Environmental Science Quiz #1

Front 1

The wealth gap between the rich and poor nations around the world has been increasing rapidly in recent years along with greater globalization.

Back 1

True

False

Hint 1

True

False

Front 2

Where do most humans live today?

Back 2

A. In inland regions of the continents where they are protected from tides and hurricanes

B. In cities along coastlines and major waterways.

C. In tropical regions near the equator where rain forests can provide food.

D. In rural areas where soils are suitable for agriculture.

E. In prairie grassland areas where soils support grasses for pasture and crop plants for food.

Hint 2

A. In inland regions of the continents where they are protected from tides and hurricanes

B. In cities along coastlines and major waterways.

C. In tropical regions near the equator where rain forests can provide food.

D. In rural areas where soils are suitable for agriculture.

E. In prairie grassland areas where soils support grasses for pasture and crop plants for food.

Front 3

The more the world develops, the more the demand for energy and mineral resources.

Back 3

True

False

Hint 3

True

False

Front 4

When considering the use of minerals mined from the earth, what percentage is used by the richest countries that have about 20% of the world’s population?

Back 4

A. 20

B. 40

C. 50

D. 60

E. 80

Hint 4

A. 20

B. 40

C. 50

D. 60

E. 80

Front 5

What conditions were characteristic of the early Earth (3.8 billion years ago) when life first appeared?

Back 5

A. The Earth had more abundant and complex life forms compared to today.

B. The Earth had a very similar atmosphere to today's Earth but lacked water.

C. The Earth's atmosphere had very high levels of oxygen

D. The Earth's atmosphere was virtually devoid of oxygen.

E. The Earth was stagnant and only oxygenic life forms could survive.

Hint 5

A. The Earth had more abundant and complex life forms compared to today.

B. The Earth had a very similar atmosphere to today's Earth but lacked water.

C. The Earth's atmosphere had very high levels of oxygen

D. The Earth's atmosphere was virtually devoid of oxygen

.E. The Earth was stagnant and only oxygenic life forms could survive.

Front 6

In the past 60 years, the world's human population has almost tripled.

Back 6

True

False

Hint 6

True or False

Front 7

Borneo, which is the fourth largest island in the world, was covered by tropical forests as recently as 20 years ago, These forests were destroyed within 10 years as the forests were converted to

Back 7

A. agricultural land for palm oil production.

B. urban development as people migrate from lowland areas that are being flooded.

C. mining for fossil fuels especially oil extraction.

D. mining developments for precious metals (gold, silver).

E. agricultural pastureland for livestock production.

Hint 7

A. agricultural land for palm oil production.

B. urban development as people migrate from lowland areas that are being flooded.

C. mining for fossil fuels especially oil extraction.

D. mining developments for precious metals (gold, silver).

E. agricultural pastureland for livestock production.

Front 8

The more developed a country becomes the more demand it has for meat.

Back 8

True

False

Hint 8

True or False

Front 9

During most of our species' existence, and until about 10 000 years ago, what was the main source of food for humans?

Back 9

A. growing crops

B. growing crops and farming livestock

C. farming livestock

D. hunting and gathering

E. fishing

Hint 9

A. growing crops

B. growing crops and farming livestock

C. farming livestock

D. hunting and gathering

E. fishing

Front 10

What country is at most risk for water shortages that will impact its ability to transition to an agricultural exporting country?

Back 10

A. Saudi Arabia

B. Brazil

C. India

D. Bangladesh

E. Nigeria

Hint 10

A. Saudi Arabia

B. Brazil

C. India

D. Bangladesh

E. Nigeria

Front 11

What has resulted from the draining of wetlands for agricultural and urban development?

Back 11

A. over harvesting

B. habitat destruction

C. habitat restoration

D. increasing biodiversity

E. habitat enrichment

Hint 11

A. over harvesting

B. habitat destruction

C. habitat restoration

D. increasing biodiversity

E. habitat enrichment

Front 12

Why are fossil fuels (like coal, gas and oil) referred to as “pockets of sunlight”?

Back 12

These deposits store the remnants of the energy captured by millions of ancient plants using ancient sunlight from millions of years ago. These deposits are scattered around the world in pocket-like formations that store this ancient energy in complex carbon bonds that were not allowed to decompose prior to burial.

Front 13

Modern agriculture has led to the loss of crop diversity. Why?

Back 13

A. Modern agriculture uses crop varieties that require low amounts of water and protect soils.

B. Modern agriculture uses a few productive crops that are easy to grow and transport.

C. Modern agriculture uses only the crop varieties that are best adapted to the local climate.

D. Modern agriculture uses only the crop varieties developed since the Agricultural Revolution.

E. Modern agriculture uses a few crop varieties that have been genetically modified.

Hint 13

A. Modern agriculture uses crop varieties that require low amounts of water and protect soils

.B. Modern agriculture uses a few productive crops that are easy to grow and transport.

C. Modern agriculture uses only the crop varieties that are best adapted to the local climate.

D. Modern agriculture uses only the crop varieties developed since the Agricultural Revolution.

E. Modern agriculture uses a few crop varieties that have been genetically modified.

Front 14

What is meant by “the engine of life is linkage”? Why is this important?

Back 14

Everything is linked – nothing is self-sufficient and able to operate in isolation. Water, air and soil are inseparable, united by living organisms that share all of the earth’s resources through recycling of essential matter and allowing the flow of energy through ecosystems. The interconnectedness of life drives the recycling of inorganic and organic matter on Earth while mediating the flow of energy from the external environment through the living organisms that build and break complex organic molecules.

