Test Bank for Essential Environment The Science Behind the Stories, 7th edition Jay H Withgott Matth

TEST BANK FOR Essential Environment The Science Behind the Stories, 7th edition Jay H Withgott Matthew Laposata Chapter 1-18 Chapter 1 Science and Sustainability: An Introduction to Environmental Science 1.1 Multiple Choice Questions

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) How many citizens of Mexico does it take to equal the ecological footprint of the average citizen of the United States?

A) They are essentially equal.

B) It takes just over two Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S. citizen.

C) It takes just over three Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S. citizen.

D) It takes just over eight Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S. citizen.

E) It takes about 12 Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S. citizen.

1 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future Learning Outcome: 1.4 2) If everyone on the planet had an ecological footprint the size of the average citizen of the United States, then .

A) we would have 50% more food to go around B) we would be able to provide for everyone without much difficulty by using the 50% of the land currently not being used for agriculture C) we would need at least two more planet Earths to feed and support everyone D) we could support 50% more people on our planet E) about 50% of the people would starve Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future Learning Outcome: 1.4 3) The U.S. average footprint is about footprint.

times larger than the average world

A) 2 B) 2.5 C) 3 D) 5 E) 6.7 Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future Learning Outcome: 1.4 4) The average footprint per person has increased from 2.2 to 2.6 since 2008, and the footprints of many developing nations, such as India and China, have also increased.

This means that .

A) our collective lifestyle is even more unsustainable than before B) our collective lifestyle is slightly more sustainable than before C) the ability of the planet to sustain human beings has increased D) some nations no longer have a measurable footprint E) the populations of both India and China have decreased since 2008 Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future Learning Outcome: 1.4 5) Geothermal energy, wind, and solar radiation are all examples of A) nonrenewable natural resources B) inexhaustible renewable natural resources 2 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

C) biotic environmental factors D) exhaustible renewable natural resources E) biodegradable materials Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth Learning Outcome: 1.2 6) Nonrenewable natural resources include all of the following EXCEPT: A) coal.

B) crude oil.

C) minerals.

D) wind.

E) natural gas.

Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth Learning Outcome: 1.2 7) Ecosystem services

.

A) contribute to keeping ecosystems productive B) are not necessary to sustainable systems C) are economically valuable services provided by natural systems D) are valuable to natural systems but not to human-created systems E) are required to rebalance natural systems that we have disturbed Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth Learning Outcome: 1.2 8) Today (2024), there are about

.

A) 5.35 billion people on Earth, the same as for the past 6 years B) 9 billion people on Earth C) 10 billion people on Earth D) 8 billion people on Earth E) 2% fewer people on Earth than in 2010 Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth Learning Outcome: 1.3 9) Global population is projected to be nearly

in 2050.

A) 7 billion B) 8 billion C) 9 billion D) 10 billion 3 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

E) 11 billion Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth Learning Outcome: 1.3 10) To determine your specific impacts on the environment, you can

.

A) measure local air pollution and its impacts on your health B) calculate the biodiversity of your local community C) determine your current water pollution impact D) calculate your ecological footprint E) measure the volume and type of all the wastes you contribute to the municipal waste stream Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth Learning Outcome: 1.4 11) By studying ancient civilizations, such as the Greek and Roman empires and the Angkor civilization of Southeast Asia, historians have concluded that these civilizations declined partly because of .

A) sustainable practices B) overabundance of resources C) floods D) environmental degradation due to unsustainable use of resources E) fires Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth Learning Outcome: 1.3 12) Solutions to environmental problems

.

A) can be implemented only by scientists B) must be designed with sustainable goals C) must be on a local scale D) must be short term E) are best designed and discussed in the political arena Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth Learning Outcome: 1.10a 13) Imagine a scenario where a small island nation, heavily reliant on tourism for its economy, faces a dilemma. The government wants to promote economic growth by attracting more tourists, but environmentalists argue that increased tourism will exacerbate resource consumption and ecological degradation. The government must balance economic development with environmental sustainability. In the given 4 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

situation, which concept could the government use to evaluate the environmental impact of increasing tourism?

A) ecological footprint B) greenhouse gas emissions C) biodiversity index D) energy efficiency rating E) water consumption per capita Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth Learning Outcome: 1.9 14) What does the term "overshoot" refer to in the context of resource consumption?

A) reducing waste through recycling initiatives B) achieving sustainable resource management practices C) balancing economic growth with environmental conservation D) using renewable resources faster than they are replenished E) promoting green technologies for energy production Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth Learning Outcome: 1.9 15) How do the ecological footprints of residents from industrialized nations compare to those from industrializing nations?

A) Residents of industrialized nations have smaller ecological footprints.

B) Residents of industrialized nations have larger ecological footprints.

C) Ecological footprints are similar across both types of nations.

D) Residents of industrialized nations have no ecological footprints.

E) Residents of industrialized nations have more sustainable lifestyles.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth Learning Outcome: 1.9 16) Which of the following best describes the practice of environmental science?

A) highly specialized and focused B) integrative and interdisciplinary C) abstract and theoretical D) theoretical and controversial E) elitist and unnecessary Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.2 The Nature of Environmental Science Learning Outcome: 1.1 5 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

17) Academic environmental programs that emphasize the social sciences are often called programs.

A) resource studies B) ecological science C) environmental science D) environmental studies E) wildlife management Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.2 The Nature of Environmental Science Learning Outcome: 1.1 18) Scientific inquiry is based on

.

A) an expanding knowledge based on observation, questioning, testing and discovery B) facts that can be proven true without experimental manipulation C) the production of technological advances D) designing experiments that have never been done before E) making huge leaps of knowledge with scientific insights Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 19) The scientific process and scientific knowledge are based on

.

A) observation alone B) a systematic process of learning about and testing our understanding of the world C) the fact that all hypotheses can be proven true D) quantitative data alone E) guesses based on personal feelings about the subject under inquiry Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 20) Sachiko and Fred are having a discussion about the scientific method. Sachiko makes the comment that every time she sees people carrying open umbrellas, she also sees several minor car accidents. This is a(n) .

A) hypothesis B) theory about umbrellas C) theory about car accidents D) scientific study E) observation Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 6 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

21) A hypothesis is

.

A) a prediction about something that has not yet been observed B) a testable proposition that explains an observed phenomenon or answers a question C) an instrument that is used to examine environmental conditions D) the design of an experiment that can be used in scientific inquiry E) a proven scientific fact Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 22) An experiment

.

A) is an activity designed to test the validity of a hypothesis B) often involves manipulating as many variables as possible C) does not need to be repeated if well designed D) involves only collection of quantitative data E) is designed to generate new scientific hypothesis Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 23) A pharmaceutical company wishes to study a possible new headache medicine. They are doing human trials with 1000 volunteers and need to .

A) have 10 volunteers in the control group B) put all women in the control group and all men in the experimental group C) divide the groups by level of health D) give both control and experimental groups the same amount of the new medication E) randomly assign each person to either the treatment group or control group Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 24) In a controlled experiment,

.

A) the researcher has several hypotheses, one of which will be proven correct B) the researcher knows the outcome before beginning the experiment C) the researcher controls for the effects of all variables except one D) the experimental organisms have all been used before and given good results E) you need only a single experimental organism, which is tested again and again Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 25) Quantitative data

.

7 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) are data that are expressed as numbers and can be tested using statistics B) fall into categories, such as male/female, school of attendance, what dorm you live in, whether you have pets, etc.

C) have variables that may not have been properly manipulated D) cannot be used to support or disprove hypotheses E) cannot be replicated Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 26) In a manipulative experiment,

.

A) researchers manipulate the independent variable B) researchers manipulate as many variables as possible C) replication of the experiment is not necessary D) researchers manipulate the dependent variable E) the peer review process is bypassed Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 27) Ruben has a new puppy and wants to feed it the best possible food. He decides on an experiment where he will feed it the very best canned food plus a dietary supplement of vitamins recommended by a veterinarian. Which of the following best describes Ruben's project?

A) This is an example of an excellent controlled experiment as it is written.

B) Ruben needs to take careful measurements of the puppy's weight and height at least once a week for it to be a good experiment.

C) Ruben needs to control for the amount of exercise, sunshine, water, and care that the puppy gets each week, so that they are equal from week to week.

