Question 1

Which step is crucial to provide meaningful and lasting solutions to social problems related to food production?

Accepted Answer

While each of these options can contribute to addressing social problems related to food production, large-scale changes in policy are crucial to provide meaningful and lasting solutions. Policies can address issues such as food inequality, agricultural subsidies, and environmental regulations, which affect both producers and consumers. These policy changes can not only address immediate problems but can also create long-term systemic improvements.

Question 2

When fossil fuels are burned they release ______.

Accepted Answer

When fossil fuels are burned, they release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. These gases contribute to global warming and climate change.

Question 3

Which effort makes the largest societal impact?

Accepted Answer

While all of these efforts can have a positive impact on the environment and society, passing laws favoring renewable energy can have the largest impact in the long-term by shifting society towards a more sustainable and low-emission energy system. This can lead to decreased greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality, and job creation in the renewable energy sector.

Question 4

In 1978, the state of North Carolina needed to clean up 60,000 tons of PCB-contaminated soil spread through 14 counties by an electric company. How did the state government decide on Warren County as the site to bury the toxic soil known to cause cancer?

Accepted Answer

Politicians stated that Warren County had less economic potential than other areas, making it a suitable location for the disposal of the toxic soil.

Question 5

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) how will environmental justice be realized?

Accepted Answer

According to the EPA, environmental justice will be realized when citizens have equal access to decision-making processes. This means that all members of a community should have a voice in decisions affecting their environment, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. Higher taxes, cheaper environmental consciousness for corporations, and international treaties may all be important factors in promoting environmental justice, but they do not necessarily guarantee equal access to decision-making processes.

Question 6

Farm raised pigs live amongst their kin and are able to engage in natural behavior before being slaughtered. Family farms often use 100% of the animal rather than discarding fewer valuable parts of the pig like skin and bones. The way family farms raise animals is in direct contrast to the ______.

Accepted Answer

The Industrial Livestock Operation, or factory farming, is a system where animals are kept in confined and controlled spaces, often highly mechanized, to maximize production and profit. This system is known to prioritize efficiency over animal welfare, leading to cramped living spaces, high disease spread, and the routine use of antibiotics and hormones.

Question 7

Which characteristic makes renewable energy different from fossil fuels?

Accepted Answer

Renewable energy is generated from sources that can be replenished over time, such as solar, wind, and hydro power. Fossil fuels, however, are finite resources that took millions of years to form and cannot be replenished once they are depleted.

Question 8

Which statement accurately describes the accessibility and abundance of fossil fuels?

Accepted Answer

As humans have been using fossil fuels for a long time, we have already extracted the most accessible and convenient sources of it. This has led to the exploration and extraction of fossil fuels in more challenging locations, such as deep offshore reserves or hard-to-reach oil sands.

Question 9

According to the most recent research, why are communities of color up to four times as likely to host a hazardous waste landfill than predominantly White communities?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that communities of color are often targeted for hazardous waste landfills because of a lack of political power and resources to resist these decisions. This is often due to years of systemic racism and discriminatory policies that have resulted in the concentration of hazardous facilities in low-income communities and communities of color.

Question 10

Besides the ethical treatment of animals, what is another problem created by the factory farming of hogs?

Accepted Answer

Factory farming of hogs produces a massive amount of waste, which can contain dangerous toxins and pollutants. This waste can contaminate local water sources and cause health problems for nearby communities.

Question 11

Which type of intervention is most effective for a problem like climate change?

Accepted Answer

Climate change is a global issue that affects the entire planet. Therefore, a global intervention is necessary to effectively address the problem. This includes cooperation between nations, international agreements, and coordinated efforts to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. Gradual interventions may not be sufficient to address the urgency of the issue, while individual actions alone cannot achieve the necessary level of change. Increasing industrialization would actually exacerbate the problem, as industrial processes are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 12

The term ______ is a more accurate description of higher temperatures and disruptive weather events than the older term ______.

Accepted Answer

The term "climate change" is a more accurate description of the overall impact of higher temperatures and disruptive weather events on the planet as a whole, whereas "global warming" only refers to the rise in average global temperatures. The term "greenhouse gases" is a related but different concept that refers to the specific gases responsible for trapping heat in the atmosphere.

Question 13

Fossil fuels are superior to renewable energy when considering ______.

Accepted Answer

Fossil fuels have a much higher energy density than renewable energy sources like wind or solar. This means that they provide more energy per unit of fuel, making them more efficient for certain purposes like transportation and industrial processes. However, this advantage must be weighed against the negative impacts of fossil fuels on sustainability, climate change, and waste.

Question 14

Which country derives a majority of their electricity from nuclear power plants?

Accepted Answer

France derives over 70% of their electricity from nuclear power plants, making them the country that derives the majority of their electricity from nuclear power.

Question 15

How did the citizens of Warren County react to their area being selected to suffer from the irresponsibility of the electric company that dumped toxic waste along 240 miles of highway to avoid paying recycling fees?

Accepted Answer

The citizens of Warren County engaged in nonviolent protests as a reaction to their area being selected for the dumping of toxic waste. This event is often cited as a pivotal moment in the environmental justice movement.

Question 16

Which statement is a valid criticism of nuclear energy?

Accepted Answer

Nuclear energy produces radioactive waste, which can have harmful effects if not properly disposed of. The disposal process is costly and presents potential risks to both human health and the environment.

Question 17

Which energy source benefits from the most government aid and subsidization?

Accepted Answer

Fossil fuels receive the most government aid and subsidization globally, according to the International Energy Agency. This includes both direct subsidies and tax breaks.

Question 18

______-driven research is a strategy that contributes to more equal citizen representation in environmental justice decisions.

Accepted Answer

Community-driven research is a strategy that involves the active participation of community members in all aspects of the research process. This approach leads to a more equitable representation of citizen perspectives and priorities in environmental justice decisions. Profit-driven research may prioritize financial gain over community well-being, while university and international research may not prioritize the needs and perspectives of local communities.

Question 19

Which social factor encourages monoculture in farming?

Accepted Answer

The social factor that encourages monoculture in farming is profit. Monoculture allows farmers to specialize in one crop, increasing efficiency and profitability. However, this practice can have negative consequences such as soil depletion, pest infestations, and loss of biodiversity.

Question 20

Why are fossil fuels cheaper than renewable energy?

Accepted Answer

Fossil fuel industries have already established large-scale infrastructure which allows them to produce energy at a lower cost per unit. The initial investment in renewable energy technology is high, and the market and infrastructure are not as established, leading to a higher cost per unit.

Quiz 8: Researching Environmental Problems