Question 1

The Clean Air Act

Accepted Answer

The Clean Air Act established national air quality standards to protect public health and welfare from the adverse effects of air pollution. It does not primarily focus on promoting alternative forms of energy or providing tax benefits for hybrid cars, but instead focuses on reducing pollution through cost-effective changes. While the EPA may track industrial chemicals as part of its duties under the Clean Air Act, this is not the law's primary purpose.

Question 2

______ is a certification program that recognizes sustainable building practices and strategies.

Accepted Answer

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a certification program that recognizes sustainable building practices and strategies. It was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and is widely used in the construction industry to promote energy efficiency, water conservation, and other environmentally responsible practices.

Question 3

The world's forests are being destroyed at a rate of 58,000 square miles annually. The reasons for this wide-scale destruction are varied and include all except

Accepted Answer

All the other options listed are known causes of deforestation. However, soil that is great for farming would actually be a reason to preserve forests, as it provides opportunities for sustainable agriculture without needing to clear more land. Therefore, the destruction of forests for the purpose of farming would not be driven by soil quality alone.

Question 4

Perhaps the most controversial form of alternative energy after nuclear power is ___________.

Accepted Answer

Ethanol from corn and other crops has been controversial due to concerns about its impact on food prices and the environment, particularly in terms of water usage and land use change. Its production also relies heavily on government subsidies.

Question 5

Which of the following describes sustainable development?

Accepted Answer

Sustainable development is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves balancing economic, environmental, and social considerations to achieve long-term well-being for all. Choice A is also correct, but may be too broad and inclusive for the definition of sustainable development. Choices B, C, and D focus more on specific business practices rather than the broader concept of sustainable development.

Question 6

Geothermal energy provides _______________and is a more dependable energy source than some other forms of alternative energy.

Accepted Answer

Geothermal energy provides a constant source of heat and is not dependent on weather conditions or variable factors like wind or solar power. This makes it a more dependable energy source than some other forms of alternative energy. Heat from the sun (A) and radiated heat (B) are not specific to geothermal energy, while heat from steam (C) is a result of geothermal processes but not a defining characteristic of geothermal energy. Dry heat (E) is also not specific to geothermal energy.

Question 7

The _______________focuses on reducing pollution through cost-effective changes in production, operation, and raw materials use.

Accepted Answer

The Pollution Prevention Act focuses on reducing pollution through cost-effective changes in production, operation, and raw materials use. It aims to prevent waste rather than treat or dispose of it after it is created. It also encourages industries to voluntarily adopt pollution prevention practices, and promotes the sharing of pollution prevention information through partnerships and collaborations.

Question 8

The first Earth Day, which increased stakeholder awareness of environmental concerns and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, brought ________to the forefront.

Accepted Answer

The first Earth Day led to increased stakeholder awareness of environmental concerns and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, which fostered the development of sustainability practices. Therefore, the best choice is sustainability.

Question 9

Because genetically modified seeds are _______, farmers cannot keep any of the seed themselves but must purchase seeds each year from companies such as Monsanto.

Accepted Answer

Genetically modified seeds are patented, meaning that the company that created them (such as Monsanto) owns the patent and farmers are not allowed to save and replant these seeds without permission. Therefore, farmers must purchase new seeds each year from the patent holder.

Question 10

Many businesses responded to sustainability by adopting a triple bottom line approach, taking into consideration social and environmental performance variables in addition to _______________.

Accepted Answer

The triple bottom line approach involves considering social and environmental performance variables in addition to economic performance. Therefore, option B is the correct answer as it completes the statement. The other options are not relevant to the triple bottom line approach.

Question 11

The Clean Water Act makes it illegal for anyone to discharge any pollutant from a point source directly into navigable waters without a ___________.

Accepted Answer

The Clean Water Act requires anyone who wishes to discharge pollutants from a point source into navigable waters to obtain a permit first. This permit will outline specific limits and requirements for the discharge to minimize pollution and protect water quality.

Question 12

Congress passed the ____________to empower the EPA with the ability to track the 75,000 industrial chemicals currently produced or imported into the United States.

Accepted Answer

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was passed in 1976 to provide the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the ability to track the production and importation of industrial chemicals in the United States. It requires companies to provide information on the chemicals they produce or import and gives the EPA the authority to regulate them if they are deemed hazardous to human health or the environment.

Question 13

One of the biggest factors in land pollution is the dumping of waste into landfills. _______consumers are by far the world's biggest wasters.

Accepted Answer

Americans have a reputation for being wasteful, and the United States generates the most municipal solid waste (MSW) of any country in the world. In 2017, Americans generated 267.8 million tons of MSW, which is about 4.51 pounds of waste per person per day. This excessive waste contributes significantly to land pollution through landfill dumping.

Question 14

All of the following are goals of the Environmental Protection Agency, except

Accepted Answer

The goal of the EPA is not to ensure that all Fortune 500 firms have a chief sustainability officer, although the agency may encourage and promote sustainability practices among businesses. The other goals listed align with the EPA's mission.

Question 15

All of these are ways of reducing pollution, except

Accepted Answer

Greenwashing refers to deceitful marketing tactics to make products appear more environmentally friendly than they actually are. It does not contribute to reducing pollution. The other choices are all valid methods for reducing pollution.

Question 16

What is the largest form of renewable energy?

Accepted Answer

Hydropower is the largest form of renewable energy, providing approximately 16% of global electricity generation. It is also a reliable and cost-effective source of energy, as it can provide base-load power and has a long lifespan. However, it does have significant environmental and social impacts, such as the displacement of communities and the alteration of river ecosystems.

Question 17

Although limiting urban sprawl creates disadvantages for ____________, many businesses can benefit from urban renewal movements that reduce sprawl.

Accepted Answer

Car and oil companies are likely to be disadvantaged by efforts to limit urban sprawl because such efforts often involve reducing reliance on personal vehicles and promoting more sustainable forms of transportation, which can decrease demand for cars and fuel.

Question 18

A ___________ business attempts to avoid dealing with environmental issues and hopes nothing bad happens or no one ever finds out about an environmental accident or abuse.

Accepted Answer

A low-commitment business is one that does not prioritize or invest in environmental issues, hoping to avoid any negative consequences or scrutiny. This type of business does not actively seek to be socially responsible or adhere to strict environmental regulations.

Question 19

Wind power holds great promise for the United States because of the _____________, and experts believe wind energy could meet as much as 20 percent of the nation's energy needs.

Accepted Answer

The Great Plains region is known for its consistent and strong winds, making it an ideal location for wind energy production. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, wind energy has the potential to meet 10 times the current electricity demand in the US, with the Great Plains alone having the potential to generate up to 37% of the country's electricity needs through wind power.

Question 20

__________ is one of the country's greatest sustainability success stories.

Accepted Answer

Recycling has been one of the country's greatest sustainability success stories as it has helped to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and conserve natural resources. The recycling industry has grown significantly in recent years and has created jobs and economic benefits while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Quiz 12: Sustainability: Ethical and Social Responsibility Dimensions