Question 1

Which of the following represents a sustainable source of energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  a watch battery 
B)  a solar panel 
C)  a tank of gasoline 
D)  none of the above 
A)  a watch battery 
B)  a solar panel 
C)  a tank of gasoline 
D)  none of the above B

Question 2

In comparison to conventional farming, organic farming can be considered more environmentally friendly, because

Accepted Answer

A)  it uses less water than conventional farming. 
B)  it avoids the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. 
C)  it has greater net primary production than conventional farming. 
D)  it is more energy efficient, using livestock-drawn farming equipment rather than tractors and fossils fuels. 
A)  it uses less water than conventional farming. 
B)  it avoids the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. 
C)  it has greater net primary production than conventional farming. 
D)  it is more energy efficient, using livestock-drawn farming equipment rather than tractors and fossils fuels. B

Question 3

Examine the graph below.  
What best explains the reduction in the forecast for future world oil production shown in this graph?

Accepted Answer

A)  Oil-producing nations will attempt to drive oil prices upward by severely limiting total production. 
B)  World demand is expected to decline as alternative energy sources like fuel cells become available. 
C)  The oil in known reserves will be largely consumed by 2020 with no readily available new reserves to replace it. 
D)  All of the above have contributed to the forecast. 
A)  Oil-producing nations will attempt to drive oil prices upward by severely limiting total production. 
B)  World demand is expected to decline as alternative energy sources like fuel cells become available. 
C)  The oil in known reserves will be largely consumed by 2020 with no readily available new reserves to replace it. 
D)  All of the above have contributed to the forecast. C

Question 4

Which of the following would make a meaningful contribution to sustainability?

Accepted Answer

A)  car pooling 
B)  using more domestic oil 
C)  using public transportation 
D)  a and c above 
A)  car pooling 
B)  using more domestic oil 
C)  using public transportation 
D)  a and c above

Question 5

The decrease in area of tropical forests is

Accepted Answer

A)  balanced by increases of forest areas in other parts of the globe. 
B)  largely the result of extensive logging. 
C)  largely due to increases in damaging weather. 
D)  occurring as sea levels rise due to global warming. 
A)  balanced by increases of forest areas in other parts of the globe. 
B)  largely the result of extensive logging. 
C)  largely due to increases in damaging weather. 
D)  occurring as sea levels rise due to global warming.

Question 6

In which of the following continents is the availability of fresh water most limited?

Accepted Answer

A)  Australia 
B)  Africa 
C)  Europe 
D)  North America 
A)  Australia 
B)  Africa 
C)  Europe 
D)  North America

Question 7

A cap and trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions in the United States resulted in

Accepted Answer

A)  no decline in emissions. 
B)  only a small (5 percent) reduction in emissions. 
C)  a significant reduction in emissions. 
D)  virtual elimination of emissions. 
A)  no decline in emissions. 
B)  only a small (5 percent) reduction in emissions. 
C)  a significant reduction in emissions. 
D)  virtual elimination of emissions.

Question 8

The world is very close to attaining a sustainable human society now that

Accepted Answer

A)  human population growth has been brought under control. 
B)  ecologists have a complete understanding of biological relationships among Earth's populations. 
C)  genetically modified crops promise to double food production in the next 25 years. 
D)  none of the above 
A)  human population growth has been brought under control. 
B)  ecologists have a complete understanding of biological relationships among Earth's populations. 
C)  genetically modified crops promise to double food production in the next 25 years. 
D)  none of the above

Question 9

Government regulations and international agreements have resulted in many environmental improvements, but to date none has been able to

Accepted Answer

A)  reduce emissions of CFCs 
B)  reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide 
C)  reduce carbon dioxide emissions 
D)  reduce the use of fossil fuels 
A)  reduce emissions of CFCs 
B)  reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide 
C)  reduce carbon dioxide emissions 
D)  reduce the use of fossil fuels

Question 10

Overuse of aquifers can cause cities to subside as it has done in Mexico City.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

How can awareness and education affect our ability to build a sustainable society?

Accepted Answer

It can make people aware of the scope of

Question 12

One reason a cap and trade system works well is that

Accepted Answer

A)  allowances are inexpensive. 
B)  it stimulates cost-effective controls. 
C)  unused allowances expire. 
D)  allowances cannot be traded. 
A)  allowances are inexpensive. 
B)  it stimulates cost-effective controls. 
C)  unused allowances expire. 
D)  allowances cannot be traded.

Question 13

Many people bring empty containers to recycling centers. What does this mean in terms of contributing to a sustainable society?

Accepted Answer

A)  Recycling metal and glass reduces the energy that would otherwise be used to produce the finished products from raw materials. 
B)  Recycling metal and glass reduces the energy that would otherwise be used to extract, refine, and transport the raw materials. 
C)  Recycling is insignificant relative to the size of current environmental problems, but it makes people feel that they are making a contribution. 
D)  Both a and b are correct. 
A)  Recycling metal and glass reduces the energy that would otherwise be used to produce the finished products from raw materials. 
B)  Recycling metal and glass reduces the energy that would otherwise be used to extract, refine, and transport the raw materials. 
C)  Recycling is insignificant relative to the size of current environmental problems, but it makes people feel that they are making a contribution. 
D)  Both a and b are correct.

