Chapter 1 Sample Test

Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability

Multiple Choice Questions (about 40%) Text, PPP’s, review questions and vocabulary
1. Ecology is the study of
a. plants.
b. animals.
c. global climate change.
d. relationships between organisms and their environment.
e. plants and animals.
2. Most of the environmental problems we face are
a. increasing linearly.
b. decreasing linearly.
c. increasing exponentially.
d. decreasing exponentially.
e. are neither increasing nor decreasing
3. Which of the following is an example of reuse?
a. re-melting aluminum cans
b. making compost out of kitchen scraps
c. using a plastic butter tub to store leftovers
d. using waste heat to warm a room
e. making paper goods from previously used paper
4. Effects of pollution might include
a. being unable to see the top of skyscrapers because of the smog.
b. acid rain–induced destruction of a statue in your city park.
c. spread of disease from an open dump.
d. fish kills in lakes and streams.
e. All of these answers.
5. Root causes of environmental problems include
a. rapid population growth.
b. even distribution of wealth.
c. increasingly sustainable use of resources.
d. prices reflecting environmental costs.
e. using nonrenewable resources sensibly.

6. The frontier environmental worldview encourages

a. resource conservation
b. resource exploitation
c. decreased pollution
d. bio-centric code of ethic
e. stewardship of nature

From the review exercises and vocabulary (about 60%)

7. State the four scientific principles of sustainability? (From Chp 1 Review Questions)
From the glossary(s)

Matching: a. ecology b. environmental science c. environmentalism d. none of these

8. A particular chemical or form of energy that can adversely affect the health, survival, or activities of humans
or other living organisms.
9. Study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their nonliving environment of matter
and energy; study of the structure and functions of nature
10. A social movement dedicated to protecting the earth’s life support systems for us and other species.
11. An interdisciplinary study that uses information from the physical sciences and social sciences tolerant how
the earth works, how we interact with the earth, and how to deal with environmental problems.
Key:
1. D
2. C
3. C
4. E
5. A
6. B

7. Reliance on solar energy

Biodiversity
Population control
Nutrient recycling

8. D
9. A
10. C
11. B