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Environmental Science for a Changing World First Canadian Edition Test Bank

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    Page 1 Guiding Question 1 - 1 What constitutes the “environment” and what fields of study collaborate under the umbrella of environmental science? 1. Environmental science relies or draws on which of the following? A) natural sciences such as ecology D) humanities such as literature B) applied sciences such as engineering E) All of the above C) social sciences such as anthropology Ans: E Difficulty level: easy 2. An example of applied science would be ____________. A) designing a solar panel for increased efficiency B) observing chimpanzee behaviour in a rainforest C) collecting ice core samples to determine carbon dioxide levels 100 000 years ago D) determining the diet of Greenland Vikings based on analysis of their garbage E) counting the number of geese on a pond Ans: A Difficulty level: medium 3. Of the following, which one is an example of an empirical study? A) developing more efficient photovoltaic cells for electricity production B) producing models of the impact of various greenhouse gas concentrations on global temperature C) developing ultra - fast passenger trains D) improving the efficiency of electricity transmission E) developing pest control methods that do not include pesticides Ans: B Difficulty level: medium 4. Which of the following describes an environment? A) fish living in a stream B) bacteria living in a human's intestinal tract C) mould growing on a wood stump in a forest D) a cat living in a house E) All of the above describe an environment. Ans: E Difficulty level: easy 5. Which phrase best describes “environment”? A) the climate where an organism lives B) the living surroundings in which an organism exists C) the living and nonliving surroundings in which an organism exists D) the nonliving surroundings where an organism lives E) the domination of nonliving systems by living systems Ans: C Difficulty level: easy

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    Chapter 1 Page 2 6. What does an environment include? Ans: An environment includes the biological (living) and physical (nonliving) surroundings in which any given living organism exists. Difficulty level: medium 7. What is environmental science and what fields of study does it rely on? Ans: Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field of research that draws on the natural (for example, ecology) and social sciences (for example, anthropology) and the humanities (for example, literature) in order to understand the natural world and our relationship to it. Difficulty level: medium Guiding Question 1 - 2 What are some of the environmental dilemmas that humans face and why are many of these considered “wicked problems”? How do our attitudes affect how we deal with these wicked problems? 8. Which factors make up the “triple bottom line”? A) human, natural, and solar B) international, national, and local C) social, economic, and environmental D) agricultural, financial, and environmental E) solar energy, water, and air Ans: C Difficulty level: easy 9. Due to their complexity, any given response to an environmental problem involves significant __________ and no one response is likely to present the ultimate solution. A) sliding reinforcers D) anthropogenics B) trade - offs E) tragedies C) wicked problems Ans: B Difficulty level: medium 10. Which situation best describes the “tragedy of the commons”? A) A fisher uses a net to catch a large quantity of fish. B) Increasing amounts of pesticides need to be used over time to maintain the same effect on pests. C) An oil pipeline leaks. D) Sustainable forestry practices are applied to a plot of land in the rainforest. E) Herders put too many sheep in a public field because they think, “If I don't use this available resource, someone else will.” Ans: E Difficulty level: easy

