Earth Day Jeopardy

The Way We Move

100

Name two modes of transportation that are environmentally friendly.

There are many including biking, walking, running, roller skating, skateboarding or taking public transportation.

200

Which of the following cars are the most fuel efficient – SUVs, sports cars, or hybrid cars?

Hybrid Cars.

SUVs and sports cars are less fuel-efficient than average cars while hybrid cars, which combine electricity and gas to power the engine, are the most fuel-efficient cars available on the market today.

300

What is the most efficient mode of travel possible for people – riding a bicycle, walking, driving in a car, or riding in an airplane?

Bicycle

The bicycle is the most efficient way to get from one point to another - even more so than walking, because you can travel farther on less energy.

400

On average, do cars manufactured today or those manufactured in the 1920s burn more gasoline?

Today's cars consume more gas.

Did you know...?
The automobiles of the 21st century are the most inefficient in history, a fact largely due to the increase in SUV sales, which account for more than 50% of America's cars.

500

The average SUV owner will spend approximately how much money on gasoline this year - $500, $1000, $1500?

The average SUV owner will spend $1500 on gas this year.

Did you know...?
The reason fuel costs are so expensive for SUVs is due to a combination of poor gas mileage, higher oil prices, and an inefficient fuel system. On the other hand, hybrid car owners only spend $490 annually on fuel.

Resource Management

100

Water covers seventy percent of the Earth, but people can only drink a small portion of that water. Why?

Over 97% of the water on Earth is in the salty oceans and cannot be used by people. The rest is fresh water, but much of that is in icebergs, which means only .5% of the Earth’s water is usable by humans.

Did you know...?
By 2015, 40% of the people in the world will be experiencing a water shortage. This is why conserving water is so important. You can help by turning off the faucet when you are not using it, taking shorter showers, and encouraging your parents to buy more efficient appliances the next time they shop.

200

True or false:

When you flush the toilet, you use as much water as the average person in a developing country uses in a day.

This is true.

Did you know...?
The United States uses more water than any other country in the world, even though we have far less access to fresh water than some other countries, including Canada and Russia. By the way, toilets made after 1992 use 1.6 gallons per flush while toilets made before 1992 can use up to eight gallons per flush. According to a 2001 study, this amounts to an average of 27,448 gallons a year for the old-style toilets and 13,286 for newer water efficient toilets.

300

How much does the average American family spend on energy bills each year - $600, $1000, or $1400?

The average family spends $1400 a year on energy bills, half of which goes directly to heating and cooling.

Did you know…?
Changing the thermostat setting in your house even slightly can have a large impact on how much your family pays and also has a significant environmental impact. If only 1 in 10 households used more energy efficient heating and cooling systems, the amount of pollution in the air would be reduced by 17 billion pounds.

400

Where are the world’s greatest oil resources?

The Middle East

The bulk of the world's oil resources are located in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia. This means that the United States must import most of its oil, which increases the cost of fuel.

Did you know…?
The high cost of importing fossil fuels would be saved if we relied on renewable or inexhaustible energy, since these energy sources (solar, wind, and waterpower) are available in every country on Earth.

500

Name three types of renewable energy.

There are many different answers to this question. Some possibilities include using solar energy, wind power, hydropower, and hydrogen.

Safe Landing

100

What animal emits enough methane gas to contribute to 16% of the total amount of global warming gasses in the atmosphere?

Cows.

Flatulence and belches from cows contain methane, a dangerous and invisible global warming gas.

Did you know…?
While carbon dioxide has had the biggest effect on global warming, this is only because it is the most common global warming gas emitted. Methane, on the other hand, is less common, but has 20 times the heattrapping capacity of carbon dioxide, making it by far the most harmful global warming gas.

200

Which major ecosystem (type of land) was reduced in size by 94 million hectares (greater than the size of Venezuela, a South American country) during the 1990s?

The Earth's forests were reduced in size by 94 million hectares.

Did you know…?
Many rainforests have been subject to “deforestation” – clear cutting by humans to make room for farms and cow pastures as well as to use as a natural resource. If the current rate of deforestation continues, the Earth’s forests will disappear in only 100 years.

300

What are the three “Rs” that help guide us in using fewer resources and cutting down the amount of waste we produce?

Reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Reduce the amount of waste you produce. Reuse items instead of throwing them away. Recycle items made of plastic, metal, or paper. This will decrease the amount of garbage that goes to the dump AND reduce the amount of natural resources we use to create new materials.

400

How many gallons of water are used to produce one pound of beef – 100, 1000, or over 2500?

Over 2500 gallons of water are needed to produce just one pound of beef.

Did you know…?
The reason producing beef requires so much water is that the pastures that cattle graze on need to be flush with grass so the cattle can eat. Cattle must also drink water. Furthermore, water is also used for cleaning purposes.

500

How many pounds of paper does the average American use each year: 220, 440, or 660?

The average American uses 660 pounds of paper per year.

Did you know…?
The amount of paper the average American uses is over 16 times the amount used by people in developing countries. The United States also supplies the most paper to the world - one quarter of the global paper supply comes from forests in the southeastern U.S. Recycling is the best way to combat this immense use of resources. It not only saves trees, but recycling paper rather than making new paper creates 74% less air pollution and 35% less water pollution.

Organic Foods

100

These are the five food groups that can all be grown and bought organic.

What are fruits, vegetables, dairy, proteins (meat is acceptable), and grains.

200

Toxic chemicals are found in what product that is sprayed on conventionally- grown crops, but not organic ones?

What are pesticides (insecticides is also an acceptable answer).

Did you know…?
Children are more at risk of being harmed by toxic chemicals because they are smaller and their immune systems are still developing. This problem is not only a health concern for humans. Toxic chemicals in pesticides also negatively affect the water, air, soil, and our homes. Plants and animals, including humans, need clean, non-toxic places to live. Buying organic foods and other products reduces your exposure to toxic chemicals.

300

This crop that some grownups drink in the morning is treated with the most insecticides.

What is coffee?

Did you know…?
Cotton comes second and tobacco third. 25% of the world's insecticides are sprayed on cotton alone. Both coffee and cotton can be grown organically without the use of insecticides.

400

Cow’s milk contains this mineral that keeps our teeth and bones strong.

What is calcium?

Did you know…?
Organic milk has just as much calcium as regular milk but is free from hormones and antibiotics, which may affect your growth and keep you from fighting off some diseases. Cows that produce organic milk are also guaranteed a better life than factory-raised cows.

500

Although it also comes in black and white, this is the color of the U.S. government label on organic products.

What is green.

Did you know…?
The United States Department of Agriculture’s organic labeling system is not the only one. Some states and farming associations have their own organic certification programs. Many other countries and continents, like Japan and Europe, have their own organic certification programs.

Your Local Environment

100

April 22, 1970 was one of the first organized demonstrations of the modern environmental movement. What is celebrated each year by a half-billion people worldwide on this day?

Earth Day falls each year on April 22.

Did you know…?
Started by Denis Hayes and Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day is the largest secular holiday in the world and is a symbol of environmentalism.

200

What percentage of the water on Earth today existed when dinosaurs roamed the Earth over 65 million years ago?

One hundred percent.

The amount of water on Earth is the same today as it has always been. Because this amount is constant, water conservation is important not because we are using up the water we have, but because we are using it at a faster rate than it can be treated and recycled.

Did you know…?
This does not mean, however, that each country’s water supply has remained the same. Both water resources and the continents themselves are constantly shifting, which can change the amount of water each country holds within its boundaries.

300

Which clean resource holds enough potential energy to supply the entire world’s energy needs? It already heats the world all by itself.

The sun.

Did you know…?
Although the sun’s energy cannot be used up, solar panels – the devices that catch the sun’s energy and can turn it into electricity – are not yet efficient enough to replace power plants that burn fossil fuels. However, they are often used to power private homes and businesses. Your family or school can install solar panels, which can lower your energy bills and decrease pollution.

400

Which accounts for the greatest percentage of water use in the US: industry, agriculture, private homes and individuals?

By far, agriculture accounts for the largest percentage of water use:
80% in the US as a whole and over 90% in some western states.

Did you know…?
Since 1970 agriculture’s share of water use has actually declined while its land area has increased by 30%, a discrepancy that can be attributed largely to more efficient irrigation methods.

500

Which is the most commonly used fossil fuel resource in the United States, generating 54% of its electricity? It is cheap, abundant, and dirty.

Coal.

The US is estimated to have about 265 billion short tons of coal reserves spread out over 38 states, mostly in the Appalachian region and the Midwest. Only China contains more coal.