Question 1

What is one environmental benefit of affluence?​

Accepted Answer

Increased wealth provides resources to apply toward the creation of environmentally beneficial technologies. With increased wealth, people have more resources to invest in research and development of new technologies that can help to mitigate or solve environmental problems. This can lead to more sustainable practices and a reduced environmental impact.

Question 2

What is an example of a pollution control or prevention technology?​

Accepted Answer

Fuel-efficient cars are an example of pollution prevention technology as they emit fewer pollutants into the air compared to traditional cars.

Question 3

The IPAT model calculates the environmental impact of human activities based on ____.​

Accepted Answer

The IPAT model calculates the environmental impact of human activities based on three factors: population size, affluence, and technology. Therefore, choice E (population size, affluence, and technology) is the correct answer. Choices A, B, and C do not include all three factors used in the IPAT model. Choice D includes population size and agriculture but does not include affluence or technology.

Question 4

What is a major cause of environmental problems?​

Accepted Answer

Our increasing isolation from nature is a major cause of environmental problems. As we become more disconnected from the natural world, we are less likely to understand and appreciate its importance and value. This can lead to overuse and exploitation of natural resources, pollution, and other environmental issues.

Question 5

The term "ecological footprint" can best be described as the ____.​

Accepted Answer

The term "ecological footprint" refers to the amount of land and water needed to sustainably support a population's resource use and waste production. This includes the amount of land needed for resource extraction, food production, and waste disposal, as well as the amount of water needed for agriculture and other human activities. The concept of ecological footprint is used to measure the sustainability of human activities and to identify areas where improvements in resource use and waste management can be made.

Question 6

In many parts of the world,renewable forests are shrinking and topsoil is eroding.This fact is evidence that ____.​

Accepted Answer

Shrinking renewable forests and eroding topsoil are clear indications that our current way of living is not sustainable. As the demand for resources continues to increase, natural systems are being depleted faster than they can be replenished, leading to long-term negative impacts on the environment and human well-being. It is essential that we incorporate sustainable practices in all aspects of our lives to ensure a healthier and more resilient future.

Question 7

Which resource is nonrenewable?​

Accepted Answer

The resource that is nonrenewable is oil. It is a fossil fuel that takes millions of years to form and is being used up faster than it can be replaced. The other options listed are renewable resources, meaning they can be replenished naturally over time. Groundwater can be recharged by rainfall and infiltration, trees can be replanted and regrow, solar energy is constantly replenished by the sun, and fish populations can be sustained through responsible fishing and management practices.

Question 8

____ efforts focus on greatly reducing or eliminating the production of pollutants.​

Accepted Answer

Pollution prevention efforts specifically aim to reduce or eliminate the production of pollutants. Agricultural engineering, nonpoint pollution, chemical cycling, and economic sanctions are all related to pollution in different ways, but they do not necessarily focus on preventing or reducing pollution at the source.

Question 9

Which activity is an example of environmental degradation?​

Accepted Answer

Cutting trees for wood products faster than the trees can regrow is an example of environmental degradation as it leads to deforestation and loss of habitat for animals, erosion of soil, and can cause harm to local ecosystem services. It is an unsustainable practice that can also contribute to climate change by releasing carbon dioxide.

Question 10

​Sustainable yield is the highest rate at which we can use a(n)____ indefinitely without reducing its available supply.

Accepted Answer

Sustainable yield only applies to renewable resources, which can be replenished naturally over time. Fossil fuels, mineral resources, and nonrenewable resources cannot be sustainably used indefinitely as they are finite and will eventually run out. Solar energy is also a renewable resource, but sustainable yield may not necessarily apply as the amount of solar energy available can vary depending on factors such as weather and location.

Question 11

​What term refers to the average ecological footprint of an individual in a given country or area?

Accepted Answer

The term that refers to the average ecological footprint of an individual in a given country or area is per capita ecological footprint. It measures the amount of land and resources needed to sustain one person's lifestyle and consumption patterns.

Question 12

On human time scales,nonrenewable resources ____.​

Accepted Answer

Nonrenewable resources can be depleted much faster than nature can form them. This is a major concern as these resources are not replenished at the same rate at which they are consumed, leading to scarcity and ultimately exhaustion.

