Human Impact
A.)Florida
B.)Texas
C.)Kansas
D.)Georgia
C.)Kansas
Natural resources that are naturally replenished over short periods are called __________.
A.)Nonrenewable Resource
B.)Fossil Fuels
C.)Sustainable Resources
D.)Renewable Resources
D.)Renewable Resources
Genetic engineering has both positive and negative outcomes. One of the most common areas where genetic engineering is used is in agriculture. If farmers plant more genetically modified crops, which of the following negative outcomes could occur?
A.)an increase in the use of pesticides
B.)a decrease in genetic diversity of the crops
C.)an increase in the contamination of the water supply
D.)a decrease in crop productivity on these treated fields
B.)a decrease in genetic diversity of the crops
Which of the following describes a way that cities can contribute to sustainability?
A.)build outward instead of upward
B.)encouraging more driving
C.)utilizing renewable technology
D.)zoning land for residential use
C.)utilizing renewable technology
Papers and plastics account for most solid waste, as they are cheap to produce and often package the materials we use. Which of the following is not a possible consequence to disposing of these materials ineffectively?
A.)People can recycle them.
B.)Animals may die from ingestion.
C.)There is not space to discard them.
D.)Trees are cut down to produce more.
A.)People can recycle them.
Environmentalists are hoping to protect endangered organisms by calling for a reduction in the use of pesticides, because loss of these organisms would:
A.) increase the mutation rate in plants
B.)cause pesticides to become more toxic to insects
C.)reduce biodiversity in various ecosystems
D.)decrease the space and resources available to other organisms
C.)reduce biodiversity in various ecosystems
Which of the following is an example of non-renewable marine resource?
A.)shellfish
B.)finfish
C.)oil
D.)seaweeds
C.)oil
Genetic engineering has both positive and negative outcomes. One of the most common areas where genetic engineering is used is in agriculture. If farmers plant more genetically modified crops, which of the following negative outcomes could occur?
A.)An increase in the use of pesticides
B.)A decrease in genetic diversity of the crops
C.)An increase in the contamination of the water supply
D.)A decrease in crop productivity
B.)A decrease in genetic diversity of the crops
As city planners are considering how to lay out a city, they must zone land for different types of use, such as residential versus business use. The goal is usually to reduce urban sprawl, as doing so increases a city's sustainability. Which of the following describes a potential consequence if a city did not plan and build to reduce sprawl?
A.)Public transportation could be more efficient, as it would not have to travel as far.
B.)Endemic species could become endangered or extinct if their habitats are wiped out.
C.)Cities could be safer because people would be able to live further away from each other.
D.)High-rise buildings could interfere with migratory birds' flight patterns, causing them to die out.
B.)Endemic species could become endangered or extinct if their habitats are wiped out.
Earth’s atmosphere is composed of many gases, including the air that we breathe. Out of all the gases in the atmosphere, which one has the highest concentration?
A.)Argon
B.)Carbon Dioxide
C.)Nitrogen
D.)Oxygen
C.)Nitrogen
New fuels are being produced by converting corn and grasses into compounds containing alcohols that can be broken down for energy in various engines. The purpose of this research is to
A.)reduce the use of nonrenewable resources.
B.)increase the rate of air pollution.
C.)reduce the rate of homeostasis in organisms.
D.)cause a loss of biodiversity in the rain forests
A.)reduce the use of nonrenewable resources.
In 2019, the United States began to experience a shortage of avocados. Approximately 80% of the avocados it uses are imported, with only 20% grown in California. The shortage began to occur because avocados have become a popular food item, but California has experienced significant earthquakes, wildfires, and drought, resulting in the smallest crop yield in more than a decade. If this trend were to continue, which of the following would describe avocados as a resource?
A.)Avocados would be renewable because food is a renewable resource.
B.)Avocados would be renewable because we would have to practice sustainable farming.
C.)Avocados would be nonrenewable because only certain parts of the world can produce them.
D.)Avocados would be nonrenewable because we would no longer be able to produce more of them.
