Question 1

Why is there such little waste in nature?

Accepted Answer

A)  The sun is an inexhaustible resource. 
B)  Organisms naturally avoid activities that create unnecessary waste. 
C)  The wastes and decayed bodies of any organism become nutrients or raw materials for other organisms. 
D)  The earth is so vast that natural waste is not easily identified. 
E)  Waste is chemically unstable. 
A)  The sun is an inexhaustible resource. 
B)  Organisms naturally avoid activities that create unnecessary waste. 
C)  The wastes and decayed bodies of any organism become nutrients or raw materials for other organisms. 
D)  The earth is so vast that natural waste is not easily identified. 
E)  Waste is chemically unstable.

Question 2

One reason biodiversity is such an important aspect of sustainability is that it ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  maintains a ready supply of new materials for water, soil, and food 
B)  is the ultimate source of energy for plants 
C)  provides vital ecosystem services through the interactions among species and keeps any population from growing too large 
D)  makes life less susceptible to constant adaptation and changing environmental conditions 
E)  increases ecotourism in less developed countries 
A)  maintains a ready supply of new materials for water, soil, and food 
B)  is the ultimate source of energy for plants 
C)  provides vital ecosystem services through the interactions among species and keeps any population from growing too large 
D)  makes life less susceptible to constant adaptation and changing environmental conditions 
E)  increases ecotourism in less developed countries

Question 3

____________________ resources exist in a fixed quantity, or stock, in the earth's crust.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________________ resources exist in a fixed quantity,...

Question 4

Which of the following is a branch of biology that focuses on interactions between living organisms and both the living and nonliving components of their environments?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ecology 
B)  Sustainability research 
C)  Environmentalism 
D)  Engineering 
E)  Geography 
A)  Ecology 
B)  Sustainability research 
C)  Environmentalism 
D)  Engineering 
E)  Geography

Question 5

The average ecological footprint of an individual in a given country or area is the ____________________ ecological footprint.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The average ecological footprint of an individual...

Question 6

Which term describes the capacity of the earth's natural systems to sustain life and the ability of human economic systems to survive or adapt indefinitely as environmental conditions change?

Accepted Answer

A)  Appropriate use of resources 
B)  Ecological management 
C)  Sustainability 
D)  Preservationism 
E)  Environmentalism 
A)  Appropriate use of resources 
B)  Ecological management 
C)  Sustainability 
D)  Preservationism 
E)  Environmentalism

Question 7

Natural capital degradation is a consequence of living unsustainably.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

According to the ____, all species have value as participating members of the biosphere, regardless of their potential or actual use to humans.

Accepted Answer

A)  human-centered environmental worldview 
B)  earth-centered environmental worldview 
C)  life-centered environmental worldview 
D)  sun-centered environmental worldview 
E)  geo-centered environmental worldview 
A)  human-centered environmental worldview 
B)  earth-centered environmental worldview 
C)  life-centered environmental worldview 
D)  sun-centered environmental worldview 
E)  geo-centered environmental worldview

Question 9

Which of the following is a resource that is both nonrenewable and nonmetallic?

Accepted Answer

A)  Copper 
B)  Solar energy 
C)  Sand 
D)  Trees 
E)  Clean air 
A)  Copper 
B)  Solar energy 
C)  Sand 
D)  Trees 
E)  Clean air

Question 10

Which of the following is the best definition of an ecological deficit?

Accepted Answer

A)  The number of open-access resources is lower than needed for a specific area 
B)  The total ecological footprint of an area is greater than its biocapacity 
C)  The per capita ecological footprint is greater than the ecosystem services 
D)  The population of an area is growing without improving sustainability 
E)  The ecological services in an area are lower than the natural capital available 
A)  The number of open-access resources is lower than needed for a specific area 
B)  The total ecological footprint of an area is greater than its biocapacity 
C)  The per capita ecological footprint is greater than the ecosystem services 
D)  The population of an area is growing without improving sustainability 
E)  The ecological services in an area are lower than the natural capital available

Question 11

____________________ energy is provided by the sun.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________________ energy is provided by the sun....

Question 12

Which process best illustrates an ecosystem service?

Accepted Answer

A)  Natural gas fracking 
B)  Pollution cleanup 
C)  Water purification 
D)  Oil mining 
E)  Soil erosion 
A)  Natural gas fracking 
B)  Pollution cleanup 
C)  Water purification 
D)  Oil mining 
E)  Soil erosion

Question 13

Oil is a(n) ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  nonrenewable resource because it cannot be formed on human time scales 
B)  renewable resource because it can be renewed through human processes 
C)  inexhaustible resource because it is a form of stored solar energy 
D)  ecosystem service because oil is a valuable commodity 
E)  renewable resource because it can be used to make fertilizers that restore soil fertility 
A)  nonrenewable resource because it cannot be formed on human time scales 
B)  renewable resource because it can be renewed through human processes 
C)  inexhaustible resource because it is a form of stored solar energy 
D)  ecosystem service because oil is a valuable commodity 
E)  renewable resource because it can be used to make fertilizers that restore soil fertility

Question 14

The per capita ecological footprint is the total ecological footprint for a given country or area.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

A country's ecological footprint is larger than its biological capacity to replenish its renewable resources and absorb the resulting waste and pollution. What can be said about this country?

