Deck 24: Geologic Time Scale Glossary Credits Index

Question 1

Which of the following can be inferred from the two figures shown? likely to

A) Although Americans report themselves as happier than they did 50 years ago, it is only because Americans in high income brackets are happy.
B) Although Americans have the same incomes (adjusted for inflation) than they did 50 years ago, American society as a whole is happier than it was back then, and Americans in high income brackets are happier than those in low -income brackets.
C) For the past 50 years, Americans have always been happier when they make more money.
D) Although Americans have higher incomes (adjusted for inflation) than they did 50 years ago, American society as a whole is no happier than it was back then. However, Americans in high income brackets are happier than those in low income brackets.
E) Happiness shows no relationship to money.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following will lead us toward sustainability?

A) increasing energy production
B) creating industrial systems that are linear in design and operation
C) increasing population growth
D) runaway consumer growth
E) reducing consumption

Answer 2

E

Question 3

The current use of fossil fuels versus the need to develop new renewable energy sources is an example of .

A) two different goals that are not in opposition
B) an issue that will never be resolved
C) how short -term needs are in opposition to long -term sustainability
D) the Precautionary Principle
E) governmental vision competing with economic practicalities

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Sustainability involves .

A) opposing change from current policies
B) maintaining or improving the current quality of human life
C) focusing on fulfilling short -term needs
D) maintaining the natural environment and human society in a healthy and functional state
E) maintaining resource use at current or higher levels

Question 5

All of the following are major approaches to sustainability EXCEPT .

A) thinking long -term
B) creating closed -loop industrial processes
C) pursuing economic growth
D) pursing quality of life
E) investing in green technologies

Question 6

According to figure (b), Americans in the highest income bracket shown are classify themselves as very happy as/than those in the lowest income bracket.

A) approximately 20% more
B) less
C) approximately 43% more
D) approximately twice as
E) equally

Question 7

Student sustainability movements are more successful when administration is shown how a policy of sustainable practices _.

A) wins more awards
B) increases the prestige of the college
C) attracts a more diverse student body
D) recruits more top -notch faculty
E) saves money

Question 8

One way in which local self -sufficiency promotes sustainability is by .

A) creating markets for imported goods
B) promoting the use of local nonrenewable resources
C) allowing companies to take control of local governments
D) decreasing the need for fossil fuels for transportation
E) increasing globalization

Question 9

Producing responsible and constructive technology that can achieve sustainable solutions requires .

A) funding for scientific research and elimination of damaging and inefficient technology
B) having citizens be cognizant of the need for politicians to work with "big business"
C) public pressure to put limits on environmental protection
D) importing inferior technology to developing countries while developed countries invest in green technology
E) increase of technology developed through self -interest of large companies

Question 10

Which of the following has been most negatively impacted by globalization?

A) international travel
B) agricultural practices
C) public -health practices
D) the exchange of information
E) local cultures' religious and dietary traditions

Question 11

One reason for the "economy vs. the environment" mindset is .

A) that people may not foresee the long -term savings when having to make the necessary up -front investments
B) that environmental policies generally are oppressive and cost more money than they save
C) that industrialization has had several positive impacts on local ecosystems
D) that CEOs are usually Republican and environmental advocates are Democrats
E) the difference in salary between environmental watchdogs and corporate CEOs

Question 12

The three pillars of sustainability are .

A) restoration, reclamation, and recovery
B) reduce, reuse, and recycle
C) environmental quality, economic well -being, and social justice
D) economic growth, resource use, and globalization
E) overpopulation, overharvesting, and overexploitation

Question 13

Of the following campus sustainability efforts, which one seems to be the most popular?

A) recycling
B) habitat restoration
C) LEED -certification buildings
D) pesticide reduction
E) replacing inefficient lighting

Question 14

Industrial processes are more sustainable when they incorporate _.

A) nonrenewable resources
B) the recycling of energy
C) human design
D) linear pathways
E) circular pathways

Question 15

Environmental protection can positively affect local economies by .

A) increasing short -term costs to existing and future businesses
B) having businesses move out of the area to locales with less -stringent environmental protection
C) creating jobs that will attract companies from other sectors of the economy
D) having citizens move out of the community in order to find employment
E) eliminating current excess jobs

Question 16

Some argue that globalization will have a negative impact because _.

A) it allows multinational corporations to attain greater power over global trade
B) governments will gain more power in regulating trade
C) it will decentralize control of power to many stakeholders
D) citizens will gain more economic power
E) it entails weakened central power as a result of homogenization

Question 17

According to figure (a), when were Americans LEAST happy?

