Question 1

Utilitarian conservationists,including Gifford Pinchot and Theodore Roosevelt,supported forest conservation in order to provide
A)wildlife habitats in forested areas.
B)untouched,unvisited wilderness areas.
C)homes,jobs,and recreation for people.
D)the scenic beauty found in natural areas.
E)resources,such as natural habitats,for future generations.

Accepted Answer

EUtilitarian conservationists like Gifford Pinchot and Theodore Roosevelt advocated for the conservation of forests primarily to ensure that they could continue to provide resources and benefits for human use and enjoyment, including homes, jobs, and recreation (C), as well as to conserve resources for future generations (E). Their approach was practical and aimed at sustainable use rather than preservation for its own sake.

Question 2

Although your sister is not a scientist,she says that she uses scientific techniques in her everyday life.You do not believe her but she insists it is true.Which of the following examples could she use to best persuade you that science is used daily?
A)When she cooks,she measures ingredients and puts them together to form something else (e.g. ,a cake).
B)When she drives in her car,she hypothesizes about things (e.g. ,when the red light will turn green).
C)She put some tomatoes in the sun and some in the shade to see if the sun causes them to ripen faster.
D)She buys a brand of toothpaste based on statistical data (four out of five dentists recommend it).
E)She cannot provide any example that would persuade you of using scientific techniques in her everyday life.

Accepted Answer

C

Question 3

In reading a claim by an atmospheric scientist that ozone depletion is not an actual environmental problem,a critical thinker would
A)ignore the claim because it does not align with his/her opinions.
B)feel relieved because ozone depletion was such an overwhelming problem.
C)look for evidence that is in line with past experience.
D)look for evidence and background of the source's reliability.
E)acknowledge the claim because an atmospheric scientist is an expert.

Accepted Answer

Critical thinkers seek evidence and evaluate the reliability of the source before accepting claims, especially those that contradict established scientific consensus.

Question 4

At the end of the twentieth century,________ has/have been added to environmental thinking.
A)global concerns
B)urban problems
C)water supply and pollution problems
D)human population growth
E)air pollution problems

Accepted Answer

Global concerns have been added to environmental thinking at the end of the twentieth century, reflecting the increasing awareness of global environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss.

Question 5

The statement,"Since every insect I have examined so far has six legs,I conclude that all insects must have six legs." is an example of
A)inductive reasoning.
B)deductive reasoning.
C)hypothesis testing.
D)reductive reasoning.
E)parsimony.

Accepted Answer

This statement is an example of inductive reasoning because it makes a generalization based on specific observations. Inductive reasoning involves going from specific instances to a general conclusion.

Question 6

One of the first steps in critical thinking is to
A)decide whether conclusions follow premises.
B)decide if premises are true.
C)identify premises and conclusions.
D)identify whether premises are facts or values.
E)approach a problem in new and innovative ways.

Accepted Answer

Identifying premises and conclusions is one of the initial steps in critical thinking, as it helps in understanding the structure of the argument before evaluating its validity or the truth of its premises.

Question 7

A group of concerned citizens are collecting water samples from a local river to detect the level of nitrogen in the water.They plan to take samples every day for a month and then will divide the sum by the number of days they sampled.Which of the following answers most completely describes what the group is trying to do?
A)determine the mean level of nitrogen in the water
B)determine the average level of nitrogen in the water
C)determine the confidence level of the sample
D)both determine the mean level of nitrogen in the water and determine the average level of nitrogen in the water
E)both determine the average level of nitrogen in the water and determine the confidence level of the sample

Accepted Answer

The group is calculating the sum of daily nitrogen levels and then dividing by the number of days, which is the process for finding both the mean and the average. Mean and average are synonymous in this context, so both A and B are correct, making D the most complete answer. Confidence level (choice C) refers to a different statistical concept not described by the group's actions.

Question 8

Most environmental problems result from
A)excessive pollution.
B)complex,interrelated problems.
C)technological development problems.
D)global warming.
E)urban degradation.

Accepted Answer

Most environmental problems are indeed complex and interrelated, involving multiple factors such as pollution, resource depletion, habitat destruction, and climate change, rather than stemming from a single cause.

Question 9

Which of the following is not an example of how statistics are used?
A)assessing the general state of a group
B)determining the context of how data was gathered
C)estimating the confidence you can have in the data
D)determining if your group is unusual
E)evaluating the relationship between variables

Accepted Answer

Determining the context of how data was gathered is more related to the methodology of data collection rather than the use of statistics. Statistics are primarily used for analysis, such as assessing states, estimating confidence, determining anomalies, and evaluating relationships, rather than for understanding the data collection context.

Question 10

Environmentalism stemming from the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring differed from earlier North American conservation perspectives by
A)focusing on human population growth.
B)placing more emphasis on pollution problems.
C)emphasizing international problems.
D)encouraging energy efficiency.
E)emphasizing the value of natural resources.

Accepted Answer

Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" is renowned for significantly shifting the environmental movement's focus towards the dangers of pollution, especially pesticides, to the environment and human health, marking a departure from earlier conservation efforts that were more centered on the preservation of wilderness and natural resources.

Question 11

The point of critical thinking is to learn to
A)weigh all the evidence and draw your own conclusions.
B)distrust all opinions other than your own.
C)trust only your own experimental results.
D)learn to accept the views of real authorities.
E)identify true experts in a field.

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking involves evaluating all available evidence and information to form one's own reasoned conclusions, rather than blindly accepting or rejecting others' opinions, relying solely on personal experiments, or uncritically accepting authority figures or supposed experts.

