Deck 26: Preserving and Protecting Your Environment

Question 1

Making sure a wood stove is properly vented will reduce the potential buildup of

A) nitrogen dioxide.
B) lead.
C) carbon monoxide.
D) radon.

Answer 1

carbon monoxide.

Question 2

Experts believe the most critical environmental challenge today is to

A) evenly redistribute the world's population.
B) expand the Earth's resources.
C) slow world population growth.
D) restore the Earth's ozone layer.

Answer 2

slow world population growth.

Question 3

Gases that accumulate in the atmosphere where they contribute to global warming are

A) stratospheric gases.
B) ozone gases.
C) greenhouse gases.
D) carbon dioxide products.

Answer 3

greenhouse gases.

Question 4

Zero population growth is more likely to occur in countries in which

A) the majority of women work in the home.
B) fertility options increase.
C) abstinence is promoted as the primary means of birth control.
D) education levels among women are higher.

Question 5

The EPA and the Office of the Surgeon General recommend that homeowners test their homes for radon how often?

A) Every 6 months
B) Once a year
C) Every 2 years
D) Every 3 years

Question 6

A substance that contaminates some aspect of the environment and causes potential harm to living organisms is a

A) chemical.
B) toxin.
C) pathogen.
D) pollutant.

Question 7

Key factors in population increase include changes in

A) morbidity and mortality.
B) fertility and mortality.
C) infrastructure and mortality.
D) income and mortality.

Question 8

According to the AQI (Air Quality Index), which of the following values would be considered to be in the safe range?

A) 50
B) 100
C) 150
D) 200

Question 9

Molly and Gary bought a home that was built before 1970. Which of the following potential contaminants should they be most concerned about?

A) Carbon monoxide
B) Formaldehyde
C) Asbestos
D) Hydrogen chloride

Question 10

How many countries in the world currently have zero or negative population growth?

A) More than 10
B) More than 20
C) More than 30
D) More than 40

Question 11

One of the primary causes of sick building syndrome is

A) high humidity.
B) lack of insulation.
C) poor ventilation.
D) formaldehyde in carpeting.

Question 12

After smoking, the next leading cause of lung cancer is

A) molds.
B) carbon monoxide.
C) radon.
D) asbestos.

Question 13

When the majority of a building's occupants report illnesses that tend to lessen or vanish when they leave the building, this is

A) a sign of construction defects.
B) sick building syndrome.
C) an indicator of mold.
D) toxic shock syndrome.

Question 14

The two types of air pollutants are naturally occurring and

A) anthropogenic.
B) industrial.
C) carcinogenic.
D) gaseous.

Question 15

Each day in the United States, there are how many more people than the day before?

A) 3,000
B) 8,000
C) 13,000
D) 18,000

Question 16

The removal of an embedded gas from a solid object, as happens when formaldehyde in new carpets and furniture is released into the air, is a process known as

A) evaporation.
B) deposition.
C) offgassing.
D) leaching.

Question 17

The country expected to have the largest population increase by 2050 is

A) China.
B) India.
C) Uganda.
D) the United States.

Question 18

The main cause of acid deposition (acid rain) is

A) burning fossil fuels.
B) manufacturing byproducts released into the air.
C) pesticide residues that enter the water supply.
D) deforestation.

Question 19

The weather condition that occurs when a layer of cool air is trapped under a layer of warmer air is a

A) temperature decrease.
B) temperature inversion.
C) cold front.
D) warm front.

Question 20

One of the primary sources of indoor air pollution is

A) greenhouse gases.
B) carbon monoxide.
C) acid deposition.
D) environmental tobacco smoke

Question 21

Highly toxic chemicals used in herbicides are

A) dioxins.
B) PCBs.
C) CFCs.
D) nitrous oxides.

Question 22

Doug lives with his wife and three children. Approximately how many pounds of municipal solid waste do he and his family generate each day?

A) 20
B) 22
C) 24
D) 26

Question 23

Which of the following is a point source water pollutant?

A) Runoff from a large construction site
B) Outflow from a sewage treatment plant
C) Herbicides used on lawns and golf courses
D) Pesticides used on farm crops

Question 24

Sorting, collecting, and processing materials to be reused in manufacturing new products is

A) combustion with energy recovery.
B) source reduction.
C) recycling.
D) composting.

Question 25

Using boilers and industrial furnaces to incinerate waste and generate power is

A) combustion with energy recovery.
B) source reduction.
C) recycling.
D) composting.

Question 26

The amount of greenhouse gases produced by an individual, nation, or other entity is referred to as their

A) environmental score.
B) green factor.
C) carbon footprint.
D) pollutant rating.

Question 27

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently issued new standards to dramatically reduce lead in

A) paint.
B) drinking water.
C) ceramics.
D) cookware.

Question 28

Pollutants that enter waterways at a specific location are known as

A) industrial pollutants.
B) point source pollutants.
C) nonpoint source pollutants.
D) drainage pollutants.

Question 29

Approximately what percentage of municipal solid waste in the United States is currently recycled or composted?

A) 25%
B) 30%
C) 35%
D) 40%

Question 30

Chemicals used in farming and gardening to kill insects or rodents are

A) herbicides.
B) pesticides.
C) contaminants.
D) fertilizers.

Question 31

What percentage of the Earth's water supply that is available for human use?

A) 1 percent.
B) 2 percent.
C) 5 percent.
D) 10 percent.

Question 32

How much of the Earth's surface is covered with water?

A) 55%
B) 65%
C) 75%
D) 85%

Question 33

Which chemicals previously used in products such as refrigerants, aerosol sprays, and cleaning products contributed to the depletion of the ozone layer?

