Deck 13: Environmental Problems

Question 1

Chemicals that evaporate from the soil of the tropics, ride the winds north thousands of miles, condense in the cold air, and fall on the Arctic in the form of toxic snow or rain illustrate the problem of

A)bioinvasion.
B)permeability of international borders.
C)greenwashing.
D)deforestation.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

______ is/are large, naturally occurring deposits of sand, clay, water, and a dense form of petroleum.

A)Fossil fuels
B)Renewable resources
C)Oil
D)Tar sands

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Renewable resources include all of the following EXCEPT

A)geothermal power.
B)nuclear power.
C)wind power.
D)biomass.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Most of the world's energy comes from

A)fossil fuels.
B)hydropower.
C)nuclear energy.
D)new renewables.

Question 5

Biomass energy is derived from

A)plant and animal products.
B)water sources.
C)wind.
D)nuclear power.

Question 6

The "clean coal campaign," which is an effort by the coal industry to convince the public that coal is environmentally friendly even though it is not, is an example of

A)planned obsolescence.
B)media mongering.
C)greenwashing.
D)ecoterrorism.

Question 7

Planned obsolescence contributes to which of the following?

A)overpopulation
B)greenwashing
C)ever-increasing amounts of waste
D)bioinvasion

Question 8

Under NAFTA's provisions, any country that decides to ban the use of carcinogenic pesticides

A)has the legitimate right to do so.
B)can be charged by the WTO (World Trade Organization)for obstructing the free flow of trade and investment.
C)sets the precedent that the other member nations must also bring before their lawmakers the issue of banning pesticides.
D)will be given greater trading power with the North American member countries.

Question 9

By 2020 more than _______ will be environmental refugees.

A)5 million people
B)10 million people
C)20 million people
D)50 million people

Question 10

Bioinvasion is largely the product of

A)greenwashing.
B)depletion of energy resources.
C)global trade and tourism.
D)air pollution.

Question 11

Greenwashing involves manipulation of

A)natural resources.
B)technology.
C)research methods.
D)public perception.

Question 12

The ________ perspective examines the relationship between changes in natural resources and changes in people's livelihood.

A)conflict
B)postmodern
C)structural functionalist
D)symbolic interactionist

Question 13

The major environmental problems facing the world today are linked to the production and use of

A)fossil fuels.
B)hydropower.
C)solar energy.
D)hydroelectric power.

Question 14

The world economy is dominated by

A)transnational corporations.
B)privately owned businesses.
C)governmental control of most businesses.
D)small business.

Question 15

Planned obsolescence refers to

A)manufacturing of products that are intended to become inoperative or outdated in a fairly short period of time.
B)the way in which environmentally and socially damaging companies portray their products as "environmentally friendly."
C)the premeditated use of a particular natural resource in such a way that destroys it forever.
D)depletion of natural resources that makes an area uninhabitable.

Question 16

Hydroelectric power is criticized because it

A)is a source of water pollution.
B)is expensive.
C)affects natural habitats.
D)depletes natural, nonrenewable resources.

Question 17

Ecosystems refer to

A)systems of economic production and distribution.
B)relationships between forms of life and the environments they inhabit.
C)government regulations of the economy.
D)the complex relationships between economic systems and governments.

Question 18

Individuals who migrate because they can no longer secure a livelihood as a result of environmental problems are referred to as

A)environmental refugees.
B)environmental footprint.
C)ecoterrorists.
D)ecovictims.

Question 19

Greenwashing refers to which of the following?

A)a technique for cleaning industrial waste before dumping it into a river or other waterway
B)the way in which environmentally damaging companies portray their corporate products as being environmentally friendly
C)a slang term for the application of pesticides, usually by plane, over a wide area
D)the commercial logging practice of cutting down virgin forest and replacing it with young saplings that will eventually will be cut down

Question 20

Which of the following is a fossil fuel?

A)petroleum
B)hydropower
C)solar energy
D)biomass

Question 21

Global warming is caused mainly by

A)greenhouse gases that accumulate in the atmosphere.
B)changes in the earth's orbit around the sun.
C)increases in the use of solar energy.
D)the collective body heat given off by increasing populations.

Question 22

All of the following are major causes of deforestation mentioned by your text EXCEPT

A)expansion of agricultural land.
B)accidental forest fires.
C)human settlements.
D)road building.

Question 23

Deforestation

A)displaces people and animals from their habitats.
B)can cause severe flooding.
C)contributes to desertification.
D)all of these

Question 24

The depletion of the ozone layer causes

A)skin cancer and cataracts.
B)rising sea levels.
C)mass extinction.
D)global warfare.

Question 25

A person's environmental footprint is determined by

A)the number of children that person has.
B)the patterns of production and consumption in that person's culture.
C)the amount of food that person grows.
D)the number of trees that person chops down.

Question 26

Air pollutants mix with ____________ to form acid rain.

A)CFCs
B)pesticides
C)precipitation
D)solid waste

Question 27

_________ of the world's population live in areas of physical water scarcity.

A)Less than 2 percent
B)About 1/5
C)Nearly 1/2
D)More than 3/4

Question 28

Desertification is associated with which of the following problems?