Question 14

Life-cycle engineering refers to documenting the environmental impact of products from manufacture to the sale and disposal of the products.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Greenroof buildings are one of the major contributions to the greenhouse effect and global climate change.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The green roof projects undertaken in Japan, Europe, and North America

Accepted Answer

A)  have been for the most part unsuccessful; most have been removed. 
B)  work well in theory, but often cause structural damage to the building where they are installed. 
C)  represent reclaimed cropland and have made modest contributions to food production. 
D)  provide a number of environmental and practical benefits including decreased heating and cooling cost. 
A)  have been for the most part unsuccessful; most have been removed. 
B)  work well in theory, but often cause structural damage to the building where they are installed. 
C)  represent reclaimed cropland and have made modest contributions to food production. 
D)  provide a number of environmental and practical benefits including decreased heating and cooling cost.

Question 17

One means of increasing the amount of calories available for human consumption would be to

Accepted Answer

A)  use the world's grain crops to raise more herbivorous livestock. 
B)  encourage people to simplify their diets by selecting foods from the bottom of the food web. 
C)  use environmentally safe pesticides to eliminate the insects that compete for our food. 
D)  prohibit the commercial marketing of secondary and tertiary consumers. 
A)  use the world's grain crops to raise more herbivorous livestock. 
B)  encourage people to simplify their diets by selecting foods from the bottom of the food web. 
C)  use environmentally safe pesticides to eliminate the insects that compete for our food. 
D)  prohibit the commercial marketing of secondary and tertiary consumers.

Question 18

In 1990 polls taken in the United States and around the globe concerning the environment indicated most people

Accepted Answer

A)  are unaware that there is a problem. 
B)  know that there is a problem but are not very concerned about it. 
C)  think improvements must be made, no matter what the cost. 
D)  think it would cost too much to make required improvements. 
A)  are unaware that there is a problem. 
B)  know that there is a problem but are not very concerned about it. 
C)  think improvements must be made, no matter what the cost. 
D)  think it would cost too much to make required improvements.

Question 19

Carbon dioxide and CFCs are both greenhouse gases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

To build a sustainable society the capabilities of humans to affect both density-dependent and density-independent factors must be taken into consideration.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 45: Building a Sustainable Society

Which of the following represents a sustainable source of energy?

In comparison to conventional farming, organic farming can be considered more environmentally friendly, because

Examine the graph below. What best explains the reduction in the forecast for future world oil production shown in this graph?

Which of the following would make a meaningful contribution to sustainability?

The decrease in area of tropical forests is

In which of the following continents is the availability of fresh water most limited?

A cap and trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions in the United States resulted in

The world is very close to attaining a sustainable human society now that

Government regulations and international agreements have resulted in many environmental improvements, but to date none has been able to

Overuse of aquifers can cause cities to subside as it has done in Mexico City.

How can awareness and education affect our ability to build a sustainable society?

One reason a cap and trade system works well is that

Many people bring empty containers to recycling centers. What does this mean in terms of contributing to a sustainable society?

Life-cycle engineering refers to documenting the environmental impact of products from manufacture to the sale and disposal of the products.

Greenroof buildings are one of the major contributions to the greenhouse effect and global climate change.

The green roof projects undertaken in Japan, Europe, and North America

One means of increasing the amount of calories available for human consumption would be to

In 1990 polls taken in the United States and around the globe concerning the environment indicated most people

Carbon dioxide and CFCs are both greenhouse gases.

To build a sustainable society the capabilities of humans to affect both density-dependent and density-independent factors must be taken into consideration.

The Nature of Science and the Characteristics of Life

Organizing the Diversity of Life

Major Groups of Living Organisms

Chemical Building Blocks

Cell Structure and Internal Compartments

Cell Membranes, Transport, and Communication

Energy and Enzymes

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Cell Division

Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes and Human Genetics

DNA

From Gene to Protein

Control of Gene Expression

DNA Technology

How Evolution Works

Evolution of Populations

Adaptation and Speciation

The Evolutionary History of Life

Maintaining the Internal Environment

Animal Nutrition and Digestion

Gas Exchange

The Circulatory System

Animal Hormones

The Nervous System

Sensing the Environment

Skeletons, Muscles, and Movement

Defenses against Disease

Reproduction and Development

Animal Behavior

Plant Structure, Nutrition, and Transport

Plant Growth and Reproduction

The Biosphere

Growth of Populations

Interactions among Organisms

Communities of Organisms

Ecosystems

Global Change

Biodiversity and People

Cancer: Cell Division Out of Control

Harnessing the Human Genome

Humans and Evolution

Smoking--Beyond Lung Cancer

Feeding a Hungry Planet

Filters