A) Hydrocarbons
B) Chlorofluorocarbons
C) Particulates
D) Nitrous oxide

Question 34

The ozone layer of the stratosphere protects the Earth from

A) chlorofluorocarbons.
B) extreme temperature fluctuations.
C) UVB radiation.
D) greenhouse gases.

Question 35

Collecting organic waste and allowing it to decompose into a substance that can be used as fertilizer is

A) combustion with energy recovery.
B) source reduction.
C) recycling.
D) composting.

Question 36

Altering the design, manufacture, or use of products or materials to reduce the amount and toxicity of waste is

A) combustion with energy recovery.
B) source reduction.
C) recycling.
D) composting.

Question 37

Runoff and sedimentation are categorized as which type of water pollution?

A) Point source pollutant
B) Nonpoint source pollutant
C) Acid deposition
D) Natural contamination

Question 38

The most predominant greenhouse gas is

A) hydrocarbons.
B) methane.
C) carbon dioxide.
D) nitrous oxide.

Question 39

A primary cause of skin cancer is

A) ultraviolet B radiation.
B) ultraviolet A radiation.
C) photochemical smog.
D) irritants in cosmetic products.

Question 40

The greatest producer of greenhouse gases is

A) China.
B) India.
C) Japan.
D) the United States.

Question 41

Indoor air quality can be improved with good ventilation.

Question 42

If each couple has only two offspring, this results in

A) overpopulation.
B) depletion of resources.
C) zero population growth.
D) limited population growth.

Question 43

Dry deposition refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow.

Question 44

The physical and biological components of an environment and the relationships between them make up a(n)

A) species.
B) biosphere.
C) atmosphere.
D) ecosystem.

Question 45

Which of the following is True with respect to cell phone use and radiation exposure?

A) Radiation from cell phones cannot penetrate the head.
B) The FCC sets standards for safety limits for cell phone exposure.
C) Long-term studies have shown cell phones to be risk-free.
D) Wearing a wireless earpiece poses no risk for the wearer.

Question 46

The sun's ultraviolent rays and mental and dental x-rays are examples of which type of radiation?

A) Nonionizing
B) Ionizing
C) Alpha wave
D) Low-frequency

Question 47

What percentage of the radiation to which we are exposed is due to medical and dental procedures?

A) 15%
B) 25%
C) 35%
D) 45%

Question 48

Photochemical smog is triggered by sunlight.

Question 49

Each year, the United States adds approximately 3 million people to its population.

Question 50

Increasing education levels for women may be the single biggest contributor to zero population growth.

Question 51

Within what range of radiation exposure do symptoms of sickness begin to appear?

A) 50 to 100 rads
B) 100 to 200 rads
C) 200 to 300 rads
D) 300 to 400 rads

Question 52

Air quality can change from day to day or hour to hour.

Question 53

Which of the following is a form of pollution created when vehicle exhaust interacts with sunlight?

A) Acid deposition
B) Particulate matter
C) Smog
D) Sulfur dioxide

Question 54

The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 was an example of an anthropogenic or stationary source of pollutant.

Question 55

The percentage of trash that could potentially be recycled in the United States is estimated to be as much as

A) 60 percent.
B) 70 percent.
C) 80 percent.
D) 90 percent.

Question 56

When pollutants dissolve and filter through soil, this process is known as

A) erosion.
B) leaching.
C) filtering.
D) deposition.

Question 57

Carbon-based materials that are used to generate energy are known as

A) fossil fuels.
B) natural resources.
C) clean energy.
D) renewable resources.

Question 58

A number lower than 100 on the Air Quality Index (AQI) indicates that air quality is in the moderate or good range.

Question 59

As education levels of women increase, fertility rates also increase.

Question 60

Fertility rate is the average number of children born to a woman in a certain population during her reproductive years.

Question 61

The odorless, colorless gas found in motor vehicle emissions and cigarette smoke is carbon dioxide.

Question 62

More than one billion people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water.

Question 63

Acid deposition occurs when acid particles are held in rain, sleet, snow, clouds, fog, dust, and smoke and then fall to the ground, resulting in damage to plants, animals, forests, and bodies of water.

Question 64

Many U.S. cities ban smoking in public buildings and in certain workplaces to reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

Question 65

Up to 90 percent of our trash could potentially be recycled.

Question 66

Much of the waste that ends up polluting the water starts out polluting the land.

Question 67

Asbestos penetrates homes through cracks, pipes, sump pits, and other openings in the foundation.

Question 68

Nuclear reactors discharge more carbon oxides into the air than fossil fuel-powered generators.

Question 69

The metal pollutant that can be found in paint, pipes, batteries, and drinking water is formaldehyde.

Question 70

To decrease municipal solid waste, efforts should be focused on reducing food waste since it is the largest component of waste generated.

Question 71

Waste that, due to its toxic properties, poses a threat to humans or the environment is known as hazardous waste.

Question 72

Sick building syndrome exists when at least 50 percent of occupants report illnesses related to exposure to the building.

Question 73

The number of landfills in the United States has increased in the past decade.

Question 74

In 1980, the U.S. Congress established the Superfund to provide funds for cleaning up hazardous waste dump sites that endanger public health and the environment.

Question 75

An accident that results when the temperature in the core of a nuclear reactor increases enough to melt the nuclear fuel and breach the containment vessel is a nuclear meltdown.

Question 76

Most of us are exposed to amounts of radiation that are close to unsafe levels.

Question 77

The majority of radiation to which we are exposed comes from nuclear power plants.

Question 78

A simple step such as using a travel mug for hot beverages instead of paper coffee cups can make a difference in reducing waste.

Question 79

Humans have a direct impact on global warming.

Question 80

Each day, every person in the United States generates about one pound of solid municipal waste.