Deck 17: The Human Disconnection

Question 1

The future of much of life as we know it will be decided in the next

A)glaciation.
B)one thousand years.
C)few decades.
D)earthquake.
E)presidential term.

Answer 1

few decades.

Question 2

The overwhelming consensus among climate scientists is that global warming is occurring and

A)it is a cyclical phenomenon.
B)human activities are the cause.
C)glaciation will correct it.
D)it is sensationalized by the media.
E)we should not worry.

Answer 2

human activities are the cause.

Question 3

Today we add one billion people to the world's population approximately every 13 years, which comes out to about ________ people an hour.

A)9,000
B)200,000
C)90,000
D)2,000
E)900

Answer 3

9,000

Question 4

The global dangers to ecosystems from _______ are potentially as great as global warming, so much so in fact that some marine biologists have termed it "the other CO₂ problem."

A)ocean concentration
B)ocean acidification
C)ozone extermination
D)fluorocarbon production
E)water evaporation

Question 5

A 2009 study estimated that 48 percent of the world's population survives on less than ______ per day (Population Reference Bureau, 2009).

A)$100
B)$2,000
C)$50
D)$250
E)$2

Question 6

According to biologist Stephen Palumbi (2001), humans are the world's

A)greatest creation.
B)weakest evolutionary force.
C)greatest evolutionary force.
D)greatest devolutionary force.
E)greatest threat.

Question 7

Scientists estimate that around 10,000 year ago, only about _____ people inhabited the earth.

A)5 billion
B)5 trillion
C)5 thousand
D)5 million
E)zero (earth was created 6,000 years ago)

Question 8

The study of ______ shows that there is significantly more carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere than at any time in the last 800,000 years.

A)ice core data
B)earth's electromagnetic field
C)aurora borealis analyses
D)coral reefs
E)ocean temperatures

Question 9

If we see life ultimately as a competition among reproducing organisms, ______ are the winners hands down.

A)algae
B)bacteria
C)fungi
D)viruses
E)bonobos

Question 10

________ is the most significant contributor to global warming. We currently release 35 billion tons of this substance into the atmosphere every year.

A)Oxygen
B)Nitrogen
C)Methane
D)Hydrogen
E)Carbon dioxide

Question 11

The least amount of ice that is present in the arctic in one year is called

A)sea ice maximum.
B)sea ice minimum.
C)sea ice average.
D)ice age.
E)reverse glaciation.

Question 12

There have been at least how many mass extinctions over the course of 570 million years?

A)15
B)2
C)7
D)20
E)12

Question 13

Human impact on local environments increases dramatically as soon as people began to live in

A)apartment complexes.
B)free unions.
C)permanent settlements.
D)the woods.
E)mobile homes.

Question 14

In the arctic, the greatest amount of sea ice that is present in one year is called

A)sea ice minimum.
B)sea ice average.
C)ice age.
D)sea ice maximum.
E)reverse glaciation.

Question 15

Modern humans beings are the result of

A)biocultural evolution.
B)accidental fertility.
C)genetic engineering.
D)Cartesian philosophy.
E)planned parenthood.

Question 16

_________ and _________ have allowed us to adapt beyond our biological limits.

A)Climatic change, extinction of species
B)Hunting, agriculture
C)Pollution, habitat loss
D)Ozone, methane gas
E)Culture, technology

Question 17

Without sea ice in the summer, _____ and several other species that depend on it may very well become extinct in the foreseeable future.

A)grizzly bears
B)arctic cats
C)gentoo penguins
D)polar bears
E)emperor penguins

Question 18

Millions of people in Pakistan were affected by flooding in 2010 and 2011 that resulted in part from ______ and dam construction.

A)deforestation
B)mining
C)excessive fishing
D)demographic implosion
E)bad plumbing

Question 19

__________ warmed the earth by trapping heat.

A)Ultraviolet rays
B)Greenhouse gases
C)Infrared rays
D)Solar panels
E)Polar caskets

Question 20

The overwhelming consensus among climate scientists points directly to "human-driven" global change, especially due to

A)induced photosynthesis.
B)production of fluorocarbons.
C)burning of fossil fuels.
D)lack of emission regulations.
E)the high number of clunkers on the streets.

Question 21

The use of DDT proved disastrous to many bird species, including

A)the dodo bird.
B)chickens.
C)bald eagles.
D)ostriches.
E)turkeys.

Question 22

Since 2001, we have seen 15 out of the 16 warmest years on record.

Question 23

The average American uses an estimated______ times the resources consumed by the average resident of Bangladesh.

A)400
B)200
C)40
D)20
E)4,000

Question 24

Sea ice maximum is the greatest amount of ice that is present in Antarctica in one year.

