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ESRM 100 Exam 3 Practice Q's

Terms in this set (73)

Gross Domestic Product
The measure of all goods and services produced within the borders of a nation in a year
Carcinogens can cause damage to cells by: (i &iii)
Damaging genetic material of the cell (i), interfering with the normal metabolic processes of the cell (iii)
Would provide the most ecologically sound approach to sequestering carbon
Allowing agricultural fields to become a pasture or forest
Nitrogen
Molecule that is not considered a greenhouse gas
Holiday travel
The price of a barrel of oil tends to increase in the United States in response to ______.
The initial challenges are malnutrition and poor sanitation, which change to high blood pressure and obesity.
The following best represents the change in health risk factors from developing to developed countries
Invasive species
When non-local species spread rapidly across large areas, they are called:
West Nile Virus
A pathogen of an emergent disease that lives in hundreds of species of birds and is transmitted by mosquitoes
Biodiversity
The term _______ incorporates genetic variation, the number of different species adjusted for relative abundance, and variability of habitat
i. Reducing the effects on the land from mining aluminum
iii. Reducing the effects of leaching in landfills
iv. Reducing the energy required to transport and process mined ore
Environmental benefits of recycling aluminum include:

i. Reducing the effects on the land from mining aluminum
ii. Reducing the pH of soils
iii. Reducing the effects of leaching in landfills
iv. Reducing the energy required to transport and process mined ore
habitat corridors
If habitat is in need of management to connect separate populations, the best way to promote gene flow is to implement
Organisms in extreme environments
Climate change would most likely have the greatest impact on which of the following groups of species:
i. The release of methane gas into the atmosphere
ii. The potential for leaking of leachate
iii. The reliance on fossil fuels for transporting waste
Environmental costs of relying on sanitary landfills for waste handling include:

i. The release of methane gas into the atmosphere
ii. The potential for leaking of leachate
iii. The reliance on fossil fuels for transporting waste
iv. The release of toxic fly ash into the atmosphere
leachate
Which component of a landfill is extracted and transported to a wastewater treatment facility
methane
Which component of a landfill is extracted and either used as fuel or burned off
methane
A greenhouse gas that results from natural anaerobic processes typically associated with saturated soil conditions found in wetlands would be
coal
Which of the following fuels would release the most carbon dioxide to produce a given amount of energy?
A) natural gas
B) coal
C) oil
D) nuclear power
i. The amount of energy needed to transport the material to a waste site
ii. The amount of raw material needed to produce the product
iii. The toxic aspects of the material once it becomes waste
Items to be considered in a life-cycle analysis include:

i. The amount of energy needed to transport the material to a waste site
ii. The amount of raw material needed to produce the product
iii. The toxic aspects of the material onc`e it becomes waste
neurotoxins
Most insecticides are highly effective due to their ability to impair nerve transmission in insects. This category of chemicals is known as
ecosystem services
The essentials of human survival can only be satisfied with the adequate provision of
alien species often have no natural enemies in their new location
Alien species often pose a threat to native species because
A) native species are less genetically diverse than alien species
B) both share similar parasite types
C) native species are genetically inferior to alien species
D) alien species often have no natural enemies in their new location
waste heat, particulates, and fly ash
Byproducts of waste incineration include

A) waste heat, particulates, and fly ash
B) waste heat, particulates, and acid deposition
C) fly ash, particulates, and acid deposition
D) acid deposition and peatland invasion
a product shortage
If supply is down in the face of increasing demand, we would expect to witness
six
Including the mass extinction events that occurred prior to human existence, ecologists hypothesize that human activity could currently be the reason behind mass extinction number
chronic study
A study focusing on the long term effects of a chemical on the reproduction of trout would be categorized as a
They are often used as parks or golf courses
Which of the following is true of reclaimed landfills?

A) They are excellent sites for forest plantations
B) Construction of buildings may begin once the landfill has been covered
C) They should be tilled to increase aerobic decomposition
D) They are often used as parks or golf courses
Raising livestock is one of the largest anthropogenic sources of methane
Which of the following is true about anthropogenic sources of methane production?

