Deck 1: The Environmental Challenges We Face

Question 1

The highly developed countries represent how much of the world's population?

A)18%
B)25%
C)30%
D)70%

Answer 1

18%

Question 2

The average global ecological footprint is less than the allotted 1.8 hectares which means there is currently an ecological surplus.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Which of the following statements associated with poverty is CORRECT? 1. Poverty is associated with a short life expectancy, illiteracy, and inadequate access to health services, safe water, and balanced nutrition
2. The number of people living in poverty has been steadily declining and today less than one billion people live in poverty worldwide.
3. Poverty is a condition in which people are unable to meet their basic needs for food, clothing, shelter, education, or health.

A)1 only
B)2 only
C)3 only
D)Both 1 and 3 apply as descriptions of poverty.

Answer 3

Both 1 and 3 apply as descriptions of poverty.

Question 4

Which of the following describes the relationship among population growth, consumption of natural resources, and environmental degradation?

A)When individual demands on natural resources are far greater than the requirements for survival, people in affluent nations deplete resources and degrade the global environment through increased consumption of nonessential items to satisfy their desires.
B)Rapid population growth does not overwhelm and deplete a country's soils, forests, and other natural resources when the amount of resources essential to an individual's survival is small.
C)Rate of resource consumption affects the environment far less that the explosion in population.
D)There is no relationship between population growth, consumption of natural resources, and environmental degradation.

Question 5

Which of the following describes a highly developed country?

A)Countries with low rates of population growth and high per person incomes.
B)Countries with complex industrialized bases such as Mexico and Thailand.
C)Countries with low levels of industrialization, very high rates of population growth, very high infant mortality rates, and very low per person incomes.
D)Countries with abundant unskilled labor but with limited capital for investment.

Question 6

Trees, fishes, fertile agriculture soil are examples of nonrenewable resources.

Question 7

The photograph below represents the average family living in Mali. Based on the photo, what do you think is Mali's most likely contribution to environmental problems?

A)Depletion of fossil fuels
B)Overpopulation
C)Overconsumption
D)Global climate change

Question 8

According to the graph below, the world population reached 7 billion around what year?

A)1900 CE
B)2015 BCE
C)2015 CE
D)Around the time of the Black Death

Question 9

To improve their economic conditions, many LDCs borrow money from HDCs for capital investment.

Question 10

The global fertility rate is currently 1.2 children per woman and is expected to continue to decline.

Question 11

86% of the global resource consumption of _______ is accounted by HDCs

Question 12

Approximately _________ percentage of the world's population lives in either moderately or less developed countries?

A)15
B)30
C)65
D)82

Question 13

Which of the following represents consumption overpopulation? A typical Brazilian Residence A typical Japanese family A typical Mexican family A typical family from Mali

A)Family from Mexico
B)Family from Mali
C)Family from Japan
D)Family from Brazil

Question 14

Poverty is associated with all of the following EXCEPT:

A)low life expectancy
B)balanced nutrition
C)inadequate access to health services
D)illiteracy

Question 15

Which of the following factors is as important as population in determining the environmental impact of humans?

A)climate of the region
B)affluence per person
C)wealth of the nation
D)amount of pollution produced

Question 16

In order for a country to progress from a less developed country (LDC)to a moderately developed country (MDC), the country would have to:

A)increase rate of population growth.
B)move from industry to agricultural economy base.
C)raise the per-capita income.
D)increase their unskilled labor force.

Question 17

Which of the following DOES NOT describe a less developed country?

A)Countries where hunger, illiteracy, and poverty are common.
B)Countries such as Mali, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia where the economies of the nation are primarily agriculturally based.
C)Countries with low levels of industrialization, very high rates of population growth, very high infant mortality rates, and very low per person incomes.
D)Countries with abundant capital for investment but with limited unskilled labor.

Question 18

How do moderately developed countries MOST differ from highly developed countries?

A)They have much higher infant mortality rates
B)They are mostly rural economies
C)They have much lower levels of pollution.
D)They have fewer opportunities for income, education, and healthcare.

Question 19

People overpopulation is a situation:

A)that occurs when each individual in a population consumes too large a share of resources.
B)that results from the consumption-oriented lifestyles of people in highly developed countries.
C)in which there are too many people in a given geographical area.
D)in which the level of demand on resources is greater than the number of people in that geographic area.

