Question 1

When burning fossil fuels release sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere, moisture in the air turns these emissions into sulfuric and nitric acid and leads to __________.

Accepted Answer

The emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide from burning fossil fuels react with moisture in the air to form sulfuric and nitric acid, which leads to acid rain.

Question 2

__________ is a bacterium that lives in our digestive systems, where it has a beneficial role; but it becomes dangerous when our food or water is contaminated with feces.

Accepted Answer

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium that is normally found in the intestines of humans and animals, where it plays a beneficial role in digestion. However, certain strains can cause illness if food or water is contaminated with feces.

Question 3

The state of Florida offers tax cuts to new businesses that relocate to the area. This is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of corporate welfare, where the government provides financial incentives to businesses to encourage economic development and job creation in the area.

Question 4

The food additive Red Dye No. 2 is known to cause cancer. As such, it is a __________.

Accepted Answer

Red Dye No. 2 is classified as a carcinogen because it is known to cause cancer.

Question 5

The cutlery used at the Annual Environmentalist Picnic is made of plant starch that disintegrates after being exposed to normal bacteria. As such, the cutlery is __________.

Accepted Answer

The cutlery is biodegradable because it is made of plant starch that disintegrates when exposed to bacteria, meaning it can be broken down naturally by microorganisms.

Question 6

The sweetener aspartame interacts with various food colorings to interfere with the development of the nervous system. As such, aspartame and food colorings are __________.

Accepted Answer

Aspartame and food colorings are described as synergistic because their interaction leads to a combined effect that interferes with the development of the nervous system, which is greater than the effect of each one individually.

Question 7

The plankton in the ocean ingested mercury that was in the water. A small fish ate the plankton. A larger fish ate the smaller fish that had eaten the plankton. Marcus ate the large fish that had eaten the smaller fish. This reflects __________.

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes a sequence of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food, which is characteristic of a food chain.

Question 8

Evan works at the local fast-food joint. When he uses the restroom, he does not wash his hands and the food becomes contaminated with bacteria from Evan's digestive system. The bacteria that contaminates the food is __________.

Accepted Answer

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a type of bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals, and it can contaminate food if proper hygiene is not maintained.

Question 9

__________ famously won a bet that raw materials were not getting scarcer.

Accepted Answer

Julian Simon famously won a bet against Paul Ehrlich, demonstrating that the prices of raw materials were not increasing, indicating they were not getting scarcer.

Question 10

Rain forests are home to __________ of all plant and animal species.

Accepted Answer

Rainforests are home to around 30% of all plant and animal species.

Question 11

__________ argue that we are facing energy and resource shortages so vast they will shatter the foundations of the industrialized world.

Accepted Answer

Pessimistic environmentalists argue that energy and resource shortages will have severe impacts on the industrialized world.

Question 12

Vashti believes that our civilization depends on substances whose supply is limited. Vashti is a(n) __________.

Accepted Answer

Vashti's belief that civilization depends on limited resources aligns with a pessimistic environmentalist viewpoint, which emphasizes concerns about resource depletion and environmental sustainability.

Question 13

Rodney claims that improved technology will solve whatever threat pollution may pose to the environment. Rodney is a(n) __________.

Accepted Answer

Rodney is an optimistic environmentalist because he believes that technology will be able to address and solve environmental issues caused by pollution.

Question 14

Martine supports the idea of a steady state society. As such, she is a(n) __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Martine supports the idea of a steady...

Question 15

Che supports the idea of a scaled-back society. As such, he is a(n) __________.

Accepted Answer

A pessimistic environmentalist often supports the idea of a scaled-back society, believing that reducing consumption and growth is necessary to prevent environmental degradation.

Question 16

Vertigo supports the idea of an expanding society. As such, he is a(n) __________.

Accepted Answer

Vertigo is an optimistic environmentalist because he supports the idea of an expanding society, which implies that he believes that society can grow and develop without harming the environment.

Question 17

__________ are gases developed from garbage, sawdust, and other waste.

Accepted Answer

Synfuels, or synthetic fuels, are created from waste materials like garbage and sawdust through chemical processes.

Question 18

Some people want to rely on __________, the heat from beneath the earth's crust, to meet our energy needs.

Accepted Answer

Geothermal energy is the heat from beneath the earth's crust and is used as a renewable energy source to meet energy needs.

Question 19

Congress passed the Community Right to Know Act in

Accepted Answer

The Community Right to Know Act, formally known as the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), was passed in 1986.

Question 20

The __________ involves stabilizing industrial output at the current rate to slow the rate of pollution and conserve resources.

Accepted Answer

A steady-state society aims to maintain a stable level of industrial output to reduce pollution and conserve resources, aligning with the concept of sustainability.

Quiz 13: The Environmental Crisis