Question 1

Air pollution generated in China affects air quality in WESTERN coastal states in the United States and in British Columbia,Canada.

Accepted Answer

Pollutants from China can travel across the Pacific Ocean and contribute to air pollution levels in Western coastal states of the United States and in British Columbia, Canada, due to prevailing wind patterns and atmospheric circulation.

Question 2

An ecosystem is
A)the transition zone between grassland and desert.
B)a group of interactive species and their environment.
C)a body of freshwater.
D)the lowland area on either side of a river.

Accepted Answer

An ecosystem encompasses a community of interacting species and their physical environment, functioning as a unit. This includes both biotic (living organisms) and abiotic (non-living elements like water, minerals, and climate) components.

Question 3

Environmental science is a narrowly defined field of physical and biological sciences.

Accepted Answer

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that integrates physical, biological, and information sciences (including ecology, biology, physics, chemistry, plant science, zoology, mineralogy, oceanography, limnology, soil science, geology, atmospheric science, and geography) to study the environment and the solutions to environmental problems.

Question 4

The Earth Summit was
A)the first worldwide meeting dealing with environmental concerns.
B)formerly known as the UNCED.
C)held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
D)All of these are correct.

Accepted Answer

The Earth Summit, officially known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), was indeed the first worldwide meeting dealing with environmental concerns, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

Question 5

Ecosystem boundaries are usually defined by easily identifiable demarcations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Ecosystem boundaries are usually defined by easily...

Question 6

Environment is defined as:
A)the surrounding conditions that affect organisms.
B)everything that affects an organism during its lifetime.
C)all organisms including people affecting many components.
D)More than one of the choices are correct.
E)None of the choices are correct.

Accepted Answer

Both A and B are correct definitions of the environment, as it encompasses both the surrounding conditions and everything that affects an organism throughout its lifetime.

Question 7

Economic considerations are not involved with environmental decisions.

Accepted Answer

Economic considerations are often closely involved with environmental decisions, as the costs of environmental protection, resource management, and the economic benefits of sustainable practices are key factors in policy-making and environmental planning.

Question 8

The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park did not have an impact on the ecosystem.

Accepted Answer

The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park significantly impacted the ecosystem, leading to trophic cascades that helped restore ecological balance by controlling elk populations, which in turn allowed vegetation and tree populations to recover, benefiting various other species.

Question 9

Science is an approach to studying the supernatural world that involves formulating hypotheses and then testing them to see if the hypotheses are supported or refuted.

Accepted Answer

Science is an approach to studying the natural world, not the supernatural, through observation, hypothesis formulation, and testing to see if these hypotheses are supported or refounded by empirical evidence.

Question 10

Some ecosystems have easily recognized boundaries,such as lakes,islands,or floodplains.

Accepted Answer

Ecosystems like lakes, islands, and floodplains have natural physical boundaries that make them easily distinguishable from their surroundings, thus they have easily recognized boundaries.

Question 11

Malaria is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions,with some 525 million cases occurring annually and resulting in one to three million deaths,mainly in young children:
A)of the Quechua Indians in Peru.
B)in Sub-Saharan Africa.
C)of the Jesuits in Europe.
D)of the pilgrims in Massachusetts.

Accepted Answer

Malaria is predominantly found in Sub-Saharan Africa, where a significant majority of cases and deaths occur, especially among young children. The region's climate and the prevalence of the most efficient mosquito species for transmission (Anopheles gambiae) contribute to the high rates of malaria.

Question 12

The word environment is usually understood to mean the surrounding conditions that affect organisms,but a broader definition would include everything that affects an organism during its lifetime.

Accepted Answer

The broader definition of environment indeed encompasses all conditions and influences affecting the growth and development of an organism, including physical, chemical, and biological factors, throughout its lifetime.

