Chapter 20 (our impact on land) Flashcards
all of the individuals of one species occupying a particular area
Population
the largest number of individuals of a particular species that the environment can support
Carrying capacity
substances that contaminate the environment
Pollutants
the volume of water flowing past a point per unit of time
Stream discharge
an area where each day’s garbage is deposited and cover with soil
Sanitary landfill
wastes that are poisonous, that cause cancer, or that can catch fire
Hazardous wastes
substances that make chemical reactions go faster
Enzymes
the careful use of earth materials to reduce damage to the environment
Conservation
piling yard wastes where they can decompose gradually
Composting
using materials again
Recycling
Why can’t plants used in phytoremediation be used to feed livestock?
A) It costs too much.
B) The plants die too quickly.
C) Livestock often is used to feed humans.
D) It tastes bad and livestock won’t eat it.
C) Livestock often is used to feed humans.
Which of the following most positively impacts Earth's land and natural resources? A) using mass transit B) destruction of rain forests C) farming D) feeding livestock
A) using mass transit
Why is Earth experiencing a population explosion?
A) because the population has always been increasing rapidly
B) because the number of people on Earth is increasing rapidly
C) because some people think Earth’s population is too small
D) because the population is maintaining a steady, but slow, increase.
B) because the number of people on Earth is increasing rapidly
A changing water cycle in tropical areas might be a result of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) use of alternative energy resources B) conservation efforts C) overflowing garbage dumps D) cutting down tropical rain forests
D) cutting down tropical rain forests
Earth has a limited amount of space and resources. You could say that Earth is somewhat like \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) an island B) a continent C) a peninsula D) a mountain
A) an island
Which of the following has NOT contributed to the increase in Earth's human population? A) creating landfills B) better medicine C) better nutrition D) clean water
A) creating landfills
Which of the following is NOT caused by depletion of Earth's forests? A) increased temperatures on Earth B) increasing rainfall C) increased levels of carbon dioxide D) extinction of species
B) increasing rainfall
Which of the following human practices does NOT aid in protecting the environment? A) retire B) reuse C) recycle D) reduce
A) retire
One way to prevent liquid wastes from sanitary landfills from draining into the ground water is by __________.
A) allowing only certain items to be dumped
B) spraying them down
C) lining the landfills
D) emptying them out regularly
C) lining the landfills
If an environment exceeds its carrying capacity, what will happen to its resources? A) They will stay the same. B) They will increase. C) They will run out. D) They will be unaffected.
C) They will run out.
What process produces pollutants? A) refining oil B) harnessing hydropower C) collecting wind D) carpooling
A) refining oil
What is one thing a company could do to help lessen the impact today's throwaway culture has on the environment? A) reduce packaging B) build more plants C) increase production D) lower costs
A) reduce packaging
Why is preserving national forestlands, grasslands, and parks important?
A) It will benefit future generations.
B) It will keep land safe so it can be used later.
C) because humans can use it to store wastes
D) because eventually humans will need more forests for lumber
A) It will benefit future generations.
Which is an example of how people can help conserve natural resources in the home? A) buying products that are packaged B) composting C) using fossil fuels D) disposing of aluminum cans
B) composting
