Deck 3: Environmental History, Politics, and Economics

Question 1

Conservation is the sensible and careful management of natural resources.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Who wrote Man and Nature, one of the first books discussing human impact on global environmental change?

A)Paul Ehrlich
B)Rachel Carson
C)George Perkins Marsh
D)John Muir

Answer 2

George Perkins Marsh

Question 3

Controversy over damming in National Parks surrounds which clause of the US Park service's mission?

A)"for the enjoyment of people"
B)"use without impairment"
C)"to preserve parks"
D)"for the greatest good"

Answer 3

"use without impairment"

Question 4

Game Management, written by Aldo Leopold, influenced the passage of new taxes on sporting weapons and ammunition which were used to support and fund wildlife management and research.

Question 5

Setting aside undisturbed areas, maintaining them in a pristine state, and protecting them from human activities that might alter them from their natural state is known as __________.

Question 6

What is the BEST definition of conservation?

A)Setting aside land and natural resources.
B)Careful management of land and resources.
C)Using land and natural resources based on current needs.
D)Protecting land and natural resources from human activity.

Question 7

Who among the following would most likely believe that natural resources should be used for the greatest good for the most people for the longest time?

A)John James Audubon
B)Rachel Carson
C)George Perkins Marsh
D)Gifford Pinchot

Question 8

Whose name is associated with the concept of the land ethic and in which book did he make this argument?

A)George Perkins Marsh in Man and Nature
B)Henry David Thoreau in Walden
C)John Muir in The Yosemite
D)Aldo Leopold in Sand County Almanac

Question 9

Who among the following was a utilitarian conservationist?

A)John Muir
B)Wallace Stegner
C)Henry David Thoreau
D)Theodore Roosevelt

Question 10

Any part of the natural environment used to promote the welfare of people or other species is called:

A)conservation
B)preservation
C)a resource
D)multiple use management

Question 11

Whose work helped create support for the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964?

A)George Perkins Marsh
B)Henry David Thoreau
C)Wallace Stegner
D)Aldo Leopold

Question 12

All of the following are examples of conservation EXCEPT:

A)Phoenicians terraced hilly farmland to prevent soil erosion
B)Americans set aside areas as national parks to maintain them in a pristine state
C)Greeks practiced crop rotation to maintain yields on farmland
D)English regulated the number of sheep that can graze in a particular field

Question 13

The engraving shown below is the work of ___, who became famous for his portraits of birds and other animals.

A)John James Audubon
B)Rachel Carson
C)George Perkins Marsh
D)John Muir

Question 14

Systems perspective is only concerned with the immediate or intended effects of activities.

Question 15

The ________ Act gave authority to U.S. Presidents allowing them to set aside scientific, historic, or prehistoric sites of importance.

Question 16

Conservation and preservation are considered the same in environmental science.

Question 17

What important environmental book describing the problems associated with pesticide use was written by Rachel Carson?

A)A Sand County Almanac
B)Silent Spring
C)Game Management
D)The Population Bomb

Question 18

The Forest Reserve Act of 1891 gave U.S. Presidents the authority to establish forest reserves.

Question 19

What is the BEST definition of preservation?

A)Setting aside land and natural resources.
B)Careful management of land and resources.
C)Using land and natural resources based on current needs.
D)Multiple use management of land and natural resources.

Question 20

Which U.S. president established the Civilian Conservation Corps, which employed young men to plant trees, make paths and roads in national parks and forests, build dams to control flooding, and perform other activities that protected natural resources?

A)Grover Cleveland
B)Benjamin Harrison
C)Franklin Roosevelt
D)Herbert Hoover

Question 21

What does the diagram below illustrate?

A)EIS
B)NEPA
C)NIMBY
D)Kyoto Protocol

Question 22

Which of the following was probably the MOST significant event in 1999 to impact the environment?

A)The Kyoto Protocol was signed by the United States.
B)The Exxon Valdez created the world's largest oil spill.
C)World human population reached 6 billion individuals.
D)The first Earth Day celebration was held.

