Question 1

Although the carrying capacity of a population is determined by food availability, it's also dependent on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  the energy fluctuations of the sun 
B)  clean air and water 
C)  the prevalence of war 
D)  a woman's choice to not have children 
A)  the energy fluctuations of the sun 
B)  clean air and water 
C)  the prevalence of war 
D)  a woman's choice to not have children

Question 2

If everyone on the planet used resources and lived the average lifestyle of an American, then

Accepted Answer

A)  the Earth would have the carrying capacity to sustain the human population. 
B)  the population growth rate would immediately decrease. 
C)  we would need multiple Earths for this to be possible. 
D)  there would be same number of people in less-developed countries as there are Americans. 
A)  the Earth would have the carrying capacity to sustain the human population. 
B)  the population growth rate would immediately decrease. 
C)  we would need multiple Earths for this to be possible. 
D)  there would be same number of people in less-developed countries as there are Americans.

Question 3

Americans make up less than ________ of the total human population, yet use close to ________ of the world's resources.

Accepted Answer

A)  1%; 50% 
B)  5%; 25% 
C)  0.1%; 75% 
D)  0.01%; 80% 
A)  1%; 50% 
B)  5%; 25% 
C)  0.1%; 75% 
D)  0.01%; 80%

Question 4

Over the past two centuries, the growth of human population has

Accepted Answer

A)  leveled off slowly. 
B)  increased steadily. 
C)  exhibited "boom and bust" growth. 
D)  increased exponentially. 
A)  leveled off slowly. 
B)  increased steadily. 
C)  exhibited "boom and bust" growth. 
D)  increased exponentially.

Question 5

A woman with a college education is more likely to have a large family than a woman with an eighth-grade education.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Human population growth has always been exponential.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

A death rate of 2.1% would represent 21 deaths per ________ individuals in a population per year.

Accepted Answer

A)  100 
B)  1000 
C)  10,000 
D)  1,000,000 
A)  100 
B)  1000 
C)  10,000 
D)  1,000,000

Question 8

Increased mortality in a population due to increased competition for water is the effect of a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  demographic transition. 
B)  density-dependent factor. 
C)  density-independent factor. 
D)  increase in carrying capacity. 
A)  demographic transition. 
B)  density-dependent factor. 
C)  density-independent factor. 
D)  increase in carrying capacity.

Question 9

Growth rates appear to be declining in many human populations because

Accepted Answer

A)  families are choosing to have fewer children. 
B)  death rates are increasing due to disease epidemics and famines. 
C)  birth rates are decreasing due to famine. 
D)  the carrying capacity has been reached. 
A)  families are choosing to have fewer children. 
B)  death rates are increasing due to disease epidemics and famines. 
C)  birth rates are decreasing due to famine. 
D)  the carrying capacity has been reached.

Question 10

Global human population growth rates have declined since the 1960s by about 1%.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which of the following is directly involved in calculating net primary productivity?

Accepted Answer

A)  the change in growth of the human population 
B)  the amount of solar energy converted to chemical energy by plants 
C)  the amount of chemical energy required by plants to support themselves 
D)  the number of births and deaths in a population over one year 
A)  the change in growth of the human population 
B)  the amount of solar energy converted to chemical energy by plants 
C)  the amount of chemical energy required by plants to support themselves 
D)  the number of births and deaths in a population over one year

Question 12

The average American uses as many resources in one day as 370 Ethiopians.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

As the size of a population approaches the carrying capacity of its environment, which of following is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  the growth rate increases 
B)  a graph of population growth resembles a "J" 
C)  the population stabilizes at its maximum size 
D)  birth rates become proportionally much greater than the death rates 
A)  the growth rate increases 
B)  a graph of population growth resembles a "J" 
C)  the population stabilizes at its maximum size 
D)  birth rates become proportionally much greater than the death rates

Question 14

One problem associated with using NPP to calculate the carrying capacity for humans is that

Accepted Answer

A)  it fails to take into account our need for other resources, such as water, clean air, and fuel. 
B)  NPP isn't important when considering the human population. 
C)  humans grow their own food, which isn't a part of the NPP. 
D)  it overestimates the effects of humans on the ecosystem. 
A)  it fails to take into account our need for other resources, such as water, clean air, and fuel. 
B)  NPP isn't important when considering the human population. 
C)  humans grow their own food, which isn't a part of the NPP. 
D)  it overestimates the effects of humans on the ecosystem.

Question 15

Which of the following is a population-limiting, density-dependent factor?

Accepted Answer

A)  a heavy flood that destroys a large area around a river 
B)  a heat wave in which some organisms can't survive 
C)  a drought that limits food availability 
D)  the rapid spread of tuberculosis in heavily populated areas 
A)  a heavy flood that destroys a large area around a river 
B)  a heat wave in which some organisms can't survive 
C)  a drought that limits food availability 
D)  the rapid spread of tuberculosis in heavily populated areas

Question 16

When considering the growth of the human population, how is the annual growth rate determined?

