystems?
it buys arge land preserves and turns them over to local organizationa to manage
A material is biodegradable if __________.
it can be broken down by biological processes
Which of the following is an advantage of nuclear energy?
it does not produce air pollution
What sort of natural conditions make salinization a major problem?
low rainfall and naturally salty soil, such as in deserts
Which of the following produces the most solid waste?
mAnufact
A fuel's suitability is dependent on all the following factors EXCEPT __________.
magnetism
What can contaminate a river during dredging?
muddy sediments
Nuclear fusion __________.
must take place at extremely high temperatures
A geothermal power plant can be used to generate electricity __________.
n areas where deposits of water are heated inside Earth
Much of the pollution in the environment is a result of __________.
nadequate waste disposal
Dust storms, volcanoes, and wildfires are all __________.
natural causes of pollution
When ingested above their threshold dose, toxic heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, can cause __________.
nerve damage
All of the following factors can cause famines EXCEPT __________.
new, higher-yield crops
Which of the following laws does not apply to mining operations?
no child left behind act
Governments trying to halt overharvesting of their aquatic organisms have often created __________.
no-fishing zones
Two countries that have gotten around or opted out of whaling regulations are __________.
norway japan
Which of the following is not a method of subsurface mining?
open-pit mining
Many recently emerged human diseases come from __________
other animals
One reason that the per capita usage of energy is so high in the United States is that __________.
over 25 % of the energy goes for transporting goods and people
Cod fishing in the North Atlantic has failed because of __________.
overharvesting
Which items make up the largest percentage of waste produced by households and businesses?
paper products
In general, sustainability is more of a concern now than it was 100 years ago. Why?
people are, people love, the human
Negative effects of the green revolution include soil degradation as well as the overuse of water, __________, and fertilizers.
pesticides
Ansel Adams demonstrated his commitment to environmentalism by ___________.
photographing environmental subjects
Which of the following statements about biodegradable plastics is correct?
plastic, smoe, degrade
Which of the following is NOT a correct representation of the amount of energy saved by recycling the product named?
plastics--90%
Which of the following is NOT a type of degradable plastic?
polystyrene
Which of the following is NOT a good way to influence environmental decisions on a local level?
protest and prosecution
A geothermal power plant gets energy by __________.
pumping heated water or steam from rock formations
Which type of hazardous waste is NOT found around the house?
radioactive waste
No-till farming helps to conserve soil fertility because __________.
remnants of the previous crop are left to slowly decay
People's actions cause some disease-causing bacteria to become __________.
resistant to antibiotics
Reclamation is the process of __________.
returning land to its original or better condition after mining
An estimate of the probability of a negative effect caused by a substance is a(n) __________.
risk assess
Irrigation water usually comes from __________.
rivers and groundwater
Grains, upon which most food production for humans is based, are the __________.
seeds and grasses
The layer of impurities on top of molten metal that forms during smelting is called _____.
slag
Some hazardous waste is disposed of by deep-well injection. This procedure __________.
stores wastes in layers of dry rock below the water table
The __________ sets standards to minimize the surface effects of coal mining on the environment.
surface mining control and reclamation act of 1977
A nuclear reactor is __________.
surrounded by a thick pressure vessel that is filled with a cooling fluid
Which term describes the condition in which humans can survive indefinitely as their needs are being met?
sustainability
Coal is formed when __________.
swamplands are buried by sediment, and the added weight creates heat and pressure that converts the plants to coal
Which of the following is NOT a requirement for a landfill built today?
t must have systems for collecting and treating leachate.
What type of precautions should a person take who is exercising on a very hot day?
take frequent breaks and drink lots of fluids
Which of the following is not a regulation mining companies must follow?
the Hazardous Products Act
Oil and natural gas result from __________.
the decay of tiny marine organisms that accumulated on the ocean floor millions of years ago
One of the chief problems with mining gold in the Andes is __________.
the difficulty of reclaiming the area after mining is completed
Mines, even mythical mines, often scar the landscape. What attracts people to look for lost mines?
the economic incentive of finding precious minerals such as gold
Which of these would NOT represent a government incentive?
the elimination of the Energy Star program
To date, undersea mining has been largely unsuccessful due to each of the following reasons EXCEPT __________.
the lack of minerals in the ore recovered from the ocean floor
Who should you call to find out how to dispose of household hazardous waste?
the local city gov
Which of the following is NOT one of the conditions that must occur for nuclear fusion to take place in a reactor?
the nuclei must have at least four neutrons in each atom
The U.S. Congress is now limited in passing new environmental laws because __________.
they must appropriate funds from the federal treasury for any laws that cost more than $50 million ti enact
Of what benefit to the farmers are the migratory birds that flock to their fields?
they trample the rice straw, making tilling unnecessary
In a nuclear power plant, __________.
three pipe circuits pump water through the reactor, turbine, and cooling tower
Which of the following forms of alternative energy is similar in design to a hydroelectric power plant?
tidal power plant
The first step in surface coal mining is __________.
to remove and set aside the soil that covers the area to be mined
Worldwide, nearly three-fourths of infectious diseases are transmitted through __________.
water
The environment is an important factor in the spread of cholera and dysentery because __________.
water provides a habitat in which the pathogens breed
Which of the following agricultural products requires the least amount of energy to produce?
wheat
Which of the following events could increase the temperature on Earth?
widespread removal of tropical forests
The __________ was passed as a result of Rachel Carson's publication of Silent Spring.
wilderness act of 1964
What is the fastest growing energy source in the world?
wind energy
Which of the following is NOT a form of alternative energy?
wind power
Which of the following lists the events in correct chronological order, from earliest to latest?
world conservation union, earth summit, world summit on sustainable development
What percentage of the world's electricity comes from nuclear power?
