Question 1

How does a high-throughput economy sustain economic growth?

Accepted Answer

A)  By minimizing the rates at which energy and matter resources are used. 
B)  By maximizing the rates at which energy and matter resources are used. 
C)  By minimizing the rates at which energy resources are used. 
D)  By maximizing the rates at which energy resources are used. 
A)  By minimizing the rates at which energy and matter resources are used. 
B)  By maximizing the rates at which energy and matter resources are used. 
C)  By minimizing the rates at which energy resources are used. 
D)  By maximizing the rates at which energy resources are used.

Question 2

Which statement most accurately describes frontier science?

Accepted Answer

A)  Frontier science can lead the public to think that science has all the answers. 
B)  Frontier science often deals with untested models and hypotheses. 
C)  Frontier science is used in remote places. 
D)  Frontier science often deals with well-documented data. 
A)  Frontier science can lead the public to think that science has all the answers. 
B)  Frontier science often deals with untested models and hypotheses. 
C)  Frontier science is used in remote places. 
D)  Frontier science often deals with well-documented data.

Question 3

What is one defining characteristic of energy input?

Accepted Answer

A)  Energy input is always equal to energy output. 
B)  Energy input is always greater than energy output. 
C)  Energy input is usually greater than energy output. 
D)  Energy input is usually less than energy output. 
A)  Energy input is always equal to energy output. 
B)  Energy input is always greater than energy output. 
C)  Energy input is usually greater than energy output. 
D)  Energy input is usually less than energy output.

Question 4

Which fuel is used in a nuclear reactor?

Accepted Answer

A)  uranium-500 
B)  coal 
C)  petroleum 
D)  uranium-235 
A)  uranium-500 
B)  coal 
C)  petroleum 
D)  uranium-235

Question 5

What do matter and energy laws tell us?

Accepted Answer

A)  We can recycle both matter and energy. 
B)  We can recycle neither matter nor energy. 
C)  We can recycle energy but not matter. 
D)  We can recycle matter but not energy. 
A)  We can recycle both matter and energy. 
B)  We can recycle neither matter nor energy. 
C)  We can recycle energy but not matter. 
D)  We can recycle matter but not energy.

Question 6

What is the best example of low-quality energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  electricity 
B)  nuclei of uranium-235 
C)  coal 
D)  heat in the ocean 
A)  electricity 
B)  nuclei of uranium-235 
C)  coal 
D)  heat in the ocean

Question 7

Low-throughput economies are more sustainable and are our best bet for solving our environmental problems.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

What best characterizes Earth's closed system?

Accepted Answer

A)  matter and energy 
B)  energy 
C)  matter 
D)  thermodynamics 
A)  matter and energy 
B)  energy 
C)  matter 
D)  thermodynamics

Question 9

Which situation involves a long time delay that results in environmental degradation?

Accepted Answer

A)  depletion of the ozone layer 
B)  clear-cutting a forest 
C)  marine oil spills 
D)  building new four-lane highways 
A)  depletion of the ozone layer 
B)  clear-cutting a forest 
C)  marine oil spills 
D)  building new four-lane highways

Question 10

What type of change converts mass into energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  physical change 
B)  energy change 
C)  chemical change 
D)  nuclear change 
A)  physical change 
B)  energy change 
C)  chemical change 
D)  nuclear change

Question 11

Which term best defines a situation where two or more processes interact such that the combined effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects?

Accepted Answer

A)  a chaotic interaction 
B)  a homeostatic interaction 
C)  a negative feedback interaction 
D)  a synergistic interaction 
A)  a chaotic interaction 
B)  a homeostatic interaction 
C)  a negative feedback interaction 
D)  a synergistic interaction

Question 12

Which of the following best describes N2 and O₂?

Accepted Answer

A)  molecules consisting of two elements of the same compound 
B)  molecules consisting of two atoms of the same element 
C)  compounds consisting of two different elements 
D)  elements consisting of a compound and an ion 
A)  molecules consisting of two elements of the same compound 
B)  molecules consisting of two atoms of the same element 
C)  compounds consisting of two different elements 
D)  elements consisting of a compound and an ion

Question 13

Which term best describes what H₂O and NaCl are?

