Skip to content
Exam Guides

Principles of Environmental Science: Inquiry and Applications, 6th Edition Test Bank

Maximize your study time with Principles of Environmental Science: Inquiry and Applications, 6th Edition Test Bank, featuring a range of exam questions and answers for rapid review.

Preview 16 of 300 pages

See the first 16 pages exactly as they appear in the document.

  1. Page 1
    Read page 1 as text

    Chapter 01 Understanding Our Environment Multip le Choice Questions 1. 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. Bloom's Level: 2. Understand Section: 1.01 Topic: Environmental Science 2. Most environmental problems result from A. excessive pollution. B. complex, interrelated problems. C. technological development problems. D. global warming. E. urban degradation. Bloom's Level: 1. Remember Section: 1.02 Topic: Environmental Science

  2. Page 2
  3. Page 3
    Read page 3 as text

    3. 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. Bloom's Level: 3. Apply Section: 1.01 Topic: Environmental Science

  4. Page 4
    Read page 4 as text

    4. 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. Bloom's Level: 1. Remember Section: 1.04 Topic: Scientific Method 5. 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. Bloom's Level: 1. Remember Section: 1.04 Topic: Scientific Method

  5. Page 5
    Read page 5 as text

    6. 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. Bloom's Level: 4. Analyze Section: 1.04 Topic: Scientific Method

  6. Page 6
    Read page 6 as text

    7. 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. Bloom's Level: 3. Apply Section: 1.04 Topic: Scientific Method 8. 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. Bloom's Level: 1. Remember Section: 1.04 Topic: Scientific Method

  7. Page 7
    Read page 7 as text

    9. 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. Bloom's Level: 2. Understand Section: 1.04 Topic: Scientific Method

  8. Page 8
    Read page 8 as text

    10. 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 (e.g., a cake). B. When she drives in her car, she hypothesizes about things (e.g., when the red light will turn green). 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. Bloom's Level: 3. Apply Section: 1.04 Topic: Scientific Method 11. 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 Bloom's Level: 4. Analyze Section: 1.04 Topic: Data Analysis

  9. Page 9
    Read page 9 as text

    12. 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 Bloom's Level: 3. Apply Section: 1.04 Topic: Data Analysis 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. Bloom's Level: 1. Remember Section: 1.06 Topic: Environmental History

  10. Page 10
    Read page 10 as text

    14. 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. Bloom's Level: 1. Remember Section: 1.06 Topic: Environmental History

  11. Page 11
    Read page 11 as text

    15. 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. Bloom's Level: 1. Remember Section: 1.06 Topic: Environmental History 16. 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 Bloom's Level: 1. Remember Section: 1.06 Topic: Environmental History

  12. Page 12
    Read page 12 as text

    17. 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. Bloom's Level: 1. Remember Section: 1.05 Topic: Critical Thinking

  13. Page 13
    Read page 13 as text

    18. 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. Bloom's Level: 3. Apply Section: 1.05 Topic: Critical Thinking 19. 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. Bloom's Level: 1. Remember Section: 1.05 Topic: Critical Thinking

  14. Page 14
    Read page 14 as text

    20. 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. Bloom's Level: 2. Understand Section: 1.03 Topic: Populations

  15. Page 15
    Read page 15 as text

    21. The world's poorest people _______________ environmental degradation. A. cause the most B. both cause and suffer from C. are unaffected by D. don't really care about E. are ignorant of Bloom's Level: 2. Understand Section: 1.03 Topic: Populations 22. Poverty is passed on from one generation to the next primarily through A. the lack of available opportunities. B. genetic conditions. C. improper care of natural resources. D. the lack of motivation to change. E. illnesses spread by viruses. Bloom's Level: 2. Understand Section: 1.03 Topic: Populations

  16. Page 16
    Read page 16 as text

    23. Proponents of sustainable development argue that A. all development has environmental costs. B. development is less important than the environment. C. development can proceed with minimal costs to the environment. D. the environment is less important than development. E. development does not cause environmental damage. Bloom's Level: 2. Understand Section: 1.06 Topic: Sustainability

284 more pages in the full document

Unlock it once and it stays in your library, ready to chat with or turn into flashcards.

Unlock the full document

More Environmental Science study materials

See all

Study this document with CramX

Once it is in your library, every tool can work from it.