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    Chapter 1 Page 3 11. Modern fishing techniques use giant nets to harvest large numbers of fish in the short term. This may result in severely reduced populations of fish in the future. Which term best describes the above scenario? A) time delay B) tragedy of the commons C) sliding reinforcer D) extinction E) These are all terms to describe what happens in the scenario. Ans: A Difficulty level: medium 12. What does it mean when an environmental issue is a “wicked problem”? A) It is created by people who care only about themselves. B) It is global in nature. C) It involves trade - offs that not everyone will be happy with. D) It is a problem that cannot be solved. E) None of the above describes “ wicked problems.” Ans: C Difficulty level: easy 13. Refer to Infographic 1.3. The Green Revolution brought modern industrialized agricultural techniques to developing countries so they could better feed their growing populations. The idea is to achieve higher yields by taking advantage of better seed types, irrigation, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides. By doing this, less land, such as rainforest, would need to be converted to agriculture. Use the Infographic to describe the pros and cons of the Green Revolution on the environment. Ans: By preventing deforestation, more carbon dioxide is taken out of the atmosphere, which helps to prevent global warming. Also, by keeping habitat intact, biodiversity will be better protected in those areas not converted into agriculture. However, by adding tractors, fossil fuels now need to be combusted, and this contributes to global warming. Chemicals added to crops will run off into water and soil. Added irrigation can cause water shortages and soil problems. Difficulty level: hard 14. Refer to Infographic 1.6. Ethanol is often produced in locations where farmers also grow corn. Underground water reservoirs are used to grow both the corn and process the ethanol. These reservoirs are being depleted in some areas of North America. Which of the social traps apply to the water depletion? Ans: Tragedy of the commons (no entity “owns” the groundwater so each party draws as much as they can to meet their needs until the unregulated resource is depleted) and Time Delay (a benefit of growing corn and producing ethanol is seen today but depleted ground water decades into the future would mean an inability to produce either). Difficulty level: medium

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    Chapter 1 Page 4 15. Refer to Infographic 1.6. Antibiotics are routinely given to animals in confinement facilities to avoid the spread of disease through dense populations. The antibiotics get into the surrounding environment (water and soil) and select for populations of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. When infected by such a strain, an animal or human will not respond to treatment with the antibiotic. Which social trap is in effect here? What should be done about this? Ans: Sliding Reinforcer. We must be more careful in the application of antibiotics to humans and livestock because what is helpful at first is no longer helpful and then becomes deadly over time. Many strains of bacteria exist that are resistant to all of our available antibiotic treatments. Difficulty level: medium 16. How can the “tragedy of the commons” be applied to anthropogenic climate change? Ans: No one entity owns the atmosphere. It is common to all countries. We combust fossil fuels, and greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere where they trap heat and enhance the greenhouse effect. Unless regulations are enacted, each industry/nation will benefit from burning fossil fuels because it is in their own best interest. However, if everyone does this, the entire planet will suffer. This type of problem is difficult to solve because it is global and thus requires all nations to agree to reforms, without cau sing undue suffering to any particular participant. Difficulty level: hard Guiding Question 1 - 3 What challenges does humanity face in dealing with environmental issues and how can environmental literacy help us make more informed decisions? 17. Most environmental problems can be traced to three underlying causes: the number of humans on this planet, utilization of resources at a very fast rate, and _________. A) deforestation B) affluence C) fossil fuels D) habitat loss E) pollution Ans: E Difficulty level: easy 18. The _________ is the land needed to provide the resources and assimilate the waste of a person or population. A) carrying capacity D) ecological footprint B) biomass E) population demand C) ecological fingerprint Ans: D Difficulty level: easy

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    Chapter 1 Page 5 19. The recent changes in global climate driven by human activities have the potential to _______________. A) alter weather patterns D) endanger species B) cause crop failures E) All of the above C) raise sea levels Ans: E Difficulty level: easy 20. Which of the following is NOT an example of self - inflicted environmental damage done by the Greenland Vikings? A) overgrazing B) used grassland to insulate their houses C) chopped down forests for fuel and home construction D) the population grew to a few thousand individuals E) climate cooling Ans: E Difficulty level: medium 21. What evidence did scientists use in Greenland to study atmospheric conditions during the Viking settlements? A) air bubbles trapped in ice cores D) insect fossils B) mud core samples E) the law of superposition C) animal bones collected from middens Ans: A Difficulty level: medium 22. How is anthropogenic climate change different from the climate change experienced by the Greenland Vikings? A) It involves new chemical compounds. B) It is caused by human actions. C) It is a natural cycle the Earth goes through. D) It causes the average atmospheric temperature to decrease. E) It is caused by increased tectonic activity. Ans: B Difficulty level: medium 23. W hat is environmental literacy? Why is it important for individuals to have a strong understanding of environmental literacy when discussing environmental problems caused by humans? Ans: Environmental literacy is a basic understanding of how ecosystems function and of the impact of our choices on the environment. Most environmental problems can be traced to three causes: human population growth, overuse of resources, and pollution. It is important that people understand the impact that a growing human population has on Earth and how our increasing numbers are consuming resources at unsustainable rates. Additionally, it is important that individuals understand how our activities generate pol lution and how this pollution affects our health and the environment. Difficulty level: medium