Question 12

Environmental science is a
A)narrowly defined set of physical,life,and social sciences.
B)theoretical approach in interpreting the environment.
C)way to see the world in scientific terms.
D)systematic approach learning about the environment.
E)special set of problem-solving skills.

Accepted Answer

Environmental science is a systematic approach to learning about the environment, integrating various scientific disciplines to understand and address environmental issues comprehensively.

Question 13

The best definition of a hypothesis is a(n)
A)proof of a proposed theory.
B)proposed theory that has been tested numerous times.
C)theory based on experiments.
D)argument based on acute intuition.
E)proposed explanation based on observation.

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is essentially a proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation. It is not yet a theory or a proof, but rather an initial idea that can be tested through experimentation and observation.

Question 14

Ideally,science
A)is correct most of the time.
B)tells us what we expected to find.
C)uses new technology.
D)is methodical and logical.
E)proves that our hypotheses are correct.

Accepted Answer

Science is characterized by its methodical and logical approach to understanding the natural world, which involves systematic observation, measurement, experimentation, and the formulation of questions and hypotheses.

Question 15

If current trends continue,climate models indicate that by 2100 global mean temperature will probably increase by 2° to 6°C compared to today's temperatures.This would result in decreases in
A)severe droughts.
B)heat waves.
C)storm intensity.
D)flooding.
E)glaciers and snowfields.

Accepted Answer

Increases in global mean temperature are expected to lead to the melting of glaciers and snowfields, among other impacts. This is because warmer temperatures cause ice to melt at a faster rate than it is replaced by snowfall.

Question 16

Biocentric preservationists,first led by John Muir,advocate saving natural areas for their
A)beauty and wildlife habitat.
B)hunting and fishing value.
C)wood and mineral resources for the future.
D)tourism and recreation potential.
E)economic value in cleaning the air and preventing soil erosion.

Accepted Answer

Biocentric preservationists, like John Muir, focus on preserving natural areas primarily for their intrinsic value, including their beauty and the habitat they provide for wildlife, rather than for economic reasons or human recreation.

Question 17

The Human Development Index (HDI)is a statistic to compare quality of life in different places.Why do some countries have low HDI values compared to others?
A)People live longer and have greater incomes in these locations.
B)Poverty,hunger,and health problems are greater in these places.
C)The majority of the data is collected by U.S.agencies and is biased.
D)Literacy and education is higher in these locations compared to others.
E)The quality of life in these places in high.

Accepted Answer

Countries with low HDI values often face significant challenges such as poverty, hunger, and health issues, which directly impact their quality of life and contribute to lower HDI scores.

Question 18

Methods in environmental science include all of the following,except
A)observations.
B)qualitative reasoning.
C)the scientific method.
D)quantitative reasoning.
E)critical and analytical thinking.

Accepted Answer

Qualitative reasoning, while valuable in many disciplines, is not typically classified as a distinct method in environmental science. Environmental science often relies on quantitative data, observations, the scientific method, and critical and analytical thinking to understand and solve environmental problems.

Question 19

Of the following statements and questions,which is the best example of deductive reasoning?
A)If all insects have six legs,then butterflies have six legs.
B)In repeated tosses of a coin,there is a 50/50 chance of each toss resulting in a "head."
C)How many times will the toss of coins turn "heads-up" if 100 people each toss a coin?
D)Since every insect I have examined so far has six legs,I conclude that all insects must have six legs.
E)All of these are examples of deductive reasoning.

Accepted Answer

Deductive reasoning starts with a general statement or hypothesis and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion. In choice A, the statement "If all insects have six legs, then butterflies have six legs" is a clear example of deductive reasoning because it applies a general rule (all insects have six legs) to a specific case (butterflies) to draw a conclusion.

Question 20

In explaining your choice of an environmental science major in college to your roommate,you would probably emphasize the fact that environmental science is a(n)
A)applied interdisciplinary field concerning the environment with an emphasis on solving problems.
B)well-established field that has been in existence for a long time.
C)theoretical discipline that will help solve the problems created by human impact.
D)relatively new field that will identify remedies to environmental issues.
E)theoretical field with an emphasis on scientific understanding.

Accepted Answer

Environmental science is indeed an applied interdisciplinary field that focuses on understanding and solving environmental problems, integrating knowledge from various disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics, and social sciences.

Quiz 1: Understanding Our Environment

Utilitarian conservationists,including Gifford Pinchot and Theodore Roosevelt,supported forest conservation in order to provide

Although your sister is not a scientist,she says that she uses scientific techniques in her everyday life.You do not believe her but she insists it is true.Which of the following examples could she use to best persuade you that science is used daily?

In reading a claim by an atmospheric scientist that ozone depletion is not an actual environmental problem,a critical thinker would

At the end of the twentieth century,________ has/have been added to environmental thinking.

The statement,"Since every insect I have examined so far has six legs,I conclude that all insects must have six legs." is an example of

One of the first steps in critical thinking is to

Most environmental problems result from

Which of the following is not an example of how statistics are used?

Environmentalism stemming from the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring differed from earlier North American conservation perspectives by

The point of critical thinking is to learn to

Environmental science is a

The best definition of a hypothesis is a(n)

Ideally,science

If current trends continue,climate models indicate that by 2100 global mean temperature will probably increase by 2° to 6°C compared to today's temperatures.This would result in decreases in

Biocentric preservationists,first led by John Muir,advocate saving natural areas for their

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistic to compare quality of life in different places.Why do some countries have low HDI values compared to others?

Methods in environmental science include all of the following,except

Of the following statements and questions,which is the best example of deductive reasoning?

In explaining your choice of an environmental science major in college to your roommate,you would probably emphasize the fact that environmental science is a(n)