A) Methane production increases when termite colonies are destroyed
B) Anthropogenic methane has greater warming potential than naturally produced methane
C) Methane production increases when wetlands are destroyed
D) Raising livestock is one of the largest anthropogenic sources of methane
HIV
Which virus likely spread to humans when hunters butchered and ate chimpanzees
exotic
An appropriate term to describe a species that is present in an area where it does not normally occur is
a decline in food crop pollination
The most severe effect resulting from loss of insect species globally would likely be
A) an increase in disease vectors
B) a reduction in water quality
C) a decline in food crop pollination
D) an increase in soil erosion
water vapor
Which of the following greenhouse gases is responsible for trapping the most outgoing infrared radiation
continued education
In both high- and low-income countries, ___________ is/are needed to reduce the spread of HIV and tuberculosis.
decrease
Oceans are a global sink for carbon dioxide. This is a concern because as global temperatures increase, the oceans ability to retain carbon dioxide will tend to
collect it in a sanitary landfill
In the United States, the primary method of disposal of municipal solid waste is to

A) collect it at a recycling facility
B) burn it in an incineration facility
C) collect it in a sanitary landfill
D) collect it and compost food and other organic waste
ii. The rapid movement of people can cause unexpected pandemics
iii. Many emergent diseases come from pathogens that jump from animal hosts to humans
iv. Diseases can mutate rapidly to infect humans
Which of the following is/are correct about emergent infectious diseases?
i. Emergent diseases are all caused by mutations of known human viruses
ii. The rapid movement of people can cause unexpected pandemics
iii. Many emergent diseases come from pathogens that jump from animal hosts to humans
iv. Diseases can mutate rapidly to infect humans
Antartica
Although the average global temperature over the last 120 years has increased by 0.8 degrees Celsius, some parts of the globe have experienced a decline in temperatures. The area that has experienced the most pronounced decrease is
economics
Which of the following is the study of how humans allocate scarce resource
technology transfer
A developing nation has cell phones introduced by wealthier nations. This developing nation has thus participated in a
sustainability
The process of using resources to meet the needs of both current and future generations is referred to as
Increased carbon dioxide causes increased plant growth, which decreases global carbon dioxide
Which of the following effects of global climate change is considered a negative feedback loop?

A) Increased carbon dioxide causes warming, which decreases the ocean's ability to store carbon dioxide.
B) Increased carbon dioxide causes increased plant growth, which decreases global carbon dioxide.
C) Increased carbon dioxide causes warming, which increases soil decomposition of organic matter into carbon dioxide.
D) Global warming melts terrestrial ice sheets, which decreases the Earth's reflection of incoming radiation.
E) Increased methane levels causes warming, which causes ancient lake beds to release methane.
Since healthcare costs contribute to a higher GDP, a society with more illness would have a higher GDP than a society with low illness.
Which of the following is a valid negative criticism of the concept of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) as an indicator of human well-being?
A) GDP includes measurements of environmental degradation, so a country with higher pollution is considered to have a lower GDP even if its residence experience a high standard of living.
B) Since productivity of a country contributes to a higher GDP, a country with high employment would have a higher GDP than a country with low employment.
C) Since healthcare costs contribute to a higher GDP, a society with more illness would have a higher GDP than a society with low illness.
D) GDP increases with increased nuclear family stability.
E) GDP does not account for consumer spending, and so does not reflect the ability of consumers to purchase the products they need to survive.
Larger islands are more biodiverse because they are more likely to contain a higher number of habitats
Which of the following is true about island biogeography and diversity?

A) Larger islands hold more species because the population of each species is smaller
B) Smaller islands are more biodiverse because they are less likely to be dominated by a single species
C) Larger islands are more biodiverse because they are more likely to contain a higher number of habitats
D) Smaller islands hold more species because they have smaller edges
E) Larger islands are more biodiverse because humans have created biosphere reserves on many islands
acute studies
Studies that last for only 1 to 4 days in which scientists measure mortality of organisms as a response to a dose of a chemical are known as
A) acute studies
B) biomagnification studies
C) prospective studies
D) chronic studies
E) retrospective studies
A developing country uses solar power rather than building an electrical grid, because solar power technology was available when the country began development.
Which of the following is a good example of leapfrogging?

