Deck 13: Environmental Problems

Question 1

The Kudzu plant is native to east Asia but is now clogging water and sewer pipes in the United States. This example illustrates

A)bioinvasion.
B)environmental migration.
C)floral diffusioin.
D)global warming.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following is a fossil fuel?

A)Petroleum
B)Hydropower
C)Solar energy
D)Biomass

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Renewable resources include

A)tar sands.
B)offshore drilling.
C)fracking.
D)biomass.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The world economy is dominated by

A)transnational corporations.
B)privately owned businesses.
C)governmental control of most businesses.
D)small business.

Question 5

The major environmental problems facing the world today are linked to the production and use of

A)fossil fuels.
B)hydropower.
C)solar energy.
D)hydroelectric power.

Question 6

In the mid-1980s, PCBs from the southern hemisphere were found in

A)cheese products from Mexico.
B)the breast milk of Inuit women.
C)grains grown in India.
D)water in the Mediterranean.

Question 7

Planned obsolescence refers to

A)producing products that are quickly to be replaced by newer products.
B)the way in which environmentally and socially damaging companies portray their products as "environmentally friendly."
C)the premeditated use of a particular natural resource in such a way that destroys it forever.
D)depletion of natural resources that makes an area uninhabitable.

Question 8

The world's energy derives mostly from

A)fossil fuels.
B)hydropower.
C)nuclear energy.
D)new renewables.

Question 9

Planned obsolescence contributes to which of the following?

A)Overpopulation
B)Greenwashing
C)Ever-increasing amounts of waste
D)Bioinvasion

Question 10

Hydroelectric power is criticized because it

A)is a source of water pollution.
B)is expensive.
C)affects natural habitats.
D)depletes natural, nonrenewable resources.

Question 11

The "clean coal campaign," which is an effort by the coal industry to convince the public that coal is environmentally friendly even though it is not, is an example of

A)planned obsolescence.
B)media mongering.
C)greenwashing.
D)ecoterrorism.

Question 12

Greenwashing involves manipulation of

A)natural resources.
B)technology.
C)research methods.
D)public perception.

Question 13

Individuals who migrate because they can no longer secure a livelihood as a result of environmental problems are referred to as

A)environmental refugees.
B)environmental footprint.
C)ecoterrorists.
D)ecovictims.

Question 14

Under NAFTA's provisions, any country that decides to ban the use of carcinogenic pesticides

A)has the legitimate right to do so.
B)can be charged by the WTO (World Trade Organization)for obstructing the free flow of trade and investment.
C)sets the precedent that the other member nations must also bring before their lawmakers the issue of banning pesticides.
D)will be given greater trading power with the North American member countries.

Question 15

__________ refer to relationships between forms of life and the environments they inhabit.

A)Biomasses
B)Ecosystems
C)Brown fields
D)Green systems

Question 16

Chemicals that evaporate from the soil of the tropics, ride the winds north thousands of miles, condense in the cold air, and fall on the Arctic in the form of toxic snow or rain illustrate the problem of

A)bioinvasion.
B)permeability of international borders.
C)greenwashing.
D)deforestation.

Question 17

Greenwashing refers to which of the following?

A)A technique for cleaning industrial waste before dumping it into a river or other waterway
B)When companies advertize their products as being environmentally friendly when these products are actually damaging to the environment.
C)A slang term for the application of pesticides, usually by plane, over a wide area
D)The commercial logging practice of cutting down virgin forest and replacing it with young saplings that will eventually will be cut down

Question 18

Bioinvasion is largely due to

A)greenwashing.
B)depletion of energy resources.
C)global trade and tourism.
D)air pollution.

Question 19

Biomass energy comes from

A)plant and animal products.
B)water sources.
C)wind.
D)nuclear power.

Question 20

The ________ perspective examines the relationship between changes in natural resources and changes in people's livelihood.

