Deck 19: Geology, Society, and the Future

Question 1

The biggest fundamental challenge to attaining sustainability in the future will be

A)overpopulation
B)fossil fuel emissions
C)new ideas for environmental protection
D)increases in the incidence of natural hazards

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The principal challenge of the multiple land use concept is

A)it is difficult to maximize land use for more than one purpose
B)sequential land uses impose cumulative impacts
C)multiple land uses often compete for pollution credits
D)environmental laws typically do not permit true multiple uses

Answer 2

A

Question 3

"Superfund" sites are those that

A)have clear ownership and responsibility for contamination
B)have been abandoned by previous owners
C)have been cleaned up efficiently
D)contain contamination with organic wastes

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Why is collaboration often preferred over compromise in environmental law?

A)Collaboration involves mediation, which often leads to success.
B)Collaboration is more likely than compromise to obey environmental statutes.
C)Collaboration requires that each party give something up, which provides for a fair resolution.
D)Collaboration forces opposing parties to work together for mutual gain.

Question 5

What is the most important consideration in site selection for a sanitary landfill?

A)geological and climatic conditions that will limit water flow through the landfill
B)proximity to urban areas
C)geological and climatic conditions that will promote dilution of wastes by abundant water flow
D)the socioeconomic makeup of the surrounding population

Question 6

Secondary pollutants are created by

A)secondary industrial processes
B)reaction of primary pollutants in the atmosphere
C)mobile sources, such as automobiles
D)reaction of ozone with ultraviolet light

Question 7

What is leachate?

A)methane gas that leaks from sanitary landfills
B)a mineralized liquid generated by water flow through landfills
C)hazardous waste left over from biochemical degradation of chemical wastes
D)an ash by-product of waste incineration

Question 8

What adverse effect is common to nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide?

A)production of acid rain
B)lung irritation
C)damage to substances such as rubber, paint, and textiles
D)direct damage to plant tissues

Question 9

What was the main cause of environmental problems at Love Canal?

A)careless disposal of hazardous wastes
B)poor housing construction techniques
C)detrimental attitudes amongst residents regarding hazardous wastes
D)improper cleanup techniques

Question 10

Deep-well disposal of hazardous wastes can result in

A)earthquakes
B)landslides
C)contamination of surface waters
D)collapse of groundwater aquifer structures

Question 11

The Roman Empire is thought to have fallen in part because of poisoning by

A)cadmium
B)carbon monoxide
C)selenium
D)lead

Question 12

Most of the carbon monoxide in the atmosphere comes from

A)automobiles
B)industrial installations
C)reaction of ozone with carbon dioxide
D)natural sources

Question 13

The process of sequential land use focuses on

A)reclamation of land from previous uses for new uses
B)sequences of land use that involve increasing levels of contamination
C)sequential use of land for similar purposes
D)preservation of scenery for subsequent land uses

Question 14

Why has integrated waste management been criticized?

A)overemphasis on recycling
B)results of waste reduction averaging less than 10%
C)goals that are incompatible with environmental protection
D)overregulation of hazardous wastes

Question 15

Why are particulates considered such a significant health hazard?

A)They can cause respiratory problems.
B)Small amounts can be acutely toxic to humans and livestock.
C)They are emitted largely by natural sources.
D)They are concentrated in rural areas.

Question 16

Wind erosion processes are largely responsible for what type of pollution sources?

A)point sources
B)mobile sources
C)area sources
D)fugitive sources

Question 17

Radon typically is elevated in certain regions because of certain types of

A)bedrock
B)rainfall
C)industrial air pollution
D)waste disposal

Question 18

Why is the atmosphere such a convenient medium for disposal of wastes?

A)The atmosphere is very dynamic, so it readily dilutes and transports wastes from their sources.
B)Reactions in the atmosphere readily break down most pollutants.
C)The atmosphere is largely unused by humans, so is a good medium in which to dispose of wastes.
D)The atmosphere adapts to increased pollution emissions, so has been able to keep pace with industrialization and urbanization.

Question 19

The National Environmental Policy Act mandates what type of process?

A)land-use planning
B)environmental impact statements
C)multiple land use
D)environmental litigation

Question 20

The source of radon gas in the home is typically

A)decay of airborne uranium
B)uranium-bearing rocks and soil underlying the house
C)waste from uranium mining operations in the region
D)radioactive components of electronics equipment

Question 21

Secondary pollutants are those emitted by smaller industrial installations.

Question 22

Recycling strategies can reduce solid waste disposal by 50%.

Question 23

New waste disposal facilities are easy and inexpensive to develop.

Question 24

A factory is a fugitive source of air pollution emissions.

Question 25

Lester Brown's approach to avoiding an environmental crisis includes control of carbon emissions to alleviate global warming.

Question 26

Atmospheric inversions are largely a problem in mountainous regions.

Question 27

Some carcinogenic substances occur naturally in the environment, rather than being produced by human industrial activity.

Question 28

Studies in Japan and Ohio have demonstrated a causal link between soft water and heart disease.

Question 29

The major source of anthropogenic sulfur dioxide emissions is the burning of fossil fuels.

Question 30

Sulfur dioxide emissions have been reduced primarily by scrubbing of gases in smokestacks.

Question 31

Anthropogenic particulate matter results from industrial processes, fires, and agriculture.

Question 32

"Site selection" in environmental planning is often overlooked.

Question 33

Radon gas in the home originates solely from rocks and soil surrounding the home.

Question 34

Mitigation is used frequently, but not always effectively.

Question 35

Environmental impact statements are often completed, despite the fact that they are not mandated by any law.

Question 36

Lead contamination may cause social problems in urban areas.

Question 37

Materials management strategies focus on penalties for environmental contamination.

Question 38

Multiple land use is usually successful because is typically possible to maximize benefits for multiple purposes.

Question 39

Photochemical smog is a primary pollutant resulting from industrial emissions.

Question 40

A negative declaration states that a project is likely to have detrimental effects on the environment.

Question 41

________ pollutants are emitted directly into the air.

Question 42

The development of a resort at the site of an old quarry near Lake Michigan is an example of ________ land use.

Question 43

A(n) ________ is designed to contain municipal wastes and prevent nuisances and public hazards.

Question 44

Automobiles are an example of ________ air pollution sources.

Question 45

________ is a liquid by-product of sanitary landfill wastes.

Question 46

The most commonly used natural material in sanitary landfill design is ________.

Question 47

________ in the practice of environmental law requires opposing parties to work together for mutually beneficial solutions.

Question 48

________ land use is the process of using land for more than one compatible purpose.

Question 49

Soft water has been implicated, by correlation, in the incidence of ________ disease.

Question 50

________ is a hazardous waste dumping site in New York, famous as an example of the environmental consequences of indiscriminant disposal of wastes.

Question 51

________ is the study of poisons and their effects on people and ecosystems.

Question 52

Radon gas is produced by radioactive decay of the element ________.

Question 53

A(n) ________ is an air pollutant known to cause cancer or other serious health problems.

Question 54

The Roman Empire suffered from contamination of the environment by ________.

Question 55

________ is a process intended to provide for sound economic development while avoiding conflicts and maintaining a high quality of life.