Chapter 1 Science and the Environment

Question 1

undesired change in air, water, or soil
a. pollution
b. nonrenewable resource
c. ecology

Answer 1

a. pollution

Question 2

describes conflicts associated with sharing resources
a. nonrenewable resources
b. developing country
c. The Tragedy of Commons

Answer 2

c. The Tragedy of Commons

Question 3

humans lived in tribes, using fires to maintain the prairie
a. hunter-gatherer period
b. agricultural revolution
c. Industrial Revolution

Answer 3

a. hunter-gatherer period

Question 4

characterized by high population growth rate, extreme poverty
a. developing country
b. developed country
c. agricultural revolution

Answer 4

a. developing country

Question 5

plants and animals were domesticated, human populations grew
a. hunter-gatherer period
b. agricultural revolution
c. Industrial Revolution

Answer 5

b. agricultural revolution

Question 6

natural material formed at a much slower rate than it is depleted
a. resource depletion
b. agricultural revolution
c. nonrenewable resource

Answer 6

c. nonrenewable resource

Question 7

characterized by high personal wealth, and high levels of consumption
a. developing country
b. developed country
c. pollution

Answer 7

b. developed country

Question 8

the study of living things and their interaction with their nonliving environment
a. Industrial Revolution
b. The Tragedy of the Commons
c. ecology

Answer 8

c. ecology

Question 9

rate of resource use depletes resources and creates pollution and wastes
a. resource depletion
b. nonrenewable resources
c. developed country

Answer 9

a. resource depletion

Question 10

society shifted to fossil fuels
a. hunter-gatherer period
b. agricultural revolution
c. Industrial Revolution

Answer 10

c. Industrial Revolution

Question 11

All of the following disciplines are major contributors to the field of environmental science EXCEPT
a. biology and earth sciences
b. chemistry and physics
c. social sciences
d. linguistics

Answer 11

d. linguistics

Question 12

Most of today’s environmental problems began during which period(s) in human history?
a. hunter-gatherer period
b. agricultural revolution
c. Industrial Revolution
d. Both hunter-gatherer period and Industrial Revolution

Answer 12

c. Industrial Revolution

Question 13

Environmental science is a study of which types of interactions between humans and the environment?
a. how humans use natural resources
b. how human beings relate to the nonliving environment
c. how human actions alter the environment
d. all of the above

Answer 13

d. all of the above

Question 14

Which of the following is studies in environmental science?
a. interactions between living organisms and their nonliving environment
b. impact of humans on the environment
c. interactions between organisms
d. all of the above

Answer 14

b. impact of humans on the environment

Question 15

Population growth in the 20th century accelerated with environmental stress(es)?
a. resource depletion
b. pollution
c. habitat destruction
d. all of the above

Answer 15

d. all of the above

Question 16

Why is the world’s loss of biodiversity a source of concern?
a. Humans depend on other organisms for food and oxygen.
b. Species extinctions have been rare throughout history.
c. Loss of biodiversity is not a concern because extinctions are common.
d. Both Humans depend on other organisms for food and oxygen and species extinctions have been rare throughout history.

Answer 16

a. Humans depend on other organisms for food and oxygen.

Question 17

Using economic considerations of resource use, the law of supply and demand describes the
a. availability of abundant resources
b. relationship between the availability and the worth of resources
c. worth of nonrenewable resources
d. reduced demand resulting from lack of available resources

Answer 17

b. relationship between the availability and the worth of resources

Question 18

Listing both the merits and expenses involved in implementing a particular environmental solution is an example of a(n)
a. cost-benefit analysis
b. risk assessment
c. ecological footprint
d. market equilibrium

Answer 18

a. cost-benefit analysis

Question 19

Compared with their counterparts in developed countries, individuals in developing nations typically have a
a. higher standard of living
b. larger ecological footprint
c. shorter life span
d. greater dependence on fossil fuels

Answer 19

c. shorter life span

Question 20

Achieving a sustainable world is a goal that will depend on
a. responsible consumption by developed countries
b. a higher standard of living in developing countries
c. cooperation between governments, industry, and citizens
d. Both responsible consumption by developed countries and cooperation between governments, industry, and citizens

Answer 20

d. Both responsible consumption by developed countries and cooperation between governments, industry, and citizens