Question 20

This partial image of North America represents: 1. A satellite view of the continent taken during the day to highlight areas of bright sunlight. 2. The areas in yellow represent major metropolitan areas.
3. The areas in yellow represent major human population centers.

A)1 only
B)2 only
C)3 only
D)Both 2 and 3 can be interpreted from the image.

Question 21

From the graphs below we can interpret the following:

A)Of the three nations, India has the most people overpopulation as it has a smallest per capita ecological footprint but the second largest total ecological footprint.
B)Of the three nations, the United States has the most consumption overpopulation as both its per capita and total ecological footprint are the largest.
C)France has a per capita ecological footprint of about 4.9 hectares, which makes it about five times the size of India and half the size of the United States.
D)All of the above statements can be interpreted from the graphs.

Question 22

I = P x A x T model can be used to calculate which of the following?

A)level of urbanization
B)people overpopulation
C)rate of industrialization
D)human impact on the environment

Question 23

What does an ecological footprint measure?

A)Natural resources used by each person in an area.
B)Products bought and used by each person in an area.
C)The amount of people that can live in a given area.
D)The number of planet's worth of resources we have.

Question 24

Which of the following ecological footprints is the largest?

A)Ecological footprint of a single individual in U.S.
B)Ecological footprint of a single individuals in France
C)Ecological footprint of a single individuals in India
D)Ecological footprint of 6 individuals in India

Question 25

In order to estimate human impact on the environment we can

A)multiply the number of people times affluence per person times resources used and wastes produced (I=P x A x T)
B)multiply resource depletion times number of years divided by number of people (I = R x Y ÷ P)
C)multiply birth rate times consumption patterns divided by available resources (I= B x C ÷ R)
D)Divide number of people by resources needed and wastes produced (I = P ÷ T)

Question 26

When you complained to a friend from India about India's high population she responded by suggesting you consider that the United States is also overpopulated. What do you think she meant?

A)The United States has a very high immigration rate.
B)The United States has a very high birth rate compared to other developed countries and to China.
C)The United States, which is 5% of the world's population, consumes 25% of the world's resources.
D)The density of urban metropolitan centers like New York shows that the United States is also overpopulated.

Question 27

Which of the following is a nonrenewable resource?

A)fossil fuels
B)water
C)forests
D)soils

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT TRUE about the nature of natural resources and their use by people?

A)Slowing down the rate of population growth as well as reducing resource consumption levels will allow for more time to develop technological advances to find alternatives to non-renewable resources.
B)Even renewable resources must be used in a manner that allows for them to replenish or replace themselves and thus these resources should more accurately be considered potentially renewable and not be overexploited.
C)Developing countries are often faced with the difficult choice between exploiting natural resources to provide for their expanding populations in the short term (to pay for food or to cover debts)or conserving those resources for future generations.
D)Poverty does not impose any pressures on natural resources as the poor use barely any resources at all and what they do use is used very carefully and wisely for long term survival.

Question 29

The photograph below is an image of Times Square in New York City. Based on the photo, what do you think is USA's most likely contribution to environmental problems? 1. Environmental sustainability due to the population density in NYC 2. People overpopulation due to the population density in NYC
3. Consumption overpopulation as reflected by the advertising billboards

A)1 only
B)2 only
C)3 only
D)1 and 2 are both reflected in the photograph

Question 30

_________ is the ability to meet humanity's current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Question 31

From the figure below we can interpret the following:

A)We currently have an ecological surplus of almost half an earth that can support increased population or consumption in the future.
B)We have an ecological overshoot as we are living beyond the 11.4 billion hectares of productive land and water that is available on earth.
C)We are in a sustainable condition for while the human ecological footprint has been increasing over time we have simultaneously been using technology to not exceed the earth's biocapacity.
D)Due to human ingenuity the availability of resources per person has increased steadily from 0.5 earths per person to about 1.4 earths per person today.

Question 32

What is the environmental significance of the process of "consumption"?

A)Consumption can outstrip the natural resources available and lead to overexploitation of the environment.
B)Extravagant consumption can create an environment of raising one's status among peers.
C)The process of consumption is an economic act, providing the "demand" necessary for the "supply" of the environment.
D)Consumption can generate economic growth that relies significantly on the importation of natural resources, which benefits the environments of less-developed countries.