Accepted Answer

A)  organic compounds 
B)  inorganic compounds 
C)  mixtures 
D)  elements 
A)  organic compounds 
B)  inorganic compounds 
C)  mixtures 
D)  elements

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of a time delay?

Accepted Answer

A)  A fox eats a rabbit. 
B)  A smoker develops lung cancer. 
C)  A largemouth bass eats a salmon fry. 
D)  Higher altitude causes oxygen deficiency. 
A)  A fox eats a rabbit. 
B)  A smoker develops lung cancer. 
C)  A largemouth bass eats a salmon fry. 
D)  Higher altitude causes oxygen deficiency.

Question 15

An atom of sodium has 11 protons and therefore has 11____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An atom of sodium has 11 protons...

Question 16

Which model is the most useful for perceiving and predicting events in the environmental arena?

Accepted Answer

A)  a conceptual model 
B)  a mathematical model 
C)  a physical model 
D)  a mental model 
A)  a conceptual model 
B)  a mathematical model 
C)  a physical model 
D)  a mental model

Question 17

What happens when energy is changed from one form to another?

Accepted Answer

Some of the useful energy is a

Question 18

A driver and passenger were stopped by a fallen tree across the road.Although neither could move the tree alone,together they moved it off the road.Which concept best describes their solution?

Accepted Answer

A)  homeostatic interaction 
B)  positive feedback interaction 
C)  synergistic interaction 
D)  chaotic interaction 
A)  homeostatic interaction 
B)  positive feedback interaction 
C)  synergistic interaction 
D)  chaotic interaction

Question 19

Which matter is broken down by biological action?

Accepted Answer

A)  uranium 
B)  plastic toys 
C)  litter in the environment 
D)  lead and mercury 
A)  uranium 
B)  plastic toys 
C)  litter in the environment 
D)  lead and mercury

Question 20

What is present in all organic compounds?

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen 
B)  carbon 
C)  oxygen 
D)  nitrogen 
A)  hydrogen 
B)  carbon 
C)  oxygen 
D)  nitrogen

Exam 3: Science, systems, matter, and Energy

How does a high-throughput economy sustain economic growth?

Which statement most accurately describes frontier science?

What is one defining characteristic of energy input?

Which fuel is used in a nuclear reactor?

What do matter and energy laws tell us?

What is the best example of low-quality energy?

Low-throughput economies are more sustainable and are our best bet for solving our environmental problems.

What best characterizes Earth's closed system?

Which situation involves a long time delay that results in environmental degradation?

What type of change converts mass into energy?

Which term best defines a situation where two or more processes interact such that the combined effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects?

Which of the following best describes N2 and O₂?

Which term best describes what H₂O and NaCl are?

Which of the following is an example of a time delay?

An atom of sodium has 11 protons and therefore has 11____________________.

Which model is the most useful for perceiving and predicting events in the environmental arena?

What happens when energy is changed from one form to another?

A driver and passenger were stopped by a fallen tree across the road.Although neither could move the tree alone,together they moved it off the road.Which concept best describes their solution?

Which matter is broken down by biological action?

What is present in all organic compounds?

Environmental Problems: an Introduction and Overview

Environmental History: Learning From the Past

Ecosystems: What Are They, and How Do They Work

Evolution and Biodiversity

Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity

Aquatic Biodiversity

Community Ecology

Population Ecology

Applying Population Ecology: the Human Population

Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity: Managing and Protecting Ecosystems

Sustaining Biodiversity: the Species Approach

Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity

Food and Soil Resources

Water Resources

Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources

Nonrenewable Energy Resources

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Risk,toxicology,and Human Health

Air Pollution

Climate Change and Ozone Loss

Water Pollution

Pest Management

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Sustainable Cities

Economics, environment, and Sustainability

Politics, environment, and Sustainability

Environmental World-views, ethics, and Sustainability

Filters