D.)Avocados would be nonrenewable because we would no longer be able to produce more of them.
Another variety, called Stress-Tolerant Rice, was produced by inserting a pair of bacterial genes into rice plants for the production of treholase (a sugar). Trehalose helps plants maintain healthy cell membranes, proteins and enzymes during environmental stress. The resulting plants survive drought, low temperatures, salty soils, and other stresses better than the standard rice varieties.
Why is the production of new varieties of food crops necessary?
A.)Technology for producing fresh water for agriculture has improved.
B.)Burning fossil fuels has decreased agricultural areas.
C.)Essential food crops are becoming extinct.
D.)World population continues to increase.
D.)World population continues to increase.
Global warming has led to ocean levels rising, largely impacting coastal cities. As time passes, there is concern that some of these coastal cities may no longer exist. If ocean levels continued to rise, what would be the expected impact on urbanization, and how would it affect sustainability efforts in cities?
A.)City populations would increase, and sustainability efforts would increase as a result.
B.)City populations would increase, and sustainability efforts would decrease as a result.
C.)City populations would decrease, and sustainability efforts would increase as a result.
D.)City populations would decrease, and sustainability efforts would decrease as a result.
B.)City populations would increase, and sustainability efforts would decrease as a result.
Air pollution is caused by emissions being released into the air. This can have individual effects, such as heart and respiratory problems, and large-scale effects like global warming. As countries around the world work to lower the impact of their emissions, several have taken different action steps. Which step towards reducing carbon emissions would you expect to have the biggest positive impact on global air quality?
A.)China closing its major factories
B.)Paris periodically banning driving
C.)The USA leaving the Paris Agreement
D.)India enforcing bans on burning household waste
A.)China closing its major factories
The presence of wastes, such as plastic bags and motor oil, in lakes and streams miles away from developed areas suggests that
A.)ecosystems are interconnected and human action can alter ecosystem equilibrium.
B.)recycling programs have failed to conserve biotic resources.
C.)natural processes can alter ecosystem stability.
D.)direct harvesting practices have led to irreversible destruction of ecosystems.
A.)ecosystems are interconnected and human action can alter ecosystem equilibrium.
As of 2018, coal, oil, and gas accounted for approximately 80% of the United States' energy needs. These three sources are considered fossil fuels, and they have largely powered America for over one hundred years. Fossil fuels are formed from the fossilized remains of once-living organisms. Given this information and our sustained usage, which of the following best explains the push to find alternative energy sources?
A.)Because fossil fuels are inherently toxic, utilizing them pollutes the air and water.
B.)Because fossil fuels are not well-regulated, oil spills happen frequently and contaminate water supplies.
C.)Because fossil fuels are buried so deep, accessing them disrupts a lot of animals' habitats, thus decreasing biodiversity.
D.)Because fossil fuels came from once living organisms, burning them releases a lot of carbon, thus rapidly accelerating climate change.
D.)Because fossil fuels came from once living organisms, burning them releases a lot of carbon, thus rapidly accelerating climate change.
A vegan is someone who does not consume products that come from animals. Many people choose to adopt this lifestyle to be more environmentally-friendly. One criticism of veganism, though, is that vegans do not consume honey because it is produced by bees, which are considered endangered as of 2016. While this may have been a problem when humans disrupted natural hives to extract honey, modern beekeepers utilize special beehives that only minimally affect the bees. Additionally, only excess honey is removed; if this did not occur, the queen would become trapped in the hive and would not be able to reproduce. Which of the following best explains why it is a problem if people choose not to consume honey?
A.)Modern beekeeping technology is expensive, and buying honey funds it.
B.)Modern beekeeping is done to help the environment, and not buying honey hurts that effort.
C.)Modern beekeeping technology supports bee populations, and other species depend on bees.
D.)Modern beekeeping does not pollute the environment, and choosing alternate sweeteners does.
C.)Modern beekeeping technology supports bee populations, and other species depend on bees.