A) 1958
B) 2003
C) when they made the most money
D) 1974
E) early 1960s

Question 18

One way to understand our interdependence with the environment is to .

A) continue our current rate of resource use until we are forced to return to a more localized agrarian society
B) curb human population growth
C) continue rapid development of all resources
D) consider and value the origin of what we use in our daily personal lives
E) ignore it

Question 19

According to figure (b), the percentage of Americans who classify themselves as either somewhat happy or very happy .

A) has remained stable since the 1950s
B) shows no relationship to family income level
C) is highest for American families who make over $90K per year
D) is highest for Americans in the lowest income brackets, demonstrating that money doesn't buy happiness
E) has increased since 2004

Question 20

As the total world population approaches 10 billion, what is one issue that consumers will inevitably need to address?

A) Attitudes and lifestyles will need to follow a path of increasing consumption of resources.
B) As we approach 10 billion people, we will likely run out of renewable resources.
C) Lifestyles and behaviors will need to follow a path of minimizing the consumption of resources.
D) Nonrenewable resources will need to be replenished.
E) There will not be enough food for 10 billion people, so consumers will need to consider euthanasia and forced starvation.

Question 21

Our global society has a greater potential to address concerns of sustainability today than ever before because .

A) politicians today propose short -term solutions
B) we have many thousands of scientists who study Earth's processes and resources closely
C) we have citizens who vote
D) of the Bill of Rights
E) we value goods

Question 22

On average, over half of a college or university campus's greenhouse gas emissions is from .

A) electricity
B) commuting
C) heating buildings
D) cellular respiration
E) landfilling and combusting wastes

Question 23

Structures given a LEED platinum ranking are _.

A) exemplary in sustainable design
B) especially high in heavy metal content such as lead
C) inefficient and need to be renovated
D) constructed to function without electricity
E) typically built in sustainable villages in developing countries

Question 24

Responsible stewardship in the coming decades will require global energy policies that promote .

A) productivity and economic prosperity in developing nations
B) exploration for petroleum reserves in deeper areas of the oceans than were previously technologically possible
C) additional exploration of shale oil and natural gas resources
D) the development of abundant and inexpensive fossil fuels such as shale oil
E) both sustainability and technological efficiency

Question 25

One major problem Tikopians have faced and solved is how to .

A) conduct trade with far distant groups
B) find and exploit economically valuable resources
C) maintain a sustainable society over a long period of time
D) use technology to increase population size
E) organize an educated community

Question 26

Reforming campus transportation is an important step toward carbon neutrality because _.

A) half of the average university's carbon emissions come from commuting to and from campus
B) most campuses are highly congested with traffic
C) federal and state funds are available for this purpose
D) all forms of transportation use fossil fuels
E) the Campus Commuter Act of 2009 requires it

Question 27

People live in clans on the island. Within the clan, individual families are probably encouraged to in order to .

A) have very few children; concentrate the clan wealth among only a few people
B) have as many children as possible; grow crops to feed the clan
C) have as many children as possible; care for their parents and other older clan members
D) have very few children; avoid food shortages
E) have as many children as possible; wage war on other clans

Question 28

To encourage corporations to adopt green technologies, citizens can .

A) attend meetings with other people who desire green technologies
B) write letters to all companies encouraging them to adopt green technologies
C) choose products from companies that adopt sustainable practices
D) choose products with the lowest price
E) visibly protest companies that are destructive to the environment

Question 29

A friendly competition between two universities in Ohio to see which could recycle the most waste eventually led to the nationwide competition known as

A) Recycle -or -die!
B) We recycle better than you do!
C) I recycle, you recycle, we all recycle for icicles!
D) Recyclemania.
E) Hi -ho, recycle -o!

Question 30

A Kill -A -Watt meter is useful for .

A) avoiding having to pay for electricity
B) measuring pollution from electrical generating industries
C) drawing more power into electrical appliances to which the meter is attached
D) auditing electrical usage plug -by -plug and room -by -room
E) increasing the efficiency of appliances to which they are attached

Question 31

Which of the following could be LEED certified?

A) a farm
B) a building
C) organic foods
D) a highly trained environmental activist
E) sustainability researchers

Question 32

The lesson of Easter Island is that .

A) economics is an important facilitator of sustainable societies
B) grassroots organizations must be involved to ensure sustainable societies
C) we never comprehend resource issues until the resources are gone
D) conservation of resources is necessary for sustainable societies
E) political and governmental support are required to ensure sustainable societies