Environmental approaches
A steel factory in a large city releases too much sulfur dioxide into the air. The government decides to set a strict legal limit on how much the factory can emit and requires the company to install pollution-control devices by next year.
Question:
What type of environmental policy approach is the government using?
Command and control approach
A global conference is held where countries come together to negotiate agreements on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting biodiversity, and responding to climate change. The conference also tracks progress and publishes annual reports on environmental goals.
Question:
Which international organization is most likely leading this global environmental effort?
The United Nations
Acid
A strong hurricane forms over the Atlantic Ocean, bringing high winds and heavy rain to coastal cities. Meteorologists track its path to warn residents.
Question:
Which Earth sphere is primarily involved in the formation and movement of the hurricane?
Atmosphere (the layer of gases surrounding Earth drives weather and wind systems)
A wildlife biologist is studying deer in a large forest. After several surveys, she estimates that there are 1,200 deer living in the forest this year.
Question:
What population concept is being measured in this scenario?
Population Size – the total number of individuals in a population.
To reduce water pollution entering a river, a state offers farmers yearly payments if they leave wetlands untouched, plant vegetation buffers, or reduce fertilizer runoff.
Question:
Which environmental policy approach is the state using to change farmers’ behavior?
Subsidies
A dispute arises when one country accuses another of imposing environmental regulations on imported goods that unfairly restrict trade. A neutral international body steps in to resolve the conflict and ensure trade rules are followed.
Question:
Which international organization is most likely resolving this trade dispute involving environmental regulations?
The World Trade Organization
During the summer, a coastal city experiences milder temperatures than inland cities. The ocean absorbs heat during the day and slowly releases it at night, keeping the nearby land relatively cooler during the day and warmer at night.
Question:
Which property of water explains why the ocean can moderate temperatures in coastal areas?
High Specific Heat (water can absorb or release large amounts of heat with little temperature change)
A river in a forest floods after days of heavy rainfall, spreading water across the land and affecting plants and animals along its banks.
Question:
Which Earth sphere is mainly represented in this scenario?
Hydrosphere (all water on or near Earth’s surface)
A park ranger measures the number of rabbits in a 2-square-kilometer meadow. She counts 100 rabbits in the area.
Question:
What population concept is being calculated, and what is the population density of rabbits per square kilometer?
- Concept: Population Density – the number of individuals per unit area or volume.
- Calculation: 100 rabbits ÷ 2 km² = 50 rabbits per km²
A region creates a system where industries receive a set number of carbon credits each year. Companies that reduce their emissions can sell unused credits to companies that pollute more.
Question:
What environmental policy approach does this program represent?
Cap and trade
A nonprofit group organizes campaigns to protect endangered species, clean up polluted rivers, and educate local communities about sustainable farming practices. They rely on donations, volunteers, and advocacy to achieve their goals.
Question:
Which type of international organization is carrying out these environmental and conservation activities?
Non-Governmental organizations
The production of bones, skin, hair, muscles, and other body tissues rely on what?
Protiens
A powerful earthquake strikes a city along the west coast of South America. Scientists discover that the earthquake occurred where one tectonic plate is sliding beneath another, forming a deep ocean trench.
Question:
What type of plate boundary is described in this scenario, and what tectonic process is occurring?
Type of boundary: Convergent boundary
Process: Subduction (one plate moves under another)
A team of ecologists studies a forest. They record individual oak trees, the total number of oak trees in a grove, all the different species of plants and animals living in that grove, and how these organisms interact with sunlight, water, and soil in the area.
Question:
Identify the different levels of ecological organization represented in this scenario.
Organism: A single oak tree
Population: All oak trees in the grove
Community: All species of plants and animals in the grove
Ecosystem: The community plus the abiotic factors like sunlight, water, and soil
A large city struggles with increasing air pollution caused by thousands of gasoline-powered cars. To reduce emissions, the city government decides to charge drivers a $15 “pollution fee” every time they enter the downtown area during rush hour. The fee is higher for older cars that emit more pollution and lower for hybrid or electric vehicles. Revenue from the fee will be used to improve public transportation.
Question:
What environmental policy approach is the city using to reduce air pollution?
Green Taxes
A developing country wants to build a massive solar energy project to provide electricity to rural communities while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. It receives international loans and technical assistance to help fund and implement the project.
Question:
Which international organization is most likely providing the loans and support for this environmental development project?
The world Bank
A small insect, like a water strider, is able to walk across the surface of a pond without sinking. The water molecules at the surface stick together strongly, creating a kind of “skin” on which the insect can move.
Question:
Which property of water allows the insect to walk on its surface?
Cohesion (water molecules stick to each other, creating surface tension
Scientists explore the Atlantic Ocean and find a long chain of underwater mountains. They observe magma rising from the mantle, creating new oceanic crust as the plates move apart.
Question:
What type of plate boundary is forming these mountains, and what process is taking place?
Type of boundary: Divergent boundary
Process: Seafloor spreading (plates move apart, new crust forms)
A biologist studies the African savanna. She examines a single lion, the group of lions living in a pride, the interactions between lions, zebras, and elephants, and how these organisms interact with the grass, water sources, and climate across the savanna.
Question:
Which levels of ecological organization can be observed in this scenario?
Organism: A single lion
Population: The pride of lions
Community: Lions, zebras, elephants, and other species interacting
Ecosystem: The community plus abiotic factors like grass, water, and climate
Biome: The entire African savanna as a large ecological region
A coastal state is trying to reduce plastic pollution washing into the ocean. To address the problem, the state government uses several strategies at once:
A new law bans stores from giving out single-use plastic bags.
A 10-cent fee is added to all disposable cups and containers to discourage waste.
Businesses that switch to biodegradable packaging can apply for a state rebate program to lower their costs
Question:
What environmental policy approach are being used in this scenario?
1- Command and control
2- Green tax
3- Subsidy
Several countries in Europe agree to a shared policy that limits industrial emissions, sets recycling targets, and regulates the use of single-use plastics across all member states. They also enforce penalties for countries that fail to meet the targets.
Question:
Which international organization is responsible for creating and enforcing environmental policies among these countries?
The European Union
There are 4 different lipid types. What are they?
Fats and oils, Phospholipids, Waxes, Steroids and steroid hormones
A series of moderate earthquakes occurs along the San Andreas Fault in California. Geologists determine that the Pacific Plate is sliding horizontally past the North American Plate.
Question:
What type of plate boundary is this, and what movement characterizes it?
Type of boundary: Transform boundary
Movement: Plates slide past each other horizontally
A marine biologist observes a coral reef. She notices that clownfish are clustered around sea anemones, while other fish are spread out evenly throughout the reef.
Question:
What type of population concept is being described, and what are the two types of distribution patterns shown?
Concept: Population Distribution – how individuals are spaced within their habitat.
Distribution Patterns:
Clumped (clownfish around sea anemones)
Uniform (other fish evenly spread)