D) Ruben needs to use his mother's 6-year-old chocolate Shar-Pei to feed a standard diet so he can compare his puppy with a control dog.

E) This is not an experiment—there are no controls or replicates.

Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 28) The process by which several researchers review another researcher's manuscript prior to publication to ensure research quality is referred to as .

A) hypothesis testing B) investigative inquiry C) peer review D) quality control E) critical analysis 8 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 29) Which of the following best embodies the qualities of a scientific theory?

A) Squirrels in central Illinois prefer to build their nests in oak trees instead of hickory trees.

B) All gases, liquids, and solids consist of atoms.

C) Prairies that have larges herds of bison show greater plant diversity than prairies without bison.

D) Dangerous wildfires in California could be avoided by better fire prevention strategies.

E) Students who study for their environmental science exams will perform better on those exams than those who do not.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 30) A paradigm

.

A) is a group of several hypotheses that can be tested together B) is a dominant world view in science C) can only come from qualitative data D) is synonymous with the scientific method E) is a means of evaluating scientific hypotheses Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 31) A study's results are deemed worthy of acceptance into the body of scientific knowledge if they are published in journals that .

A) use the peer review process B) charge a high fee for acceptance C) are funded by corporations funding the research D) meet guidelines advocated by environmentalists or consumer groups E) conform to current political and religious views Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 32)

believe that the guidelines for making environmental decisions are context-specific, depending on the cultures, social issues, and other factors framing the decision.

A) Universalists 9 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) Conservationists C) Followers of Leopold's land ethic D) Relativists E) Preservationists Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.4 Environmental Ethics Learning Outcome: 1.7 33)

gives inherent value to certain living things or to the biotic (living) realm of the earth in general; both human and nonhuman lives have ethical standing.

A) Anthropocentrism B) Biocentrism C) Ecocentrism D) Relativism E) Realism Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.4 Environmental Ethics Learning Outcome: 1.7 34) A(n) is best defined as one who considers the impacts on the whole ecosystem, both the living and nonliving, when considering an action.

A) biocentrist B) ecocentrist C) anthropocentrist D) ethnocentrist E) relativist Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.4 Environmental Ethics Learning Outcome: 1.7 35) The Endangered Species Act, passed by Congress nearly four decades ago, has spawned a continuous series of debates between those who feel the ethical necessity to protect species at the brink of extinction and others who feel that if we have to protect every habitat of every species at risk, then there will be a loss of jobs and a blow to an already shaky economy. This boils down to a conflict between .

A) economists and environmental scientists B) anthropocentrists and ecocentrists C) universalists and ecofeminists D) relativists and environmental justice advocates E) social scientists and conservationists Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.4 Environmental Ethics 10 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 1.7 36) John Muir, a great American environmentalist, felt that

.

A) resources should be exploited wherever they were found to the greatest economic benefit B) the only true value of wilderness was its ability to provide national economic growth C) pristine wilderness should be preserved because "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread" D) national parks violated the principles of environmental justice E) wilderness was essentially worthless and should not be preserved Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.4 Environmental Ethics Learning Outcome: 1.7 37) Who is credited for articulating the conservation ethic and for founding the U.S. Forest Service?

A) Theodore Roosevelt B) John Muir C) Robert Bullard D) Gifford Pinchot E) Aldo Leopold Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.4 Environmental Ethics Learning Outcome: 1.7 38) Issues of are environmental issues whose dimensions include differential exposure to risk from toxic wastes and air pollution or differential access to the natural beauty of parks based on ethnicity or race.

A) environmental justice B) ecocentrism C) anthropocentrism D) moral relativism E) paradigm shifts Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.4 Environmental Ethics Learning Outcome: 1.8 39) Sustainable development

.

A) ensures an economy that will decline over time B) involves consuming resources without compromising future availability C) is impossible to accomplish D) is beyond our current technology and attitudes E) is possible given our increased use of fertilizers and technology for agriculture 11 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future Learning Outcome: 1.10a 40) You have read about the mistakes made on Easter Island. On Tikopia, another small island, the people acted differently. When they realized that the pigs they had imported were damaging the environment, they killed them all. They had to have permission from a chief to fish, which prevented overfishing. They practiced contraception. These all indicate that .

A) they believed in full resource utilization B) they felt that everything was a nonrenewable resource C) they felt that everything was a renewable resource D) they were concerned with only one year at a time E) they truly practiced sustainability Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future Learning Outcome: 1.10a 41) All of the following are ways that campuses could possibly become more sustainable EXCEPT: A) install photovoltaic solar panels on the roofs of campus buildings.

B) build a parking garage and convert some parking lots into gardens.

C) close down many of the dorms and have students live off campus.

D) use more local produce in the dining halls.

E) install low-flow showers and toilets.

Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future Learning Outcome: 1.10a 42)

is a basic understanding of Earth's physical and living systems and how we interact with them.

A) Sustainability B) Environmental economics C) Environmental ethics D) Environmental literacy E) An ecological footprint Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future Learning Outcome: 1.10a

12 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

Pablo and Johanna have to do a yearlong study for their biology course. After some discussion, they decide to try comparing their dogs and the diet that they feed them to test their hypothesis that the local veterinarian's special dog food mix will enhance growth and development. Each student adopts a puppy from the local pound. Pablo plans to feed his Goldendoodle the special diet, while Johanna plans to use generic dry kibble from the supermarket for her bulldog.

43) The independent variable in this study will be

.

A) the age of the dogs B) the sex of the dogs C) the type of food the dogs receive D) how much the dogs grow E) the breed of the dogs Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 44) One dependent variable in this study will be

.

A) the age of the dogs B) the sex of the dogs C) the type of food the dogs receive D) how much the dogs grow E) the breed of the dogs Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 45) When they write up their initial proposal, the instructor will probably

.

A) give them an A for thoroughness and allow them to proceed with the experiment B) tell them that they need at least 100 dogs to do the study C) tell them that the proposal is impossible and that such a study cannot be done at all D) give them an F and tell them to start over–it would take many years to do such a study E) tell them they have some serious problems with the proposal, but it is fixable if they are willing to use more dogs in their study Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 46) Pablo and Johanna have too many

.

A) variables that they didn't control and not enough replicates B) replicates and not enough variables 13 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) controlled variables and not enough uncontrolled variables D) dependent variables and not enough independent variables E) independent variables and not enough dependent variables Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 47) Pablo and Johanna appear not to have given consideration to the importance of controlling for .

A) the age of the dogs B) the food that the dogs are being fed C) possible differences resulting from using two different breeds of dog D) the possibility that one dog food is healthier than the other dog food E) the source of the dog food Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 48) After meeting with their instructor, Pablo and Johanna know that they need to change their experimental design. They contact a local puppy farm and arrange to do their study with 3-month-old litters of pups from four Irish setters, for a total of 24 puppies consisting of 12 females and 12 males. In order to have two groups of puppies (control and experimental), Pablo and Johanna should .

A) put the 12 females in one group and the 12 males in the other group B) flip a coin for each dog to see which group it will be in C) randomly choose one dog for the control group and use the other 23 in the experimental group D) put six males and six females in each group, with some from each litter in each group E) put all the puppies from two of the litters in one group and all of the puppies from the other two litters in the other group Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 49) Imagine you are a student researching the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems. You come across two articles discussing the topic. Article A is published in a renowned scientific journal and is authored by marine biologists who conducted field research on coral reefs affected by rising sea temperatures. Article B is a blog post written by an activist who claims to have insider information about climate change but provides no evidence or credentials to support their claims.

Which of the following statements accurately compares the reliability of the two sources mentioned in the above situation?

A) Article A is less reliable than Article B because it is written by multiple authors, while 14 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Article B is authored by a single individual.

B) Article A is more reliable than Article B because it is published in a scientific journal and authored by experts who conducted field research.

C) Article A is equally reliable as Article B because both sources provide insights into the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems.

D) The reliability of Article A or B will depend on how appealingly the content is written.

E) The reliability of Article A or B will depend on whose author is more famous or has more followers on social media.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.6 50) In evaluating the reliability of information sources, which of the following criteria is NOT typically considered?

A) the presenter's experience, background, and qualifications B) the financial support behind the presentation of the information C) whether the presenter's motivations are clear D) the popularity of the source on social media platforms E) whether the information is based on factual evidence Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.6 51) Which of the following statements accurately describes the role of primary and secondary sources in research?