A) A developing country uses older, less efficient vehicles because new automobile technology is too expensive.
B) A developing country uses solar power rather than building an electrical grid, because solar power technology was available when the country began development.
C) A species develops a powerful new mutation that allows it to outcompete other species.
D) A developing country introduces invasive species in an attempt to mitigate an environmental problem.
E) A newly-discovered species becomes an economic asset to a developing country
the World Health Organization
An outbreak of malaria has occurred in a latitude that is farther north of the equator than is normally observed. This is likely the result of increased global temperatures. The agency that would be called upon to investigate this outbreak would be:

A) the World Bank
B) the United Nations Development Program
C) the World Health Organization
D) the Environmental Protection Agency
E) the Federal Emergency Response Agency
carbon sequestration
An approach to combating global warming by removing already-emitted greenhouse gas is termed:

A) carbon disassociation
B) thermal stratification
C) carbon sequestration
D) methanogenesis
E) cogeneration
Aluminum cans are made into new aluminum cans
Which of the following is an example of closed-loop recycling?

A) Wood from an old chair is burned as a fossil fuel
B) Aluminum cans are made into new aluminum cans
C) Rubber tires are made into new sandals
D) Wood chips are used as compost for new trees
E) Fruit are sold individually instead of in plastic packages
be used in the production of cement blocks and cement flooring
An economic benefit of non-toxic fly ash production at a waste incinerator is that the ash may

A) be leached using a weak acid
B) be landfilled
C) be used in the production of cement blocks and cement flooring
D) require special toxic handling
E) be used in the production of plastic
there is not always a market for recycled goods
One of the greatest problems associated with recycling is

A) the amount of land required to accommodate the material
B) recycling has increased MSW generation
C) people in the United States are not inclined to participate
D) there is no legislation to promote recycling
E) there is not always a market for recycled goods
heightened volcanic ash in the atmosphere.
Global dimming is a phenomenon whereby incoming solar energy is reflected back into space prior to hitting the Earth's surface. A non-anthropogenic source of this dimming could be from

A) heightened volcanic ash in the atmosphere.
B) soot from coal fired power plants.
C) methane emission from livestock.
D) forests burned for conversion to agriculture.
E) decreased reflectivity of snow and ice from particulates.
Childhood obesity
Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for chronic diseases in developing countries?

A) Childhood obesity
B) Unsafe water supply
C) Lack of indoor plumbing
D) Indoor air pollution
E) Lack of continual food supply
The leachate can be at a high temperature
Which of the following is least likely to be a danger associated with leachate from a sanitary landfill?
A) The leachate can leak into nearby soils
B) The leachate can leak into groundwater
C) The leachate can contain toxic metal compounds
D) The leachate can be at a high temperature
E) The leachate can be classified as toxic waste and have to be treated accordingly
an increase in the expression of harmful genetic mutations.
An inbreeding depression is likely to lead to

A) an increase in the expression of harmful genetic mutations.
B) a decrease in unviable offspring.
C) an increase in gene flow.
D) a decrease in species extinction.
E) an increase in disease resistance.
I. diarrheal diseases
III. Tuberculosis
Diseases that are made much more deadly by poverty include:
I. diarrheal diseases
II. Ebola
III. Tuberculosis
Zebra mussels counteract eutrophication of waterways
Which of the following is a positive environmental effect of the introduction of zebra mussels in the Great Lakes in North America?

A) Zebra mussels clog intake pipes
B) Zebra mussels counteract eutrophication of waterways
C) Zebra mussels outcompete native mussel species
D) A single zebra mussel can produce 30,000 eggs
E) The Great Lakes provide an ideal ecosystem for the zebra mussels
Habitat loss
Which of the following is the major cause of the decline in the northern spotted owl in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.?

A) Habitat loss
B) Invasive species
C) Overharvesting
D) Pollution
E) Climate Change
I. Reduces the effects on the land from mining
II. Reduces the effects of leaching in landfills
III. Reduces the energy required to transport and process mined ore
Which of the following is/are (an) environmental benefit(s) of recycling aluminum?

I. Reduces the effects on the land from mining
II. Reduces the effects of leaching in landfills
III. Reduces the energy required to transport and process mined ore
I. If greenhouse gas concentrations increase in the troposphere, then surface temperatures will increase

III. If incoming solar radiation is greater than the release of outgoing infrared radiation, then surface temperatures will increase
Which of the following can be considered reasonable hypotheses to explain the recent trend in warming of surface temperatures globally?

