Deck 23: Sustainability

Question 1

A graph of the growth of the human population has what shape?

A) J
B) S
C) inverted U
D) inverted V
E) a straight line

Answer 1

A

Question 2

What is NOT a potential result of living more sustainably?

A) Sustainable technologies,such as solar panels,can help businesses save on energy costs.
B) Sustainable building can cost more in the short term,but can lead to energy savings in the long term.
C) Sustainable technologies can reduce the amount of pollutants released from burning fossil fuels.
D) Sustainable development can help balance the economic,ecological,and social impacts of development.
E) Living more sustainably results in less population growth.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

The unit of measurement in an ecological footprint is the _____.

A) carbon hectare
B) global unit
C) global hectare
D) ecological hectare
E) carbon hectare per person

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The human population is growing

A) exponentially.
B) logistically.
C) linearly.
D) logarithmically.
E) polynomially.

Question 5

Which situation would lead to the highest ecological footprint?

A) a country with a low per capita footprint and low population size
B) a country with a high per capita footprint and low population size
C) a country with a high per capita footprint and high population size
D) a country with low per capita footprint and high population size
E) any country with a high population regardless of the per capita footprint

Question 6

Although water is considered a renewable resource,what is a reason why it might be more like a nonrenewable resource?

A) Water resources are not evenly distributed around the world.
B) Water can be used up faster than it can be returned in the water cycle.
C) Water and nonrenewable resources can both become polluted and unusable.
D) Water was formed millions of years ago from dead plants and animals.
E) Water use releases carbon dioxide into the environment.

Question 7

What spurred the growth rate of the human population since the 1950s?

A) tools
B) antibiotic development
C) agriculture
D) building cities
E) electricity

Question 8

In general,exponential growth of a population follows the pattern

A) 20,30,40,50,60.
B) 2,4,6,8,10,12.
C) 2,4,8,16,32,64.
D) 2,3,4,5,6,7.
E) 2,25,30,35,50.

Question 9

A _____ resource is one that is gone for good once it is depleted.

A) renewable
B) global warming
C) pollution
D) carbon footprint
E) nonrenewable

Question 10

Even if people want to use sustainable energy sources and technologies,several barriers can limit their use.Which of these is NOT a potential barrier to more widespread use of sustainable development practices or technologies?

A) Sustainable energy can be much more expensive to produce than nonrenewable options.
B) Construction and use of sustainable energy technologies can use hazardous chemicals or generate hazardous wastes that need to be carefully disposed of to avoid polluting the environment.
C) Construction of sustainable energy production facilities can destroy habitats.
D) The technology for energy production and harvesting from some sustainable sources still needs to be optimized.
E) Sustainable technologies currently release more greenhouse gases than nonrenewable energy sources release.
Match the following:

Question 11

Imagine that every person on Earth had an ecological footprint the size of an average Haitian person's ecological footprint.Which statement describes a potential result?

A) We would quickly run out of renewable and nonrenewable resources because we would have to use even more fossil fuel to support our energy demands.
B) We would exceed the biocapacity of Earth.
C) It would take the equivalent of about four Earths to support all of us.
D) Our demand on Earth's resources would be much more sustainable than it is currently.
E) Our energy needs would increase to an unsustainable level.

Question 12

Which of the following waste products is/are associated with the burning of fossil fuels?

A) water
B) carbon dioxide
C) nitrogen dioxide
D) All of these are associated with the burning of fossil fuels.
E) both carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide

Question 13

Human population growth contributes to extinction in which way(s)?

A) habitat destruction
B) agriculture practices that alter land use
C) ecological carbon loss
D) habitat destruction and agriculture practices that alter land use
E) agriculture practices that alter land use and ecological carbon loss

Question 14

Which of these is a renewable resource?

A) biofuels
B) fossil fuels
C) oil
D) coal
E) natural gas

Question 15

In addition to using _____ resources,we can live more _____ by reducing water use,eating less meat,recycling,and driving less.

A) renewable;at the ecological footprint level
B) renewable;sustainably
C) nonrenewable;sustainably
D) nonrenewable;at the global hectare level
E) nonrenewable;at the ecological footprint level

Question 16

Which statement is NOT a description of sustainability?

A) Sustainability means managing resource use today to ensure a successful future for others.
B) Sustainability means living in a way that resource use does not exceed the biocapacity of Earth.
C) The concept of sustainability means different things to different people and can be difficult to define and measure.
D) Sustainability is a concept that only applies to the actions of environmental activists.
E) Sustainability describes the ways humans use Earth's resources.

Question 17

Fossil fuels formed naturally on Earth.Why aren't they thought of as renewable resources?

