Question 1

The disaster of Love Canal in New York in the 1970s illustrated the problem of .

Accepted Answer

A)  unsafe nuclear waste disposal 
B)  unsafe toxic waste disposal 
C)  health problems resulting from the processing of electronic wastes 
D)  lax safety standards at nuclear power plants in the eastern United States 
A)  unsafe nuclear waste disposal 
B)  unsafe toxic waste disposal 
C)  health problems resulting from the processing of electronic wastes 
D)  lax safety standards at nuclear power plants in the eastern United States B

Question 2

At a wastewater treatment plant, the primary purpose of secondary treatment is to _ .

Accepted Answer

A)  remove the large solids 
B)  remove toxic chemicals such as pesticides and heavy metals 
C)  remove the organic matter remaining in the wastewater 
D)  remove bacteria and other pathogenic organisms 
A)  remove the large solids 
B)  remove toxic chemicals such as pesticides and heavy metals 
C)  remove the organic matter remaining in the wastewater 
D)  remove bacteria and other pathogenic organisms C

Question 3

A home located about 500 feet from an abandoned landfill explodes in a giant ball of flames. This is a mystery, as the home only uses electricity for cooking and heating. Most likely, this disaster was caused by _ .

Accepted Answer

A)  corrosives that leached from the landfill into the home and degraded the home's electrical wires 
B)  methane that seeped from the landfill along horizontal cracks and into the home 
C)  gasoline or other flammable substances that leached from the landfill into the home 
D)  groundwater contamination from the landfill into the home 
A)  corrosives that leached from the landfill into the home and degraded the home's electrical wires 
B)  methane that seeped from the landfill along horizontal cracks and into the home 
C)  gasoline or other flammable substances that leached from the landfill into the home 
D)  groundwater contamination from the landfill into the home B

Question 4

Which of the following might you come to realize if you were to perform a life-cycle analysis on your dog?

Accepted Answer

A)  You determine that if your dog lives 10 years, it will have eaten 2.6 million Calories of food during its life. 
B)  Although you thought your dog was a purebred poodle, you discover that your dog's father was part golden retriever. 
C)  You discover that your dog has been eating baby rabbits in your backyard. 
D)  You discover that your dog has been sneaking off to the municipal sanitary landfill and eating discarded food wastes. 
A)  You determine that if your dog lives 10 years, it will have eaten 2.6 million Calories of food during its life. 
B)  Although you thought your dog was a purebred poodle, you discover that your dog's father was part golden retriever. 
C)  You discover that your dog has been eating baby rabbits in your backyard. 
D)  You discover that your dog has been sneaking off to the municipal sanitary landfill and eating discarded food wastes.

Question 5

You want to purchase 5 pounds (80 ounces) of potato chips for your group's party. You can buy the chips packaged in many different ways. Which of the following represents the best way to reduce excessive packaging and the MSW burden on the environment? To reduce the greatest amount of packaging, you should purchase .

Accepted Answer

A)  two 40-ounce bags 
B)  four 20-ounce bags 
C)  ten 8-ounce bags 
D)  six 15-ounce bags 
A)  two 40-ounce bags 
B)  four 20-ounce bags 
C)  ten 8-ounce bags 
D)  six 15-ounce bags

Question 6

Transuranic wastes are materials that have been contaminated with .

Accepted Answer

A)  transuranic acid 
B)  gamma rays from distant parts of the solar system, beyond Uranus 
C)  urine 
D)  elements with an atomic number greater than that of uranium 
A)  transuranic acid 
B)  gamma rays from distant parts of the solar system, beyond Uranus 
C)  urine 
D)  elements with an atomic number greater than that of uranium

Question 7

Which of the following would reduce municipal solid waste by the greatest amount?

Accepted Answer

A)  Using paper towels whenever possible instead of sponges and rags 
B)  Buying concentrated cleaning solutions and refilling smaller cleaning bottles at home 
C)  Buying food products in individual serving containers whenever possible 
D)  Using half as much toilet paper when you use the restroom 
A)  Using paper towels whenever possible instead of sponges and rags 
B)  Buying concentrated cleaning solutions and refilling smaller cleaning bottles at home 
C)  Buying food products in individual serving containers whenever possible 
D)  Using half as much toilet paper when you use the restroom

Question 8

One of the biggest problems associated with long-term, high-level nuclear waste storage is .

Accepted Answer

A)  figuring out how to contain the material so that it does not leak into the ocean 
B)  determining a cost-effective way to shoot waste into space 
C)  finding an environment that will remain stable for more than 10,000 years 
D)  creating a secure environment to protect the material from terrorists 
A)  figuring out how to contain the material so that it does not leak into the ocean 
B)  determining a cost-effective way to shoot waste into space 
C)  finding an environment that will remain stable for more than 10,000 years 
D)  creating a secure environment to protect the material from terrorists

Question 9

Buying used items at a garage sale is one environmentally friendly approach that represents a form of _.

Accepted Answer

A)  composting 
B)  reuse 
C)  WTE disposal 
D)  source reduction 
A)  composting 
B)  reuse 
C)  WTE disposal 
D)  source reduction

Question 10

Latex paint is classified as a hazardous waste. If a homeowner wants to dispose of extra latex paint, she could legally do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Put the lid on it tightly, and place it in the trash. 
B)  Burn the paint in a backyard fire pit. 
C)  Pour it down the drain. 
D)  None of these options is legal. 
A)  Put the lid on it tightly, and place it in the trash. 
B)  Burn the paint in a backyard fire pit. 
C)  Pour it down the drain. 
D)  None of these options is legal.

Question 11

In addition to taking up space, one of the greatest risks of adding e-wastes into landfills is .

Accepted Answer

A)  a danger that CRTs will result in huge explosions 
B)  the generation of large volumes of methane 
C)  the leaching of heavy metals into soil and groundwater 
D)  the tremendous amounts of heat generated when e-waste decays 
A)  a danger that CRTs will result in huge explosions 
B)  the generation of large volumes of methane 
C)  the leaching of heavy metals into soil and groundwater 
D)  the tremendous amounts of heat generated when e-waste decays

Question 12

Which of the following represent the categories of hazardous waste?

Accepted Answer

A)  Toxic, nontoxic, and unknown 
B)  Municipal, industrial, and agricultural 
C)  Nonbiodegradable and biodegradable 
D)  Ignitable, corrosive, reactive, and toxic 
A)  Toxic, nontoxic, and unknown 
B)  Municipal, industrial, and agricultural 
C)  Nonbiodegradable and biodegradable 
D)  Ignitable, corrosive, reactive, and toxic

Question 13

People with home septic systems often flush several cups of a powdered substance down their toilets every month or two to keep their systems healthy. These powdered substances most likely contain _ .

Accepted Answer

A)  acids that help to clean the insides of the walls of the pipes and septic tank 
B)  bacteria and enzymes that help break down wastes 
C)  chemicals that bind to heavy metals to keep them from leaching into the soil 
D)  chlorine and other disinfectants that help to prevent soil contamination 
A)  acids that help to clean the insides of the walls of the pipes and septic tank 
B)  bacteria and enzymes that help break down wastes 
C)  chemicals that bind to heavy metals to keep them from leaching into the soil 
D)  chlorine and other disinfectants that help to prevent soil contamination

Question 14

In a municipal wastewater treatment plant, the primary treatment step includes .

Accepted Answer

A)  separating out large solids from the sewage 
B)  adding bacteria to the sewage 
C)  stirring the sewage to increase oxidation 
D)  chlorinating the sewage 
A)  separating out large solids from the sewage 
B)  adding bacteria to the sewage 
C)  stirring the sewage to increase oxidation 
D)  chlorinating the sewage

Question 15

To safeguard against groundwater contamination, sanitary landfills are .

Accepted Answer

A)  lined with an impermeable liner 
B)  located on slopes so water runs downhill 
C)  located on industrial sites where groundwater is not used for drinking or agriculture 
D)  covered with cement 
A)  lined with an impermeable liner 
B)  located on slopes so water runs downhill 
C)  located on industrial sites where groundwater is not used for drinking or agriculture 
D)  covered with cement

Question 16

There is/are currently _ long-term, underground, nonmilitary, permanent, high-level radioactive waste storage facility(ies) in the United States.

Accepted Answer

A)  three 
B)  four 
C)  zero 
D)  one 
A)  three 
B)  four 
C)  zero 
D)  one

Question 17

Which of the following should not be flushed down the drain or toilet in a home with a septic tank?

Accepted Answer

A)  Vegetable fragments and organic detergents 
B)  Toilet paper and other paper fragments 
C)  Condoms and feminine hygiene products 
D)  Urine and feces 
A)  Vegetable fragments and organic detergents 
B)  Toilet paper and other paper fragments 
C)  Condoms and feminine hygiene products 
D)  Urine and feces

Question 18

All radioactive wastes .

Accepted Answer

A)  release gamma radiation 
B)  contain atoms that decay 
C)  are difficult to handle and store safely 
D)  must be disposed of at Yucca Mountain in Nevada 
A)  release gamma radiation 
B)  contain atoms that decay 
C)  are difficult to handle and store safely 
D)  must be disposed of at Yucca Mountain in Nevada

Question 19

is a potent greenhouse gas produced during the decomposition process in sanitary landfills.

Accepted Answer

A)  Ozone 
B)  Dihydrogen oxide 
C)  Methane 
D)  Chlorofluorocarbon 
A)  Ozone 
B)  Dihydrogen oxide 
C)  Methane 
D)  Chlorofluorocarbon

Question 20

Making a new soda (pop) can out of recycled aluminum requires % less energy than making it out of bauxite (raw aluminum ore).

Accepted Answer

A)  95 
B)  80 
C)  70 
D)  50 
E)  25 
A)  95 
B)  80 
C)  70 
D)  50 
E)  25

The disaster of Love Canal in New York in the 1970s illustrated the problem of .

At a wastewater treatment plant, the primary purpose of secondary treatment is to _ .

A home located about 500 feet from an abandoned landfill explodes in a giant ball of flames. This is a mystery, as the home only uses electricity for cooking and heating. Most likely, this disaster was caused by _ .

Which of the following might you come to realize if you were to perform a life-cycle analysis on your dog?

Transuranic wastes are materials that have been contaminated with .

Which of the following would reduce municipal solid waste by the greatest amount?

One of the biggest problems associated with long-term, high-level nuclear waste storage is .

Buying used items at a garage sale is one environmentally friendly approach that represents a form of _.

Latex paint is classified as a hazardous waste. If a homeowner wants to dispose of extra latex paint, she could legally do which of the following?

In addition to taking up space, one of the greatest risks of adding e-wastes into landfills is .

Which of the following represent the categories of hazardous waste?

People with home septic systems often flush several cups of a powdered substance down their toilets every month or two to keep their systems healthy. These powdered substances most likely contain _ .

In a municipal wastewater treatment plant, the primary treatment step includes .

To safeguard against groundwater contamination, sanitary landfills are .

There is/are currently _ long-term, underground, nonmilitary, permanent, high-level radioactive waste storage facility(ies) in the United States.

Which of the following should not be flushed down the drain or toilet in a home with a septic tank?

All radioactive wastes .

is a potent greenhouse gas produced during the decomposition process in sanitary landfills.

Making a new soda (pop) can out of recycled aluminum requires % less energy than making it out of bauxite (raw aluminum ore).

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Exam 20: Science Fundamentals

The disaster of Love Canal in New York in the 1970s illustrated the problem of .

At a wastewater treatment plant, the primary purpose of secondary treatment is to _ .

A home located about 500 feet from an abandoned landfill explodes in a giant ball of flames. This is a mystery, as the home only uses electricity for cooking and heating. Most likely, this disaster was caused by _ .

Which of the following might you come to realize if you were to perform a life-cycle analysis on your dog?

Transuranic wastes are materials that have been contaminated with .

Which of the following would reduce municipal solid waste by the greatest amount?

One of the biggest problems associated with long-term, high-level nuclear waste storage is .

Buying used items at a garage sale is one environmentally friendly approach that represents a form of _.

Latex paint is classified as a hazardous waste. If a homeowner wants to dispose of extra latex paint, she could legally do which of the following?

In addition to taking up space, one of the greatest risks of adding e-wastes into landfills is .

Which of the following represent the categories of hazardous waste?

People with home septic systems often flush several cups of a powdered substance down their toilets every month or two to keep their systems healthy. These powdered substances most likely contain _ .

In a municipal wastewater treatment plant, the primary treatment step includes .

To safeguard against groundwater contamination, sanitary landfills are .

There is/are currently _ long-term, underground, nonmilitary, permanent, high-level radioactive waste storage facility(ies) in the United States.

Which of the following should not be flushed down the drain or toilet in a home with a septic tank?

All radioactive wastes .

is a potent greenhouse gas produced during the decomposition process in sanitary landfills.

Making a new soda (pop) can out of recycled aluminum requires % less energy than making it out of bauxite (raw aluminum ore).

The Science of Sustainability

Environmental Policy

Economics and Values

Biodiversity and Evolution

Populations and Communities

Ecosystems and Biomes

Biogeochemical Cycles

Freshwater

Atmosphere and Air Pollution

Oceans

Climate

Human Populations

Land Use

Agriculture

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Human Health and the Environment

Energy Use

Nonrenewable Energy

Renewable Energy

Filters