Question 25

_____ is perhaps the best known insecticide to have altered the course of a species evolution.

A)Nicotine
B)DDT
C)Pyrethrum
D)Ryanoids
E)Windex

Question 26

A third major extinction event is occurring now, and according to some scientists, it may have begun in the late Pleistocene or early

A)Holocene.
B)Cambrian.
C)Ordovician.
D)Jurassic.
E)Miocene.

Question 27

Even massive geological events and mass extinctions did not wreak the havoc that may result from  modern human

A)philosophy.
B)relations.
C)warfare.
D)technology.
E)religion.

Question 28

It is common knowledge among economists that as income and education increase, family size

A)remains unchanged.
B)decreases.
C)doubles.
D)increases.
E)splits.

Question 29

It is likely that human technology and lifestyles are responsible for the deadly nature of some of the so-called new diseases that have arisen in recent decades, such as

A)poliomyelitis.
B)leprosy.
C)scurvy.
D)smallpox.
E)HIV/AIDS.

Question 30

As temperatures continue to rise, the weather will become more stabilized.

Question 31

About 70 percent of Americans believe that human activity is causing the climate to change.

Question 32

Annually since 2005, leaders from both developing countries and developed countries have come together to discuss ways to reduce

A)hunger.
B)disease.
C)war.
D)population.
E)global poverty.

Question 33

Habitat destruction and ______ often go hand in hand.

A)war
B)activism
C)poverty
D)evolution
E)survival

Question 34

Costa Rica has been able to preserve much of its forest and wildlife by developing

A)soccer skills.
B)ecotourism.
C)urban settlements.
D)diplomacy.
E)a better army.

Question 35

One of the best strategies for reducing family size, and thus world population, is to educate

A)boys and girls.
B)boys and men.
C)elder men.
D)girls and women.
E)elder women.

Question 36

Sea ice minimum is the least amount of ice that is present in the arctic in one year.

Question 37

An extension of the convention on biological diversity took place in October 2012 (Nagoya, Japan)and was organized by

A)G-20.
B)OPEC.
C)United Nations.
D)United States.
E)G-5.

Question 38

For at least the past 15,000 years, human activities such as hunting and clearing land for cultivation, have taken their toll on

A)human species.
B)nonhuman species.
C)nonhuman primates.
D)mammals.
E)alien species.

Question 39

In most cases the most important cause of extinction is

A)sterilization.
B)urbanization.
C)consumerism.
D)habitat reduction.
E)habitat expansion.

Question 40

According E. O. Wilson, in order for every person on the planet to be able to reach the same level of consumption as in the United States, ________additional planet earths would be required.

A)10
B)8
C)6
D)2
E)4

Question 41

The degree of international cooperation shown at the 2010 conference on biodiversity is a hopeful development that could be a foundation for slowing species extinctions and maintaining natural habitats.

Question 42

The United States alone produces 5-10 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions that end up in the atmosphere.

Question 43

Explain why modern human beings are the result of biocultural evolution.

Question 44

Discuss how governments and society in general can, if not reverse, at least mitigate the harm inflicted on the planet.

Question 45

CO² emissions cause ocean acidification that adversely affects ocean ecosystems.

Question 46

Culture has become an unintentional transformer of the environment.

Question 47

Explain how habitat loss is a major threat to biodiversity and why we should be concerned with a loss of biodiversity.

Question 48

Only by working together can nations and individuals hope to develop solutions to the world's problems.

Question 49

Describe the accelerated evolutionary process for hundreds of bacteria due to human activity.

Question 50

Explain the global changes to ecosystems from ocean acidification and the meaning of the phrase, "the other CO² problem."

Question 51

Modern human beings are the result of biocultural evolution.

Question 52

Explain why biologist Stephen Palumbi refers to humans as "the greatest evolutionary force."

Question 53

Explain why much of the responsibility for the world's problems discussed in this chapter rests squarely on the shoulders of the industrialized West.

Question 54

The loss of biodiversity is of no real concern.

Question 55

Habitat loss of nonhuman species is not a direct result of human activity.

Question 56

Recent studies show that DDT is harmless for bird species.

Question 57

Explain why some scientists are suggesting a new geological era, the anthropocene.

Question 58

Holocene is the most recent epoch of the Cenozoic. Following the Pleistocene, it is estimated to have begun 10,000 years ago.

Question 59

Explain the role polar ice has had in climate change research and the impact of melting sea ice can have on the climate and the species that depend on it.

Question 60

Explain the dangers of global climate change and the main factors that promote it.

Question 61

By observing from an optimistic perspective, describe the joint efforts of governments, population, and altruist wealthy people to mitigate the harm inflicted on our planet.

Question 62

Describe the impact of antibiotics in the evolutionary processes of many microorganisms.