A) Fossil fuels were formed from dinosaurs and can no longer form naturally.
B) Fossil fuels take an incredibly long time to form naturally.
C) Fossil fuels form quickly in some areas and slowly in other areas.
D) Fossil fuels form as a result of asteroid impacts,which do not occur very frequently.
E) Fossil fuels form in areas that are not accessible to humans.

Question 18

The human population is growing exponentially largely due to

A) available resources.
B) lower death rates.
C) higher birth rates.
D) improved medical treatments and care.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 19

The largest demand in the global ecological footprint is caused by our _____.

A) gasoline needs
B) fishing needs
C) farmland needs
D) energy needs
E) grazing land needs

Question 20

The rapid growth of the human population is a concern because _____.

A) natural resources are abundant
B) the carbon hectare is increasing
C) if we continue to grow,the population will exceed Earth's biocapacity
D) as a population increases,so does its per capita ecological footprint
E) all human populations rely on fossil fuels

Question 21

In general,exponential population growth starts slowly and rapidly increases until

A) the natural increase is reached.
B) it decreases with disease.
C) it reaches a maximum.
D) resources become limited.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 22

Which two countries have the greatest total ecological footprints?

A) Canada and the United States
B) Canada and China
C) China and the United States
D) Russia and the United States
E) Russia and Canada

Question 23

In 2006,the ecological footprint of an individual in global hectares was approximately equal to

A) a basketball court.
B) two and a half volley ball courts.
C) three tennis courts.
D) one hockey rink.
E) two and a half football fields.

Question 24

As of 2006,the global hectare average was ______ per person per year.

A) 1
B) 2.6
C) 3.6
D) 5
E) greater than 5

Question 25

The current population of Earth is roughly

A) 300 million.
B) 700 million.
C) 1.5 billion.
D) 7 billion.
E) 20 billion.

Question 26

What does an ecological footprint measure?

A) the amount of land required to feed a population
B) the damage a population has on an ecosystem
C) the impact on nature as determined by a population's lifestyle
D) the amount of fossil fuel a population uses
E) the amount of energy a population produces and consumes

Question 27

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A) The United States and China have roughly the same per-capita ecological footprint.
B) China has a higher per-capita ecological footprint than the United States.
C) The United States has a higher per-capita ecological footprint than China,but China's large population means their total footprint is almost as large as the total U.S.footprint.
D) China's large population means that its total ecological footprint is greater than that of the United States.
E) China's per-capita ecological footprint is near the world average of 2.6 global hectares per person.

Question 28

An ecological footprint

A) measures the amount of land required by a population to live.
B) measures the amount of water required by a population to live.
C) measures the amount of air required by a population to live.
D) measures the amount of land and water required by a population to live.
E) measures the amount of land and water required by a population to live and the amount of land and water required to absorb that population's waste.

Question 29

Rank the following from smallest per capita ecological footprint to largest.

A) Australia $\rightarrow$ Europe $\rightarrow$ India $\rightarrow$ United States $\rightarrow$ China
B) Australia $\rightarrow$ India $\rightarrow$ Europe $\rightarrow$ China $\rightarrow$ United States
C) China $\rightarrow$ Europe $\rightarrow$ India $\rightarrow$ Australia $\rightarrow$ United States
D) India $\rightarrow$ China $\rightarrow$ Europe $\rightarrow$ Australia $\rightarrow$ United States
E) India $\rightarrow$ Europe $\rightarrow$ Australia $\rightarrow$ United States $\rightarrow$ China

Question 30

The world average ecological footprint is

A) 1.2 global hectares.
B) 2.6 global hectares.
C) 3.1 global hectares.
D) 3.9 global hectares.
E) 4.3 global hectares.

Question 31

Why would a non-developed country with a low per-capita footprint have a similar total footprint to a more developed country?

A) The non-developed country is more sustainable.
B) The developed country is less sustainable.
C) The non-developed country has a larger population.
D) The non-developed country has fewer people.
E) The developed country has more people.

Question 32

Ecological footprints calculate

A) the amount of water and fossil fuel needed to support producers and consumers.
B) the amount of land needed to support a population and absorb their waste.
C) the amount of carbon that consumers require and produce as waste.
D) the amount of land and water a population requires to produce the resources it consumes and assimilate the waste it produces.
E) the damage left on an environment from using natural resources unwisely by a population.

Question 33

To determine the impact human populations have on an environment,scientists use which measurement?

A) joules
B) carbon footprints
C) carbon units
D) ecological footprint
E) hectares

Question 34

Which is the correct order,from most to least,for global hectares per person by country?

A) United States,Ireland,Brazil,and Congo
B) Congo,Brazil,Ireland,and the United States
C) Ireland,the United States,Brazil,and Congo
D) Brazil,the United States,Congo,and Ireland
E) United States,Brazil,Ireland,and Congo

Question 35

Although this country has a low global hectare per person,its total footprint rivals that of the United States.

A) Canada
B) China
C) Australia
D) India
E) Russia

Question 36

If a population of 1,000 had an average footprint of 2 global hectares per person,how many global hectares would a population of 2,000 require to have a similar impact on the environment?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 1.5
D) 0.5
E) 3

Question 37

An ecological footprint is measured in

A) joules.
B) carbon footprints.
C) carbon units.
D) global hectares.
E) ergs.

Question 38

Why is the current lifestyle of the human population considered unsustainable?

A) The biologically productive land is diminishing.
B) The biologically productive land and water is greater than the biocapacity.
C) The carbon footprint is greater than the demand of the population.
D) The biocapacity of Earth is less than the global ecological footprint.
E) The demand for renewable resources exceeds the ecological footprint.

Question 39

All of the following are reasons for the rapid growth of human populations,EXCEPT

A) the advent of agriculture.
B) the industrial revolution.
C) increased travel by boat.
D) the discovery of antibiotics.
E) improved sanitation.

Question 40

Although cities occupy __________ of Earth's surface and have only __________ of the world's population,they consume more than __________ of Earth's natural resources.

A) 2%;50%;75%
B) 2%;75%;90%
C) 5%;50%;90%
D) 5%;75%;90%
E) 8%;50%;75%

Question 41

Why is it advantageous to target cities over rural areas to become sustainable?

A) Buildings can be easily modified.
B) It is readily accomplished,and blueprints are already drawn up.
C) The density of people maximizes the efficiency of resource use.
D) Rural areas use the most resources.
E) Rural areas are more difficult to modify.

Question 42

Earth's biocapacity in global hectares is

A) 9.0.
B) 11.9.
C) 2.6.
D) 1.7.
E) 0.48.

Question 43

Which of the following is a drawback to using coal as an energy source?

A) Coal miners have increased risk of respiratory illness.
B) Mining damages large areas of land.
C) Burning coal releases greenhouse gases.
D) Coal contains pollutants such as arsenic,nitrogen dioxide,and sulfur dioxide.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 44

Nonrenewable resources

A) are natural resources.
B) take millions of years to form.
C) supply our energy demands.
D) are not sustainable.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 45

In the past 50 years,which of the following demands has increased the most?

A) energy
B) grazing land
C) forest land
D) crop land
E) fishing ground

Question 46

An ecologically friendly city that has housing,work,and schools located close to each other would decrease the requirement for

A) pedestrian traffic.
B) cars.
C) bikes.
D) public transportation.
E) electricity.

Question 47

This nonrenewable resource supplies most of the world's energy.

A) coal
B) petroleum oil
C) gas
D) peat
E) bitumen

Question 48

Why is there reluctance to eliminate fossil fuels as an energy source?

A) There are no other sources of energy.
B) They are relatively cheap to obtain.
C) Other methods of energy production are not as efficient.
D) They are unlimited in supply.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 49

Recent calculations put the global footprint per capita at _______ and Earth's biocapacity at _______ global hectares.

A) 2.8;2.6
B) 1.7;1.7
C) 2.8;1.7
D) 1.7;2.8
E) 2.8;2.8

Question 50

In the United States,energy demands account for roughly _________ of the U.S.ecological footprint.

A) 25%
B) 35%
C) 50%
D) 60%
E) 75%

Question 51

Which resource is currently in greatest demand globally?

A) built-up lands
B) grazing lands
C) fossil fuels
D) fishing grounds
E) crop lands

Question 52

The biological demand for _____ has stayed nearly the same over the last 45 years.

A) built-up land
B) grazing lands
C) fishing grounds
D) crop land
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 53

What is an environmental result from burning fossil fuels?

A) the release of sulfur into the environment
B) the release of smoke into the environment
C) the release of greenhouse gases into the air
D) the production of carbon monoxide
E) the production of smog

Question 54

Why is landscaping an important part of designing an environmentally friendly city?

A) Trees provide shade,which cools buildings.
B) Vegetation filters water and absorbs carbon dioxide.
C) Gardens can supply food.
D) Natural habitats are provided.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 55

If the biocapacity of a country was 3 global hectares per capita,to be sustainable,a population of 6,000 would have to have an ecological footprint of ______ per capita.

A) 12
B) 24
C) 3
D) 4
E) 6

Question 56

If all goes according to plan,the eco-city of Greensburg will use ______ less energy than a conventional city of the same size.

A) 25%
B) 40%
C) 50%
D) 65%
E) 75%

Question 57

An environmentally friendly city's ecological footprint of 2.6 would need to become this to be in agreement with global sustainability.

A) 7.6
B) 4.4
C) 3.6
D) 2.6
E) 1.7

Question 58

The world's demand exceeds the Earth's ability to meet that demand by

A) 10%.
B) 20%.
C) 30%.
D) 40%.
E) 50%.

Question 59

Which building design or modification would be found in an environmentally friendly city?

A) buildings located near trees for shading purposes
B) buildings with green roofs
C) buildings that are low
D) buildings made of material other than concrete
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 60

The biological demand for this overshoots the sustainability of Earth by 40%.

A) seafood
B) food and fiber
C) timber and paper
D) buildings
E) energy

Question 61

Globally,which resource is relied upon MOST for energy production?

A) hydroelectric power
B) fossil fuels
C) nuclear power
D) wind power
E) biofuels

Question 62

The process of water going into the atmosphere is called

A) evaporation.
B) condensation.
C) transpiration.
D) precipitation.
E) respiration.

Question 63

What may be a potential drawback to using biofuels as a renewable energy resource?

A) They are expensive to produce.
B) They produce carbon dioxide.
C) Noxious pollutants are produced.
D) They compete with growing food crops.
E) Bird species are affected.

Question 64

What is directly correlated with increased global demand for freshwater?

A) temperature
B) precipitation
C) per-capita use
D) human population
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 65

Which contains the most freshwater on our planet?

A) glaciers and ice caps
B) rivers and streams
C) oceans
D) aquifers
E) groundwater

Question 66

What percentage of Earth's freshwater is used for agriculture?

A) 40%
B) 60%
C) 50%
D) 80%
E) >90%

Question 67

Globally,which renewable energy resource is relied upon LEAST for energy production?

A) hydroelectric power
B) nuclear power
C) solar power
D) wind power
E) biofuels

Question 68

Which of the following currently provides the greatest source of renewable energy?

A) geothermal power
B) hydroelectric power
C) nuclear power
D) solar power
E) wind power

Question 69

What percentage of Earth's water is freshwater?

A) 50%
B) 25%
C) 10%
D) 2.5%
E) 1%

Question 70

Globally,which renewable energy resource is relied upon MOST for energy production?

A) hydroelectric power
B) solar power
C) wind power
D) biofuels
E) nuclear power

Question 71

Aquifers are

A) deep seawater deposits.
B) underground rock stores of freshwater.
C) filters for seawater underground.
D) filters for ground water.
E) freshwater that comes from glaciers.

Question 72

Rain,snow,and hail are examples of

A) evaporation.
B) condensation.
C) transpiration.
D) precipitation.
E) respiration.

Question 73

Which contains the least amount of freshwater on Earth?

A) rivers and lakes
B) glaciers and ice caps
C) oceans
D) aquifers
E) reservoirs

Question 74

Which renewable energy resource could potentially supply half the projected energy demands of our planet?

A) hydroelectric power
B) solar power
C) wind power
D) biofuels
E) nuclear power

Question 75

To maintain a balanced water cycle,what needs to occur?

A) Per-capita consumption must decrease.
B) Water withdrawals cannot exceed replenishment.
C) Irrigation for agriculture must stop.
D) Per-capita consumption must increase.
E) Water withdrawals must exceed replenishment.

Question 76

What is responsible for the six-fold increase in total freshwater withdrawals in the 20th century?

A) increase in hydroelectric power
B) increase in recreational use
C) irrigation for agriculture
D) increase in per-capita water withdrawals
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 77

Although _____ of Earth's surface is water,only _____ is available for human consumption.

A) 50%;2%
B) 55%;8%
C) 63%;5%
D) 70%;1%
E) 82%;3%

Question 78

Why has the global demand for freshwater increased during recent history?

A) increased temperatures
B) increases in population and agricultural demand
C) diminished freshwater supplies
D) increased use per capita
E) increased pollution of freshwater

Question 79

Which is NOT a renewable resource?

A) hydroelectric power
B) wind power
C) biofuels
D) fossil fuels
E) nuclear power

Question 80

Which of the following statements about water use is TRUE?

A) Most water is used for domestic purposes,such as drinking water and showers.
B) Per-capita water use has remained relatively constant in the last 100 years.
C) Total water use has remained relatively constant over the last 100 years.
D) Water is a nonrenewable resource that is rapidly being depleted.
E) The amount of water required to produce a kilogram of beef is roughly twice the amount of water required to produce a kilogram of corn.