Deck 13: The Environmental Crisis

Question 1

Often, the efforts to improve life destroy the environment on which life depends in a process known as __________.

A) the tragedy of the commons
B) optimistic environmentalism
C) pessimistic environmentalism
D) the greenhouse effect

Answer 1

the tragedy of the commons

Question 2

When harmful substances accumulate in the air, water, and land, it is known as __________.

A) nuclear fusion
B) ecology
C) pollution
D) thermal inversion

Answer 2

pollution

Question 3

"Everything is __________ everything else" holds the key to understanding environmental problems.

A) connected to
B) independent of
C) superseded by
D) stabilized by

Answer 3

connected to

Question 4

Each morning, the news anchor reports on the accumulation of substances harmful to living things in the air. Such reports are concerned with __________.

A) nuclear fusion
B) ecology
C) pollution
D) thermal inversion

Question 5

The public's alarm about environmental issues was sparked by __________.

A) reports from government agencies
B) professional papers from scientists
C) outcries from interest groups
D) coverage by the news media

Question 6

__________ was/were the first to become troubled by problems in the environment.

A) Interest groups
B) The news media
C) The public
D) Professionals

Question 7

The invention of __________ allowed us to harness energy on a scale unknown in prior history.

A) wind turbines
B) nuclear reactors
C) the steam engine
D) the computer

Question 8

In our __________, all life on the planet is interconnected in a finely balanced cycle occurring on a dynamic layer of the earth's surface.

A) food chain
B) ecosystem
C) ozone shield
D) solar envelope

Question 9

__________ focus on how the various parts of our ecosystem are interrelated.

A) Conflict theorists
B) Functionalists
C) Symbolic interactionists
D) Feminist theorists

Question 10

Aberjee's research examines how the use of solar power has resulted in positive and negative consequences for mankind. Aberjee's research is in line with __________.

A) conflict theorists
B) functionalists
C) symbolic interactionists
D) feminist theorists

Question 11

Regarding waste, the Supreme Court ruled that __________.

A) cities must use garbage incinerators approved by the EPA
B) the states to which the garbage is sent cannot refuse the shipments
C) states must install pollution controls on garbage incinerators
D) by 2014, people must begin burning 20% of all garbage in their homes

Question 12

The amount of sulfur dioxide emissions in the United States __________.

A) has declined
B) has remained the same
C) has increased
D) is impossible to measure

Question 13

The world's worst nuclear reactor disaster occurred in __________.

A) Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania
B) Chernobyl, Ukraine
C) Kyshtym, Russia
D) Beijing, China

Question 14

The __________ is the U.S. agency responsible for overseeing the safety of food.

A) World Health Organization
B) Environmental Protection Agency
C) National Health Association
D) Food and Drug Administration

Question 15

Foods derived from plants or animals in which genetic materials have been transferred from one species to another or in which genes have been manipulated in a way that does not occur in nature are called __________.

A) synergistic
B) genetically modified
C) biodegradable
D) geothermal

Question 16

Today, the new employees of the factory will learn about how the government regulates the burning of wood, coal, petroleum, and natural gas. They will be learning about the regulation of __________.

A) hydrocarbons
B) synfuels
C) carcinogens
D) fossil fuels

Question 17

Governmental handouts to corporations are called __________.

A) corporate welfare
B) the green party
C) synergism
D) resource recovery

Question 18

Substances that are derived from living things are called __________.

A) hydrocarbons
B) synfuels
C) carcinogens
D) fossil fuels

Question 19

__________ occurs when carbon dioxide and water vapor form an invisible blanket around the globe that allows the sun's light to enter but traps the heat.

A) The greenhouse effect
B) Thermal inversion
C) Global warming
D) Geothermal energy

Question 20

The increased temperature of the earth is called __________.

A) thermal inversion
B) the greenhouse effect
C) global warming
D) geothermal energy

Question 21

When burning fossil fuels release sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere, moisture in the air turns these emissions into sulfuric and nitric acid and leads to __________.

A) global warming
B) mercury rain
C) the greenhouse effect
D) acid rain

Question 22

__________ is a bacterium that lives in our digestive systems, where it has a beneficial role; but it becomes dangerous when our food or water is contaminated with feces.

A) Escherichia coli (E. coli)
B) Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
C) Bovine growth hormones (BGHs)
D) Genetically modified foods (GMFs)

Question 23

The state of Florida offers tax cuts to new businesses that relocate to the area. This is an example of __________.

A) corporate welfare
B) the green party
C) synergism
D) resource recovery

Question 24

The food additive Red Dye No. 2 is known to cause cancer. As such, it is a __________.