Question 13

Which factor is a major contributor to the degradation of natural capital associated with the pricing of consumable goods?​

Accepted Answer

When consumable goods are priced without factoring in the environmental damage caused by their production, it leads to overconsumption and degradation of natural capital. For example, if a product is priced cheaply because the company is not factoring in the cost of pollution caused during production, consumers will be more likely to purchase it without considering the environmental impact. This contributes to the degradation of natural resources such as air, water, and land.

Question 14

A country's ecological footprint is larger than its biological capacity to replenish its renewable resources and absorb the resulting waste and pollution.What can be said about this country?​

Accepted Answer

A country with an ecological footprint larger than its biological capacity to replenish its renewable resources and absorb waste and pollution is said to have an ecological deficit. This indicates that the country is consuming natural resources faster than they can be replenished, leading to negative consequences for the environment and its inhabitants.

Question 15

About 900 million people live in extreme poverty,struggling to live on the equivalent of less than ____ a day.​

Accepted Answer

According to the World Bank, the international poverty line is set at $1.25 per day. This means that individuals living on less than this amount are considered to be in extreme poverty. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.

Question 16

Which of the following contributes most to sustainability?​

Accepted Answer

Including environmental and health costs in market prices helps to promote sustainable development by incentivizing producers and consumers to consider the true cost of their actions on the environment and public health. This can lead to more responsible use of resources and a reduction in pollution and waste. Options A, B, and E all have negative impacts on sustainability, and option C is not directly related to sustainability.

Question 17

The tragedy of the commons refers to the ____.​

Accepted Answer

The tragedy of the commons describes the phenomenon where shared common resources (such as oceans, forests, and clean air) are depleted or degraded due to individuals or groups pursuing their own self-interest and overusing these resources. The result is a decline in the overall health and productivity of the resource, leading to negative consequences for all users.

Question 18

Nonpoint sources of pollution ____.​

Accepted Answer

Nonpoint sources of pollution are sources that cannot be traced back to a single identifiable source, such as agricultural runoff or stormwater runoff from urban areas. These sources are more difficult and costly to control than point sources because they are spread out over a larger area and require collective action from multiple sources to effectively reduce pollution levels.

Question 19

​Point sources of pollution ____.

Accepted Answer

Point sources of pollution are easier to identify than nonpoint sources because they come from specific, identifiable locations such as factories, wastewater treatment plants, or oil spills. Nonpoint sources, on the other hand, come from dispersed and often hard-to-identify sources such as agricultural runoff or atmospheric deposition.

Question 20

​Which worldview proposes that we can and should manage the earth for our own benefit,but that we have an ethical responsibility to be caring and responsible managers of the earth?

Accepted Answer

The stewardship worldview proposes that humans have the responsibility to manage the earth for our own benefit, but we also have an ethical responsibility to be caring and responsible managers of the earth. This worldview emphasizes sustainable use of natural resources and conservation efforts to protect the environment for future generations.

Quiz 1: Environmental Problems - Their Causes - and Sustainability

What is one environmental benefit of affluence?

What is an example of a pollution control or prevention technology?

The IPAT model calculates the environmental impact of human activities based on ____.

What is a major cause of environmental problems?

The term "ecological footprint" can best be described as the ____.

In many parts of the world,renewable forests are shrinking and topsoil is eroding.This fact is evidence that ____.

Which resource is nonrenewable?

____ efforts focus on greatly reducing or eliminating the production of pollutants.

Which activity is an example of environmental degradation?

Sustainable yield is the highest rate at which we can use a(n) ____ indefinitely without reducing its available supply.

What term refers to the average ecological footprint of an individual in a given country or area?

On human time scales,nonrenewable resources ____.

Which factor is a major contributor to the degradation of natural capital associated with the pricing of consumable goods?

A country's ecological footprint is larger than its biological capacity to replenish its renewable resources and absorb the resulting waste and pollution.What can be said about this country?

About 900 million people live in extreme poverty,struggling to live on the equivalent of less than ____ a day.

Which of the following contributes most to sustainability?

The tragedy of the commons refers to the ____.

Nonpoint sources of pollution ____.

Point sources of pollution ____.

Which worldview proposes that we can and should manage the earth for our own benefit,but that we have an ethical responsibility to be caring and responsible managers of the earth?