Question 1

Which of the following is not among the three scientific principles of sustainability?

Accepted Answer

Economic growth is not one of the three scientific principles of sustainability. The three principles are reliance on solar energy, biodiversity, and chemical cycling. Population control is sometimes considered a fourth principle but it is not one of the original three.

Question 2

Perpetual resources exist in a fixed quantity or stock in the Earth's crust.

Accepted Answer

Perpetual resources do not exist in a fixed quantity or stock in the Earth's crust. They are characterized by their ability to replenish themselves over time, such as solar or wind energy.

Question 3

In an environmentally sustainable society, most affluent citizens work to decrease their consumption of products.

Accepted Answer

In an environmentally sustainable society, people strive to reduce their overall consumption to minimize their impact on the environment. Affluent citizens are no exception and they often lead the way by adopting low-impact lifestyles and reducing their materialistic values.

Question 4

Every day, approximately _____ new people are added to the global population.

Accepted Answer

According to the United Nations, there is a net increase of approximately 250,000 people every day, which means that this option is the best choice.

Question 5

A resource such as solar energy that is renewed continuously is a called a(n) ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A resource such as solar energy that...

Question 6

The per capita ecological footprint is the average ecological footprint of an individual in a given country or area.

Accepted Answer

The per capita ecological footprint is calculated by dividing the total ecological footprint of a country or area by its population, giving an average per person.

Question 7

Polluting chemicals enter the environment only through human activities.

Accepted Answer

While human activities do contribute significantly to environmental pollution, there are also natural sources of pollution such as volcanic eruptions or wildfires. However, human activities have greatly increased the amount and variety of pollutants in the environment, leading to negative impacts on ecosystems and human health.

Question 8

We can say that biodiversity is a factor in maintaining life on this planet.

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity. This diversity allows for healthy and functioning ecosystems which provide us with many benefits such as clean air and water, climate regulation, and resources for food and medicine. Without biodiversity, many species would go extinct and ecosystems would collapse, ultimately impacting human life. Therefore, biodiversity is a crucial factor in maintaining life on this planet.

Question 9

Recycling nonrenewable metallic resources takes much less energy, water, and other resources and produces less pollution and environmental degradation than exploiting virgin metallic resources.

Accepted Answer

Recycling nonrenewable metallic resources helps conserve resources and reduces negative environmental impacts compared to extracting and refining new metals from the Earth.

Question 10

An environmentally sustainable society must be based on policies that provide for economic growth and development.

Accepted Answer

An environmentally sustainable society must prioritize environmental protection over economic growth and development. Economic growth can still occur in a sustainable way, but it must not come at the expense of the environment. Policymakers must focus on promoting sustainable practices and technologies to ensure that economic growth and development are achieved in an environmentally responsible manner.

Question 11

In 2009, the world population is about

Accepted Answer

In 2009, the estimated world population was approximately 6.8 billion people.

Question 12

The United States has the world's largest per capita ecological footprint.

Accepted Answer

The ecological footprint measures the impact of human activities on the Earth's resources, and the United States has a high level of consumption and waste production per capita, resulting in a large ecological footprint.

Question 13

The tragedy of the commons is a phenomenon that occurs only when the number of users is small.

Accepted Answer

The tragedy of the commons occurs when there is a shared resource that is accessible to a large number of users, resulting in overuse and depletion of the resource. This is why it is called a "commons" - it is a resource that is open to everyone. Therefore, the more users there are, the greater the potential for the tragedy of the commons to occur.

Question 14

In order for the social changes to occur that will produce sustainable economies, fully 50% of the population of a country must support the change.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In order for the social changes to...

Question 15

Pollution cleanup is considered a short-term solution if population and consumption levels grow without corresponding improvement in pollution control technology.

Accepted Answer

Pollution cleanup can only be effective in the short-term if efforts are not made to address the root causes of pollution, such as population growth and high levels of consumption. Without improvements in pollution control technology and reduction in these factors, pollution levels will continue to rise, making cleanup efforts unsustainable in the long-term.

Question 16

If we make a commitment to more sustainable lifestyles and economies now, scientific evidence indicates it will take how long to fully implement the changes?

Accepted Answer

The answer of If we make a commitment to more...

Question 17

An exponential growth curve is best described as a J-shaped curve.

Accepted Answer

An exponential growth curve starts off gradually and then rapidly increases, resulting in a J-shaped curve.

Question 18

Government subsidies can actually encourage companies to conduct business in ways that result in environmental degradation.

Accepted Answer

In some cases, government subsidies can create incentives for companies to engage in unsustainable practices, such as overfishing or deforestation, because the subsidies make these activities profitable or cost-effective. This can lead to environmental degradation and is a well-documented phenomenon.

Question 19

Rapid population growth and associated poverty are primarily occurring in developing countries and have little impact on environmental degradation.

Accepted Answer

Rapid population growth in developing countries can have significant impacts on environmental degradation, including deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, and wildlife loss. Poverty can also exacerbate these issues by leading to unsustainable resource use and reliance on natural areas for livelihoods. Additionally, increased demand for energy, food, and other resources from growing populations can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Question 20

If industry managers ask the question "How can my company avoid producing polluting air exhaust from my factory?" they are seeking pollution prevent, which is preferable to pollution cleanup.

Accepted Answer

Pollution prevention focuses on reducing or eliminating the production of waste or pollutants, while pollution cleanup deals with treating or disposing of waste or pollutants after they have already been produced. Therefore, it is preferable for industry managers to seek pollution prevention in order to avoid producing polluting air exhaust from their factories.

Quiz 1: Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability