Question 1

Which of the following does not help overcome labor shortages in "graying" societies?

Accepted Answer

Reduced welfare benefits may have a negative impact on the labor force, as it could create financial insecurity and discourage individuals from seeking employment. Immigration, employment of women, and encouraging more births can all help to increase the labor force in aging societies.

Question 2

What environmental hazard was rated by the US Embassy in Beijing as "Crazy Bad"?

Accepted Answer

The US Embassy in Beijing rated air pollution as "Crazy Bad" due to the excessive levels of PM2.5, which are harmful particulate matter in the air. This has led to a range of health problems and environmental damage in the area. The other options are also environmental hazards, but they were not specifically rated as "Crazy Bad" by the US Embassy in Beijing.

Question 3

What caused London's "pea-soup" fogs in the nineteenth century?

Accepted Answer

The use of coal for heating was the main cause of London's "pea-soup" fogs in the nineteenth century. The burning of trash and smog from factories also contributed, but the widespread use of coal for domestic heating was the major contributor to the problem. Arson incidents were not a significant factor.

Question 4

Which of the following countries is least likely to support energy conservation?

Accepted Answer

Saudi Arabia is heavily reliant on the oil industry and would therefore be less likely to support energy conservation as it would directly impact their economy.

Question 5

What is OPEC?

Accepted Answer

OPEC stands for "Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries" and is a commodity cartel made up of countries that produce and export significant amounts of petroleum. They aim to coordinate and stabilize oil prices and production to benefit their member countries.

Question 6

Which of the following is not a cause of increased oil prices?

Accepted Answer

Growing global reliance on nuclear power is not a cause of increased oil prices, as nuclear power does not directly compete with oil as an energy source. The other options (B, C, and D) all represent factors that can increase demand for oil or disrupt its supply, leading to higher prices.

Question 7

Who pioneered the use of "environmental terrorism"?

Accepted Answer

Saddam Hussein is often cited as a pioneer of "environmental terrorism" for his actions during the Gulf War, particularly the 1991 Kuwaiti oil fires, where his forces set fire to hundreds of Kuwaiti oil wells, causing massive environmental damage.

Question 8

What is one of the consequences of global warming?

Accepted Answer

Global warming causes the sea level to rise due to melting ice caps and thermal expansion of seawater. This poses a threat to low-lying areas such as the island nation of Tuvalu, which is at risk of being inundated or completely submerged by rising sea levels.

Question 9

What treaty was signed in 2016 in an effort to slow global warming?

Accepted Answer

The Paris Climate Agreement was signed in 2016 in an effort to slow global warming.

Question 10

What was one reason the United States refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol?

Accepted Answer

One reason the United States refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol was because it did not require developing countries, like China, to limit their carbon emissions. This was seen as unfair and potentially harmful to the U.S. economy while allowing significant polluters to continue their emissions growth.

Question 11

Where did the largest oil spill in marine waters taker place?

Accepted Answer

The largest oil spill in marine waters occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and released millions of gallons of oil into the ocean.

Question 12

Where was food used as a weapon in global politics in 1992?

Accepted Answer

The use of food as a weapon in global politics occurred in Somalia in 1992 during the civil war. The warring factions obstructed international aid agencies from delivering food to areas under their control, resulting in famine and deaths from starvation. The United Nations eventually intervened with a peacekeeping mission and humanitarian aid efforts.

Question 13

Which of the following NGOs seeks to alleviate famine and malnutrition?

Accepted Answer

Oxfam is an organization that specifically focuses on alleviating poverty, hunger, and malnutrition across the globe. Greenpeace focuses on environmental issues, the Sierra Club focuses on conservation, and Amnesty International focuses on human rights.

Question 14

What was once called the "lungs of the world"?

Accepted Answer

The Amazon basin was once called the "lungs of the world" due to the vast amount of oxygen produced by the trees and vegetation in the region. The Amazon Rainforest is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world and is responsible for a significant portion of the Earth's oxygen production.

Question 15

What environmentalist was murdered in 1988?

Accepted Answer

Environmentalist Chico Mendes was murdered in 1988 by ranchers who opposed his advocacy for preserving the Amazon rainforest and protecting the rights of indigenous people and rubber tappers.

Question 16

What do we call the arrangement whereby a government pays off a debtor country's obligations at reduced interest and the debtor country uses the funds it would have paid in interest to improve the environment?

Accepted Answer

This arrangement is called a debts-for-nature swap. In this scheme, the government pays off a debtor country's obligations at reduced interest, and in return, the debtor country uses the money that it would have paid in interest to improve its environmental conditions. This primarily involves funding preservation and restoration programs for protected areas such as forests, wetlands, and coral reefs.

Question 17

Where did the Soviet navy dump its radioactive wastes?

Accepted Answer

The Soviet navy dumped its radioactive wastes in the Barents Sea. In particular, the Novaya Zemlya nuclear test site in the Arctic Circle was used for nuclear testing and dumping of nuclear waste, including spent fuel and storage vessels. This has resulted in significant environmental contamination in the region. The Soviet navy also dumped radioactive waste in other areas of the Arctic Ocean, but the Barents Sea was one of the primary sites.

Question 18

What major body of water is drying up owing to the diversion of rivers that feed it?

Accepted Answer

The Aral Sea is drying up due to the diversion of rivers that feed it for irrigation purposes.

Question 19

What environmental group was born when activists protested a US underground nuclear test?

Accepted Answer

Greenpeace was born in 1971 when a group of activists protested a US underground nuclear test.

Question 20

What was the cause of the "mad hatters' disease" in Alice in Wonderland?

Accepted Answer

Mercury was commonly used in the hat-making process during the time when the novel was written, and prolonged exposure to the toxic substance caused hatters to develop symptoms such as tremors, slurred speech, and erratic behavior, which could be compared to the behavior of the "mad hatter" character in the story.

Quiz 16: The Environment: a Global Collective Good