A)conflict
B)postmodern
C)structural functionalist
D)symbolic interactionist

Question 21

Deforestation

A)displaces people and animals from their habitats.
B)helps control flooding.
C)reduces desertification.
D)produces reliance on biomass energy.

Question 22

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are used in refrigerators, air conditioners, spray cans, and other applications are associated with which of the following environmental problems?

A)Destruction of the ozone layer
B)Desertification
C)Deforestation
D)Environmental injustice

Question 23

The ozone layer of Earth's atmosphere

A)creates acid rain.
B)contributes to indoor air pollution.
C)causes skin cancer.
D)absorbs harmful radiation from the sun.

Question 24

A major cause of deforestation mentioned by your text is

A)the expansion of agricultural land.
B)controlled burn forest fires.
C)accidental forest fires.
D)green space requirements in cities.

Question 25

The vast majority of freshwater in the world is used for

A)drinking water.
B)sanitation.
C)agriculture.
D)watering lawns.

Question 26

Desertification refers to the

A)depletion of water supplies due to irrigation of farm lands.
B)when semi-arid land is further damaged resulting in expansion of a desert.
C)conversion of forest lands to non-forest lands.
D)depletion of greenways due to paving of sidewalks, streets, and parking lots.

Question 27

A person's environmental footprint is determined by

A)the number of children that person has.
B)the patterns of production and consumption in that person's culture.
C)the amount of food that person grows.
D)the number of trees that person chops down.

Question 28

Global warming is caused mainly by

A)greenhouse gases that accumulate in the atmosphere.
B)changes in the earth's orbit around the sun.
C)increases in the use of solar energy.
D)the collective body heat given off by increasing populations.

Question 29

All of the fish have died in one-third of the lakes in New York's Adirondack Mountains due to

A)acid rain.
B)global warming.
C)destruction of the ozone layer.
D)overfishing.

Question 30

Air pollutants mix with ____________ to form acid rain.

A)CFCs
B)pesticides
C)precipitation
D)solid waste

Question 31

The demands humanity makes on the earth's natural resources is the

A)eco-cost.
B)environmental footprint.
C)environmental trade-off.
D)ecological drain.

Question 32

Which of the following are common indoor air pollutants in affluent countries?

A)Neon lights
B)Electrical sources of heat
C)Carpeting
D)Brown fields

Question 33

_________ of the world's population live in areas of physical water scarcity.

A)Less than one percent
B)About one-third
C)Well over half
D)Almost all

Question 34

Desertification is associated with which of the following problems?

A)Acid rain
B)Urban migration
C)Biodiversity
D)Severe flooding

Question 35

Which country has the highest per capita emissions of carbon dioxide?

A)Russia
B)Mexico
C)China
D)United States

Question 36

The depletion of the ozone layer causes

A)skin cancer and cataracts.
B)acid rain.
C)mass extinction.
D)global warfare.

Question 37

Global increases in carbon dioxide concentration are due primarily to

A)nuclear waste.
B)chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)used in spray cans, refrigerators, and air conditioners.
C)use of fossil fuels.
D)fumigants for crops and pest control.

Question 38

Which of the following is mentioned in the text as a major cause of increased demand for water?

A)Use of water filters on kitchen faucets and refrigerators
B)Industrialization
C)Increased use of solar power
D)Increased production of sugary drinks and sodas

Question 39

Depletion of the ozone layer is caused by

A)global warming.
B)natural fluctuations in the climate.
C)fossil fuels.
D)the use of certain chemicals

Question 40

Exposure to indoor air pollution increases the risk of

A)lung cancer.
B)sickle-cell anemia.
C)hearing loss.
D)carpal tunnel syndrome.

Question 41

Scientific evidence shows that global warming is caused mostly by

A)human activity.
B)natural changes in the environment.
C)animal activity.
D)changes in the sun's temperature.

Question 42

If greenhouse gases stabilize, global air temperature and sea level are expected to continue to rise for hundreds of years because global warming that has already occurred contributes to further warming of the planet. This process is known as

A)post hoc global warming.
B)positive feedback loop.
C)greenhouse extension effect.
D)greenhouse projection.

Question 43

The world's population exceeded ________ in 2013.

A)10 million people
B)600 thousand people
C)7 billion people
D)67 billion people

Question 44

Which of the following contributes to carbon dioxide in the air?

A)Hydropower plants
B)Rising sea levels
C)Deforestation
D)Conversion of desert into crop land

Question 45

Sufferers of ________ often avoid public places and/or wear a protective breathing filter to avoid inhaling the many chemical substances in the environment.

A)chemical threshold disorder
B)compound substance intolerance
C)air sensitivity syndrome
D)multiple chemical sensitivity

Question 46

_____ involves injecting a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals into drilled wells to release natural gas.

A)Rock splitting
B)Greenwashing
C)Fracking
D)Fissioning

Question 47

Light pollution refers to

A)annoying, unnecessary and/or harmful artificial lighting.
B)increased light that has resulted from the earth moving closer to the sun.
C)increased exposure to sunlight due to the hole in the ozone layer.
D)annoying, unnecessary and/or harmful noise.

Question 48

According to the text, __________ can remain potentially harmful for 250,000 years.

A)biomasses
B)radioactive wastes
C)carbon monoxide
D)acid rain

Question 49

Most cancer researchers believe ___________ may be the major cause of cancer.

A)the environment
B)genetic predispositions
C)stress
D)drugs and alcohol abuse

Question 50

In comparison with 1960, in 2013 each U.S. citizen generated __________ garbage on an average day.

A)more
B)less
C)about the same amount of
D)almost no

Question 51

Global warming and climate change is expected to cause

A)recovery of the ozone layer.
B)increased biodiversity.
C)greater recreational opportunities.
D)both floods and droughts.

Question 52

The term "e-waste" refers to which of the following?

A)Waste from electronic equipment
B)Excessive waste
C)Elimination of waste
D)Energy-producing waste

Question 53

The main concern about dumping computers in landfills comes from

A)depletion of space in the landfill.
B)contamination from hazardous substances.
C)waste of economic resources.
D)inequality of access to new technology.

Question 54

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)refers to a condition whereby individuals experience adverse reactions when exposed to

A)above the EPA recommended limits of greenhouse gases.
B)above the EPA recommended limits of toxic metal residues and toxic chemicals.
C)above the World Health Organization recommended limits of chlorofluorocarbons.
D)housecleaning products and other everyday chemicals.

Question 55

A main concern over fracking revolves around the use of

A)massive amounts of water.
B)carbon monoxide.
C)acids.
D)biomass energy.

Question 56

The "dead zones" in the Gulf of Mexico which are uninhabitable to marine organisms is mainly due to

A)global warming.
B)dumping of nuclear waste.
C)fertilizer runoff from agricultural land.
D)acid rain.

Question 57

Biodiversity refers to the great variety of _____________ on Earth.

A)life forms
B)weather patterns
C)geological formations
D)chemical compounds

Question 58

More than ninety percent of scientists believe global warming is caused mostly by

A)human activity.
B)natural changes in the environment.
C)animal activity.
D)changes in the sun's temperature.

Question 59

Which of the following is one of the effects of global warming?

A)Increasing size of the polar icecaps
B)Fewer forest fires
C)Increased biodiversity
D)Extreme weather conditions

Question 60

More than half of solid waste in the United States is

A)recycled.
B)taken to landfills.
C)converted into energy by incinerators.
D)biodegradable.

Question 61

______ is the term given to the view that maintaining the earth's natural systems should take precedence over human needs, that nature has a value independent of human existence.