Question 23

The legislation that requires the federal government to consider the environmental impact of a proposed federal action, such as financing highway or dam construction, when making decisions about that action is:

A)Forest Reserve Act of 1891
B)Antiquities Act of 1906
C)National Environmental Policy Act of 1970
D)Wilderness Act of 1964

Question 24

In the 1970s people's realization of environmental problems including pesticides, increasing population, and loss of natural resources prompted the:

A)passage of the Antiquities Act.
B)celebration of Earth Day.
C)publication of The Population Bomb.
D)formation of the Sierra Club.

Question 25

The author of which of the following books would likely have lectured during the Earth Day celebrations in 1970?

A)A Sand County Almanac
B)Silent Spring
C)The Population Bomb
D)Man and Nature

Question 26

Which of the following is TRUE about Environmental Impact Statements?

A)They must be made available to the public.
B)They only address potential impact on endangered or threatened species.
C)They only need to project impact out to two years following the completion of the project.
D)They only affect the 10% of lands owned by the federal government.

Question 27

The legislation that authorizes the president of the United States to set aside sites that have scientific, historic, or pre-historic importance is the:

A)Forest Reserve Act of 1891
B)Antiquities Act of 1906
C)National Environmental Policy Act of 1970
D)Wilderness Act of 1964

Question 28

The soil conservation service was formed after what environmental crisis?

A)mudslides in California following the San Francisco Earthquake in 1906.
B)severe erosion following forest fires in Yellowstone National Park in the 1980s.
C)soil contamination by toxic waste at love Canal in the 1970s.
D)severe erosion following windstorms in the 1930s.

Question 29

Who was the founder of the Sierra Club and a force behind the establishment of Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks?

A)John Muir
B)Henry David Thoreau
C)John James Audubon
D)Aldo Leopold

Question 30

In 2000, "Clean Energy Now!" was:

A)the main reason for the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act
B)the theme for Earth Day celebrations
C)the reason for the American Dust Bowl
D)the new motto for the Sierra Club

Question 31

Which of the following is NOT included in an Environmental Impact Statement?

A)The nature of the proposal.
B)The short- and long-term effects of the proposal.
C)The reason why the proposal is needed.
D)The guarantees that no species or habitat will be negatively impacted by the proposal.

Question 32

How did NEPA revolutionize environmental protection in the United States?

A)It allowed people to see how severe environmental damage was in the United States.
B)It created the first legislation to limit pollutants.
C)It banned production and use of several toxic chemicals including chlorofluorocarbons.
D)It requires the federal government to consider the environmental impact of proposed federal action.

Question 33

Which of the following people is INCORRECTLY matched with his/her environmental contribution?

A)Rachel Carson: Silent Spring
B)John Muir: Sierra Club
C)Paul Ehrlich: The Population Bomb
D)Theodore Roosevelt: Civilian Conservation Corps

Question 34

Corporations and governments began to take NEPA seriously after which of the following events?

A)Environmental groups began suing individuals and organizations based on environmental impact statements.
B)Further legislation was added to strengthen NEPA.
C)The creation of the EPA.
D)The publication of Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring.

Question 35

Put the following historical views of the environment in the correct chronological sequence. I. Frontier attitude: desire to conquer and exploit nature as quickly as possible.
II. Biocentric preservationists: belief that all life deserves respect and consideration.
III. Utilitarian conservationist: view of environment in terms of usefulness for people.
IV. Earth Day celebrant: demonstrates support of environmental quality by planting trees, cleaning roadsides and rives and marching in parades.

A)I - II - III - IV
B)IV - III - II - I
C)I - III - II - IV
D)III - IV - I - II

Question 36

Which of the following definitions best describes an environmentalist?

A)A lawyer who works on environmental law.
B)Writers who write about the environmental impact of corporate America.
C)Someone who is concerned about the environment.
D)A scientist who studies the interactions of plants and animals.

Question 37

__________ is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act for any action that significantly affects the quality of the environment.

Question 38

The National Environmental Policy Act:

A)mandates development of an Environmental Impact Statement at the end of any project using federal funds.
B)provided for the establishment of the Council on Environmental Quality to enforce U.S. environmental law.
C)requires the evaluation of federal highway construction and military projects.
D)requires documentation of the financial impact of all projects with potential environmental impact.