A) Primary sources are often easier to understand than secondary sources.

B) Secondary sources present novel information and stand on their own.

C) Primary sources include articles or broadcasts produced by others about the contents of original research.

D) Secondary sources are typically written by experts in the field and published in peer-reviewed journals.

E) Primary sources provide firsthand information and are essential for obtaining the most accurate understanding of a scientific question.

Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.6 52) Which group of people faced environmental justice issues related to uranium mining in the 1950s and 1960s?

A) Appalachian residents B) Latino farm workers C) Navajo nation D) residents of Warren County, North Carolina 15 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

E) Indigenous people in North America Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.4 Environmental Ethics Learning Outcome: 1.8 53) What was the primary motivation behind the protest launched by residents of Warren County, North Carolina?

A) discriminatory siting of waste disposal facilities B) unfair labor practices in the agricultural sector C) health issues caused by industrial farming practices D) displacement due to mountaintop coal-mining practices E) lack of access to information about environmental hazards Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.4 Environmental Ethics Learning Outcome: 1.8 54) Which of the following statements best summarizes the primary goal of the environmental justice movement?

A) to address inequalities of wealth and privilege in society B) to advocate for fair treatment of all people with respect to environmental policy and practice C) to promote sustainable development and conservation practices D) to combat racial discrimination in the workplace E) to provide economic opportunities for marginalized communities Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 1.4 Environmental Ethics Learning Outcome: 1.8 1.2 Essay Questions 1) Name two transformative events of the past 10,000 years that caused human population size to increase. Describe each, briefly explaining the contributions that each made to human population growth. Include the benefits and problems associated with each event.

Answer: The agricultural revolution included transition from the hunter-gatherer lifestyle to an agricultural lifestyle. Then, during the industrial revolution, there were shifts from rural life, animal-powered agriculture, and manufacture by craftspeople to an urban society powered by fossil fuels such as coal and oil. Students should describe the benefits and problems associated with each transformative event.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth Learning Outcome: 1.3 2) Why is it important to understand our interactions with the environment? What will 16 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

studying environmental science enable you to do?

Answer: We depend on the environment for air, water, food, shelter, and everything else. We are capable of modifying the environment whether we intend to or not.

Understanding our interactions with the environment is the essential first step toward devising positive, sustainable solutions. Studying environmental science will give us the tools we need to evaluate information on environmental change and to think critically and creatively about possible actions to take in response.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth Learning Outcome: 1.1 3) Compare and contrast the types of knowledge gained and the research methods of natural and social sciences when considering environmental problems. Why do both types of disciplines need to be a part of environmental science?

Answer: The natural sciences are made up of disciplines that study the physical and biological facets of the natural world and their interactions with each other. These disciplines rely on all types of studies that generate mainly quantitative data, allowing scientists to acquire and interpret information about the natural world. The social sciences are made up of disciplines that study human attitudes, behaviors, and interactions. The scientists in these disciplines mainly collect qualitative data using a variety of research techniques that are similar to natural scientists. Studies that examine how cultures perceive an environmental concept may be used to implement environmental policy. Because environmental problems involve accurate assessment of the scope of the problem by which policy that affects humans is devised, both types of sciences are needed to be a part of environmental science.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.2 The Nature of Environmental Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 4) Differentiate between environmental science and environmentalism. Define each term and explain how they are similar and how they differ.

Answer: Environmental science is the pursuit of knowledge about the workings of the environment and our interactions with it. Environmentalism is a social concern focused on protecting the natural environment and, by extension, humans, from undesirable changes brought about by certain human choices. Environmental scientists and environmentalists study the same issues, but environmental scientists use an objective scientific approach to understanding environmental problems.

Environmentalists, on the other hand, may use dramatic and often emotional approaches to alter the political and social understanding or to educate the public about environmental problems.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.2 The Nature of Environmental Science Learning Outcome: 1.1 5) Discuss the differences between a manipulative and a natural experiment.

Answer: In a manipulative experiment, the researcher chooses and manipulates the 17 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

independent variable, but in a natural experiment, the researcher records differences in variables as they are expressed in the natural environment, such as the mean weight of tomatoes grown in dry versus wet climates.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science Learning Outcome: 1.5 6) Compare and contrast the philosophies of John Muir and Gifford Pinchot.

Answer: Both men were active in the early 1900s and both aimed to protect the North American wilderness by opposing rapid deforestation and unregulated land development. Muir was a preservationist and a true ecocentrist and preservationist who believed that nature should be protected for its own inherent value and who maintained that the experience of natural beauty was as important to us as the physical necessities of food and materials. He believed from his personal experience that nature provided spiritual renewal and met recreational needs. Pinchot was a conservationist who favored sustainable use of resources for the benefit of present and future generations. He was a utilitarian, meaning that he believed humans should use resources in a way that provides the greatest good for the greatest number of people for the longest time. He leaned closer to anthropocentrism than Muir.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.4 Environmental Ethics Learning Outcome: 1.7 7) What qualities would be present in a sustainable enterprise?

Answer: A sustainable enterprise is one which allows future generations to carry it on at the same level of productivity that we do at present. Whatever natural capital is required will remain equally available in the future as it is now. The environmental effects of the enterprise will not damage, degrade, or deplete the systems with which it interfaces. Materials and energy will be used efficiently, wastes will be minimal and nontoxic, and the ecological footprint of the enterprise will remain unchanged, or may diminish as better technology becomes available.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future Learning Outcome: 1.10a 8) Use the assessment tool at http://www.footprintcalculator.org to calculate your ecological footprint. Once you determine the factors that evaluate your use of water, energy, waste disposal, transportation, and food consumption, use the results of your specific ecological footprint to determine three specific actions that you can take to reduce the size of your ecological footprint. Make sure that your specific actions each fit into a different category (water, energy, waste, transportation, and food).

Summarize your assessment.

Answer: The answers will vary based on results of individual student lifestyle.

Students can reflect on their results and can then consider making lifestyle adjustments that support a greater environmental sustainability.

Diff: 2 18 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future Learning Outcome: 1.4 9) There is a heated debate on a certain college campus as to whether closing down one of the dorms would make the campus more sustainable. Present one possible argument why closing the dorm might be wise for sustainability, and one possible argument why such action might NOT make the campus more sustainable.

Answer: Answers will vary. Possible reasons why closing the dorm would make the campus more sustainable include the following: (1) the dorm is old and the costs of materials to bring it up to code and make it more energy efficient are not worth keeping the dorm open; (2) students may be able to use the land for a sustainability project such as a campus garden; and (3) the other dorms on campus have room for the students who would otherwise be living in this dorm, so you can house just as many students without having to heat and furnish the extra building.

Reasons why the move may not be a step toward sustainability include the following: (1) the closing of the dorm may force more students to live off campus and they would have to commute to campus using automobiles, so even if they use public transportation, fossil fuels would be needed; (2) if the dorm is not demolished, it may just sit there unused and end up blighting the landscape; and (3) much of the material from the closed dorm might end up taking up space in a landfill.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future Learning Outcome: 1.10a

Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 2 Environmental Systems: Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems 2.1 Multiple Choice Questions

19 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) A decrease of one unit in the pH scale represents a concentration of a solution.

the hydrogen ion

A) doubling of B) tenfold increase in C) tenfold decrease in D) halving of E) 1% decrease in Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.2 Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment Learning Outcome: 2.2 2) Which of the following has the lowest concentration of H ions?

A) seawater B) ammonia C) car battery acid D) lemon juice E) pure water Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 2.2 Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment Learning Outcome: 2.2 3) Which of the following has a hydrogen ion concentration approximately 1000 times higher than pure water?

A) lemon juice B) ammonia C) soft soap 20 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) normal rainwater E) acid rain Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.2 Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment Learning Outcome: 2.2 4) Stomach acid

.

A) is less acidic than lemon juice B) is roughly 10,000 times more acidic than normal rainwater C) has a lower concentration of hydrogen ions than seawater D) has a higher concentration of hydrogen ions than car battery acid E) is technically not acidic Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 2.2 Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment Learning Outcome: 2.2 5) The greatest source of both nitrogen and phosphorus entering Chesapeake Bay is .