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    Chapter 1 Page 6 24. Refer to Infographic 1.4. The consensus amongst climate scientists is that the recent changes in global climate are being driven by human activity (primarily fossil fuel combustion and deforestation). Use the Infographic to describe five attitudes people can take in response to this global environmental issue. Ans: Technological Fix: human ingenuity will save the day so we don't need to change our current habits or take any personal responsibility (for example, a chemical can be created to react with and lower the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere). Evaluate and Respond: listen to the scientific consensus and take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and live sustainably (for example, enact a carbon tax). Gloom and Doom: the problem is too overwhelming and catastrophe cannot be avoided. Rosy Optimism: Ear th is huge and there's no way humans could possibly cause this large of an effect (it's probably just natural climate cycles that we don't understand so we can ignore the issue). Frontier: resources such as oil are here for us to use. We'll find other resources for energy when oil runs out and to help us deal with any effects of climate change such as crop loss or water shortage. Difficulty level: hard 25. Refer to Infographic 1.4. Which attitude(s) is/are the most helpful in responding to environmental problems? Why? Ans: The attitude espoused by Evaluate and Respond is the most helpful. This attitude looks at the current environmental situation and attempts to address the problem by evaluating our options and choosing the most effective currently available solution. This attitude is the most helpful because it is flexible and willing to re - evaluate as we learn more. Environmental literacy informs our decision making. Difficulty level: medium Guiding Question 1 - 4 What does it mean to be sustainable and what are the characteristics of a sustainable ecosystem? 26. Which of the following is characteristic of a sustainable ecosystem? A) makes the most of renewable energy B) uses matter conservatively (recycles or reuses so nothing is wasted) C) keeps populations in check D) depends on local biodiversity E) All of the above Ans: E Difficulty level: easy

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    Chapter 1 Page 7 27. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a sustainable ecosystem? A) uses renewable energy B) eliminates waste by reusing matter C) contains species that all depend on the same limited resource D) recycles matter E) presence of local biodiversity to perform essential ecosystem processes Ans: C Difficulty level: easy 28. What is carrying capacity? A) the impact a population has on its environment B) the resources needed to support a population in its environment C) the population size that an area can support indefinitely D) a constant, invariant value that represents the amount of life Earth can support E) the amount of pollution a natural ecosystem can withstand before it begins to exhibit negative symptoms Ans: C Difficulty level: medium 29. Coal, natural gas, and oil are examples of ___________. A) renewable resources D) infinite resources B) nonrenewable resources E) unlimited resources C) alternative forms of energy Ans: B Difficulty level: easy 30. Solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass energy sources are examples of _______. A) nonrenewable energy D) fossil fuels B) finite energy E) unsustainable energy C) renewable energy Ans: C Difficulty level: easy 31. Which of the following is a nonrenewable resource? A) wood from trees B) coal C) energy that comes from an infinitely available resource D) solar energy E) wind energy Ans: B Difficulty level: easy 32. A good example of sustainability would be ___________. A) limiting commercial fishing to amounts that allow the fish population to repopulate B) using solar panels to generate electricity C) riding a bicycle to work D) purchasing products in packaging that can be recycled E) All of the choices listed above are good examples of sustainability. Ans: E Difficulty level: easy