A)acid rain
B)urban migration
C)biodiversity
D)severe flooding

Question 29

All of the fish have died in one-third of the lakes in New York's Adirondack Mountains due to

A)acid rain.
B)global warming.
C)destruction of the ozone layer.
D)overfishing.

Question 30

Which of the following are common indoor air pollutants in affluent countries?

A)mattresses
B)dry cleaned clothing
C)carpeting
D)all of these

Question 31

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are used in refrigerators, air conditioners, spray cans, and other applications are associated with which of the following environmental problems?

A)destruction of the ozone layer
B)desertification
C)deforestation
D)environmental injustice

Question 32

Which of the following is mentioned in the text as a major cause of increased demand for water?

A)use of water filters on kitchen faucets and refrigerators
B)industrialization
C)increased use of solar power
D)increased production of sugary drinks and sodas

Question 33

The vast majority of freshwater in the world is used for

A)drinking water.
B)sanitation.
C)agriculture.
D)watering lawns.

Question 34

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident illustrate

A)the unanticipated human, environmental and financial costs that come with energy production.
B)how minimal the damages are from energy related accidents.
C)the need for more coal power plants.
D)how dangerous green energy is.

Question 35

The demands humanity makes on the earth's natural resources is the

A)eco-cost.
B)environmental footprint.
C)environmental trade-off.
D)ecological drain.

Question 36

Exposure to indoor air pollution increases the risk of all of the following EXCEPT

A)pneumonia.
B)asthma.
C)hearing loss.
D)cataracts.

Question 37

The ozone layer of Earth's atmosphere

A)creates acid rain.
B)contributes to indoor air pollution.
C)causes skin cancer.
D)absorbs harmful radiation from the sun.

Question 38

Depletion of the ozone layer is caused by

A)global warming.
B)natural fluctuations in the climate.
C)fossil fuels.
D)the use of certain chemicals

Question 39

Desertification refers to the

A)depletion of water supplies due to irrigation of farm lands.
B)degradation of semi-arid land, which results in the expansion of desert.
C)conversion of forest lands to non-forest lands.
D)depletion of greenways due to paving of sidewalks, streets, and parking lots.

Question 40

In the United States, ______________ people live in counties where they are exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution.

A)10 percent of
B)20 percent of
C)42 percent of
D)85 percent of

Question 41

The seasonal "Dead Zone" in the Gulf of Mexico which is uninhabitable to marine organisms is mainly due to

A)global warming.
B)dumping of nuclear waste.
C)fertilizer runoff from agricultural land.
D)acid rain.

Question 42

Which of the following is NOT one of the effects of global warming?

A)increasing size of the polar icecaps
B)forest fires
C)extinction of species
D)extreme weather

Question 43

In 2011, each U.S.citizen generated about _____ of garbage on average every day.

A)6 ounces
B)1 pound
C)2.7 pounds
D)4.4 pounds

Question 44

Many of the chemicals we are exposed to in our daily lives can cause

A)cancer.
B)infertility.
C)birth defects.
D)all of these

Question 45

More than half of solid waste in the United States is

A)recycled.
B)taken to landfills.
C)converted into energy by incinerators.
D)biodegradable.

Question 46

Global increases in carbon dioxide concentration are due primarily to

A)nuclear waste.
B)chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)used in spray cans, refrigerators, and air conditioners.
C)use of fossil fuels.
D)fumigants for crops and pest control.

Question 47

More than half of U.S.adults believe global warming is caused mostly by

A)human activity.
B)natural changes in the environment.
C)animal activity.
D)changes in the sun's temperature.

Question 48

Which of the following is safe and involves no risk to human health and the environment?

A)the practice of taking discarded computers to landfills
B)the incineration of discarded computers
C)the recycling of computers
D)none of these

Question 49

Scientific evidence shows that global warming is caused mostly by

A)human activity.
B)natural changes in the environment.
C)animal activity.
D)changes in the sun's temperature.

Question 50

The term "e-waste" refers to which of the following?

A)waste from electronic equipment
B)excessive waste
C)elimination of waste
D)energy-producing waste

Question 51

_____ involves injecting a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals into drilled wells to release natural gas.

A)Rock splitting
B)Greenwashing
C)Fracking
D)Fissioning

Question 52

Most cancer researchers believe

A)BPA causes most of our modern forms of cancer.
B)the environment in which we live and work may be the major cause of cancer.
C)the most vulnerable among us are the elderly.
D)multinational corporations cause cancer.

Question 53

If greenhouse gases stabilize, global air temperature and sea level are expected to continue to rise for hundreds of years because global warming that has already occurred contributes to further warming of the planet.This process is known as

A)post hoc global warming.
B)positive feedback loop.
C)greenhouse extension effect.
D)greenhouse projection.

Question 54

Which country has the highest per capita emissions of carbon dioxide?

A)Russia
B)Mexico
C)China
D)United States

Question 55

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)refers to a condition whereby individuals experience adverse reactions when exposed to

A)above the EPA recommended limits of greenhouse gases.
B)above the EPA recommended limits of toxic metal residues and toxic chemicals.
C)above the World Health Organization recommended limits of chlorofluorocarbons.
D)low levels of chemicals found in everyday substances, such as housecleaning products.

Question 56

_______ percent of domestic food contains pesticides.

A)5
B)15
C)43
D)50

Question 57

Global warming and climate change is expected to cause all of the following except

A)a depletion in the ozone layer.
B)heavier rains in some areas.
C)increased water availability and crop yields in some areas.
D)decreased water availability and decreased crop yields in some areas.

Question 58

As a result of the hazards of nuclear power plants and their waste, _____ became the first country to order all of its nuclear power plants to shut down by 2020.

A)the United States
B)Germany
C)France
D)Canada

Question 59

Radioactive  wastes can remain potentially harmful for _____________ years.

A)5
B)99
C)25,000
D)250,000

Question 60

Which of the following contributes to carbon dioxide in the air?

A)hydropower plants
B)rising sea levels
C)deforestation
D)conversion of desert into crop land

Question 61

Which of the following is true about the relationship between industrialization and the environment?

A)Industrialization has been largely beneficial for the environment.
B)Industrialization has caused the development of new technologies which have improved the environment.
C)Many of the environmental problems confronting the world are associated with industrialization and economic development.
D)Industrialization has had no discernible effect on the environment.

Question 62

Which of the following cultural values in the United States is least likely to contribute to environmental problems?

A)familism
B)individualism
C)militarism
D)consumerism

Question 63

Environmentally knowledgeable people are more likely to

A)recycle.
B)conserve water.
C)avoid using chemicals in yard care.
D)all of these

Question 64

Which book is credited with igniting the U.S.environmental movement?​

A)​ Silent Spring
B)​ The Green Revolution
C)​ We Must Act Now
D)​The Future of Global Warming

Question 65

Cultural values supporting all of the following EXCEPT______ are prime contributors to environmental problems.

A)equality
B)individualism
C)consumerism
D)militarism

Question 66

Light pollution is

A)artificial lighting that is annoying, unnecessary and/or harmful to life forms.
B)increased light that has resulted from the earth moving closer to the sun.
C)increased exposure to sunlight due to the hole in the ozone layer.
D)annoying, unnecessary and/or harmful noise.

Question 67

The world's population exceeded ________ in 2013.

A)10 million people
B)600 thousand people
C)7 billion people
D)67 billion people

Question 68

Which of the following is a radical environmental group?

A)Together We Stand
B)Environmental Defense
C)Earth Liberation Front
D)the National Association of Evangelicals

Question 69

According to your text, religious groups increasingly

A)support depletion of the species because of their belief in humans as superior.
B)believe that concern for the environment takes people's attention away from God.
C)view environmental degradation as an offense against God.
D)believe that global warming is an act of God.

Question 70

Which level of economic development tends to be characterized by high levels of industrial emission?

A)low development
B)middle-development range
C)highly developed
D)Level of development is not related to industrial emissions.

Question 71

The CEO of which of the following corporations has set a goal of becoming a sustainable company by 2020-a company that will grow by cleaning up the world, rather than by polluting or degrading the environment.

A)Wal-Mart
B)Interface
C)FedEx
D)American Airlines

Question 72

Biodiversity refers to the great variety of _____________ on Earth.

A)life
B)weather patterns
C)geological formations
D)chemical compounds

Question 73

Sufferers of ________ often avoid public places and/or wear a protective breathing filter to avoid inhaling the many chemical substances in the environment.

A)chemical threshold disorder
B)compound substance intolerance
C)air sensitivity syndrome
D)multiple chemical sensitivity

Question 74

The largest single social movement in the United States is likely

A)the environmental movement.
B)the Occupy movement.
C)the American Association of Retired People.
D)the ASPCA.

Question 75

One species of life on earth goes extinct every

A)3 hours.
B)5 days.
C)7 months.
D)2 years.

Question 76

Choosing not to recycle because of the inconvenience of washing and sorting items is an example of the cultural value of ______, which contributes to environmental problems.

A)consumerism
B)individualism
C)familism
D)militarism

Question 77

Deep ecology is the view that maintaining the earth's natural systems

A)should take precedence over human needs.
B)is less important than human fulfillment.
C)is important for the well being of humans.
D)is a responsibility given to humans by God.

Question 78

One in _______ of U.S.adults says they are an active participant in the environmental movement.

A)6
B)10
C)100
D)270

Question 79

Ecoterrorism is

A)business or corporate actions that result in the destruction of the habitat of at least 250 species.
B)a crime intended to protect wildlife or the environment that is violent, puts human life at risk, or results in damages of $10,000 or more.
C)business or corporate actions that put human life at risk in the pursuit of profit.
D)a crime committed by individuals that results in the destruction of the habitat of at least 250 species.

Question 80

______ is the term given to the view that maintaining the earth's natural systems should take precedence over human needs, that nature has a value independent of human existence.

A)Environmentalism
B)Deep ecology
C)Religious environmentalism
D)Environmental modification