Front 15

What is one example of some of the positive changes that suggest reason for hope that changes can be made?

Back 15

A. Greater efforts to find sustainable programs for forests, agriculture, fisheries, etc.

B. Less protection for territorial waters which are now opened to fishing.

C. Reduced interest in ecotourism and more limits on this type of tourism worldwide.

D. Fewer areas are switching to alternative energy from fossil fuel dependence.

E. Less land is being set aside and protected through the establishment of national parks.

Hint 15

A. Greater efforts to find sustainable programs for forests, agriculture, fisheries, etc.

B. Less protection for territorial waters which are now opened to fishing

.C. Reduced interest in ecotourism and more limits on this type of tourism worldwide.

D. Fewer areas are switching to alternative energy from fossil fuel dependence.

E. Less land is being set aside and protected through the establishment of national parks.

Front 16

Why are the cyanobacteria important to the history of life on Earth?

Back 16

A. They converted the Earth’s atmosphere to an oxygen-rich environment.

B. They prevented the formation of an ozone layer for UV radiation protection.

C. They made life on land difficult for aerobic (oxygen-requiring) organisms

D. They made it easier to maintain reduced high energy molecules.

E. They changed the atmosphere from oxygen-rich to oxygen-deficient.

Hint 16

A. They converted the Earth’s atmosphere to an oxygen-rich environment.

B. They prevented the formation of an ozone layer for UV radiation protection.

C. They made life on land difficult for aerobic (oxygen-requiring) organisms

D. They made it easier to maintain reduced high energy molecules.

E. They changed the atmosphere from oxygen-rich to oxygen-deficient.

Front 17

What are two factors that have been suggested to account for the disappearance of the Rapa Nui civilization from Easter Island?

Back 17

A. diseases and plagues brought by invaders from other islands

B. overpopulation and dwindling resources

C. wars with neighboring islands and loss of trade

D. lack of technology and loss of trade opportunities

E. climate change and lack of technology

Hint 17

A. diseases and plagues brought by invaders from other islands

B. overpopulation and dwindling resources

C. wars with neighboring islands and loss of trade

D. lack of technology and loss of trade opportunities

E. climate change and lack of technology

Front 18

In addition to energy obtained from fossil fuels, what are two different products made by the petrochemical industry that are made specifically for modern industrialized agriculture?

Back 18

A. plastics and compost

B. fertilizers and pesticides

C. medicines and machinery

D. building supplies and plastics

E. plastics and medicines

Hint 18

A. plastics and compost

B. fertilizers and pesticides

C. medicines and machinery

D. building supplies and plastics

E. plastics and medicines

Front 19

According the the movie "Home", how long do we have to reverse the current trends affecting the environment?

Back 19

A. about 10 years

B. about 25 years

C. about 50 years

D. more than 100 years

E. there is no urgency to make changes

Hint 19

A. about 10 years

B. about 25 years

C. about 50 years

D. more than 100 years

E. there is no urgency to make changes

Front 20

Today 1 in 10 major rivers (e.g. River Jordan, Colorado River) no longer flows to the sea for part of the year due to irrigation and water diversion projects.

Back 20

True

False

Hint 20

True or False

Front 21

What is the lesson to be taken from the Rapa Nui and their civilization on Easter Island?

Back 21

A. Economics is an important facilitator of sustainable societies.

B. Grassroots organizations must be involved to ensure sustainable societies.

C. Political and governmental support are required to ensure sustainable societies.

D. Conservation of resources is necessary for sustainable societies.

E. Resource issues cannot be seen until the resources are gone in primitive societies.

Hint 21

A. Economics is an important facilitator of sustainable societies.

B. Grassroots organizations must be involved to ensure sustainable societies.

C. Political and governmental support are required to ensure sustainable societies.

D. Conservation of resources is necessary for sustainable societies.

E. Resource issues cannot be seen until the resources are gone in primitive societies.

Front 22

There is a new type of population movement occurring as a result of environmental crises around the world. It is driven by the urge to survive rather than the desire to prosper.

Back 22

True

False

Hint 22

True or False

Front 23

Which of the following would not be included on a list of climate change and global warming indicators identified over the past 50 years? Choose all answers that apply.

Back 23

A. The melting of arctic icecaps and the opening of the Arctic Ocean in summer.

B. A decrease in sea levels by 20 cm in the 20th century

C. The appearance of lakes on Greenland’s previously frozen landscape

D. Increased thawing of permafrost with the potential to release carbon dioxide and methane

E. Changes in global wind patterns and rain cycles

F. Reduced melting of mountainous glaciers (e.g. Mount Kilimanjaro, Himalayas, etc.)

G. Fewer extreme weather events (e.g. drought, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, etc.)

Hint 23

A. The melting of arctic icecaps and the opening of the Arctic Ocean in summer.

B. A decrease in sea levels by 20 cm in the 20th century

C. The appearance of lakes on Greenland’s previously frozen landscape

D. Increased thawing of permafrost with the potential to release carbon dioxide and methane

E. Changes in global wind patterns and rain cyclesF. Reduced melting of mountainous glaciers (e.g. Mount Kilimanjaro, Himalayas, etc.)G. Fewer extreme weather events (e.g. drought, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, etc.)

Front 24

In the past 50 years, the earth has been more radically changed than in all previous generations of humanity

Back 24

True

False

Hint 24

True or False