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    Chapter 1 Page 8 33. What does it mean to be sustainable and what are four characteristics of a sustainable ecosystem? Ans: Sustainable methods use resources in such a way that we can continue to use them indefinitely. A sustainable ecosystem (1) makes the most of renewable energy, (2) wastes nothing by recycling and reusing resources, (3) keeps populations in check so resources are not overused, (4) depends on local biodiversity to perform many of these tasks. Difficulty level: medium 34. Unlike the Icelandic Vikings or Inuit, the Greenland Viking society was not sustainable. Describe what we know about their collapse. Ans: From ice cores, we know the climate cooled due to natural causes and this made life difficult for the population in terms of growing food and raising livestock. In terms of self - inflicted environmental damage, evidence from mud cores indicates that soil erosion was a significant problem. This was due to overgrazing livestock (cows), using grassland to insulate their homes, and cutting down forests for fuel, homes, and other wooden products. These impacts on the environment were particularly severe because t he environment was sensitive to begin with. As the population swelled to several thousand, the environment could no longer support the population and it crashed. Difficulty level: medium 35. Is our modern society acting sustainably? What are some areas of concern? Ans: Experts claim that humans are already living beyond the means our planet has to support us, and if we continue along this path, a population crash could occur, similar to the collapse of the Greenland Vikings. We use farming practices that erode away topsoil faster than it can form. We have overharvested forests at the expense of habitat and biodiversity, leading to increased soil erosion and water pollution. We have overfished and overhunted and allowed invasive species to further degrade natural ecosystem s. The population continues to grow exponentially, and our consumption of resources and generation of waste continues unabated. Difficulty level: hard

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    Chapter 1 Page 9 Guiding Question 1 - 5 What can human societies and individuals do to develop sustainably? 36. What is biomimicry? A) the term for cloning technologies and equipment that allows scientists to recreate photosynthetic bacteria in laboratory settings B) recreating natural ecosystems in areas where severe deforestation has occurred C) turning natural ecosystems into scientific experiment sites to help scientists better understand their functioning D) the process of collecting data from various ecosystems E) the use of nature as a model for our own systems Ans: E Difficulty level: medium 37. Which statement about environmental ethics is TRUE? A) All people with environmental ethics recycle. B) Environmental ethics have no control over how people resolve problems in the environment. C) People with environmental ethics tend to have an anthropogenic worldview rather than a biocentric worldview. D) Each person has a philosophy surrounding environmental ethics that influences their interactions with the natural environment. E) Worldviews do not tend to influence people's environmental ethics. Ans: D Difficulty level: easy 38. How does wealth inequality impede sustainable growth? A) Poorer nations lack natural resources. B) Underprivileged people sometimes exploit the environment in order to survive. C) Wealthier nations are very affected by resource availability and must pay high costs to access them. D) People with the most money and power are the first to succumb to environmental problems. E) The world's natural resources are controlled by the vast majority of the population. Ans: B Difficulty level: medium 39. Which statement is FALSE? A) In a biocentric worldview, all life is valued. B) An ecocentric worldview values the ecosystem as an intact whole. C) An ecocentric worldview includes all of the organisms and nonliving processes that occur in an ecosystem. D) In an anthropogenic worldview, human beings have an instrumental value. E) An anthropogenic worldview places human lives and interests as the most important. Ans: D Difficulty level: medium

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    Chapter 1 Page 10 40. Which of the following choices is NOT an example of an anthropocentric worldview? A) clear - cutting a forest to sell timber B) testing a nuclear bomb C) large commercial fishing ships processing tons of fish per day D) purchasing a rice product stored in a recycled cardboard container instead of one stored in a plastic container E) clearing land to build shopping malls Ans: D Difficulty level: easy 41. Which of the following personal attitudes will lead to the greatest long - term sustainability? A) The forest is there for us to use. B) The lake will be able to handle the raw sewage because it always has. C) It doesn't matter what we do because we don't have the power to change anything. D) I wonder how using this product will affect the environment and maybe there's a better choice available. E) Scientists will figure out a way to reduce the effects of pollution. Ans: D Difficulty level: medium 42. How would you go about convincing a company to switch to renewable sources of energy? Ans: There are a growing number of companies that are obtaining more of their energy from renewa ble sources of energy. You would need to explain how switching to renewable sources of energy will save money over the long term, and how the switch will result in less pollution and improvement to the health of the workers and the environment. Difficulty level: medium 43. You have decided that you want to live greener and have less of an impact on the environment. How will you accomplish this? Ans: You will need to switch to renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass. You will need to reduce your waste through recycling and reusing. You will need to practice population control and decide how many children you will have based on what the environment can support. You will need to protect biodiversity by using local energy and food sources. Difficulty level: medium