A) agriculture B) septic systems C) municipal and industrial wastewater D) urban fertilizer runoff E) natural sources Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 2.1 Earth's Environmental Systems Learning Outcome: 2.8 6) The is the rock and sediment beneath our feet, plus Earth's uppermost mantle and crust.

A) hydrosphere B) atmosphere C) lithosphere D) biosphere E) mesosphere Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 2.1 Earth's Environmental Systems Learning Outcome: 2.1 7) An example of a positive feedback loop

.

A) is a pond becoming more acidic as a result of pollution B) is melting arctic snow exposing dark surfaces that heat up and cause further melting C) are predators eating most of their prey and then declining in numbers 21 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) is a thermostat turning on the furnace as the temperature drops E) are birds migrating south in response to colder temperatures Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 2.1 Earth's Environmental Systems Learning Outcome: 2.1 8) Which of the following best describes a positive feedback loop in environmental systems?

A) Increased output from a system leads to decreased input, stabilizing the system.

B) Increased output from a system leads to further increased input, driving the system further toward an extreme.

C) Output from a system remains constant regardless of changes in input, maintaining the system in equilibrium.

D) Input and output from a system remain constant, resulting in no change in the system.

E) Increased output from a system leads to decreased input, resulting in a gradual decline in the system's stability.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.1 Earth's Environmental Systems Learning Outcome: 2.1 9) A(n) is the smallest component of an element that still maintains the chemical properties of the element.

A) molecule B) proton C) nucleus D) atom E) ion Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 2.2 Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment Learning Outcome: 2.2 10) Electrically charged atoms or combinations of atoms are called

.

A) molecules B) compounds C) ions D) isotopes E) elements Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 2.2 Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment Learning Outcome: 2.2 11)

is defined as the number of protons plus the number of neutrons.

22 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) Mass number B) Ionic number C) Atomic number D) Isotopic number E) Nuclear number Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.2 Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment Learning Outcome: 2.2 12) How do organic compounds differ from inorganic compounds?

A) Inorganic compounds never contain carbon, whereas organic compounds always contain carbon.

B) Organic compounds consist of carbon atoms joined by covalent bonds, while inorganic compounds lack carbon-carbon bonds.

C) Organic compounds are always acidic, while inorganic compounds are always basic.

D) Inorganic compounds always only consist of two atoms.

E) Organic compounds are natural, while inorganic compounds are artificially synthesized.

Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 2.2 Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment Learning Outcome: 2.2 13) All of the following are macromolecules EXCEPT: A) DNA. B) cellulose.

C) glucose.

D) starch.

E) protein.

Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 2.2 Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment Learning Outcome: 2.2 14) Skin, hair, muscles, and enzymes are all made up of A) proteins B) nucleic acids C) carbohydrates D) lipids E) organelles Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.2 Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment Learning Outcome: 2.2 15) DNA is composed of units called

.

23 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

A) bases B) amino acids C) sugars D) lipids E) nucleotides Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.2 Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment Learning Outcome: 2.2 16) Forming the cell walls of stems, leaves, and roots, what compound is the primary structural constituent of plant tissues?

A) chlorophyll B) starch C) cellulose D) enzymes E) protein Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.2 Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment Learning Outcome: 2.2 17)

are the primary, water-insoluble components of cell membranes.

A) Proteins B) Nucleic acids C) Carbohydrates D) Acids E) Phospholipids Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.2 Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment Learning Outcome: 2.2 18) River water held behind a dam is a form of

.

A) kinetic energy B) potential energy C) chemical energy D) entropy E) thermodynamics Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 2.3 Energy: An Introduction Learning Outcome: 2.3 19) When you burn a log in your fireplace, you are converting A) chemical energy to thermal (heat) energy 24 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

B) thermal energy to electromagnetic energy C) electromagnetic energy to chemical energy D) chemical energy to nuclear energy E) proteins to amino acids Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 2.3 Energy: An Introduction Learning Outcome: 2.3 20) That all the energy of the universe remains constant, is conserved, is neither created nor destroyed, but may change form is a statement of the .

A) law of feedback B) law of systemic connection C) first law of thermodynamics D) law of entropy E) second law of thermodynamics Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.3 Energy: An Introduction Learning Outcome: 2.3 21) Some organisms, such as plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, produce their own food by absorbing the sun's radiation. These organisms are referred to as .

A) parasites or heterotrophs B) heterotrophs or consumers C) mutualists or consumers D) autotrophs or producers E) heterotrophs or primary producers Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 2.3 Energy: An Introduction Learning Outcome: 2.4 22) During photosynthesis,

.

A) the high-quality energy from the sun is converted to a lower quality energy B) entropy increases C) entropy stays the same D) oxygen is consumed E) there is net consumption of water and carbon dioxide Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.3 Energy: An Introduction Learning Outcome: 2.4 23) During the light reactions of photosynthesis, the solar energy absorbed by chlorophyll is used to .

25 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) split water molecules and release oxygen in the form of O 2 B) break down macromolecules such as starch C) produce small, high-energy molecules that are used in the Calvin cycle to manufacture sugars D) defend against predators E) Both A and C Answer: E Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 2.3 Energy: An Introduction Learning Outcome: 2.4 24) Cellular respiration

.

A) produces carbon dioxide and water B) results in a net consumption of energy C) represents a decrease in entropy D) requires the green pigment chlorophyll E) involves a net consumption of water Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.3 Energy: An Introduction Learning Outcome: 2.4 25) Which of the following represents cellular respiration?

A) water  carbon dioxide  energy  glucose  oxygen  water B) glucose  oxygen  water  carbon dioxide  energy C) water  carbon dioxide  glucose  oxygen  water  energy D) nitrogen  carbon dioxide  energy  methane  oxygen E) nitrogen  oxygen  glucose  methane  carbon dioxide Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.3 Energy: An Introduction Learning Outcome: 2.4 26) The total amount of chemical energy that remains after autotrophs use some of the energy to fuel their own metabolism is known as .

A) gross primary production B) net primary production C) secondary production D) negative secondary production E) positive primary production Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.4 Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 2.5 26 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

27) Net primary productivity is

.

A) the total biomass of an entire ecosystem B) the amount of energy consumers derive from producers C) the energy used by plants to make biomass after respiration D) the biomass of producers minus that of consumers E) the amount of detritus produced by an ecosystem Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.4 Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 2.5 28) In all ecosystems, energy is eventually lost to the environment via A) heat from metabolism B) photosynthesis C) radiation and reflection of light D) matter E) trophic levels Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 2.4 Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 2.3|2.4|2.5 29) Geographic information systems (G IS) are

.

A) useful in determining the number of heterotrophs in an ecosystem B) helping conservation biologists study habitats and study biodiversity C) useful in tracking the movements of individual organisms D) used to predict rainfall and temperature changes in ecosystems E) used to measure the economic value of ecosystem services Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.4 Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 2.6 30) Ecological modeling is most useful for studying

.

A) small isolated microhabitats, where the inputs and outputs are well-studied B) artificial data generated by computers C) how individual species interact with one another D) large complex ecosystems that have many interactions E) the biodiversity in ecosystems Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.4 Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 2.6 31) Which of the following is the best example of an ecosystem service?

A) the regulation of gas prices 27 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

B) soil microbes fixing atmospheric nitrogen C) a park ranger checking fishing licenses D) a city cutting down a tree that is dying E) a college environmental club cleaning up the shoulder of a highway Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 2.4 Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 2.7 32) How do landscape ecologists use the concept of ecotones in their studies?

A) Ecotones represent the boundaries between ecosystems and serve as barriers to the movement of organisms.

B) Ecotones are large-scale patterns observed in satellite images that indicate areas of high biodiversity.

C) Ecotones are transitional zones where components of different ecosystems mix, facilitating interactions between adjacent ecosystems.

D) Ecotones are isolated patches of habitat within a landscape that are crucial for maintaining biodiversity.

E) Ecotones are computer models used by landscape ecologists to predict the distribution of organisms across different ecosystems.

Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.4 Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 2.6 33) Which of the following statements best describes ecosystem services?

A) Ecosystem services are the physical goods extracted from nature, such as lumber, fuel, and metals.

B) Ecosystem services refer to the protection provided by ecosystems against natural disasters like storms and floods.

C) Ecosystem services involve the aesthetic and recreational amenities provided by natural landscapes, such as hiking trails and scenic views.