Question 13

Which is the following is a correct example of interrelatedness?
A)Wolves reintroduced → coyotes decline → rodents decline → willows increase
B)Wolves reintroduced → elk decline → willows increase → beavers increase
C)Wolves reintroduced → coyotes decline → rodents increase → foxes decrease
D)Wolves reintroduced → elk decline → willows increase → beavers increase → water flow stays the same

Accepted Answer

The reintroduction of wolves leads to a decline in elk populations, which in turn allows willow populations to increase because they are not being overgrazed. The increase in willows provides more habitat and food for beavers, leading to an increase in beaver populations. This is a classic example of a trophic cascade, where the introduction or removal of a top predator causes significant changes throughout the ecosystem.

Question 14

The result of the 1997 Kyoto Summit was an international commitment to
A)reduce the amount rainforest logging.
B)increase the amount of land placed in conservation easement.
C)reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
D)reduce the number of oil spills.

Accepted Answer

The 1997 Kyoto Summit, officially known as the Kyoto Protocol, was an international agreement where participating countries committed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in an effort to combat climate change.

Question 15

Agenda 21 was an agreement by
A)seven nations to halt CFC production in 1987.
B)90 nations to enhance global biodiversity in 2000.
C)178 nations for comprehensive sustainable development in 1992.
D)300 nations to limit trade in endangered species in 1985.

Accepted Answer

Agenda 21 was a non-binding action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development. It was adopted by 178 nations during the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.

Question 16

The organization of colleges and universities in the United States and Canada that promotes sustainability in higher education is called
A)UNCED.
B)UNESCO.
C)AASHE.
D)STARS.

Accepted Answer

AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education) is the organization that promotes sustainability in higher education in the United States and Canada.

Question 17

Biodiversity is fundamental to human welfare and economic development and plays a critical role in meeting human needs by maintaining the ecological processes upon which our survival depends.

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity supports ecosystem services such as pollination, nutrient cycling, water purification, and climate regulation, all of which are essential for food production, clean water, disease management, and other aspects of human welfare and economic development.

Question 18

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary area of study that deals with all of the following except
A)politics.
B)economics.
C)ethics.
D)All of these are correct.

Accepted Answer

Environmental science indeed encompasses politics, economics, and ethics among other disciplines, making it an interdisciplinary field.

Question 19

The ecosystem approach requires scientists to recognize and understand natural interactions and to integrate this with human needs for natural resources.

Accepted Answer

The ecosystem approach emphasizes the integrated management of land, water, and living resources, considering both the natural interactions within ecosystems and the needs of humans who depend on these resources.

Question 20

UNCED was the former name for the Earth Summit.

Accepted Answer

UNCED, which stands for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, was indeed the former name for what is commonly known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.

Quiz 1: Environmental Interrelationships

Air pollution generated in China affects air quality in WESTERN coastal states in the United States and in British Columbia,Canada.

An ecosystem is

Environmental science is a narrowly defined field of physical and biological sciences.

The Earth Summit was

Ecosystem boundaries are usually defined by easily identifiable demarcations.

Environment is defined as:

Economic considerations are not involved with environmental decisions.

The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park did not have an impact on the ecosystem.

Science is an approach to studying the supernatural world that involves formulating hypotheses and then testing them to see if the hypotheses are supported or refuted.

Some ecosystems have easily recognized boundaries,such as lakes,islands,or floodplains.

Malaria is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions,with some 525 million cases occurring annually and resulting in one to three million deaths,mainly in young children:

The word environment is usually understood to mean the surrounding conditions that affect organisms,but a broader definition would include everything that affects an organism during its lifetime.

Which is the following is a correct example of interrelatedness?

The result of the 1997 Kyoto Summit was an international commitment to

Agenda 21 was an agreement by

The organization of colleges and universities in the United States and Canada that promotes sustainability in higher education is called

Biodiversity is fundamental to human welfare and economic development and plays a critical role in meeting human needs by maintaining the ecological processes upon which our survival depends.

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary area of study that deals with all of the following except

The ecosystem approach requires scientists to recognize and understand natural interactions and to integrate this with human needs for natural resources.

UNCED was the former name for the Earth Summit.