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    Chapter 1 Page 11 44. You have been given the task of making the fishing industry more sustainable. How will you accomplish this task? Ans: You will have to educate fishers that the oceans can only support a certain catch size and by overfishing they will make the industry unsustainable. By restricting catch size and the fishing season, you can make the industry sustainable and ensure abundant catches in future seasons. You will also need to address the international fishing industry and get governments to realize that the fishing industry is a global concern. All countries will need to protect the oceans to ensure the future of the fishing ind ustry. Difficulty level: medium 45. Refer to Infographic 1.5. Use the Infographic to describe ways that you could live more sustainably. Ans: One of the first things a person can do is to become environmentally literate. This includes becoming informed about the issues but also learning to appreciate the natural areas near where you live. Small behavioural changes are important. Can you walk, bicycle, or take public transportation to go to school, work, or shopping at least one day per week? Shopping behaviour can be changed: bring your own shopping bags, question what you buy – do you need it? Do an inventory of your garbage. How many items were n ot necessary to purchase, or could have been reused, recycled, or composted? Buy locally produced goods and foods. Do an inventory of your possessions. Donate or recycle unwanted items. Join a group by asking others: Are you interested in increasing the sustainability of your town? Do you like to go hiking? Are you interested in wildlife? Many small steps add up. Begin today and continue to add sustainable behaviours to your lifestyle. Difficulty level: medium

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    Chapter 1 Page 12 46. Please match each term in the left - hand column to the statement that it best exemplifies. A. empirical science Actions that are beneficial at first but that change conditions such that their benefit declines over time B. anthropogenic Research whose findings are used to help solve practical problems C. ecological footprint The tendency of an individual to abuse commonly held resources in order to maximize his or her own personal interest D. instrumental value The personal philosophy that influences how a person interacts with his or her natural environment and thus affects how one responds to environmental problems E. applied science A basic understanding of how ecosystems function and of the impact of our choices on the environment F. social traps The land needed to provide the resources and assimilate the waste of a person or population G. carrying capacity The value or worth of an object, organism, or species is based on its usefulness to humans H. tragedy of the commons A scientific approach that investigates the natural world through systematic observation and experimentation I. environmental ethic The population size that a particular environment can support indefinitely J. sliding reinforcer Caused by or related to human action K. intrinsic value The value or worth of an object, organism, or species is based on its mere existence L. environmental literacy Decisions by individuals or groups that seem good at the time and produce a short - term benefit, but that hurt society in the long run Ans: A. empirical science Actions that are beneficial at first but that change conditions such that their benefit declines over time (J) B. anthropogenic Research whose findings are used to help solve practical problems (E) C. ecological footprint The tendency of an individual to abuse commonly held resources in order to maximize his or her own personal interest (H) D. instrumental value The personal philosophy that influences how a person interacts with his or her natural environment and thus affects how one responds to environmental problems (I) E. applied science A basic understanding of how ecosystems function and of the impact of our choices on the environment (L) F. social traps The land needed to provide the resources and assimilate the waste of a person or population (C)

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    Chapter 1 Page 13 G. carrying capacity The value or worth of an object, organism, or species is based on its usefulness to humans (D) H. tragedy of the commons A scientific approach that investigates the natural world through systematic observation and experimentation (A) I. environmental ethic The population size tha t a particular environment can support indefinitely (G) J. sliding reinforcer Caused by or related to human action (B) K. intrinsic value The value or worth of an object, organism, or species is based on its mere existence (K) L. environmental literacy Decisions by individuals or groups that seem good at the time and produce a short - term benefit, but that hurt society in the long run (F)

