Deck 15: The Imperative of Ecological Health

Question 1

The agreement that began to put significant limits on the production of chlorofluorocarbons was ______.

A) the Rio Pact
B) the Montreal Protocol
C) the INF Treaty
D) the Kyoto Protocol

Answer 1

the Montreal Protocol

Question 2

With regard to the possible effects of global warming, which of the following is incorrect?

A) The polar ice formations are melting.
B) Sea levels will rise as the average global temperature rises.
C) Because of the rise in sea levels and increased rains, climate change will not place stress on water resources.
D) Crop and livestock production will be challenged.

Answer 2

Because of the rise in sea levels and increased rains, climate change will not place stress on water resources.

Question 3

The originator of the "tragedy of the commons" metaphor was ______.

A) Garrett Hardin
B) Herman Kahn
C) Barry Commoner
D) William Ophuls

Answer 3

Garrett Hardin

Question 4

The population of the world currently stands at roughly ______.

A) 12 billion people
B) 18 billion people
C) 8.2 billion people
D) 7.6 billion people

Question 5

A terrible environmental disaster occurred at Minamata Bay, Japan, in the early 1950s. More than 600 people died, and 1,300 people became severely ill. This event was caused by ______.

A) the sudden, accidental release of radioactive gas from a nuclear reactor
B) mercury poisoning from industrial sources
C) a severe case of salmonella food poisoning
D) the release of deadly gas from a chemical processing facility

Question 6

The Kyoto Protocol was drafted to deal with ______.

A) global warming
B) deforestation
C) ozone depletion
D) urban pollution

Question 7

Which of the following is often cited as contributing to the problem of access to fresh safe water?

A) climate change
B) uneven distribution of safe water on the planet
C) widespread contamination of water in certain regions
D) all of these

Question 8

One of the principal advocates of steady-state philosophy is ______.

A) Herman Kahn
B) William Ophuls
C) Maurice Strong
D) Dennis T. Avery

Question 9

The ability of the earth to support human and other life forms is known as ______.

A) ecological potential
B) consumption limit index
C) steady-state sustainability
D) carrying capacity

Question 10

The largest contributors of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere are ______.

A) the United States and India
B) Russia and China
C) the United States and China
D) India and China

Question 11

Those who advocate sustainable development make which of the following arguments?

A) Effective environmental management requires the suspension of democratic processes.
B) The key to meeting environmental challenges is technological innovation.
C) Modest reforms will be enough to solve major environmental problems.
D) The keys to dealing with the environment are responsible, rational management of growth and effective, agreed-upon mechanisms for surveillance, development, and management of the global commons.

Question 12

Which of the following statements relating to ozone layer depletion is not accurate?

A) The primary cause is the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons.
B) The Montreal Protocol was a major attempt to deal with the problem of ozone depletion.
C) Despite international controls in the late 1980s, efforts to curb the release of CFCs have failed for the most part.
D) Reduction of the ozone layer has the potential to significantly increase the number of cases of skin cancer.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is correct with regard to global warming?

A) There is now total unanimity within the world's scientific community that global warming and resultant climate change are real.
B) With global warming, there is the expectation that the sea levels will rise significantly.
C) Since the late 1800s, average global surface temperature has increased by roughly five degrees Celsius.
D) Global warming is caused primarily by volcanic action emanating from the core of the earth.

Question 14

Those who believe that modest reforms (e.g., conserving scarce resources, limiting family size and safeguarding the environment) are sufficient to promote ecological health are most likely found in which school of thought?

A) liberal conservation
B) steady-state philosophy
C) sustainable development
D) benevolent authoritarianism

Question 15

The 2015 Paris Agreement deals with which of the following?

A) deforestation
B) limiting greenhouse gas emissions
C) slowing down the use of nonrenewable resources
D) limiting population growth

Question 16

The depletion of the ozone layer is of critical concern because the ozone layer protects the earth from ______________________.

Question 17

Global optimists put great faith in technology, such as ________________________, which is the process of transmitting energy with limited loss or no loss of energy.

Question 18

Nuclear disasters took place in the United States in 1979, the Soviet Union in 1986, and Japan in 2011. These were known as the _____________________, ______________, and ___________________disasters.

Question 19

The trapping of the earth's heat in the atmosphere by heat-absorbing gases is called the _______________________.

Question 20

An approach to ecological heath that emphasizes a rational and equitable approach to development that balances societal needs against environmental limitations is called ______________________________.

Question 21

The major 2015 global agreement dealing with cutting greenhouse gas emissions was the ____________________________.

Question 22

Write an essay that discusses the problem of ozone layer depletion, why it is of critical concern, and what the response of the international community has been in addressing the problem.

Question 23

What is the greenhouse effect? Why is it of concern to the international community?

Question 24

The authors maintain that the problem of scarce resources has three dimensions: depletion of nonrenewable resources, waste and imprudent use of renewable resources, and population pressure on resources. In your judgment, which of these three concerns is the most critical, and why?

Question 25

Explain what is meant by the "tragedy of the commons," and discuss the various ways in which it is reflected in the global ecological crisis.

Question 26

Discuss the possible link between climate change, scarce resources, and armed conflict.

Question 27

What are some of the global community's approaches to ecological problems, and how effective have they been?

Question 28

Of the several approaches to ecological health cited by the authors, which one do you believe is most appropriate for dealing with environmental problems, and why?