Question 1

Geothermal energy,wind energy,and solar radiation are all examples of _______________
A)nonrenewable resources
B)biotic environmental factors
C)renewable environmental resources
D)biodegradable materials
E)biodiversity

Accepted Answer

Geothermal energy, wind energy, and solar radiation are all considered renewable environmental resources because they come from natural sources that are constantly replenished, making them sustainable options for energy generation. Nonrenewable resources, on the other hand, are finite and will eventually run out. Biotic environmental factors refer to living organisms in an ecosystem, while biodegradable materials are organic substances that can be broken down by living organisms. Biodiversity is the variety of life in a particular ecosystem.

Question 2

A hypothesis is _______________
A)the design of an experiment that can be used in scientific enquiry
B)a prediction about something that has not yet been observed
C)a proven scientific fact
D)a statement that explains an observed phenomenon or answers a question
E)an instrument that is used to examine environmental conditions

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a statement that explains an observed phenomenon or answers a question, serving as a starting point for further investigation.

Question 3

Ruben has a new puppy named Paddington and wants to feed him the best possible food.He decides on an experiment where he will feed Paddington the very best canned food plus a dietary supplement of vitamins recommended by a veterinarian.Which of the following best describes Ruben's project?
A)Ruben needs to take careful measurements of Paddington's weight and height at least once a week for it to be a good experiment.
B)This is an example of an excellent,controlled experiment as it is written.
C)Ruben needs to control for the amount of exercise,sunshine,water,and care that Paddington gets each week,so that they are equal from week to week.
D)Ruben needs to feed his mother's 6 -year -old chocolate Shar -Pei named SallyJo a standard diet so that he can compare Paddington to a control.
E)This is a poorly designed experiment,because there are no control dogs and no treatment replicates.

Accepted Answer

Ruben's experiment lacks a control group and treatment replicates, making it poorly designed for drawing reliable conclusions about the effects of the diet and supplements on Paddington.

Question 4

Which of the following discoveries would be most likely to cause a scientific paradigm shift?
A)the discovery of a new species of salamander in the Amazon rainforest
B)the discovery of more rings around Uranus
C)the discovery of a new pathogenic virus transmitted by mosquitoes
D)the discovery that a dormant volcano is showing signs of activity
E)the discovery that excess heat is radiating from the center of the earth and causing global climate change

Accepted Answer

A paradigm shift involves a fundamental change in the underlying assumptions of a scientific field. Discovering that excess heat from the Earth's core is causing global climate change would challenge current climate science and understanding of Earth's internal processes, potentially leading to a paradigm shift.

Question 5

Solutions to environmental problems _______________
A)must work on a global scale
B)must always be designed and discussed in the political arena before implementation
C)should be designed with the goal of sustaining Earth's natural capital
D)must focus on short -term fixes because long -term solutions are generally unattainable
E)can be implemented only by scientists

Accepted Answer

Environmental problems cannot be solved without the conscious and deliberate efforts to protect the natural resources that support life on Earth. Therefore, solutions should be designed with the goal of sustaining Earth's natural capital, which includes resources such as air, water, soil, biodiversity, and energy. These solutions should also take into account the interdependence of ecological, social, and economic systems.

Question 6

Roberto lives near a wind farm and is wondering about the environmental effects of the wind turbines.He _______________ that the turbines,which sound like faint airplane engines,are scaring off meadowlarks that used to nest in the area.
A)theorizes
B)hypothesizes
C)hopes
D)predicts
E)observes

Accepted Answer

Hypothesizes is the correct choice because it refers to forming a hypothesis or educated guess, which aligns with Roberto's consideration of the potential effects of the turbines on meadowlarks.

Question 7

The scientific method ________________
A)results in conclusions based on speculation
B)involves testing observations to derive a working hypothesis
C)now has been replaced by a widely accepted shortcut that is less time -consuming and less expensive
D)cannot prove a hypothesis to be true
E)results in the proving of a theory

Accepted Answer

The answer of The scientific method ________________
A)results in conclusions based...