A) hydrocarbon
B) synfuel
C) carcinogen
D) fossil fuel

Question 25

The cutlery used at the Annual Environmentalist Picnic is made of plant starch that disintegrates after being exposed to normal bacteria. As such, the cutlery is __________.

A) biodegradable
B) synergistic
C) a hydrocarbon
D) a fossil fuel

Question 26

The sweetener aspartame interacts with various food colorings to interfere with the development of the nervous system. As such, aspartame and food colorings are __________.

A) biodegradables
B) hydrocarbons
C) fossil fuels
D) synergistic

Question 27

The plankton in the ocean ingested mercury that was in the water. A small fish ate the plankton. A larger fish ate the smaller fish that had eaten the plankton. Marcus ate the large fish that had eaten the smaller fish. This reflects __________.

A) cogeneration
B) the food chain
C) synergy
D) thermal inversion

Question 28

Evan works at the local fast-food joint. When he uses the restroom, he does not wash his hands and the food becomes contaminated with bacteria from Evan's digestive system. The bacteria that contaminates the food is __________.

A) Escherichia coli (E. coli)
B) polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
C) bovine growth hormone (BGH)
D) genetically modified food (GMF)

Question 29

__________ famously won a bet that raw materials were not getting scarcer.

A) Paul Ehrlich
B) Julian Simon
C) Mark Stanford
D) Karl Marx

Question 30

Rain forests are home to __________ of all plant and animal species.

A) less than 20%
B) nearly 25%
C) around 30%
D) over half

Question 31

__________ argue that we are facing energy and resource shortages so vast they will shatter the foundations of the industrialized world.

A) Optimistic environmentalists
B) Pessimistic environmentalists
C) Synergists
D) Extremophiles

Question 32

Vashti believes that our civilization depends on substances whose supply is limited. Vashti is a(n) __________.

A) optimistic environmentalist
B) pessimistic environmentalist
C) synergist
D) extremophile

Question 33

Rodney claims that improved technology will solve whatever threat pollution may pose to the environment. Rodney is a(n) __________.

A) optimistic environmentalist
B) pessimistic environmentalist
C) synergist
D) extremophile

Question 34

Martine supports the idea of a steady state society. As such, she is a(n) __________.

A) optimistic environmentalist
B) pessimistic environmentalist
C) synergist
D) extremophile

Question 35

Che supports the idea of a scaled-back society. As such, he is a(n) __________.

A) optimistic environmentalist
B) pessimistic environmentalist
C) synergist
D) extremophile

Question 36

Vertigo supports the idea of an expanding society. As such, he is a(n) __________.

A) optimistic environmentalist
B) pessimistic environmentalist
C) synergist
D) extremophile

Question 37

__________ are gases developed from garbage, sawdust, and other waste.

A) Hydrocarbons
B) Synfuels
C) Fossil fuels
D) Biodegradables

Question 38

Some people want to rely on __________, the heat from beneath the earth's crust, to meet our energy needs.

A) thermal inversion
B) a solar envelope
C) geothermal energy
D) nuclear fusion

Question 39

Congress passed the Community Right to Know Act in

A) 1950
B) 1972
C) 1986
D) 1990

Question 40

The __________ involves stabilizing industrial output at the current rate to slow the rate of pollution and conserve resources.

A) steady-state society
B) scaled-back society
C) expanding society
D) geothermal society

Question 41

Rochelle believes that environmentalists should support the development of a world of even greater abundance. Rochelle's beliefs are in line with a(n) __________.

A) steady-state society
B) scaled-back society
C) expanding society
D) geothermal society

Question 42

A scaled-backed society means

A) we must reduce our industrial output and our standard of living.
B) we must stabilize our industrial output at the level it is now.
C) we must increase our industrial output while lowing our standard of living.
D) we must focus solely on expanding society.

Question 43

Kia believes that significant sacrifices in lifestyle are necessary for the survival of Earth. Kia's beliefs are in line with a(n) __________.

A) steady-state society
B) scaled-back society
C) expanding society
D) geothermal society

Question 44

Since the 1970s, the average size of a new home in the United States has __________.

A) declined
B) remained the same
C) increased
D) fluctuated with the economy

Question 45

The environmental party in Germany is known as the __________.

A) Stop Pollution Party
B) Pro-environmental Movement
C) Care for the Environment Party
D) Green Party

Question 46

Outline the stages of environmental transformation. Choose one current environmental issue and apply the stages.

Question 47

What are the functions and dysfunctions of industrialization?

Question 48

Explain how acid rain develops. What are the effects? Can it be reversed or stopped? How?

Question 49

Compare and contrast the frameworks for interpreting environmental issues. Choose one or two issues to use as examples. Which side do you agree with? Why?

Question 50

Explain environmental injustice and why it occurs. Are there policies that can stop this from happening?