Question 39

Which of the following criticisms or backlash against the environmental movement in the 20^th century are TRUE? 1. In the late 1990s some conservative research groups criticized what they perceived as a biased presentation of environmental issues, particularly the promotion of environmental activism, in schools.
2. Many economists such as Julian Simon have countered the dangers of overpopulation by pointing out that technological advances outpace the negative impacts of population growth.
3. Most of the world's religions have rejected environmental themes by pointing out that such ideas are contrary to their religious teachings.

A)1 only
B)2only
C)3 only
D)1 and 2

Question 40

An Environmental Impact Statement must include:

A)an ethical analysis of the proposed action.
B)short- and long-term effects and any adverse environmental effects.
C)solutions to any potentially adverse environmental effects.
D)documentation of the financial cost-benefit analysis of the proposed action.

Question 41

When consumption or production of a product has a harmful side effect that is borne by people not directly involved in the market exchange for that product, the side effect is called a(n)

A)marginal cost.
B)indirect cost.
C)additional cost.
D)external cost.

Question 42

Only the source contributes to the natural capital not the sink.

Question 43

In the field of economics, the additional cost associated with one more unit of something is called a(n)

A)marginal cost.
B)external cost.
C)direct cost.
D)fringe cost.

Question 44

The graph below represents the cost-benefit diagram for identifying the optimum amount of pollution. The intersection of the two lines indicates

A)cost of manufacturing a product if pollution were not considered
B)maximum amount of pollution produced in a given process
C)optimum amount of pollution that is economically desired
D)point where no measurable pollution is produced

Question 45

All of the following endangered species have recovered enough to be removed from the endangered species list except:

A)American alligator
B)California gray whale
C)Bald eagle
D)manatee

Question 46

All of the following would contribute to natural capital, EXCEPT:

A)groundwater
B)soil
C)clean air
D)All of these choices, all are natural capital

Question 47

The study of how people use their limited resources to try to satisfy their unlimited wants is:

A)business analysis.
B)model testing.
C)hypothesis development.
D)economics.

Question 48

Which of the following statements is MOST accurate regarding US environmental legislation since 1970?

A)Has been mostly successful -- many endangered species are recovering, soil erosion has declined more than 60%, emissions of six important air pollutants have dropped by more than 25%.
B)Has mainly been a failure - most endangered species have gone extinct, soil erosion has increased 60%, levels of wet sulfate, a major component of acid rain, have increased by 20%.
C)Has been mixed - many endangered species are recovering, much farmland has been conserved, but air pollution and water pollution are worse than in the 1970s.
D)Has had little effect - little land has been conserved, no endangered species have been recovered, and pollution levels have not changed much since the 1970s.

Question 49

Environmental regulations passed by the United States Congress have included the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

Question 50

In economic terms, oils and chemicals burning in the Cuyahoga River would represent:

A)a national income account
B)overuse of a sink
C)overuse of a source
D)an increase in natural capital

Question 51

Which of the following would environmental economists consider natural capital?

A)Water purification by a cattail marsh.
B)A water treatment facility.
C)Increased agriculture made possible by irrigation.
D)A severe hurricane like Katrina.

Question 52

Put the following chain of event in correct chronological sequence for an environmental impact study. I. Public comment on released EIS.
II. Major project proposed.
III. EIS prepared.
IV. EIS released for public review.
V. Based on public debate, the project may proceed as planned, proceed with modifications, be sent back for further development, or be withdrawn.

A)I - II - III- IV - V
B)V - III - II - I -IV
C)I - III - V - II - IV
D)II - III - IV - I - V

Question 53

The role of the Council on Environmental Quality is:

A)To Monitor the required EISs and report directly to the president.
B)To take federal agencies that do not comply with NEPA to court.
C)To put pressure on corporations to comply with NEPA and respect EIS findings.
D)To oversee the functioning of the EPA.

Question 54

Economics depend on the _________ for raw materials and the _______ for waste products.

Question 55

The added cost of an additional unit of pollution is known as the ____________

Question 56

The graph below indicates

A)external cost
B)full cost accounting
C)marginal cost of pollution
D)marginal cost of pollution abatement

Question 57

National income accounts are incomplete estimates of national economic performance because national income accounts do NOT include

A)gross domestic product
B)net domestic product
C)estimates of imported goods and services
D)estimates of external costs such as natural resource depletion and the environmental cost of economic activities

Question 58

According to the graph below:

A)As more and more pollution is eliminated from the environment, the cost of removing each additional unit of pollution decreases.
B)As more and more pollution is eliminated from the environment, the cost of removing each additional unit of pollution increases.
C)Cost of pollution removal is constant regardless of how polluted an area is.
D)Cost of pollution is relative to the type of pollution

Question 59

Laws that impose rules and regulations and set limits of pollution are called:

A)command and control.
B)environmental impact statements.
C)legislative documents.
D)legislative directives.