Question 8

The process by which several researchers review another researcher's manuscript prior to publication to ensure research quality is referred to as _______________
A)investigative inquiry
B)overkill
C)critical analysis
D)quality control
E)peer review

Accepted Answer

Peer review is the process by which several researchers review another researcher's manuscript prior to publication to ensure research quality. Choice A (investigative inquiry) is not specific to the review process, and B (overkill) is not an accurate description of the peer review process. Choice C (critical analysis) is a part of the peer review process, but not the overall term for the process. Choice D (quality control) is a general term that could apply to many different processes, so it is not the best choice. Hence, the correct answer is E.

Question 9

Natural resources are _______________
A)resources provided by the Earth that are renewable and inexhaustible
B)the substances and energy sources that we take from the environment
C)resources provided by the Earth that are rapidly depleted by human societies
D)services provided by humans to help maintain ecosystems and their vital processes
E)nonrenewable materials provided by the Earth that are formed slowly over millions of years

Accepted Answer

Natural resources refer to the substances and energy sources that we take from the environment, such as minerals, forests, water, and oil, among others. Some of these resources are renewable, while others are nonrenewable, and their availability and accessibility can vary depending on a range of factors, including climate change, technological advances, and economic policies. Therefore, it is crucial to manage natural resources responsibly and sustainably to ensure their longevity and benefit for future generations.

Question 10

Global population is projected to be about _______________ in 2050.
A)7 billion
B)8 billion
C)9 billion
D)11 billion
E)13 billion

Accepted Answer

According to the United Nations, the global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion in 2050. Although some estimates may vary, C is the most accurate answer.

Question 11

Which of the following terms best describes the practice of environmental science?
A)integrative and interdisciplinary
B)theoretical and controversial
C)elitist and unnecessary
D)highly specialized and focused
E)abstract and theoretical

Accepted Answer

Environmental science is an integrative and interdisciplinary field that incorporates knowledge from various scientific disciplines to study the environment and its interactions with human activities. It involves fields such as ecology, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and social sciences.

Question 12

Use the accompanying figure to answer the following question.
-Nearly 50% of the land on our planet is currently used for agriculture,with very little more agriculturally usable land available.If everyone on the planet had an ecological footprint the size of the average citizen of the United States,then _____________
A)we would have 50% more food to go around
B)about 50% of the people would starve
C)we could support 50% more people on our planet
D)we would be able to provide for everyone without much difficulty,using the other 50% of the land currently not being used
E)we would need at least two more planet Earths to feed and support everyone

Accepted Answer

If everyone on the planet had an ecological footprint the size of the average citizen of the United States, we would need at least two more planet Earths to feed and support everyone. This is because the current land used for agriculture is almost at its maximum capacity, and increasing the usage of resources to match the lifestyle of the average American would result in a much higher demand for land, water, and energy. Therefore, the only sustainable solution would be to reduce our ecological footprint and consumption patterns.

Question 13

In a manipulative experiment _______________
A)a scientist has been caught manipulating the data for economic gain
B)researchers manipulate as many variables as possible
C)the peer review process is bypassed
D)researchers manipulate the independent variable
E)replication of the experiment is not necessary

Accepted Answer

In a manipulative experiment, researchers manipulate the independent variable, while keeping all other variables constant, to see how it affects the dependent variable. This allows researchers to establish cause-and-effect relationships between the independent and dependent variables.

Question 14

The concept of sustainable development includes _______________
A)convenience and global economic improvements
B)the needs of future generations
C)the importance of developing the arts
D)each nation being sovereign over its own resources,to be used as its citizens deem appropriate
E)growth in profits from international trade

Accepted Answer

The concept of sustainable development focuses on meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Therefore, the needs of future generations are incorporated into the concept. The other choices are not directly related to sustainable development.

Question 15

Ecosystem services _______________
A)are economically valuable services provided by natural systems
B)are valuable to natural systems but not to human -created systems
C)are required to rebalance natural systems that we have disturbed
D)contribute to keeping ecosystems productive
E)are actions humans must take in order to protect and serve ecological systems

Accepted Answer

Ecosystem services are economically valuable services provided by natural systems.