Question 33

Why do we need to be careful when interpreting IPAT equation results?

A)We often do not understand all of the environmental impacts of a particular technology.
B)IPAT equations are usually inaccurate.
C)We often do not have the mathematical precision to interpret IPAT data.
D)IPAT equations are only useful for determining consumption in developing countries.

Question 34

If it is true that too many people living in an area causes degradation and a destruction of natural resources, then why is it that people who live in the large metropolitan areas in the United States able to have so many more material possessions than those living in the countries to the south of US?

A)Our population has stopped growing and theirs is continuing to grow.
B)People living in these metropolitan areas have more money to spend to buy the goods.
C)We are using the natural resources of less developed countries to keep us supplied with goods and produce.
D)We recycle most of our goods.

Question 35

Which of the following is most likely to happen if everybody in the world used resources at the rate that people in the United States do?

A)People would be healthier and happier worldwide.
B)Our current resources would run out quickly.
C)Violent conflicts would decrease because basic needs would be met.
D)Economies would prosper.

Question 36

The resource shown here can be classified as: 1. perpetually renewable 2. nonrenewable
3. renewable only if they are replanted and given time to grow

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

Question 37

Prevent and reduce waste, restore degraded environments, use resources efficiently, and stabilize human population are all goals to promote _________

Question 38

Renewable resources are:

A)resources such as fossil fuels that replenish within a reasonable duration on the human timescale.
B)resources such as fish that can be replaced by natural processes on a fairly rapid scale provided they are not overexploited in the short term
C)resources such as forests that are impossible to overexploit as trees grow so fast
D)resources such as minerals because we can efficiently extract, refine, and recycle them

Question 39

Non-renewable resource IS TO renewable resource AS

A)living is to non-living
B)limited supply is to sustainable supply
C)tree is to coal
D)wind energy is to fossil fuel energy

Question 40

In the United States ecological footprint of each person is about 9.4 hectares. The Earth presently has 11.4 billion hectares of productive land and water. If everyone in the world lived at the same level of consumption as the average American about how many earths would we need to survive according to the ecological footprint analysis?

A)Two Earths
B)Three Earths
C)Four Earths
D)Five Earths

Question 41

The scientist in the picture below is MOST likely participating in what step in the scientific process?

A)analysis of data
B)collection of data
C)formulation of a hypothesis
D)studying an experimental group

Question 42

________ are factors that can influence a process.

Question 43

What does this graph suggests about our current use of fossil fuels?

A)We are treating this resource sustainably as the number of barrels of oil consumed has increased over time.
B)We are depleting this non-renewable resource at a rate faster today than 20 years ago.
C)The price of oil will continue to decrease as there is more oil supply than there is demand.
D)We have found many new sources of oil as reflected in the increase in oil consumption.

Question 44

An integrated explanation of numerous hypotheses is known as a

A)fact.
B)law.
C)control.
D)theory.

Question 45

In the scientific method, a hypothesis

A)is a statement of fact
B)makes a prediction that can be tested
C)is usually proven to be correct
D)can only be tested once

Question 46

Which of the following represents an idea associated with environmental sustainability?

A)Many of the Earth's resources are present in finite supply and must be used wisely
B)The human population can continue to grow
C)Our choices in what technology to use do not affect environmental quality
D)The capacity of the environment to absorb toxins is unlimited

Question 47

How does science obtain knowledge about the world?

A)By an interactive process of experimentation, which refines hypotheses until they are finally proven to be the absolute truth.
B)By relying on scientific authorities and the massive amount of knowledge already obtained to explain new data.
C)By systematically gathering evidence and discarding potential explanations that do not fit the evidence, and refining those that do fit the evidence.
D)By conducting experiments designed to support hypotheses as being correct beyond reasonable doubt.

Question 48

What does the phrase "environmental sustainability" imply?

A)The actions of humans directly impact the wellbeing of the natural environment.
B)Future generations will have the resources necessary for quality of life.
C)A shared global responsibility is necessary for conservation practices.
D)All of the above are implied by environmental sustainability.

Question 49

How would a scientist respond to the statement that "The theory of natural selection is really just an educated guess at what is happening."