Question 60

One approach to pollution control is incentive-based regulation. In this tactic:

A)industries adopting specific pollution control methods recommended by the government will get reimbursed by the government for the cost of that pollution control device.
B)industries are encouraged to emit an amount of pollution that is economically most desirable for that company
C)pollution control laws establish emission targets and industries are provided enticements to reduce emissions
D)pollution control laws establish emission requirements with which industries must comply or be forced out of business

Question 61

What type of pollution control strategy does the Clean Air Act mainly depend on?

A)command-and-control regulation.
B)incentive-based regulation.
C)relative control regulation.
D)environmental impact statements.

Question 62

Identify three individuals that have made a significant contribution to the environment and provide a brief explanation of the contribution of each.

Question 63

Identify the two people in the photograph below and describe their contributions to our understanding of the environment and the environmental movement in the United States.

Question 64

What is the relationship between marginal cost of pollution and marginal cost of pollution abatement? What can plotting these two curves together tell you? Illustrate your answer.

Question 65

Which of the following are TRUE about environmental taxes: 1. they are a type of incentive based regulation for pollution control
2. they are a type of command and control regulation for pollution control
3. they are designed to be equal to the external cost of pollution

A)1 only
B)2 only
C)3 only
D)1 and 3

Question 66

What is an environmental impact statement (EIS)? List what each EIS must include. How does an environmental impact statement provide protection for the environment?

Question 67

Pollution is considered an external cost because;

A)it has a harmful effect borne only by people who purchased the product that caused it.
B)its cost to the environment is not reflected in the price of the product that produces it.
C)it has a significant impact on the consumer's decision to buy the product that causes it.
D)it is a hidden cost that would increase demand if the consumer were aware of it.

Question 68

Compare and contrast two images below to distinguish between the resource management practices reflected in each image.

Question 69

Which of the following illustrates a major problem with using gross domestic product as a measure of national productivity?

A)It ignores resource depletion and pollution.
B)It ignores population growth.
C)It is highly unreliable.
D)It overvalues environmental costs.

Question 70

Which of the following is NOT considered in determining net domestic product?

A)GDP
B)population size
C)natural capital
D)profit from use of natural resources

Question 71

Identify the two men in the photograph below and compare and contrast their views on natural resources and contributions to protecting them in the United States.

Question 72

Which of the following do incentive-based strategies depend on most?

A)economic forces
B)quantitative goals
C)specific pollution control methods
D)the popularity of environmental trends

Question 73

What is NEPA and how did it revolutionize environmental protection in the USA?

Question 74

Having a bottle of Freon cost a consumer $2,000 to pay for the damage it does to the ozone layer when it is eventually released into the environment is an example of adding in

A)emission charges.
B)environmental impact statements.
C)marginal costs.
D)external costs.

Question 75

The total income of a nation's goods and services for a given year refers to:

A)natural capital sources
B)natural capital sinks
C)natural resource depletion
D)national income account

Question 76

When economists adopt a market-oriented strategy to deal with pollution, they:

A)encourage large retailers to pollute more.
B)raise the cost of pollution to discourage it.
C)lower the cost of pollution to discourage it.
D)increase the demand for pollution.

Question 77

Cap and Trade, also known as _________, set allowable amounts of pollution and allows companies to buy and sell the right to release that pollution.

Question 78

Which of the following is NOT an example of command and control regulation?

A)hybrid cars.
B)catalytic converters.
C)unleaded gas.
D)harvest quotas.

Question 79

What is natural capital? Draw a schematic to show how economics is related to natural capital?

Question 80

Describe the optimum amount of pollution concept and identify any weaknesses in this approach. What is the nature of the conflicts between this economic view of the environment and an environmentalist's perspective? How can these discrepancies be resolved in a way that benefits the environment?