A local city agency evaluates whether building practices support or do not support the sustainable use of land for urban development. Which practice is the best example of sustainable land use?
A. An apartment complex includes a recycling center for its residents.
B. The local college is building a new dormitory with motion detectors for energy efficiency.
C. A new housing development has space for a children’s park, a playground, and a community garden.
D. The elementary schools and daycare centers use recycled tire materials on their playgrounds.
C. A new housing development has space for a children’s park, a playground, and a community garden.
Our society’s “throwaway” mentality has fueled the demand for paper and plastic goods. It has also added to our waste disposal problem. Recycling has value as long as the recycling loop is closed. It works when people purchase the recycled items. From recycled paper, we can make paper towels and paperboard for packaging cereal, shoes, and toys. From recycled plastic, we can make carpets, pillows and new bottles. Closing the recycling loops means that we must
A.)avoid contaminating collected materials for recycling.
B.)find ways to compost biodegradable plastics.
C.)purchase items made from recycled goods.
D.)stop making disposable goods.
C.)purchase items made from recycled goods.
After implementing a solution to an environmental problem, environmental workers often continue to collect and analyze data associated with the problem area. Why is it important for public officials to follow through and check the results of implemented solutions to environmental problems?
A.)Once data is collected on an area, public officials will have to continue to monitor that area.
B.)The act of collecting data ensures that the problem will not come back again in that area.
C.)Collected data can show whether or not the solution is actually working or whether it needs to be modified.
D.)Public officials monitor the environment whether or not there has been an environmental problem.
C.)Collected data can show whether or not the solution is actually working or whether it needs to be modified.
Company X gets about 60 percent of its generating capacity from coal. The utility serves about 5 million customers in 11 states, and accounts for 1.944 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Company X, however, said it is moving to cut its greenhouse gas emissions. "By the end of 2016, Company X will have retired or refueled 28 coal-fueled generating units," a company spokesperson emailed. "By 2017, we expect our CO2 emissions from our power plants to be 25 percent lower than in 2005, and we will achieve additional reductions in the years ahead. (Adapted from CBS news - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-pollutes-the-most-in-the-u-s-heres-a-scorecard/)
Based on the information in the paragraph above, what materials will be reduced and what natural resources will be impacted by the projected changes by Company X? What other changes (positive or negative) are possible?
Company X plans to close or refuel 29 energy plants that use coal, which will reduce its demand for mined coal and preserve this fossil fuel. The land mined for coal will not be destroyed further. Air quality in the vicinity should improve as less greenhouse gases and particles will be released. Some other fuel will be the replacement, and Company X does not mention it, so these effects are unknown. Coal mining jobs and jobs at the closed plants will be lost.
A type of wheat plant that has more vitamins and an increased yield per acre is considered for genetic engineering and is being cloned and evaluated for new crop development. What possible positive impact will this plant have on the food supply, and what type effect will the cloning of this plant for farming have on its genetic diversity? Justify your answers.
Since many children get some of their nutrition from cereal and bread, having more vitamins in wheat may improve their diet and provide more affordable food to poorer people or those who have a tight budget. However, this plant could become very popular for farmers and decrease the use of other types of wheat, which will reduce its biodiversity.
In a large urban area such as Washington, DC, how can city planners use conservation to protect the environment? List and discuss an example of such conservation.
For people who have a long commute to work, they can get a benefit by carpooling to reduce the numbers of cars on the road, which will reduce air pollution, save gas costs for the carpoolers, and decrease the amount of traffic on the road during rush hour. HOV commuter lanes are also attractive to carpoolers, and there is less traffic in these lanes compared to the rest of the highway.
Describe 2 sources of water pollution and air pollution and indicate whether they are from natural or manmade sources.
Air can be polluted by people burning trash and by wildfires. The first type of pollution is manmade, but wildfires may be caused by lightning or by carelessness or accidents of people. Water can be polluted by runoff from materials and chemicals found in yards and streets, which is manmade. It can also be polluted by flooding, which is natural.