Question 1

Some governments legally recognize slum areas of the urban poor in developing countries. On reason for this is that people living in slums tend to
A)utilize discarded building materials supplied by the government.
B)work to improve their living conditions if they know they can stay in an area.
C)rely on government subsidies for access to clean water, sewers, electricity and roads.
D)picket for basic services on government property, thereby creating a distraction.
E)occupy other legal properties nearby when their properties are illegal

Accepted Answer

Legal recognition of slums gives people living in them security and stability, which motivates them to make improvements to their living conditions. This is because they know they will not be evicted or have their homes demolished if they invest in their neighborhoods.

Question 2

The concept of an ecocity revolves around
A)sustainability and livability.
B)rapid urban development.
C)government subsidies and grants.
D)mass transportation services.
E)upper to middle class populations.

Accepted Answer

An ecocity is a city designed with a focus on sustainability and livability, minimizing negative impacts on the environment while providing a high quality of life for its residents. This includes features such as walkable neighborhoods, green spaces, renewable energy sources, and efficient transportation systems. Rapid urban development, government subsidies, and upper to middle class populations are not necessarily defining characteristics of an ecocity, and while mass transportation services are important for sustainability, they are just one aspect of the overall concept.

Question 3

Sanitary landfills are most likely to result in
A)open dumps.
B)the release of methane.
C)better ecocities.
D)reintroduction of wildlife habitats.
E)less urban sprawl.

Accepted Answer

Sanitary landfills are designed to minimize the environmental impact of waste disposal by using methods like compacting and covering the waste with layers of soil to reduce the release of pollutants and odors. However, one of the byproducts of this process is the production of methane gas, which can be harmful to the atmosphere if not managed properly. Therefore, the option B, the release of methane is the most likely result of sanitary landfills. None of the other options are related to the effects of sanitary landfills.

Question 4

____ represents the second largest proportion of solid waste produced in the United States.
A)Industrial solid waste
B)Municipal solid waste
C)Electronic waste
D)Toxic waste
E)Integrated waste

Accepted Answer

Municipal solid waste (MSW) represents the second largest proportion of solid waste produced in the United States, after industrial solid waste. MSW includes household and commercial waste, such as food scraps, paper, plastics, and yard waste. In 2018, MSW accounted for 292.4 million tons of waste, while industrial solid waste accounted for 600 million tons.

Question 5

What is one advantage of urbanization?
A)easier access to medical care and social services
B)increased attention to wildlife habitats
C)stricter regulation of pollution
D)better water quality
E)more stable climate control

Accepted Answer

Urbanization often leads to the establishment of medical facilities and social services, making it easier for residents to access them. This can lead to improved health outcomes and a higher standard of living for urban residents.

Question 6

What would be the top priority in a pollution prevention approach to solid waste?
A)recycling
B)reusing
C)reducing
D)burning
E)burying

Accepted Answer

The top priority in a pollution prevention approach to solid waste is reducing the amount of waste generated. This can be done through measures such as reducing packaging and promoting sustainable consumption patterns. Recycling and reusing come next in priority as ways to minimize the amount of waste that ultimately ends up in landfills or incinerators. Burning and burying waste are not effective pollution prevention strategies and can actually contribute to environmental and health hazards.

Question 7

With about 4.6% of the world's population, the United States produces ____ of the world's solid waste.
A)15%
B)25%
C)35%
D)45%
E)55%

Accepted Answer

The United States produces approximately 25% of the world's solid waste, despite only having about 4.6% of the world's population. This is due to a combination of factors, including high levels of consumption and a reliance on disposable products.

Question 8

The U.S contains ____ of the world's population but consumes ____ of the world's gasoline.
A)4.4%; 43%
B)4.4%; 25%
C)25%; 10%
D)43%; 5%
E)85%; 2%

Accepted Answer

The U.S. has about 4.4% of the world's population but consumes approximately 43% of the world's gasoline, highlighting the country's high per capita energy consumption compared to global averages.

Question 9

What are the top four components of municipal solid waste that are buried in U.S. landfills, listed from highest to lowest?
A)paper, food waste, yard waste, and plastics
B)plastics, paper, yard waste, and food waste
C)paper, yard waste, food waste, and plastics
D)yard waste, paper, food waste, and plastics
E)plastics, food waste, yard waste, and paper

Accepted Answer

Paper, food waste, yard waste, and plastics are the top components of municipal solid waste in U.S. landfills, in that order, due to their prevalence in everyday waste generation.

Question 10

Today, ____ of the world's population and ____ of the U.S. population live in urban and suburban areas.
A)52%; 82%
B)20%; 75%
C)82%; 52%
D)90%; 87%
E)100%; 100%

Accepted Answer

As of the latest data, approximately 52% of the world's population lives in urban and suburban areas, while in the United States, this figure is significantly higher at around 82%.

Question 11

What is an advantage of sanitary landfills for the disposal of solid waste?
A)discouragement of waste production
B)low operating cost
C)containment of greenhouse gases
D)less contamination of groundwater
E)better traffic ad air pollution controls

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is an advantage of sanitary landfills...

Question 12

Urbanization is best defined as the
A)decline of suburban populations.
B)creation and growth of urban and suburban areas.
C)homogenization of ecocities.
D)replacement of hypercities with megacities.
E)migration of the U.S. population to less populated states.