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    Page 1 Guiding Question 2 - 1 What kinds of questions are under the pur view of science and why is science limited in this way? Why do we say science is a “process” and that conclusions are always tentative (nothing is ever proven)? 1. Which of the following is FALSE regarding a scientific theory? A) It can be modified over time as new information is discovered. B) It is the result of a hypothesis being repeatedly supported by many lines of inquiry. C) It has strong predictive powers that can explain observed phenomena. D) It is an idea based only on observations and inductions. E) It is a very well - supported hypothesis. Ans: D Difficulty level: easy 2. A(n) ______ is a hypothesis that has been widely accepted, as well as extensively and rigorously tested. A) theory B) fact C) explanation D) definition E) proof Ans: A Difficulty level: easy 3. Why can scientific opinions change over time? A) All conclusions in science are considered tentative and open to revision. B) Our understanding of a concept or process can change as scientists learn more. C) New evidence may be used to overturn a prevailing conclusion. D) All of the above E) None of the above Ans: D Difficulty level: easy 4. Scientists generally require a level of certainty of at least ______ to be sure their conclusions are correct. A) 50% B) 60% C) 75% D) 80% E) 95% Ans: E Difficulty level: medium 5. Cell theory states that all living organisms are made up of one or more cells. Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding this theory? A) All living organisms discovered so far have been made up of one or more cells. B) A newly discovered organism is very likely to be made up of one or more cells. C) Cells are the basic units of life for all known living organisms. D) Cells are the basic building blocks of life. E) No living organism will ever be discovered that is not made up of cells. Ans: E Difficulty level: medium 6. The multiple lines of evidence in support of the “CFC hypothesis” have elevated it to the status of __________. A) law B) theory C) proof D) fact E) rule Ans: B Difficulty level: easy

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    Chapter 2 Page 2 7. Which is TRUE regarding the following statements: (1) “Higher levels of greenhouse gases cause increased warming of the troposphere,” and (2) “Earth is the only habitable planet in the solar system”? A) Both statements are obviously wrong. B) Both statements have been proven true by long - standing scientific theories. C) Only statement (1) is a scientific hypothesis that is testable by scientific methods. D) Only statement (2) can generate falsifiable predictions. E) Neither statement is suitable for science. Ans: C Difficulty level: easy 8. Which of the following question(s) can be solved with empirical evidence? A) Do ghosts exist? B) What is the meaning of life? C) What is my cat thinking? D) What causes the changing of the seasons? E) Is the death penalty wrong? Ans: D Difficulty level: easy 9. Which of the following statements is NOT falsifiable? A) Car exhaust contributes to ozone depletion. B) Iced wings of a plane contribute to some plane crashes. C) Dogs become tired when they are hungry. D) People should not litter because it is wrong. E) All of the above are falsifiable statements. Ans: D Difficulty level: medium 10. Which of the following hypotheses is NOT testable? A) CFCs are causing depletion of the ozone layer. B) Bacterial water pollution increases the risk of infectious diseases. C) Increased salt intake leads to high blood pressure. D) Reincarnation exists. E) Increased UV exposure increases the risk of skin cancer. Ans: D Difficulty level: easy 11. Tests of significance help to determine if an event was due to chance or something else. The probability value is expressed as a p - value. What does it mean to have a p - value equal to 0.05? Ans: The null hypothesis is that the result observed is due to chance. A p - value is the probability of obtaining a result at least as extreme as the one observed (assuming the null hypothesis is true). A p - value less than 0.05 means rejection of the null (by chance) hypothesis. This means the result is statistically significant. The smaller the p - value, the more strongly the test rejects the null hypothesis. Difficulty level: hard

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