D) Ecosystem services encompass the natural processes that humans benefit from, such as nutrient cycling and water purification.

E) Ecosystem services are the scientific studies conducted to understand the functioning of natural systems and their impacts on human society.

Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.4 Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 2.7 34) Compared to energy flow in ecosystems, the flow of matter A) is one way B) is always dissipated as heat C) reflects conservation and recycling D) moves from consumers to producers 28 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

E) does not involve either detritivores or detritus Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.5 35) In the flow of matter in ecosystems, where would be the greatest flow of nutrients?

A) between decomposers and top consumers B) between middle consumers and producers C) between producers and top consumers D) between the sun and producers E) between detritus and producers Answer: E Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.5 36) Aquifers are

.

A) large bodies of surface water such as lakes and oceans B) porous rock formations located underground that store groundwater C) moist areas of soils that permit infiltration of nitrogen and phosphorus D) areas where the water table is above ground most of the year E) a source of water largely untapped by agriculture and urban systems Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.8 37) The largest reservoir in the hydrological cycle is

.

A) the atmosphere B) oceans C) precipitation D) groundwater E) dammed reservoirs Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.8 38) Plants release water vapor through their leaves via a process called A) evaporation B) condensation C) transpiration D) percolation E) magnification Answer: C 29 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.8 39) The greatest human impact on the carbon cycle has been through

.

A) use of synthetic fertilizers B) mining of limestone (calcium carbonate) C) combustion of fossil fuels D) depletion of aquifers E) increased respiration of the exponentially growing human population Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.8 40) Earth's largest pool of nitrogen is

.

A) the biosphere B) the lithosphere C) the hydrosphere D) the atmosphere E) in fossil fuel deposits Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.8 41) Biological nitrogen fixation is carried out by

.

A) pine trees B) specialized bacteria C) mammals D) fungi E) all organisms Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.8 42) Consider the following processes: respiration, combustion, polymerization, nitrification, industrial fixation of nitrogen, and photosynthesis. How many of these result in the release of oxygen into the atmosphere?

A) none B) 1 C) 2 D) 4 E) all Answer: B 30 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.8 43) All of the following are approaches to reducing eutrophication EXCEPT: A) reducing fertilizer use on farms and lawns.

B) using artificial wetlands to filter stormwater and farm runoff.

C) planting and maintaining vegetation buffers around ditches and streams that trap nutrient and sediment runoff.

D) upgrading stormwater systems to capture runoff from roads and parking lots.

E) applying fertilizers to farmland just before heavy rains are predicted.

Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.8

31 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

Glass Lake, located in a valley in low forested mountains, for many decades of the 19th and early 20th centuries was a favorite picnic, recreation, and fishing site for people in surrounding towns and farms. However, in the middle of the 20th century, a trend began in which the privately owned farms in the lake's watershed were purchased by large agribusinesses. The decision was made to grow a profitable crop. The demand for quality farmland resulted in the sale of most of the family-owned establishments and a large increase in the area of land under cultivation. Most of the forests were cut to acquire the land needed for crops. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides increased several-fold by the end of the century. In addition, the combined population of the lakeside villages quadrupled during the same time. The lake experienced a slow degradation of water quality and biodiversity. Sport fishing declined, and the lake became murky, while the sediments in the lake increased in depth.

44) The symptoms of the lake suggest

.

A) pesticide poisoning B) eutrophication C) that all the problems have been created by deforestation D) overfishing E) the effects of global climate change Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.8 45) If a water quality expert were to check the level of dissolved oxygen in the lake water, s/he would find that it .

A) is within normal limits for an unpolluted lake B) is much higher than normal C) is near normal on the surface but extremely low near the bottom sediments D) is very low at the surface and normal near the bottom sediments E) is completely absent Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.8 46) The same expert found that dissolved phosphorus and nitrogen levels were more than 10 times what they were 70 years ago. The primary sources of these nutrients are .

A) the changes in dissolved oxygen levels B) soil particles eroded from the deforested watershed C) natural atmospheric phosphorus and nitrogen fixation D) agricultural and urban fertilizer runoff as well as increased urban wastewater discharges E) the increased algal biomass in the lake 32 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.8 47) The murkiness (turbidity) of the water was analyzed and found to have several major sources, including .

A) erosion from deforested hillsides, sediments produced from poorly treated wastewater discharge, and sediments produced from the increased plant biomass of the lake B) pesticides, atmospheric deposition, and wastewater discharges C) erosion from the hillsides, solid nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural fertilizers, and numerous microscopic animals living in bottom sediments D) algae, increased microscopic animal life, and pesticides E) fertilizer particles, wind-borne atmospheric particles, and wastewater discharge Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.8 48) A biodiversity survey of the lake revealed a striking decline in nearly all animal species and in rooted plant life, especially where streams discharge into the lake. The immediate cause(s) of the decline most likely was/were .

A) pesticide poisoning B) very low oxygen levels and lack of plants to support animal consumers C) toxicity of nitrogen and phosphorus to wildlife D) natural declines in aging wildlife populations E) the fact that the past two winters were colder than usual Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.8 49) A task force composed of water quality chemists, environmental landscape experts, townspeople, and corn growers meet and share information. They are likely to decide that they must focus on in the initial efforts to restore the lake.

A) banning agriculture from the entire region B) closing the wastewater treatment plant and reducing agriculture by 75% C) reducing fertilizer inputs into the lake, increasing the efficiency of the wastewater plant, and using aerators to increase oxygen levels D) restoring biodiversity to the deforested areas and closing the wastewater plant E) reducing the population of the town by 50% and agriculture by 50% Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.8 2.2 Essay Questions 33 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

1) In what ways are macromolecules essential to life? Describe the structures of three and describe their major role(s) in organisms.

Answer: Macromolecules provide critical components of organismal structure, energy storage and mobilization, and genetic coding to name just a few of their many roles.

Carbohydrates are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and have the general formula CH2O . Carbon and water exist in a 1: 1 ratio. They are the primary components of plant cell walls and are the preferred energy source for many organisms. Proteins are chains of amino acids (amine group + carboxyl or acid group + central carbon). They are primarily structural molecules. They are blood transporters, aid in the function of the immune system, and promote metabolic reactions. Most enzymes are proteins. Nucleic acids are made of chains of nucleotides (phosphate + sugar + nitrogenous bases). They carry genetic information (genes) that coordinates all organismal functions and passes traits from generation to generation.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 2.2 Matter, Chemistry, and the Environment Learning Outcome: 2.2 2) What is the first law of thermodynamics, and why is it important?

Answer: This law says that the total energy and mass in the universe are constant and conserved. This law is important because it says that there is a finite amount of energy on Earth. Humans cannot make new energy. This law also requires the balancing of all chemical reactions, where we acknowledge that mass is conserved, even though it may change form. In terms of our management of resources, especially those that are nonrenewable, it implies that efficient and sustainable use of energy and materials is extremely important since their abundance is limited.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.3 Energy: An Introduction Learning Outcome: 2.3 3) Compare the first and second laws of thermodynamics.

Answer: The first law states that energy can change from one form to another; it cannot be created or lost. The total energy in the universe remains constant. However, the second law states that the universe will change from a more ordered state to a less ordered state. Entropy in the universe is increasing, as energy is converted from high to low quality. Organisms must consume energy to maintain structure and keep entropy at bay. Low-quality energy from organisms is usually released into the environment as heat. For example, if you had a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, your digestive systems digests the starch to glucose and your cells then burn the glucose to produce energy to run your body, but most of it is lost as heat. The low-quality exhaust products of this process are carbon dioxide and water, neither of which has any potential energy for you to use. Therefore, you have to keep taking in more chemical energy in food to keep your system running.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.3 Energy: An Introduction Learning Outcome: 2.3 34 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

4) Briefly explain the overall processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Include a brief explanation of autotrophs and heterotrophs in your answer.

Answer: Photosynthesis is performed by autotrophs. In photosynthesis, light energy is converted into chemical energy (stored within the bonds of glucose). Water and carbon dioxide are consumed, and oxygen is released. In most autotrophs, photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts. Cellular respiration represents the reverse chemical process. It is performed by both autotrophs and heterotrophs to meet their energy needs. In cellular respiration, oxygen is consumed, and the bonds of glucose are broken to release energy (which is then used for work within the cell). Along with the energy, carbon dioxide and water are end products. In most organisms, cellular respiration takes place in the mitochondria.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 2.3 Energy: An Introduction Learning Outcome: 2.4 5) Briefly describe what ecologists mean by an ecosystem.

