Question 1

Sustainability is the capacity of the earth's natural system and human cultural systems to survive, flourish, and adapt to changing environmental conditions in the long-term future.

Accepted Answer

Sustainability refers to the ability of natural and human systems to endure and thrive over a long period of time despite changing environmental conditions.

Question 2

The "tragedy of the commons" refers to a situation in which the cumulative effect of large numbers of people trying to exploit a widely available or shared resource can degrade it and eventually exhaust or ruin it.

Accepted Answer

The tragedy of the commons is a real phenomenon in which the overuse of a shared resource can lead to its eventual depletion or ruin. This can happen because everyone involved is motivated by their own self-interest, rather than considering the well-being of the resource as a whole. The tragedy of the commons has been observed in a wide variety of contexts, from fishing in the ocean to grazing livestock on public land.

Question 3

In nature, chemicals are recycled rather than becoming waste.

Accepted Answer

In nature, the process of decomposers breaking down organic matter and converting it into soil, and the process of photosynthesis where carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants and converted into oxygen are examples of how chemicals are recycled rather than becoming waste.

Question 4

Resource use per person is higher in the United States than it is in middle-income countries like China.

Accepted Answer

The United States has a higher standard of living than middle-income countries like China, which leads to higher resource use per person.

Question 5

Exponential growth occurs when a quantity such as the human population increases at a fixed percentage per unit of time, such as 0.5% or 2% per year.

Accepted Answer

Exponential growth occurs when a quantity increases at a fixed percentage per unit of time.

Question 6

Biodiversity is defined as the variety of genes, organisms, species, and ecosystems and plays an important role in the long-term sustainability of life on Earth.

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity is indeed defined as the variety of genes, organisms, species, and ecosystems and is crucial for maintaining the balance of nature and environmental sustainability.

Question 7

A shift to restore natural capital and reduce its degradation and depletion requires using technology, not lessons from nature.

Accepted Answer

A shift to restore natural capital and reduce its degradation and depletion requires a combination of both technology and lessons from nature. Understanding ecosystems and their functions can inform technological solutions that work with natural systems rather than against them, leading to more sustainable outcomes.

Question 8

Natural resources are considered natural capital, whereas ecosystem services are not.

Accepted Answer

Both natural resources and ecosystem services can be considered as forms of natural capital. Natural resources include things like forests, minerals, and water, while ecosystem services refer to the benefits that humans derive from the functioning of ecosystems, such as pollination, soil formation, and carbon sequestration. Both are valuable assets that can provide economic and social benefits, and can be managed and conserved in ways that promote sustainability.

Question 9

Government subsidies can actually encourage companies to conduct business in ways that result in environmental degradation.

Accepted Answer

Government subsidies can offer financial incentives to companies that engage in environmentally harmful practices, such as fossil fuel production or deforestation, leading to further degradation of the environment.

Question 10

There was a backlash against environmental laws and regulations in the 1980s that was led by some who argued that environmental laws were hindering economic growth.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. There was a significant resistance to environmental laws and regulations in the 1980s, with some arguing that these laws were impeding economic growth and therefore should be loosened or eliminated. The most prominent example of this movement was the Reagan administration's push for deregulation in multiple industries, including energy and transportation, which often led to rollbacks of environmental protections.

Question 11

Natural capital degradation is a consequence of living unsustainably.

Accepted Answer

Natural capital includes the resources and services provided by nature, such as clean air and water, forests, and biodiversity. Unsustainable living practices, such as overexploitation of these resources and pollution, lead to degradation of natural capital.

Question 12

Ecology is an important component of environmental science.

Accepted Answer

Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment, making it a crucial component of environmental science.

Question 13

Affluence always has negative environmental effects.

Accepted Answer

While affluence can lead to some negative environmental effects such as increased consumption and waste production, it is not always the case. There are examples of affluent societies that prioritize sustainability and implement practices and policies to minimize their environmental impact.

Question 14

The book Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, described progress in reducing pollution and showed that pesticides like DDT were no longer a concern due to effective environmental programs.

Accepted Answer

The book Silent Spring actually sounded the alarm about the harmful effects of pesticides like DDT and their impact on the environment and human health. It called for greater regulation and sparked the modern environmental movement.

Question 15

The "tragedy of the commons" is a phenomenon that occurs only when the number of users of a resource is small.

Accepted Answer

The "tragedy of the commons" is a phenomenon that occurs when the number of users of a resource is large and the resource is finite or limited in availability. This leads to overuse, depletion, and degradation of the resource.

Question 16

The per capita ecological footprint is the total ecological footprint for a given country or area.

Accepted Answer

The per capita ecological footprint is the average ecological footprint of an individual in a given country or area, not the total ecological footprint.

Question 17

In contrast to the life-centered worldview, the human-centered environmental worldview considers all species as having value as participating members of the biosphere regardless of their potential or actual use to humans.

Accepted Answer

The human-centered environmental worldview, also known as anthropocentrism, primarily values species based on their usefulness to humans, unlike the life-centered worldview which values all species as members of the biosphere regardless of their utility to humans.

Question 18

Species interactions help prevent any one population from becoming too large.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Species interactions help prevent any one population...

Question 19

One social science principle of sustainability is that we should leave the planet's life-support systems in at least as good a condition as that which we now enjoy, if not better, for future generations.

Accepted Answer

This is a widely accepted principle of sustainability, also known as the "precautionary principle." It emphasizes the importance of maintaining the health and well-being of the environment for the sake of future generations.

Question 20

Inexhaustible resources exist in a fixed quantity, or stock, in the earth's crust.

Accepted Answer

Inexhaustible resources, such as solar and wind energy, do not exist in a fixed quantity and are continually replenished.

Quiz 1: The Environment and Sustainability