Question 16

To determine your specific impacts on the environment,you can _______________
A)determine your environmental handprint
B)calculate the biodiversity of your local community
C)calculate your ecological footprint
D)measure local air pollution and its impacts on your health
E)determine your community's impact on water quality in a nearby river

Accepted Answer

Calculating your ecological footprint involves measuring your direct and indirect impact on the environment, including your use of resources such as energy, water, and food. This is the most accurate way to determine your environmental impact. The other choices may provide some information about environmental impacts, but do not offer as comprehensive a picture as calculating your ecological footprint.

Question 17

You have read about the mistakes made on Easter Island.On Tikopia,a small island in the Solomon Islands,the people acted in other ways.When they realized that the pigs they had imported were damaging the environment,they killed them all.They had to have permission from a chief to fish,which prevented overfishing.They also practiced contraception.These actions all indicate that _______________
A)they felt that everything was a nonrenewable resource
B)they believed in full resource utilization
C)they felt that everything was a renewable resource
D)they were concerned with only one year at a time
E)they were attempting to enact sustainability

Accepted Answer

The actions taken by the people of Tikopia indicate that they were attempting to enact sustainability. They recognized the impact that their actions were having on the environment and took steps to address them, such as killing the damaging pigs and implementing fishing restrictions. They also practiced contraception, which suggests that they were aware of the limitations of their resources and trying to ensure their long-term survival.

Question 18

Which of the following BEST embodies the qualities of a scientific theory?
A)Squirrels in central Illinois prefer to build their nests in oak trees instead of hickory trees.
B)Dangerous wildfires in California could be avoided by better fire prevention strategies.
C)All gases,liquids,and solids consist of atoms.
D)Students who study for their environmental science exams will perform better on those exams than those who do not.
E)Prairies that have larges herds of bison show greater plant diversity than prairies without bison.

Accepted Answer

This statement is a well-established scientific theory that has been supported by numerous experiments and observations. It has been rigorously tested and verified over time. The other statements may be true, but they do not meet the criteria of a scientific theory.

Question 19

An environmental scientist is least likely to be involved with which of the following?
A)studying X -ray emissions for evidence of black holes
B)studying the relationship between soil fungi and aspen trees in areas that are being restored after oil sand mining
C)helping a rancher determine the best ways to rotate herds of cattle to reduce erosion
D)determining the best fuel to generate electricity for a growing city in Arizona
E)launching NASA satellites that monitor changes in carbon dioxide production on Earth

Accepted Answer

X-ray emissions and black holes are not within the scope of environmental science.

Question 20

Roberto lives near a wind farm and is wondering about the environmental effects of the wind turbines.He _______________ that the turbines make a sound like faint airplane engines and also that there are far fewer meadowlarks living near the windfarm than lived there before the windfarm was built.
A)observes
B)hypothesizes
C)guesses
D)predicts
E)theorizes

Accepted Answer

Roberto is making observational statements about the wind turbines and their effects on the environment, so the best choice is "observes". The other choices imply more uncertain guesswork or deduction, which is not evident in the information given.

Quiz 1: Science and Sustainability

Geothermal energy,wind energy,and solar radiation are all examples of _______________

A hypothesis is _______________

Ruben has a new puppy named Paddington and wants to feed him the best possible food.He decides on an experiment where he will feed Paddington the very best canned food plus a dietary supplement of vitamins recommended by a veterinarian.Which of the following best describes Ruben's project?

Which of the following discoveries would be most likely to cause a scientific paradigm shift?

Solutions to environmental problems _______________

Roberto lives near a wind farm and is wondering about the environmental effects of the wind turbines.He _______________ that the turbines,which sound like faint airplane engines,are scaring off meadowlarks that used to nest in the area.

The scientific method ________________

The process by which several researchers review another researcher's manuscript prior to publication to ensure research quality is referred to as _______________

Natural resources are _______________

Global population is projected to be about _______________ in 2050.

Which of the following terms best describes the practice of environmental science?

In a manipulative experiment _______________

The concept of sustainable development includes _______________

Ecosystem services _______________

To determine your specific impacts on the environment,you can _______________

Which of the following BEST embodies the qualities of a scientific theory?

An environmental scientist is least likely to be involved with which of the following?

Roberto lives near a wind farm and is wondering about the environmental effects of the wind turbines.He _______________ that the turbines make a sound like faint airplane engines and also that there are far fewer meadowlarks living near the windfarm than lived there before the windfarm was built.