Answer: An ecosystem is a network of dynamic relationships among components that interact with one another and influence one another by exchanging inputs of energy, materials, organisms, and information. Some of the outputs are communities that may take the forms of forests, grasslands or marshes, while others we may view as ecosystem services, such as pollination, water purification, and renewal of soil fertility, that have great value to human enterprises.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.4 Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 2.5 6) Discuss how natural ecosystems provide valuable ecosystem services to humankind.

Answer: Because we are part of natural ecosystems, we share in the benefits they provide in supporting all species that inhabit them. For example, the food chains and webs by which energy and materials flow through ecosystems provide pest control (e.g., predators) and pollination, which is a byproduct of the feeding by certain animals, mainly insects, on plant flowers. Forests purify water moving through watersheds, control erosion, provide complex habitats for species of great economic value to us, provide timber, and remove pollutants such as carbon dioxide from air.

Soils provide essential mechanisms for the movement of nutrients in biogeochemical cycles, and their fertility is indispensable for plant growth. Finally, all aspects of ecosystems provide intangible services of aesthetic, recreational, and cultural value that contribute greatly to our psychological and spiritual well-being.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 2.4 Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 2.7

35 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

7) Briefly discuss how human activities have affected the balance of global hydrological and carbon cycles.

Answer: Human activities have impacted nearly every aspect of the hydrological cycle. Groundwater and aquifer resources have been depleted by urban and agricultural growth. Rivers have been dammed and diverted such that they have slowed and diminished their flow toward the seas. The removal of vegetation from watersheds has increased surface runoff and decreased infiltration and transpiration.

Certainly the greatest disruption of the carbon cycle has been the enormous input to the atmosphere of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by the burning of fossil fuels.

This has been the most important driver of global climate change. In addition, extensive deforestation, particularly in tropical regions, has diminished the ability of these regions to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Today, the atmospheric carbon dioxide reservoir is greater than it has been in more than 800,000 years.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles Learning Outcome: 2.8 Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 3 Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology 3.1 Multiple Choice Questions

36 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) The barrier between the fruit fly populations

.

A) did not greatly interfere with both populations accessing both mountaintops B) produced distinct species as soon as the barrier became impassible C) caused completely different mutations to occur in the two populations 37 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) was an effective barrier to mating and gene flow between the two populations E) was the first part of an extinction event for both populations Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.1 2) Assuming the populations of fruit flies are the same size, the length of time necessary for significant divergence to take place in the populations depends on .

A) the area of the two mountain habitats B) the kinds of mutations in the populations and the similarity of the two isolated habitats C) how quickly the fruit flies can fly between the two habitats D) the rapid restoration of contact between the two populations E) the absence of natural selection Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.1 3) In the initial fruit fly population at the top of the figure, it is safe to assume that .

A) there is already significant genetic divergence taking place B) natural selection is not operating on the population C) no mutations are occurring in the population D) the population is mating with individuals of other species E) any male in the population could successfully mate with any female Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.1 4) The major force(s) causing the genetic divergence of the two isolated fruit fly populations is/are .

A) mutation B) the complete lack of sexual reproduction in the two populations C) mutation and natural selection D) mating and gene flow between the two populations E) natural selection and the variety of other species with which each population interbreeds Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.1 5) At Hakalau Forest in , ranchland is being restored to forest, invasive plants are being removed, native plants are being planted, and néné are being protected while new populations of them are being established.

38 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) Guam B) the Marshall Islands C) Japan D) Hawaii E) Tuvalu Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.7 6) A population is a group of

.

A) individuals of several interacting species that live in one area B) individuals of several interacting species that interact in multiple ecosystems C) individuals of a single species that live and interact in one area D) all individuals of a species in all locations E) cells that have similar function Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.4 7) Heavy rains and mudslides cause a river to change course, isolating two groups of lizards of the same species from one another. Over a long period of time, .

A) one group will probably become an endemic species B) both groups will probably become native species C) the groups will probably diverge genetically, and speciation may occur D) one or both groups will probably emigrate E) one or both groups will probably become invasive species Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.2 8) A species has evolved an asexual mode of reproduction by having offspring develop from unfertilized eggs. Which of the following will be true of this species' response to natural selection?

A) There will be more deaths from natural selection because there is no mutation.

B) There will be less genetic variation from sexual recombination and a risk of not adapting quickly to environmental change.

C) The species will increase in numbers because genetic variation is increased.

D) The species will compensate for loss of genetic variation by hybridizing with other species.

E) There will be fewer deaths from natural selection because sexual recombination always leads to extinction.

Answer: B Diff: 3 39 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.1 9) One example of artificial selection is

.

A) crossing a lion and a tiger to get a sterile animal called a liger B) the process of allopatric speciation C) pet dogs that have gone wild, mate with coyotes, and live in packs D) humans placing a gene for human insulin into a flower E) broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts bred from Brassica oleracea Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.1

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

40 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

10) According to the figure, which of the following is true?

A) Lampreys have lungs.

B) Snakes are more closely related to crocodiles than they are to turtles.

C) Reptiles (turtles, snakes, lizards, and crocodiles) are more closely related to each other than they are to any other animals.

D) Amphibians have a skull with two openings.

E) Sharks possess a swim bladder.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.2 11) According to the figure, crocodiles are most closely related to

.

A) snakes and lizards B) turtles C) mammals D) birds E) lampreys Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.2 12) Organisms that are closely related have a recent common ancestor. Of the following organisms shown in the figure, which choice lists organisms that are most closely related to each other?

A) lizards and crocodiles B) lampreys and sharks C) lungfish and amphibians D) mammals and turtles E) bony fish and birds Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.2 13) Which of the following can be inferred from the figure?

A) The ancestors of reptiles had hair.

B) The ancestors of snakes had legs.

C) The ancestors of turtles had two openings in their skulls.

D) Turtle eggs are laid in the ocean.

E) The ancestors of crocodiles had feathers.

Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.2 41 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

14) Phylogenetic trees

.

A) are a threatened species in Costa Rica's Monteverde National Park B) predict future evolutionary trends C) depict the flow of evolutionary change and diversification for a particular group of organisms D) have branches, each of which represents an extinction event E) are usually at odds with fossil evidence Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.2 15) All organisms in the same phylum are also in the same

.

A) class B) order C) family D) genus E) kingdom Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.2 16) You are an ecologist researching divergent evolution on the Galapagos Islands.

Which of the following might you be studying?

A) the similarities that have arisen between two completely unrelated species of birds that are competing for the same resources B) the geological processes by which the islands were formed millions of years ago C) the introduction and spread of an invasive bird species that has been introduced onto some of the islands D) the processes by which several unrelated species of birds developed flightlessness as a result of the islands lacking natural predators E) the processes by which the various species of finches on the islands diverged from a common ancestor Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.2

42 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

43 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

17) According to the figure, which of the following birds is most closely related to the Palila?

A) Kaua`i Creeper B) Laysan Finch C) `I`iwi D) Anianiau E) Common Rosefinch Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.2 18) Which of the following is true?

A) Species on Earth today are just a fraction of all species that ever lived.

B) The number of species existing at one time has decreased throughout history.

C) Extinctions of past species have always happened gradually and on a small scale.

D) Most organisms present early in Earth's prehistory were more complex than modern organisms.

E) Natural selection always favors complexity and a larger body size.

Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.3 19) Extinction is

.

A) the disappearance of a species from Earth B) always caused by human disturbance C) the loss of communities from the planet D) proceeding more slowly now than at any other time E) the loss of a species from one place on the planet while still existing in other locations Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.3 20) Most extinction is

.

A) the result of environmental catastrophe B) gradual, generally occurring when species cannot adapt genetically to changes in environmental conditions C) the result of slow climate change D) problematic for generalists E) not often a problem for endemics Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.3 44 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

21) The two processes that determine the world's current biodiversity are

.

A) allopatric and sympatric speciation B) mutation and humidity C) endemism and climate change D) extinction and speciation rates E) breeding and ecotourism Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.2 22) Endemic species

.