Accepted Answer

A)  the number of deaths averaged over the population as a whole minus the number of births averaged over the population as a whole 
B)  the number of births averaged over the population as a whole minus the number of deaths averaged over the population as a whole 
C)  the number of births averaged over the population as a whole for the entire year 
D)  the number of births averaged over the population as a whole as well as the number of immigrants into the population during the year 
A)  the number of deaths averaged over the population as a whole minus the number of births averaged over the population as a whole 
B)  the number of births averaged over the population as a whole minus the number of deaths averaged over the population as a whole 
C)  the number of births averaged over the population as a whole for the entire year 
D)  the number of births averaged over the population as a whole as well as the number of immigrants into the population during the year

Question 17

Net primary productivity refers to all the energy in the plants and animals in a food chain at any particular time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Based on estimates that consider the NPP of Earth and human use of these resources, scientists calculate the carrying capacity is nearly ________ people.

Accepted Answer

A)  6.6 billion 
B)  10.6 billion 
C)  21 billion 
D)  40 billion 
A)  6.6 billion 
B)  10.6 billion 
C)  21 billion 
D)  40 billion

Question 19

Developed countries are characterized by

Accepted Answer

A)  industrial economies and low individual incomes. 
B)  agricultural economies and high individual incomes. 
C)  agricultural economies and low individual incomes. 
D)  industrial economies and high individual incomes. 
A)  industrial economies and low individual incomes. 
B)  agricultural economies and high individual incomes. 
C)  agricultural economies and low individual incomes. 
D)  industrial economies and high individual incomes.

Question 20

Approximately how many people are on Earth today?

Accepted Answer

A)  7,000,000 
B)  70,000,000 
C)  700,000,000 
D)  7,000,000,000 
A)  7,000,000 
B)  70,000,000 
C)  700,000,000 
D)  7,000,000,000

Exam 14: Is the Human Population Too Large? Population Ecology

Although the carrying capacity of a population is determined by food availability, it's also dependent on which of the following?

If everyone on the planet used resources and lived the average lifestyle of an American, then

Americans make up less than ________ of the total human population, yet use close to ________ of the world's resources.

Over the past two centuries, the growth of human population has

A woman with a college education is more likely to have a large family than a woman with an eighth-grade education.

Human population growth has always been exponential.

A death rate of 2.1% would represent 21 deaths per ________ individuals in a population per year.

Increased mortality in a population due to increased competition for water is the effect of a(n)

Growth rates appear to be declining in many human populations because

Global human population growth rates have declined since the 1960s by about 1%.

Which of the following is directly involved in calculating net primary productivity?

The average American uses as many resources in one day as 370 Ethiopians.

As the size of a population approaches the carrying capacity of its environment, which of following is true?

One problem associated with using NPP to calculate the carrying capacity for humans is that

Which of the following is a population-limiting, density-dependent factor?

When considering the growth of the human population, how is the annual growth rate determined?

Net primary productivity refers to all the energy in the plants and animals in a food chain at any particular time.

Based on estimates that consider the NPP of Earth and human use of these resources, scientists calculate the carrying capacity is nearly ________ people.

Developed countries are characterized by

Approximately how many people are on Earth today?

Can Science Cure the Common Cold? Introduction to the Scientific Method

Are We Alone in the Universe? Water, Biochemistry, and Cells

Is It Possible to Supplement Your Way to Better Health?

Fat: How Much is Right for You? Enzymes, Metabolism, and Cellular Respiration

Life in the Greenhouse: Photosynthesis and Global Warming

Cancer: DNA Synthesis, Mitosis, and Meiosis

Are You Only as Smart as Your Genes? Mendelian and Quantitative Genetics

DNA Detective: Complex Patterns of Inheritance and DNA Fingerprinting

Genetically Modified Organisms: Gene Expression, Mutation, and Cloning

Where Did We Come From? The Evidence for Evolution

An Evolving Enemy: Natural Selection

Who Am I? Species and Races

Prospecting for Biological Gold: Biodiversity and Classification

Conserving Biodiversity: Community and Ecosystem Ecology

Where Do You Live? Climate and Biomes

Organ Donation: Tissues Organs and Organ Systems

Clearing the Air: Respiratory Cardiovascular and Excretory Systems

Vaccinations: Protection and Prevention or Peril? Immune System

Sex Differences and Athleticism: Endocrine Skeletal and Muscular Systems

Is There Something in the Water? Reproductive and Developmental Biology

Attention Deficit Disorder: Brain Structure and Function

Feeding the World: Plant Structure and Growth

Growing a Green Thumb: Plant Physiology

Filters

Americans make up less than of the total human population, yet use close to of the world's resources.