Accepted Answer

A)  It has an ecological deficit. 
B)  It must not have any natural capital. 
C)  It is a sustainable society. 
D)  It is most likely a developing country. 
E)  It can be described as preservationist. 
A)  It has an ecological deficit. 
B)  It must not have any natural capital. 
C)  It is a sustainable society. 
D)  It is most likely a developing country. 
E)  It can be described as preservationist.

Question 16

The "tragedy of the commons" refers to the ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  overuse of privately held resources 
B)  degradation of shared common resources 
C)  human deaths resulting polluted shared resources such as air or water 
D)  government over-regulation of fresh water use 
E)  use of nonrenewable resources 
A)  overuse of privately held resources 
B)  degradation of shared common resources 
C)  human deaths resulting polluted shared resources such as air or water 
D)  government over-regulation of fresh water use 
E)  use of nonrenewable resources

Question 17

____________________ includes the natural resources and ecosystem services that keep us and other species alive and support human economies.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________________ includes the natural resources and ecosystem...

Question 18

Species interactions help prevent any one population from becoming too large.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

On human time scales, nonrenewable resources ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  may be considered inexhaustible 
B)  can never be recycled 
C)  are replenished by natural processes within hours 
D)  are used without ever becoming depleted 
E)  can be depleted much faster than nature can form them 
A)  may be considered inexhaustible 
B)  can never be recycled 
C)  are replenished by natural processes within hours 
D)  are used without ever becoming depleted 
E)  can be depleted much faster than nature can form them

Question 20

____________________ energy is heat from the earth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________________ energy is heat from the earth....

Why is there such little waste in nature?

One reason biodiversity is such an important aspect of sustainability is that it ____.

____________________ resources exist in a fixed quantity, or stock, in the earth's crust.

Which of the following is a branch of biology that focuses on interactions between living organisms and both the living and nonliving components of their environments?

The average ecological footprint of an individual in a given country or area is the ____________________ ecological footprint.

Which term describes the capacity of the earth's natural systems to sustain life and the ability of human economic systems to survive or adapt indefinitely as environmental conditions change?

Natural capital degradation is a consequence of living unsustainably.

According to the ____, all species have value as participating members of the biosphere, regardless of their potential or actual use to humans.

Which of the following is a resource that is both nonrenewable and nonmetallic?

Which of the following is the best definition of an ecological deficit?

____________________ energy is provided by the sun.

Which process best illustrates an ecosystem service?

Oil is a(n) ____.

The per capita ecological footprint is the total ecological footprint for a given country or area.

A country's ecological footprint is larger than its biological capacity to replenish its renewable resources and absorb the resulting waste and pollution. What can be said about this country?

The "tragedy of the commons" refers to the ____.

____________________ includes the natural resources and ecosystem services that keep us and other species alive and support human economies.

Species interactions help prevent any one population from becoming too large.

On human time scales, nonrenewable resources ____.

____________________ energy is heat from the earth.

Science, Matter, Energy and Systems

Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work

Biodiversity and Evolution

Species Interactions, Ecological Succession and Population Control

The Human Population and Urbanization

Climate and Biodiversity

Sustaining Biodiversity: Saving Species

Sustaining Biodiversity: Saving Ecosystems

Food Production and the Environment

Water Resources and Water Pollution

Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources

Energy Resources

Environmental Hazards and Human Health

Air Pollution, Climate Change and Ozone Depletion

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Environmental Economics, Politics and Worldviews

Filters

Exam 1: The Environment and Sustainability

Why is there such little waste in nature?

One reason biodiversity is such an important aspect of sustainability is that it ____.

____________________ resources exist in a fixed quantity, or stock, in the earth's crust.

Which of the following is a branch of biology that focuses on interactions between living organisms and both the living and nonliving components of their environments?

The average ecological footprint of an individual in a given country or area is the ____________________ ecological footprint.

Which term describes the capacity of the earth's natural systems to sustain life and the ability of human economic systems to survive or adapt indefinitely as environmental conditions change?

Natural capital degradation is a consequence of living unsustainably.

According to the ____, all species have value as participating members of the biosphere, regardless of their potential or actual use to humans.

Which of the following is a resource that is both nonrenewable and nonmetallic?

Which of the following is the best definition of an ecological deficit?

____________________ energy is provided by the sun.

Which process best illustrates an ecosystem service?

Oil is a(n) ____.

The per capita ecological footprint is the total ecological footprint for a given country or area.

A country's ecological footprint is larger than its biological capacity to replenish its renewable resources and absorb the resulting waste and pollution. What can be said about this country?

The "tragedy of the commons" refers to the ____.

____________________ includes the natural resources and ecosystem services that keep us and other species alive and support human economies.

Species interactions help prevent any one population from becoming too large.

On human time scales, nonrenewable resources ____.

____________________ energy is heat from the earth.

Science, Matter, Energy and Systems

Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work

Biodiversity and Evolution

Species Interactions, Ecological Succession and Population Control

The Human Population and Urbanization

Climate and Biodiversity

Sustaining Biodiversity: Saving Species

Sustaining Biodiversity: Saving Ecosystems

Food Production and the Environment

Water Resources and Water Pollution

Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources

Energy Resources

Environmental Hazards and Human Health

Air Pollution, Climate Change and Ozone Depletion

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Environmental Economics, Politics and Worldviews

Filters