A)She would agree because theories really are just guesses about the scientific world.
B)She would disagree because scientific theories refer to broadly conceived, well-supported explanations of scientific phenomena.
C)She would agree because there is not enough support to accept the hypothesis of natural selection.
D)She would use the scientific method to conduct her own experiment to test the theory before accepting it as fact.

Question 50

All of the following statements describe environmental science EXCEPT:

A)The goal of environmental science is to try to establish general principles about how the natural world functions.
B)Environmental scientists seek to develop viable solutions to environmental problems that are based as much as possible on scientific knowledge.
C)Since environmental problems are generally complex and scientific understanding of them is often less complete, environmental scientists are often called on to reach scientific consensus before the data are complete.
D)No exceptions, all of the above statements describe environmental science.

Question 51

A botanist has conducted an experiment where the leaf on the right is from a conventional rice plant and the leaf on the left is from a rice plant that was genetically modified to be pest resistant. Which of the following statements is true?

A)The leaf on the left was grown under conditions without any insects.
B)The leaf on the right is from the control portion of the experiment.
C)The leaf on the left was from the control portion for this experiment.
D)Both leaves are from the treatment part of the experiment.

Question 52

To test a hypothesis about a given variable, experimental and control groups are tested in parallel. Which of the following best explains the dual experiments?

A)In the experimental group, a chosen variable is altered in a known way. In the control group, that chosen variable is not altered so a comparison can be made.
B)In the control group, a chosen variable is altered in a known way. In the experimental group that chosen variable is not altered so a comparison can be made.
C)In the experimental group, a chosen variable plus all other variables are altered. In the control group, the chosen variable is altered however all other variables are held constant.
D)In the experimental and control groups two different variables are altered.

Question 53

The interdisciplinary study of humanity's relationship with other organisms and the non-living physical environment is termed:

A)ecology
B)sociology
C)political science
D)environmental science

Question 54

Which of the following statements about scientific theories are TRUE?

A)Theories cannot be tested.
B)Theories are the same as hypotheses.
C)Theories can be used to predict the existence of as-yet unobserved things or phenomena.
D)Theories are ethical principles based on a religious foundation.

Question 55

Why is it inadequate to rely solely on science to solve environmental problems?

A)Science can't prove anything so it cannot be used to solve problems.
B)Science can only inform decisions, but ethics are necessary to help us decide what we ought to do.
C)The statement is incorrect - science is the only discipline necessary to solve environmental problems.
D)Politics and economics are the real tools used to solve environmental problems.

Question 56

A _______ is a well substantiated explanation that is acquired through the scientific method and repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation.

Question 57

The scientific analysis and the study of interactions among organisms and their environment is called ________

Question 58

The photograph below is of the Tsukiji Market in Japan. Which of the following statements describes why there are so many Bluefin Tuna available for purchase?

A)Dams on rivers trapped many Bluefin Tuna that were migrating upstream to spawn.
B)Water pollution from pesticide runoff impaired the swimming ability of Bluefin Tuna in coastal areas so they were more easily captured in fishing nets.
C)Bluefin Tuna are being overfished in certain parts of the ocean.
D)Global climate change is disrupting Bluefin Tuna migration paths and they now move directly in the main shipping channels and have to be captured to reduce potential damage to cargo ships.

Question 59

Examples of non-sustainable human activities or behaviors include:

A)recycling
B)attempts to limit human population growth
C)using technology to improve car mileage
D)use of non-renewable fossil fuels

Question 60

The ability to meet humanity's current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs is

A)ecology
B)environmental sustainability
C)ecological footprint
D)the IPAT equation

Question 61

What is the correct sequence of steps in the scientific method? I. State the problem
II. Analyze and interpret the data
III. Develop a hypothesis
IV. Share the results with other scientists
V. Design and perform an experiment to test the hypothesis

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

Question 62

Community members bring information, preferences, and goals that must be incorporated into a policy decisions during which of the five stages of solving an environmental problem?

A)Scientific assessment
B)Risk analysis
C)Public engagement
D)Political consideration
E)Long term environmental management

Question 63

Outline how the scientific method is applied in order to solve environmental problems. Use a real-life example and correct terminology in your explanation.