Accepted Answer

Urbanization refers to the process of creating and developing urban areas, including both cities and suburbs. It typically involves an increase in population density and the concentration of economic and social activity in these areas. A is incorrect because suburban populations can still grow even in the process of urbanization. C and D are not accurate definitions of urbanization. E is incorrect because it only pertains to the U.S. population, whereas urbanization is a global phenomenon.

Question 13

____ represents the largest proportion of solid waste produced in the United States.
A)Industrial solid waste
B)Municipal solid waste
C)Electronic waste
D)Toxic waste
E)Integrated waste

Accepted Answer

Industrial solid waste represents the largest proportion of solid waste produced in the United States, primarily due to the vast amount of waste generated from manufacturing, mining, and agricultural activities.

Question 14

Which of the following strategies for dealing with e-wastes fits best with at least one of the three principles of sustainability?
A)Help children learn to earn money by scavenging for scrap metal.
B)Ship e-wastes to developing countries.
C)Burn e-wastes periodically.
D)Dispose of e-wastes in landfills.
E)Give used electronics back to manufacturer for remanufacturing, repair, or recycling.

Accepted Answer

Giving used electronics back to the manufacturer for remanufacturing, repair, or recycling fits with the principle of reuse and reduction of waste. It also promotes a circular economy approach to electronic waste management.

Question 15

Hazardous waste is best defined as waste that threatens human health or the environment because it
A)is devoid of any nutrients
B)is poisonous, dangerously chemically reactive, corrosive, or flammable
C)an unwanted or discarded material that is not liquid or gas.
D)is in violation of anti-pollution laws
E)has been disposed of improperly

Accepted Answer

Hazardous waste poses a threat to human health or the environment due to its poisonous, dangerously chemically reactive, corrosive, or flammable nature. This type of waste requires special handling to prevent harm to living organisms and ecosystems.

Question 16

Primary, or closed-loop recycling,
A)recycles used materials into new products of the same type.
B)recycles used materials into new product of a different type.
C)recycles materials for use in secondary recycling.
D)requires a fee-per-bag collection system.
E)involves postconsumer waste.

Accepted Answer

Primary, or closed-loop recycling, involves recycling used materials into new products of the same type. This can be seen in the recycling of aluminum cans into new aluminum cans, or plastic bottles into new plastic bottles. The material is reused in the same product, reducing the need for virgin materials and conserving resources.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about landfill processes is false?
A)Open landfills are common near major cities in many developing countries.
B)Contaminated leachate can seep from the bottom of landfills.
C)Contaminated groundwater is a problem at some landfills.
D)Fly ash created in landfills is a useful by-product.
E)Older, unlined landfills may have particularly bad water pollution problems.

Accepted Answer

Fly ash is not a by-product of landfills, but rather a by-product of burning coal in power plants. The rest of the statements are true.

Question 18

Smart growth is a form of urban planning that
A)uses laws and other tools to channel urban growth into less harmful areas
B)relies on current statistics rather than on future population growth trends
C)encourages resource consumption
D)facilitates urban sprawl on a rapid scale
E)focuses on the social consequences of urban land use planning

Accepted Answer

Smart growth is an urban planning approach that aims to direct urban growth towards areas that will have less negative impacts on the environment and promote sustainable use of resources. This is achieved through the use of laws, regulations and other tools to encourage compact, mixed-use development, preservation of open space, and increased public transportation options.

Question 19

What is one disadvantage of urbanization?
A)lack of transportation options
B)higher infant mortality rates
C)less access to medical care and social services
D)fragmentation of wildlife habitats
E)less recycling alternatives

Accepted Answer

Urbanization often involves destruction of natural habitats and fragmentation of wildlife habitats due to the expansion of urban areas. This can lead to biodiversity loss and negative impacts on species that rely on intact ecosystems.

Question 20

Solid waste is best defined as any unwanted or discarded material that
A)is partially reusable because of its nutrients
B)threatens human health or the environment because of its toxicity
C)is not liquid or gas
D)is not biodegradable
E)cannot be converted to a liquid

Accepted Answer

Solid waste is defined as any material that is not liquid or gas. This includes things like household rubbish, construction debris, and industrial waste.

Note: While all of the choices may apply to some types of solid waste, C is the most accurate and universally applicable definition.

Quiz 13: Urbanization and Solid and Hazardous Waste

Some governments legally recognize slum areas of the urban poor in developing countries. On reason for this is that people living in slums tend to

The concept of an ecocity revolves around

Sanitary landfills are most likely to result in

____ represents the second largest proportion of solid waste produced in the United States.

What is one advantage of urbanization?

What would be the top priority in a pollution prevention approach to solid waste?

With about 4.6% of the world's population, the United States produces ____ of the world's solid waste.

The U.S contains of the world's population but consumes of the world's gasoline.

What are the top four components of municipal solid waste that are buried in U.S. landfills, listed from highest to lowest?

Today, of the world's population and of the U.S. population live in urban and suburban areas.

What is an advantage of sanitary landfills for the disposal of solid waste?

Urbanization is best defined as the

____ represents the largest proportion of solid waste produced in the United States.

Which of the following strategies for dealing with e-wastes fits best with at least one of the three principles of sustainability?

Hazardous waste is best defined as waste that threatens human health or the environment because it

Primary, or closed-loop recycling,

Which of the following statements about landfill processes is false?

Smart growth is a form of urban planning that

What is one disadvantage of urbanization?

Solid waste is best defined as any unwanted or discarded material that