A)Environmentalism
B)Deep ecology
C)Religious environmentalism
D)Environmental modification

Question 62

Under cap and trade programs, industries can​

A)​buy and sell carbon credits.
B)​take their most polluting factories overseas.
C)​lobby Congress for special allowances to pollute.
D)​use federal tax dollars to cut pollution at their manufacturing plants.

Question 63

Which of the following is true about the relationship between industrialization and the environment?

A)Industrialization has been largely beneficial for the environment.
B)Industrialization has caused the development of new technologies which have improved the environment.
C)Many of the environmental problems confronting the world are associated with industrialization and economic development.
D)Industrialization has had no discernible effect on the environment.

Question 64

"Cap and trade programs" provide economic incentives to

A)farmers to grow crops without using chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
B)power plants and other industries for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants.
C)nations to protect the cutting of forests.
D)states to create wildlife refuges to preserve endangered plant and animal species.

Question 65

"Green" energy refers to

A)energy that is renewable and nonpolluting.
B)the burning of virgin forests in developing countries.
C)untapped oil reserves below the ocean floor.
D)use of animal power to plow fields.

Question 66

Ecoterrorism is

A)business or corporate actions that result in the destruction of the habitat of at least 250 species.
B)using threats or illegal force to protect the environment.
C)business or corporate actions that put human life at risk in the pursuit of profit.
D)a crime committed by individuals that results in the destruction of the habitat of at least 250 species.

Question 67

Increased use of ethanol has resulted in

A)higher food prices.
B)decreased use and run-off of fertilizers.
C)less use of pesticides.
D)less depletion of water resources.

Question 68

Which of the following cultural values in the United States is least likely to contribute to environmental problems?

A)Familism
B)Individualism
C)Militarism
D)Consumerism

Question 69

The __________ is the first international agreement to place legally binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions.​

A)​Kyoto Protocol
B)​Beijing Accord
C)​United Nations Energy Policy
D)​UNESCO

Question 70

Which level of economic development tends to be characterized by high levels of industrial emission?

A)Low development
B)Middle-development range
C)Highly developed
D)Level of development is not related to industrial emissions.

Question 71

Which of the following is a radical environmental group?

A)Together We Stand
B)Environmental Defense
C)Earth Liberation Front
D)the National Association of Evangelicals

Question 72

Biofuels are derived from

A)fossil fuels.
B)agricultural crops.
C)animal waste.
D)burning forests.

Question 73

Deep ecology is the view that maintaining the earth's natural systems

A)is more important than human needs.
B)is less important than human fulfillment.
C)is important for the well being of humans.
D)is a responsibility given to humans by God.

Question 74

The ________ refers to individuals and groups that employ illegal or unconventional means to protect wildlife and the environment.

A)religious environmentalism plan
B)radical environmental movement
C)campus environmental crusade.
D)green movement.

Question 75

The Kyoto Protocol is the first international agreement to place legally binding limits on which of the following?

A)Fishing
B)Pesticide use
C)Commercial logging
D)Greenhouse gas emissions

Question 76

The largest single social movement in the United States is likely

A)the environmental movement.
B)the Occupy movement.
C)the American Association of Retired People.
D)the ASPCA.

Question 77

Green Revolving Funds are​

A)​funds dedicated to financing cost-saving energy-efficiency upgrades at colleges and universities.
B)​federal dollars earmarked for environmental research and development.
C)​political action committees designed to lobby for the environment.
D)​international banks that lend money for environmental projects.

Question 78

Choosing not to recycle because of the inconvenience of washing and sorting items is an example of the cultural value of ______, which contributes to environmental problems.

A)consumerism
B)individualism
C)familism
D)militarism

Question 79

Cultural values supporting ______ are prime contributors to environmental problems.

A)equality
B)individualism
C)antinatalism
D)subsistance

Question 80

According to your text, religious groups increasingly

A)support depletion of the species because of their belief in humans as superior.
B)believe that concern for the environment takes people's attention away from God.
C)view environmental degradation as a problem.
D)believe that global warming is an act of God.