A) are generalist organisms B) cause disease C) are invasive species that cause extinction D) have high rates of mutations that lead to large numbers of offspring species E) are found only in one place on the planet Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.3 23) In ecology, a(n) is made up of interacting populations of different species that inhabit the same area.

A) population B) ecosystem C) biome D) community E) guild Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.2 Ecology and the Organism Learning Outcome: 3.4 24) An ecosystem

.

A) is a regional grouping of plants, animals, and other biotic factors B) is the total population of a specific kind of plant, animal, or microbe, all the members of which do or potentially can interbreed and produce young C) encompasses all the organisms and the physical and chemical environment within an area D) is a grouping of plants and animals that interacts with one another in a way that causes the grouping to die E) is a collection of interacting species living in a specific area Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.2 Ecology and the Organism 45 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 3.4 25) A species'

is its functional role in its community.

A) habitat B) place in the food chain C) selection D) niche E) distribution Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.2 Ecology and the Organism Learning Outcome: 3.4 26) A niche specialist is

.

A) more likely to go extinct than a niche generalist B) more likely to adapt to climate change than a niche generalist C) more likely to thrive in human-modified environments than a niche generalist D) more likely to have a large geographic distribution than a niche generalist E) more likely to use a wide variety of resources than a niche generalist Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.2 Ecology and the Organism Learning Outcome: 3.4 27) The niche of a species is the functional role of that species in the community that it belongs to. Species that have narrow niches (have very specific resource requirements) are said to be , while species that have broad niches (able to use a wide array of resources) are known as .

A) generalists; specialists B) specialists; generalists C) widespread; restricted D) narrowists; broadists E) Type A species; Type B species Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.2 Ecology and the Organism Learning Outcome: 3.4 28) Which of the following descriptions of a hummingbird best describes its niche?

A) has a slender bill B) eats mosquitoes C) can fly backward D) lays two eggs E) can migrate across the Gulf of Mexico Answer: B Diff: 2 46 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 3.2 Ecology and the Organism Learning Outcome: 3.4 29) A coyote, which can alter its food intake to match seasonal abundance of plants, fruits, or small animals, is considered to be .

A) a generalist B) a specialist, able to specialize on whatever is available at the time C) an endemic D) density independent and resource neutral E) herbivorous Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.2 Ecology and the Organism Learning Outcome: 3.4 30) High population density can

.

A) hinder organisms from finding mates B) decrease biodiversity within a species C) decrease competition D) decrease the use of resources E) increase disease transmission and food scarcity Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.6 31) Population distribution describes

.

A) placement of a species around the globe B) placement of a species within a country's boundaries C) spatial arrangement of individuals of a single species within a particular area or ecosystem D) spatial arrangement of multiple species within a particular area E) how near or far away individuals in a population are from a resource, such as water Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.5 32) When the organisms of a particular population seek habitats or resources that are unevenly spaced, the distribution of the individuals in the population tends to be .

A) uniform B) random C) clumped D) binary E) evenly dispersed 47 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.5 33) Which of the following would best represent a clumped population dispersion pattern?

A) pine trees within a pine plantation B) oaks planted on city streets C) a pod of 40 migrating gray whales in the Bering Sea D) eagles nesting in the tallest trees in the Grand Canyon E) earthworms within the soil of a garden Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.5 34) A population's age structure

.

A) has no inherent value for predicting growth B) cannot predict possible species declines in numbers C) represents sizes of individual organisms D) indicates the relative numbers of individuals of different ages within a population E) is correlated with the different niches the population occupies Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.5 35) Which of the following are the major factors that determine a population's growth rate?

A) adaptation, competition, birth rate, and emigration B) survivorship, natural selection, mutation, and extinction C) birth rate, death rate, emigration, and immigration D) immigration, climate, emigration, and population distribution E) limiting factors, carrying capacity, mutation rate, and inbreeding Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.6 36) Populations lacking any environmental resistance tend to increase by A) linear growth B) exponential growth C) pyramidal growth D) emigration E) immigration Answer: B Diff: 2 48 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.6 37) Carrying capacity is the

.

A) maximum sustainable population size that a given environment can support B) greatest number of different niches possible in a given area C) potential growth in the number of species in a given area D) limitation on numbers of species in a community E) average number of offspring carried to term by a species Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.6 38) The invasive European buckthorn invades a local forest preserve. Initially, the population of buckthorn rapidly increases, and then it begins to level off. This pattern of population growth most closely resembles .

A) logistic growth B) exponential growth C) unlimited growth D) rapid and steady rate growth E) slow and constantly changing growth Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.6 39) Density-dependent factors

.

A) include the effects of a hard freeze on an entire community B) include the effects of a hard freeze on a single species within a community C) cause decreases in the number of species in an ecosystem D) include the effects of rainfall on an entire community E) include the effects of disease, predators, and food on a single species within a community Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.6 40) Which of the following would be an example of a density-independent factor?

A) blight (a mold disease) in a wheat field B) cold weather causing a lake to freeze C) suitable nest sites for a flock of warblers D) a plant parasite, such as mistletoe E) a specialist searching for the one species of plant that is its food Answer: B 49 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.6 41) A small group of leaf-feeding beetles locates a field of snap beans, one of the preferred plants for this species. At first, the population grows rapidly in the snap bean field, but as the beetle population grows larger, predators, such as spiders and birds, discover the beetles and start to remove individuals from the population. Competition for mates, food, and oviposition (egg-laying) sites intensifies for the individuals in the beetle population as population density increases. A fungal disease also starts to kill many of the beetles. The population no longer grows rapidly but levels off. How many of these factors controlling the beetle population are density-independent factors?

A) zero B) one C) two D) three E) four Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.6 42) Which of the following is accurate?

A) Any damaged ecosystem can be completely restored.

B) Humans can find and make their own resources if they destroy natural ecosystems.

C) Ecotourism combines wildlife conservation with economic benefits.

D) Our understanding of genetics allows us to replace extinct species.

E) Costa Rica has declared national bankruptcy because of its failed ecotourism industry.

Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.4 Conserving Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.7 43) Which of the following has been an effect of ecotourism in Hawaii?

A) Tourists have irreparably damaged sensitive coral reef ecosystems.

B) The trash from millions of visitors has choked out mangrove forests on the island of Oahu.

C) Conservation efforts have become more financially feasible because of increased tourist dollars.

D) A large marine reserve in Hawaii was forced to close because of the increased need to feed tourists.

E) Ecotourism has always been banned in Hawaii, but other Pacific islands have experienced myriad negative effects of ecotourism.

Answer: C Diff: 3 50 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 3.4 Conserving Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.7

51 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt created the Grand Canyon National Game Preserve on the Kaibab Plateau in northern Arizona. Between 1907 and 1923, cattle grazing was greatly reduced, mule deer hunting was eliminated, and predators were killed. Over 800 cougars, 20 wolves (most had already been killed in the 1800s), and 7000 coyotes were trapped or shot. In response, the mule deer herd began to increase: By 1915, deer numbers were estimated at 25,000; 50,000 by 1920; and 100,000 by 1923.

44) Which of the following describes a graph of the Kaibab deer population between 1906 and 1923?

A) a straight line slanting upward, showing a steady increase over time B) a J-shaped upward curve with a very rapid increase C) a "sine wave" curving up, down, up, down D) a rapidly decreasing slope from left to right E) an S-shaped curve that shows a smooth, rapid increase and then levels off Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.6 45) The removal of the livestock and predators and the cessation of hunting in 1907 .

A) increased the carrying capacity for the Kaibab deer B) decreased the carrying capacity for the Kaibab deer C) removed the limits on immigration, allowing more deer into the area D) caused the Kaibab deer to become extirpated E) decreased the reproductive output of the Kaibab deer Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.6 46) The initial population of Kaibab deer in 1906 was about 4000. In an area of about 800,000 acres, this works out to an average density of one deer per 200 acres. What was the density in 1923?

A) one deer per 20 acres B) one deer per 500 acres C) one deer per 80 acres D) one deer per 8 acres E) one deer per 0.8 acres Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.6 47) Which of the following is likely to be a direct or indirect effect of removing top predators 52 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

from an ecosystem such as the Kaibab Plateau?

