Quiz 1: Intro to Env Sci

Question 1

what factors make triple bottom line

Answer 1

social, economic environmental

Question 2

why is it that environmental problems are not presented with solutions

Answer 2

-trade-offs (if we do x then y..)
-financial factors
-power
-interest

Question 3

explain what disciplines of science environmental science covers

Answer 3

social, natural, applied sciences, and humanities

Question 4

describe the term environment

Answer 4

living and nonliving surroundings in which organism exists

Question 5

define ecosystem services

Answer 5

economically valuable services provided by natural systems

Question 6

what % of resources are used by poorest countries (they have 80% of the world’s population)

Answer 6

20%

Question 7

what does environmental science examine

Answer 7

natural world and our relationship to it

Question 8

What does it mean when an environmental issue is a “wicked problem”?

Answer 8

involves trade-offs not everyone will be happy with

Question 9

How is anthropogenic climate change different from the climate change experienced by the Greenland Vikings?

Answer 9

caused by human actions

Question 10

What are two factors that have been suggested to account for the disappearance of the Viking settlements on Greenland?

Answer 10

dwindling resources and inability to adapt to changing conditions

Question 11

what is the key take-home message about Easter Island

Answer 11

an island population must live as responsible stewards or caretakers of its resources

Question 12

What evidence did scientists use in Greenland to study atmospheric conditions at the time of the Viking settlements?

Answer 12

air bubbles trapped in ice cores

Question 13

What has resulted from converting land to agricultural, logging, mining and urban development?

Answer 13

habitat destruction

Question 14

Historians have studied ancient civilizations, such as the Greek and Roman empires, the Vikings on Greenland and the Rapa Nui on Easter Island. What have they concluded is often a cause of the decline and collapse of these civilizations?

Answer 14

ongoing environmental degredation

Question 15

There have been several major revolutions throughout human history including the agricultural, industrial, medical, and technological revolutions. What is a common outcome of all of these revolutions?

Answer 15

an increase in human carrying capacity

Question 16

describe a situation that reflects tragedy of the commons

Answer 16

herders put too may sheep in a public field because they think “if i dont use this available resource, someone else will”

Question 17

why is the open ocean considered to be an example of a shared commons

Answer 17

open ocean is host to international fishery

Question 18

Modern fishing techniques use giant nets to harvest large numbers of fish in the short term. This may result in severely reduced populations of fish in the future. Which term best describes the above scenario?

Answer 18

time delay

Question 19

what is an example of a nonrenewable resource

Answer 19

oil reserves buried below surface of ground

Question 20

coal, natural gas, and oil are examples of what type of resource

Answer 20

non-renewable resources

Question 21

define natural resources

Answer 21

materials and energy sources that we take from the environment

Question 22

When considering the use of minerals mined from the earth, what percentage is used by the richest countries that have about 20% of the world’s population?

Answer 22

80%

Question 23

If the Vikings had a _____ worldview, they would protect the forests and grasslands not just for the resources provided but also for the natural processes in those areas.

Answer 23

ecocentric

Question 24

what is an example of a biocentric worldview

Answer 24

catching a spider in your house and releasing it outside

Question 25

what does the concept of sustainable development emphasize

Answer 25

needs of future generations

Question 26

Humans are now straining the ability of Earth’s ecosystems to sustain future generations. What term has been introduced to designate this period of exceptional human impact on the planet?

Answer 26

anthropocene

Question 27

give an example of something that is not the goal of sustainable development plans

Answer 27

develop more uses for fossil fuels

Question 28

describe sustainable development

Answer 28

involves using resources without compromising future availability

Question 29

how should solutions to environmental problems be designed

Answer 29

with the goal of sustaining earth’s natural resources

Question 30

what is one thing that can lead us towards sustainability

Answer 30

reducing our consumption