Which of the following criteria will not help in the development of a sustainable global environment?

Which of the following criteria will not help in the development of a sustainable global environment?

a) it must be evolutionary
b) it must be attractive to people
c) it must exclude people who will not participate
d) it must be proactive
e) it must assist the disadvantaged

Answer: C

James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis are noted for:

James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis are noted for:

a) originating the Gaia hypothesis
b) defining the concept of carrying capacity
c) their studies of famine in Africa
d) defining the concept of utilitarian maximum
e) defining the concept of ecological maximum

Answer: A

The maximum number of owls that can live in a certain forested region is defined as the _____________ for that species in that environment.

The maximum number of owls that can live in a certain forested region is defined as the _____________ for that species in that environment.

a) utilitarian maximum
b) ecological maximum
c) functional maximum
d) carrying capacity
e) ecological capacity

Answer: D

If we can continue to harvest the same number of tuna from the Pacific Ocean for the foreseeable future, we would have achieved ____________ of that resource.

If we can continue to harvest the same number of tuna from the Pacific Ocean for the foreseeable future, we would have achieved ____________ of that resource.

a) maximum use
b) sustainability
c) economic parity
d) carrying capacity
e) ecological justification

Answer: B

A large decrease in the human population occurred around 1350 A.D. What was the cause of that decrease in population?

A large decrease in the human population occurred around 1350 A.D. What was the cause of that decrease in population?

a) the Hundred Years War
b) the Punic Wars
c) emigration to North America
d) depredations by Nazgul
e) the Black Death

Answer: E

According to Frederick Law Olmsted, planting vegetation in cities provides:

According to Frederick Law Olmsted, planting vegetation in cities provides:

a) medical benefits
b) psychological benefits
c) social benefits
d) aesthetic benefits
e) all of the above

Answer: E

Ecological justification is related to:

Ecological justification is related to:

a) the direct economic benefit for one or more individual
b) the human instinct for individual survival
c) the beauty and wonder in nature
d) moral obligations to and about the environment
e) the belief that aspects of the environment are necessary for the survival of species that provide benefit to humans

Answer: E

"Famines in Africa illustrate that population crises feed on themselves." Which of the following arguments supports this quotation?

"Famines in Africa illustrate that population crises feed on themselves." Which of the following arguments supports this quotation?

a) poor farming practices have led to increase erosion
b) African desert land appears to be spreading as a result of increased human activities
c) humans affect the environment, and the environment affects humans
d) the control and destruction of food in Africa has been used as a weapon
e) all of the above

Answer: E

Two arguments that justify human interaction with nature, by placing human survival above all other considerations are:

Two arguments that justify human interaction with nature, by placing human survival above all other considerations are:

a) utilitarian & aesthetic
b) ecological & moral
c) moral & aesthetic
d) utilitarian & economic
e) ecological & aesthetic

Answer: D

The question "Which is more important, the survival of people alive today or conservation of the environment?" is difficult to answer. Answering this question demands:

The question "Which is more important, the survival of people alive today or conservation of the environment?" is difficult to answer. Answering this question demands:

a) value judgments
b) sustainability
c) science and technology
d) practical application
e) a legal basis

Answer: A

What is the carrying capacity of the Earth for humans?

What is the carrying capacity of the Earth for humans?

a) zero
b) under 1 billion
c) just over 5 billion
d) between 10 and 20 billion
e) any estimate depends on who you ask and what assumptions they make

Answer: E

Aspects and limitation(s) of the early approach to environmental issues included:

Aspects and limitation(s) of the early approach to environmental issues included:

a) a lack of scientific knowledge
b) a general recognition that real solutions to environmental problems include and depend on human beings
c) recognition that we must seek sustainability
d) a lack of understanding that environmentalism and economic progress are not contradictory
e) all of the above

Answer: E

The use of renewable environmental resources faster than they can be replenished would be considered:

The use of renewable environmental resources faster than they can be replenished would be considered:

a) sustainable use of resources
b) sustainable use of an ecosystem
c) unsustainable
d) at maximum carrying capacity
e) sustainable growth



Answer: C

The Precautionary Principle:

The Precautionary Principle:

a) was introduced at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit on Sustainable Development
b) requires critical thinking about a variety of environmental concerns
c) requires precautionary steps to be taken before scientific proof is established
d) should be implemented in response to serious environmental threats
e) all of the above apply to the Precautionary Principle

Answer: E

Beyond a threshold world population of about ________, the quality of life declines.

Beyond a threshold world population of about ________, the quality of life declines.

a) 500 million
b) 1 billion
c) 2 billion
d) 3 billion
e) 6 billion



Answer: E

Which of the following is not a major theme of environmental science?

Which of the following is not a major theme of environmental science?



a) human population growth
b) an urbanizing world
c) sustainability
d) science and values
e) all of the above are major themes of environmental science




Answer: E

The Gaia Hypothesis states that the dominant force that has shaped the global environment through time is:

The Gaia Hypothesis states that the dominant force that has shaped the global environment through time is:

a) the oceans
b) the atmosphere
c) life
d) the Gaia species from Alpha Centauri
e) humans

Answer: C

When did the most dramatic increase in the history of the human population occur?

When did the most dramatic increase in the history of the human population occur?

a) in the early history of the human population
b) in the last part of the twentieth century
c) during the industrial revolution
d) during the middle ages
e) human population has increased on a steady rate

Answer: B

Throughout history, the human population:

Throughout history, the human population:

a) has always grown as rapidly as today
b) grew continuously as a result of the Industrial Revolution and improved health care
c) mostly increased, but included some decreases most notably during the Black Death (bubonic plague)
d) was constant in its growth
e) has been in steady-state

Answer: C

According to the Environmental Science text, the underlying issue underlying all environmental problems is:

According to the Environmental Science text, the underlying issue underlying all environmental problems is:

a) the rapid growth in human population
b) the refusal of developing nations to stop using CFCs
c) the Greenhouse Effect
d) contaminated soil and drinking water
e) that our generation does not have a global perspective on environmental problems and how to solve them

Answer: A