Question 64

A state agency has contacted you to do a scientific assessment of kudzu in a nature preserve in southern Georgia. They are concerned about the effects of the non-native invasive vine on a small rare plant that grows on the forest floor in the preserve, but which is found nowhere else in the state. Kudzu is only growing in the east side of the preserve because it hasn't yet had time to invade further. In order to assess the effects of kudzu on the rare plant, you set up the following experiment: Site 1. On the east side of the park with the kudzu, you set up ten 1m x 1m plots on the forest floor. In each plot you count the number of individuals of the rare plant.
Site 2. On the west side of the park without the kudzu, you set up ten 1m x 1m plots of the forest floor. In each plot you count the number of individuals of the rare plant.
Based solely on the data represented in the associated table, what can you report to the agency that contracted you to do this study?

A)Kudzu is shading out the rare plant.
B)The rare plant is unaffected by the presence of the kudzu.
C)Fewer individuals of the rare plant grow in the presence of kudzu when compared to areas without kudzu.
D)It will be impossible to remove kudzu from the park because it grows too fast.

Question 65

All of the following describe the process of science EXCEPT:

A)Science seeks to reduce complexity of the natural world to general principles which are used to provide new insights.
B)Scientific data is collected through observation and experimentation and thus questions of science are limited to testable questions.
C)Conclusions inferred from collected data are often based on faith, emotion, or intuition.
D)Confirming the validity of new results by repeatability is a requirement of science.

Question 66

Compare and contrast two images below.

Question 67

Why is a risk analysis usually performed in solving environmental problems?

A)To provide public awareness and endorsement.
B)To monitor the initial assessment and modeling of the problem.
C)To solicit public opinion about how evidence should be interpreted when selection a course of action.
D)To analyze the potential effect of an intervention versus doing nothing.

Question 68

Compare and contrast two images below.

Question 69

A state agency has contacted you to do a scientific assessment of kudzu in a nature preserve in southern Georgia. They are concerned about the effects of the non-native invasive vine on a small rare plant that grows on the forest floor in the preserve, but which is found nowhere else in the state. Kudzu is only growing in the east side of the preserve because it hasn't yet had time to invade further. In order to assess the effects of kudzu on the rare plant, you set up the following experiment: Site 1. On the east side of the park with the kudzu, you set up ten 1m x 1m plots on the forest floor. In each plot you count the number of individuals of the rare plant.
Site 2. On the west side of the park without the kudzu, you set up ten 1m x 1m plots of the forest floor. In each plot you count the number of individuals of the rare plant.
Which of the following represents the hypothesis that you are testing with this experiment?

A)Kudzu will eventually grow on the west side of the park.
B)Kudzu will kill off the trees in the preserve by strangling them.
C)Kudzu should be removed from the preserve because it is killing the rare plant.
D)Kudzu is negatively affecting populations of the rare plant in the preserve.

Question 70

Define environmental sustainability. Discuss three reasons why experts in environmental science think that the human population is not operating sustainability.

Question 71

Use an example to describe the 5 steps used by environmental scientists to address an environmental problem.

Question 72

Compare and contrast environmental science and ecology.

Question 73

A state agency has contacted you to do a scientific assessment of kudzu in a nature preserve in southern Georgia. They are concerned about the effects of the non-native invasive vine on a small rare plant that grows on the forest floor in the preserve, but which is found nowhere else in the state. Kudzu is only growing in the east side of the preserve because it hasn't yet had time to invade further. In order to assess the effects of kudzu on the rare plant, you set up the following experiment: Site 1. On the east side of the park with the kudzu, you set up ten 1m x 1m plots on the forest floor. In each plot you count the number of individuals of the rare plant.
Site 2. On the west side of the park without the kudzu, you set up ten 1m x 1m plots of the forest floor. In each plot you count the number of individuals of the rare plant.
In this experiment, Site 2 is your:

A)variable.
B)control.
C)replication.
D)hypothesis.

Question 74

Which of the following stages comes LAST in addressing environmental problems?

A)Risk analysis
B)Political action
C)Long-term management and evaluation
D)Scientific assessment

Question 75

What is the relationship between variables and the control group in a well-designed scientific experiment?

Question 76

Compare and contrast renewable and nonrenewable resources.