Question 1

At the end of the twentieth century, ____________________ has/have been added to environmental thinking.
A) global concerns
B) urban problems
C) water supply and pollution problems
D) human population growth
E) air pollution problems

Accepted Answer

A

Question 2

One of the first steps in critical thinking is to
A) decide whether conclusions follow premises.
B) decide if premises are true.
C) identify premises and conclusions.
D) identify whether premises are facts or values.
E) approach a problem in new and innovative ways.

Accepted Answer

The first step in critical thinking is to identify the premises and conclusions in the given information or argument. Only then can one decide if the conclusions logically follow from the premises and if the premises themselves are true or based on facts or values. While approaching a problem in new and innovative ways can be a valuable aspect of critical thinking, it is not necessarily the first step.

Question 3

Which of the following is not an example of how statistics are used?
A) assessing the general state of a group
B) determining the context of how data was gathered
C) estimating the confidence you can have in the data
D) determining if your group is unusual
E) evaluating the relationship between variables

Accepted Answer

Determining the context of how data was gathered is more related to the methodology of data collection rather than the use of statistics. Statistics are primarily used for analysis, such as assessing states, estimating confidence, determining anomalies, and evaluating relationships, rather than for understanding the data collection context.

Question 4

In reading a claim by an atmospheric scientist that ozone depletion is not an actual environmental problem, a critical thinker would
A) ignore the claim because it does not align with his/her opinions.
B) feel relieved because ozone depletion was such an overwhelming problem.
C) look for evidence that is in line with past experience.
D) look for evidence of the source's reliability.
E) acknowledge the claim because an atmospheric scientist is an expert.

Accepted Answer

A critical thinker would look for evidence of the source's reliability before accepting or rejecting the claim. The fact that the claim comes from an atmospheric scientist does not necessarily mean that it is credible, hence the need to investigate the source.

Question 5

Generally, distinguished scientists
A) always agree if they really are expert scientists.
B) may have different interpretations of the same evidence.
C) never disagree once a theory is established.
D) believe each other and support each other in their work.
E) always disagree so they can prove theories.

Accepted Answer

Distinguished scientists may have different interpretations of the same evidence as science is an ever-evolving field where new evidence and discoveries can change the current understanding of a theory. It is through disagreement and debate that scientific theories are refined and improved. However, these disagreements are typically based on evidence and data, rather than personal opinions or beliefs.

Question 6

Although your sister is not a scientist, she says that she uses scientific techniques in her everyday life. You do not believe her but she insists it is true. Which of the following examples could she use to best persuade you?
A) When she cooks, she measures ingredients and puts them together to form something else .
B) When she drives in her car, she hypothesizes about things .
C) She put some tomatoes in the sun and some in the shade to see if the sun causes them to ripen faster.
D) She buys a brand of toothpaste based on statistical data (four out of five dentists recommend it).
E) All of these are examples of using scientific techniques in her everyday life.

Accepted Answer

Option C shows an example of her setting up an experiment to test the effect of the sun on tomato ripening, which is a scientific technique often used in research. Option A also involves measuring and combining ingredients but may not necessarily involve the scientific method. Option B involves hypothesizing, which is a step in the scientific method, but there isn't enough information to determine if she's using it in a scientific way. Option D involves using statistical data, which is related to science, but it doesn't necessarily involve her using scientific techniques in her everyday life. Therefore, option C is the best example.

Question 7

Ideally, science
A) is correct most of the time.
B) tells us what we expected to find.
C) uses new technology.
D) is methodical and logical.
E) proves that our hypotheses are correct.

Accepted Answer

Science is a systematic and logical approach to discovering and understanding the natural world. It involves developing hypotheses based on observations and then testing them through experiments or other empirical methods. Science does not prove hypotheses are correct, but instead provides evidence that supports or refutes them. Science also often incorporates new technology, but this is not the defining characteristic of the scientific method.

