Exam 2 Homework Questions

Question 1

Considering the historical context of early U.S. environmental policy, which statement best reflects the transformation of environmental policy over time?

Answer 1

Environmental policy initially facilitated westward expansion and resource extraction before gradually incorporating conservation measures.

Question 2

Published in the 1960s, Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring ________.

Answer 2

focused on chemical pollutants, including industrial chemicals

Question 3

A law prohibiting the destruction of habitat for an endangered species would be an example of

Answer 3

a command-and-control policy.

Question 4

A cap-and-trade system for SO2 would be an example of

Answer 4

an economic policy tool.

Question 5

Is it possible to manage nonrenewable resources sustainably?

Answer 5

yes

Question 6

How is it possible that the population of each country increased, although the TFR has decreased?

Answer 6

if there are numerous women of childbearing age and a relatively small number of older individuals within a given society, the death rate will be low, so even though the TFR is below the replacement rate, the population may remain stable or even increase slightly.

Question 7

What percentage of grain produced in the United States is used for human consumption?

Answer 7

27% or Less than 2%

Question 8

Which component constitutes the highest proportion of soil content according to the described composition?

Answer 8

Mineral Matter

Question 9

Which soil horizon is most crucial for agriculture due to its high nutritive value for plants?

Answer 9

A horizon

Question 10

What is the term used to describe an organism that integrates DNA from another species?

Answer 10

Transgenic organism

Question 11

The greatest species diversity is found in which of the following groups?

Answer 11

Insects

Question 12

What percentage of processed foods contain at least one GMO ingredient?

Answer 12

70%

Question 12

Removal of which of the following species will result in the greatest changes in an ecological system?

Answer 12

A keystone species

Question 13

Contrary to popular belief, the Endangered Species Act allows ________.

Answer 13

landowners to harm a protected species in one area if they improve habitat for it elsewhere

Question 14

The greatest cause of the worldwide loss of species is ________.

Answer 14

habitat destruction

Question 15

What does the ‘take’ mean under Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act?

Answer 15

Harassing or harming the species
Hunting, shooting, or wounding
Capturing or collecting the species
All of the Above

Question 16

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) ________.

Answer 16

required environmental impact statements for any projects funded by the U.S. government

Question 17

International environmental policies arise from ________.

Answer 17

international conventions or treaties

Question 18

Leaders striving for sustainable development aim to satisfy a triple bottom line, which involves
what three goals?

Answer 18

economic advancement, environmental protection, and social equity

Question 19

Cap and trade is a system that ________.

Answer 19

permits industries that pollute under the federal cap to sell credits to industries that pollute

Question 20

Enforcement and elaboration of U.S. legislation is given to ________.

Answer 20

administrative agencies

Question 21

An environmental impact statement is required ________.

Answer 21

for any federal action that may affect U.S. environmental quality

Question 22

According to the figure, Nigeria has a ________ population size than Canada, with a ________
median age and a ________ proportion of the population at postreproductive age.

Answer 22

larger; lower; smaller

Question 23

Which of the following best describes the human population from early times to the present?

Answer 23

slow, uneven growth until the 1800s, then increasingly rapid growth

Question 24

In 2016, the population of the United States was approximately 325 million people, with an annual
growth rate of approximately 0.7%. If the population of the United States were to continue to grow
at this rate, it would double around the year ________.

Answer 24

2116

Question 25

Malthus was responsible for ________.

Answer 25

the idea that without social restrictions, increasing human population would lead to famine
and war

Question 25

The United Nations predicts that the world population will be almost ________ billion in 2050

Answer 25

10

Question 26

Zero population growth occurs in a population when ________.

Answer 26

birth rate equals death rate and there is no migration

Question 27

Which layer of a soil profile contains topsoil?

Answer 27

A Horizon

Question 28

The greatest diversity is found in which of the following groups of organisms?

Answer 28

invertebrates

Question 28

Irrigation can result in the salinization of soils because ________.

Answer 28

salts in the water are deposited on the soil surface as water evaporates

Question 29

In the demographic transition model, the highest population growth rate in a country
is likely to occur during ________.

Answer 29

Precautionary principle

Question 29

Removal of which of the following species will result in the greatest changes in an ecological system?

Answer 29

a keystone species

Question 30

The O horizon is ________.

Answer 30

primarily composed of organic materials

Question 31

________ composes/compose just over half of all of the world’s GM crops.

Answer 31

Soybeans

Question 31

________ is the loss of more than 10% of soil productivity in arid areas due to such factors as erosion, soil compaction, overgrazing, and forest removal.

Answer 31

Desertification

Question 31

It is more energetically efficient for us to eat more ________.

Answer 31

Plant-based foods