I. If greenhouse gas concentrations increase in the troposphere, then surface temperatures will increase
II. If the area of polar ice increases, then the surface temperatures will increase
III. If incoming solar radiation is greater than the release of outgoing infrared radiation, then surface temperatures will increase
Passenger pigeon
Which North American species became extinct due to overharvesting?

A) Albatross
B) Bald eagle
C) Passenger pigeon
D) Kudzu
E) American bison
They are prevalent in benthic soils that underlie bodies of water
Which of the following best describes chemicals in the environment that are fat soluble?

A) They are never subject to biomagnification
B) They are easily excreted by animals in their urine
C) They are prevalent in benthic soils that underlie bodies of water
D) They are deposited via acid deposition
E) They are prevalent in surface waters
The Occupational Safety and Health Act
Which piece of legislation focuses on preventing exposure to physical and chemical harms in the workplace?

A) The Clean Water Act
B) The Occupational Safety and Health Act
C) The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
D) The National Environmental Policy Act
E) The Clean Air Act
nitrous oxide
Agricultural soils, and their over-fertilization, are responsible for most of the release of which of the following greenhouse gases in the United States?

A) methane
B) water
C) carbon dioxide
D) ozone
E) nitrous oxide
A and B
How does the rise in global temperatures affect sea levels?

A) water from melting glaciers and ice sheets adds to the total volume of ocean water, increasing sea levels

B) water expands as it warms, increasing sea levels

C) increasing CO2 levels decrease ocean pH, increasing sea levels

D) A and B
E) A, B and C
I. Decrease in product demand
If externalities were included in the cost of a product or service, the following would be most likely to occur:

I. Decrease in product demand
II. Decrease in the price of the product
III. Increase in product manufacturing
Asbestos
Which of the following is a carcinogen?

A) Asbestos
B) Lead
C) Atrazine
D) Thalidomide
E) DDT
biomagnification
In an estuary, a zooplankton consumes a phytoplankton with a small globule of PCBs attached to it. A fish consumes the zooplankton as well as many other zooplankton. A larger fish consumes the small fish and then a gull consumes the larger fish. The increased concentration of the chemical at the top of the food chain is an example of :

A) biomagnification
B) bioaccumulation
C) synergistic properties
D) PCB persistence
E) synergistic interactions
Environmental Protection Agency
A developer is interested in placing a strip mall in a rural area that has a significant acreage of wetlands on it. The federal agency that is responsible for ensuring that all appropriate regulations are met is the:

A) Natural Resource Conservation Service
B) Environmental Protection Agency
C) Department of Energy
D) Occupational Safety and Health Administration
E) Department of Environmental Quality
Marine Mammal Protection Act
The United States legislation that is designed specifically to protect organisms such as manatees, polar bears, sea otters, and sea lions is the:

A) Endangered Species Act
B) National Marine Fisheries Act
C) Marine Mammal Protection Act
D) Lacey Act
E) Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species
The proximity to neighborhoods without the resources to mount effective opposition
When siting a sanitary landfill, which is the most ignored factor, making landfill construction a source of considerable environmental injustice?
A) The proximity to drinking water resources
B) The type of soil
C) The proximity to neighborhoods without the resources to mount effective opposition
D) The amount of energy that will be required to transport the MSW to the landfill
E) The proximity to flowing water resources
The cost of the motherboard
A company does a life-cycle analysis of a computer. Which of the following is NOT taken into consideration in the analysis?

A) The cost of the motherboard
B) The greenhouse gases expending during transport of the computer parts
C) The source of the material for the screen
D) The toxic metals leached from the computer in a landfill
E) The amount of metal required for each computer
inhibit the interstate commerce of illegally harvested species
The Lacey Act, mandated by the government of the United States, was designed to

A) provide a framework of trade of organisms
B) encourage the harvesting of marine mammals
C) inhibit the interstate commerce of illegally harvested species
D) raise funds to promote international conservation
E) promote the harvesting of species from bordering nations to protect U.S. organisms
the market equilibrium point for some item
The intersection point on a supply and demand curve indicates

A) the real cost
B) the market equilibrium point for some item
C) the reduction point
D) an externality
E) transaction costs
the LD50 value of the chemical
The concentration of a harmful chemical in an organism or in the environment does not depend on:

A) the persistence of the chemical
B) the solubility of the chemical
C) the ability of the chemical to bioaccumulate
D) the ability of the chemical to biomagnify
E) the LD50 value of the chemical
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