Question 8

Of the following statements and questions, which is the best example of deductive reasoning?
A) If all insects have six legs, then butterflies have six legs.
B) In repeated tosses of a coin, there is a 50/50 chance of each toss resulting in a "head."
C) How many times will the toss of coins turn "heads-up" if 100 people each toss a coin?
D) Since every insect I have examined so far has six legs, I conclude that all insects must have six legs.
E) All of these are examples of deductive reasoning.

Accepted Answer

The statement follows the pattern of deductive reasoning by providing a general principle (all insects have six legs) and applying it to a specific case (butterflies).

Question 9

Most environmental problems result from
A) excessive pollution.
B) complex, interrelated problems.
C) technological development problems.
D) global warming.
E) urban degradation.

Accepted Answer

Environmental problems are complex and interrelated, often involving multiple factors such as human activities, natural processes, and socio-economic factors. Excessive pollution, technological development problems, global warming, and urban degradation are all examples of environmental problems that are part of this complex web of interrelated factors.

Question 10

Evidence of progress in dealing with population problems is best illustrated by
A) current evidence of a stable population in the developing and developed world.
B) a decrease in the average number of children born to each woman.
C) current evidence of a globally stable population growth.
D) the decreasing population growth rate in the United States.
E) current evidence of a stable population in the developing world.

Accepted Answer

The decrease in the average number of children born to each woman is a clear indicator of progress in dealing with population problems. This would result in a slower population growth rate and eventually contribute to a stable population size in the long term. The other options either do not necessarily indicate progress (option A and E) or are not as strong of indicators of progress (option C and D).

Question 11

Biocentric preservationists, first led by John Muir, advocate saving natural areas for their
A) beauty and wildlife habitat.
B) hunting and fishing value.
C) wood and mineral resources for the future.
D) tourism and recreation potential.
E) economic value in cleaning the air and preventing soil erosion.

Accepted Answer

Biocentric preservationists, such as John Muir, prioritize the intrinsic value of nature and advocate for the conservation of natural areas for their inherent beauty and the protection of wildlife habitats. They believe that nature has value in and of itself and should be protected regardless of any potential economic or utilitarian benefits.

Question 12

In explaining your choice of an environmental science major in college to your roommate, you would probably emphasize the fact that environmental science is a(n)
A) applied interdisciplinary field with an emphasis on solving problems.
B) well-established field that has been in existence for a long time.
C) theoretical discipline that will help solve the problems created by human impact.
D) relatively new field that will identify remedies to environmental issues.
E) theoretical field with an emphasis on scientific understanding.

Accepted Answer

Environmental science is an applied interdisciplinary field, which means that it draws on knowledge from various scientific disciplines to address real-world environmental problems. This emphasis on problem-solving is a key characteristic of the field and one that would likely be highlighted in explaining the choice of major to a roommate.

Question 13

Utilitarian conservationists, including Gifford Pinchot and Theodore Roosevelt, supported forest conservation in order to provide
A) wildlife habitats in forested areas.
B) untouched, unvisited wilderness areas.
C) homes, jobs, and recreation for people.
D) the scenic beauty found in natural areas.
E) resources, such as natural habitats, for future generations.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarian conservationists, such as Gifford Pinchot and Theodore Roosevelt, believed in the sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations. They saw forest conservation as a way to provide homes, jobs, and recreation opportunities for people while also ensuring the continued availability of timber and other resources. Wildlife habitats, untouched wilderness areas, and scenic beauty were not their primary concerns.

Question 14

Environmentalism stemming from the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring differed from earlier North American conservation perspectives by
A) focusing on human population growth.
B) placing more emphasis on pollution problems.
C) emphasizing international problems.
D) encouraging energy efficiency.
E) emphasizing the value of natural resources.

Accepted Answer

Silent Spring brought attention to the harmful effects of pesticides on the environment and wildlife, leading to a greater emphasis on pollution problems in environmentalism. Earlier conservation perspectives tended to focus more on the efficient use of natural resources rather than on pollution.

Question 15

The statement, "Since every insect I have examined so far has six legs, I conclude that all insects must have six legs." is an example of
A) inductive reasoning.
B) deductive reasoning.
C) hypothesis testing.
D) reductive reasoning.
E) parsimony.