17 percent
The most environmentally active decade in the 20th century was _________, when scientists such as Paul Ehrlich, Barry Commoner, Rachel Carson, and Garrett Hardin drew public attention to environmental issues
1960s
The first Earth Day occurred in _____.
1970
DDT is harmful to the environment because it __________.
B ) does not break down quickly into harmless chemicals C ) causes some birds to lay eggs so thin that they break when the birds sit on them D ) concentrates in the bodies of animals high in the food chain
Tools of biological pest control include all of the following EXCEPT __________.
CHEMICAL PLANT
Which of the following statements about hydrogen as a fuel source is correct?
Hydrogen can be burned as a fuel or used to produce electricity chemically.
Genetic engineering of plants is a faster way of producing the same results as __________.
INTEGRAT
Which of the following is not true of the Law of the Sea?
It calls for monitoring the health of marine organisms.
Which of the following is not a requirement for a landfill built today?
It must be a specified distance from a city or other populated area.
Which statement is true about soil formation?
It usually involves the decomposition of bedrock.
Why didn't the United States sign the Kyoto Protocol?
It was considered costly and contained inconsistent requirements for different nations.
Why has the International Whaling Commission found it difficult to limit whale harvesting?
Loopholes in the regulations enable countries to opt out of IWC rules.
According to the text, what is the most helpful thing that a consumer can do to make sure that more materials are recycled?
Make an effort to buy products made from recycled materials whenever possible.
Which of the following statements is true about pollutants from waste disposal?
Many communities release raw sewage into a river or the ocean after a heavy rain.
Which of the following statements does not describe a problem associated with modern landfills?
Materials buried in landfills decompose in three years.
What is the main reason why fewer nuclear power plants are being built today compared to 40 years ago?
Nuclear power plants have become too expensive to generate electricity at a reasonable cost.
_______ are NOT known to be major crop pests.
amphibians
Each year, most of the cases of organophosphate poisoning occur in people who are __________.
applying the chemical to crops
One potential way to deal with the problem of seafood overharvesting is by intensifying __________ efforts.
aquaculture
The problem of overharvesting aquatic ecosystems may be solved by __________.
aquaculture
Which of the following is NOT an environmental problem associated with aquaculture?
aquaculture produces mutations in seafood
With respect to environmental issues, local governments __________.
ar more responsive but have less money to implement changes
Land where it is possible to grow crops is called __________.
arable land
Renewable energy is energy from sources that __________.
are constantly being formed
A common characteristic of all hazardous-waste land-disposal facilities is that they __________.
are long-term storage sites
The methane found in landfills is a gas that __________.
can be captured and used to produce energy
What is one property that can be used to distinguish metallic from nonmetallic minerals?
electrical conductivity
The energy in fossil fuels is often converted into __________.
electricity
The percentage of energy put into a system that does useful work is __________.
energy efficiency
Which field of study should be taken into account when planning for a sustainable society?
environmental, political, economics
The first step in finding an ore deposit is __________.
exploring rock formaions for mineralization
Hazardous waste is usually disposed of in the same way that other wastes are.
false
The aquaculture industry originated in the early 20th century.
false
Drought, soil loss, and problems with food distribution in a region can cause _____.
famine
Which of the following is an environmentally friendly way to dispose of food waste?
ferment, pasteurize, recycle
Which of the following is not one of the ways that ore minerals may form?
flooding of empty streambeds and rivers
In developing countries, you are most likely to find biomass used __________.
for heating and cooking
Which of the following is NOT a reason that the Pueblo Indians mined turquoise in prehistoric America?
for weapons
Which of the following statements is NOT true about fossil fuels?
fossil fuel production will continue to increase into the next century
Which of the following is an environmental change that scientists believe may increase the areas where malaria occurs?
global warming
How can soil erosion spread a disease?
it exposes soil-borne pathogens
Which statement is true about efficient agriculture?
it produces a lot of food on a given area of land with limited inputs of energy and resources
Which of the following statements is NOT true of a mineral?
its atoms occur in random geometric patterns
Most of the meat consumed in developed countries comes from __________.
large-scale livestock operations
Two diseases that can be caused directly by pollution are __________.
lead poisoning and lung cancer
Products obtained from livestock include __________.
leather, wool, eggs, meat, and manure
Through __________, mining companies can identify areas where there may be valuable mineral resources.
mineral exploration
Which of the following is NOT a type of organism that has been used to treat hazardous wastes?
mosses
Placer deposits are surface mineral deposits that have been concentrated by __________.
movement of wind and water
Compared to washing clothes in warm water, washing clothes in cold water uses __________.
much less energy
From whom must mining companies obtain permits before mining a site?
state and federal agencies
Toxicology is the study of the harmful effects of __________.
substances on organisms
One disadvantage of wind energy is that __________.
transporting the energy to where it is needed is difficult
A person may eat a lot and still be malnourished.
true
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion works because water boils at low temperatures when __________.
under low pressure in a vacuum chamber
Which fuel is used in most nuclear reactors?
uranium
Which of the following is a good way to reduce salinization?
use rainwater instead of groundwater on crops
An example of source reduction is __________.
using canvas shopping bags
Which of the following is an example of cogeneration?
using the waste heat from a furnace to power a steam turbine
Which of the following is an advantage of using fossil fuels for energy?
versatality in their users
Human immune deficiency virus is considered an emerging virus because it __________.
was previously unknown