Accepted Answer

This statement is an example of inductive reasoning, which involves making a generalization based on specific observations or examples. In this case, the generalization is that all insects have six legs based on the observation that every insect examined so far has six legs. Inductive reasoning does not always lead to certainty, but it can provide strong evidence for a hypothesis.

Question 16

The point of critical thinking is to learn to
A) weigh all the evidence and draw your own conclusions.
B) distrust all opinions other than your own.
C) trust only your own experimental results.
D) learn to accept the views of real authorities.
E) identify true experts in a field.

Accepted Answer

The point of critical thinking is to consider all evidence and information available and use it to make informed, logical conclusions. It is not about distrusting all opinions or only relying on personal experimentation. Additionally, while experts in a field should be considered, blindly accepting their views without critical evaluation can lead to incorrect assumptions.

Question 17

Proof in science is always
A) firmly established.
B) beyond question.
C) an impossible goal.
D) changing very quickly.
E) open to question or new evidence.

Accepted Answer

Proof in science is always subject to questioning and new evidence, as science is a constantly evolving field. As new information and data come to light, scientific theories and concepts may change or be revised. Therefore, proof is never fully established or beyond question, making choice E the best option.

Question 18

Environmental science is a
A) narrowly defined set of physical, life, and social sciences.
B) theoretical approach in interpreting the environment.
C) way to see the world in scientific terms.
D) systematic approach learning about the environment.
E) special set of problem-solving skills.

Accepted Answer

Environmental science is a systematic approach of learning about the environment by studying the natural and social sciences, as well as examining human impacts on the environment.

Question 19

The best definition of a hypothesis is a(n)
A) proof of a proposed theory.
B) proposed theory that has been tested numerous times.
C) theory based on experiments.
D) argument based on acute intuition.
E) proposed explanation based on observation.

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation or prediction based on observation that needs to be tested through further experimentation or observation. It is not yet a proven theory and may require refinement or modification based on testing and data analysis.

Question 20

A group of concerned citizens are collecting water samples from a local river to detect the level of nitrogen in the water. They plan to take samples every day for a month and then will divide the sum by the number of days they sampled. What is the group trying to do?
A) determine the mean level of nitrogen in the water
B) determine the average level of nitrogen in the water
C) determine the confidence level of the sample
D) both determine the mean level of nitrogen in the water and determine the average level of nitrogen in the water
E) both determine the average level of nitrogen in the water and determine the confidence level of the sample

Accepted Answer

The answer of A group of concerned citizens are collecting...

Quiz 1: Understanding Our Environment

At the end of the twentieth century, ____________________ has/have been added to environmental thinking.

One of the first steps in critical thinking is to

Which of the following is not an example of how statistics are used?

In reading a claim by an atmospheric scientist that ozone depletion is not an actual environmental problem, a critical thinker would

Generally, distinguished scientists

Although your sister is not a scientist, she says that she uses scientific techniques in her everyday life. You do not believe her but she insists it is true. Which of the following examples could she use to best persuade you?

Ideally, science

Of the following statements and questions, which is the best example of deductive reasoning?

Most environmental problems result from

Evidence of progress in dealing with population problems is best illustrated by

Biocentric preservationists, first led by John Muir, advocate saving natural areas for their

In explaining your choice of an environmental science major in college to your roommate, you would probably emphasize the fact that environmental science is a(n)

Utilitarian conservationists, including Gifford Pinchot and Theodore Roosevelt, supported forest conservation in order to provide

Environmentalism stemming from the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring differed from earlier North American conservation perspectives by

The statement, "Since every insect I have examined so far has six legs, I conclude that all insects must have six legs." is an example of

The point of critical thinking is to learn to

Proof in science is always

Environmental science is a

The best definition of a hypothesis is a(n)

A group of concerned citizens are collecting water samples from a local river to detect the level of nitrogen in the water. They plan to take samples every day for a month and then will divide the sum by the number of days they sampled. What is the group trying to do?