A) a decrease in the populations of their prey B) a decrease in ground-level vegetation such as tree saplings C) conversion of grassland into forest D) greater competition among the remaining top predators in the ecosystem E) a decrease in the carrying capacity of their prey Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.6 3.2 Essay Questions 1) Briefly describe the process of speciation, and define allopatric speciation.

Answer: When mutations occur in one population or subpopulation that are not passed to another population or subpopulation, or if natural selection favors different genes in different populations, speciation can occur if gene flow becomes restricted permanently between the two populations (i.e., they can no longer mate and produce fertile offspring). If a physical boundary such as a stream divides the two populations, restricting gene flow between them, and a speciation event occurs, this is termed allopatric speciation.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.1 2) Describe the sixth mass extinction event, when it occurred, and its specific causes.

Answer: Currently, most biologists believe that Earth is experiencing its sixth mass extinction event and that we are the cause. The changes to Earth's environment by human population growth, resource use, and development have greatly altered conditions for many species, have driven many to extinction already, and are threatening countless more. The alteration and outright destruction of natural habitats, the hunting and harvesting of species, pollution, and the introduction of invasive species from one place to another have contributed to the threat to Earth's biodiversity.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.3 3) A species of bird had an original range covering the entire eastern half of the United States from New England west to the Mississippi and then south to Florida. During a period of glaciation, the eastern part of the population was cut off from the western part for 2000 years. Then the glacier melted and the birds' original range was reestablished. During the separation, the western birds evolved a slightly different song and a darker wing color. Ornithologists are now studying this species to determine whether speciation has taken place. What evidence should they look for in their study?

53 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: Among many observations that can be made, the researchers will have to look at the ability of eastern and western birds to recognize one another, court, and mate. If mating does occur, they will have to observe whether or not any eggs are laid in the nest and whether any offspring hatch. They will have to determine whether the east-west matings produce more or less offspring than east-east and west-west matings. Finally, if offspring are produced and can in turn produce a second generation of hybrids, the researchers may conclude that these birds still function as a single species. If there are no viable hybrids or if the matings are blocked at an earlier stage, they may conclude that speciation has indeed taken place.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 3.1 Evolution: The Source of Earth's Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 3.1 4) Differentiate between exponential and logistic growth curves. Give examples of the conditions under which each would occur.

Answer: Exponential growth (a J-shaped curve) occurs when there are no limiting factors. This occurs when a population is small and environmental conditions are ideal for the organism in question. Mold on a piece of bread and bacteria colonizing a dead animal are examples. Logistic growth (S-shaped growth curve) rises exponentially at first and then begins to level off as the effects of limiting factors become stronger. A population introduced into a new environment where there are other organisms will experience limitations quickly, and these limitations will limit the population growth.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.6 5) Discuss the role of humans in regulating carrying capacity for the human species and in altering the carrying capacity for other species.

Answer: Humans can alter their own carrying capacity by finding resources and through technology, but other species have less flexibility in altering their carrying capacity. Humans often alter the carrying capacity for other species by altering climate, encroaching on habitat, reducing breeding areas and food resources, and/or altering trophic structure within an ecosystem through hunting.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.6 6) A population of quail lives in an area of prairie grasslands. In good years, a pair of quail can have four clutches of young, with as many as 12 to 14 eggs in each clutch.

Despite this, the population size remains stable over the long term. Discuss the population structure, its potential for growth, and its possible limiting factors, using at least four of the terms you learned in this chapter.

Answer: Students might discuss the population's potential for exceeding the population's typical carrying capacity in a "good" year with mild weather and plentiful food. They might talk about the population dispersion (clumped). They might choose to look at the age distribution or draw an age-structure diagram, illustrating the large 54 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

number of eggs and chicks and the rapid loss of young. Density-independent factors would include things such as weather and drought or floods. Some density-dependent factors might be disease, predators, available nesting sites, and the amount of food available.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 3.3 Population Ecology Learning Outcome: 3.5|3.6 Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 4 The Ecology of Communities 4.1 Multiple Choice Questions

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) Which of the following does the diagram illustrate?

A) Deserts and tropical rainforests normally occur within a few meters of one another.

B) Biomes are determined primarily by precipitation and temperature.

55 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) Biodiversity does not vary with climate.

D) Tundra and desert both share a hot climate.

E) Boreal forests and tropical dry forest have similar climates.

Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.3 Earth's Biomes Learning Outcome: 4.7 2) According to this diagram, you should find

.

A) deserts anywhere in the world where hot and dry conditions prevail B) tropical rainforest in most parts of Europe and North America C) that vegetation is lushest in moderately dry areas D) tropical rainforests usually bordering temperate grassland E) deserts usually bordering tundra Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.3 Earth's Biomes Learning Outcome: 4.7 3) Of the following, chaparral has a climate most similar to

.

A) boreal forest B) tundra C) tropical dry forest D) temperate rainforest E) savanna Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.3 Earth's Biomes Learning Outcome: 4.7 4) If global climate change results in an area of temperate grassland receiving less rainfall and higher temperatures, it will .

A) have no effect on the biome B) gradually be replaced by savanna C) rapidly be replaced by temperate deciduous forest D) begin to support more desert species E) begin to support more invasive exotic species Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.3 Earth's Biomes Learning Outcome: 4.7 5) Temperate deciduous forests are characterized by 56 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

A) hot temperatures and dry conditions (low precipitation) B) cold temperatures and wet conditions (high precipitation) C) hot temperatures and wet conditions (high precipitation) D) moderate temperatures and moderate amounts of precipitation E) cold temperatures and low amounts of precipitation Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.3 Earth's Biomes Learning Outcome: 4.7 6) Zebra mussels

.

A) are native to Canada B) were introduced into the United States in the early 1900s C) are presently restricted to the Great Lakes and Hudson River, but they are expected to spread rapidly in the near future D) are an invasive exotic species that clog pipes and cover boat propellers E) excrete waste that facilitates algae blooms and subsequent eutrophication of lakes Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.1 Species Interactions Learning Outcome: 4.5 7)

involves individuals of a single species fighting over access to a limiting resource.

A) Resource partitioning B) Competitive exclusion C) Symbiosis D) Interspecific competition E) Intraspecific competition Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.1 Species Interactions Learning Outcome: 4.1 8) Which of the following is an example of resource partitioning?

A) Two species of rodents compete for the same seed resource, and one species causes the other to become extirpated (locally extinct).

B) Two male ostriches share a harem of females.

C) Two species of birds forage together, with one eating insects on tree trunks while the other eats insects in the outer branches.

D) Deer and mountain lions feed on different kinds of food.

E) Earthworms feed on organic material in soil, and then robins feed on the earthworms.

57 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 4.1 Species Interactions Learning Outcome: 4.1 9) Herbivory is actually a type of

.

A) competition B) mutualism C) coevolution D) primary succession E) predation Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.1 Species Interactions Learning Outcome: 4.1 10) By definition, parasites

their host.

A) kill B) are much smaller than C) feed on and harm D) live on the external surface of E) benefit Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.1 Species Interactions Learning Outcome: 4.1 11) Which of the following is a pathogen?

A) influenza virus B) mosquitoes C) alligator gars D) arthritis E) cancer Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.1 Species Interactions Learning Outcome: 4.1 12) Microbes in our digestive tract that help us digest food demonstrate a association.

A) pathogenic B) homeopathic 58 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) parasitic D) symbiotic E) benthic Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.1 Species Interactions Learning Outcome: 4.1 13) Which of the following is an example of an ecological community?

A) all of the bears, wolves, elk, moose, aspen trees, lodgepole pine trees, and all other animals and plants in Yellowstone National Park B) all of the wolves in Yellowstone National Park C) all of the lodgepole pine trees in Yellowstone National Park D) all of the bears, wolves, elk, moose, aspen trees, lodgepole pine trees, and all other animals and plants in Yellowstone National Park, plus the geysers, hydrothermal vents, rocks, mountains, and other nonliving features in the park E) all of the employees working at Yellowstone National Park Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.2 14)

capture solar energy and use photosynthesis to produce sugars.

A) Producers B) Primary consumers C) Secondary consumers D) Detritivores E) Heterotrophs Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.2 15) Grazing animals such as deer are

.

A) producers B) primary consumers C) secondary consumers D) detritivores E) decomposers Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.2 59 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

16) Fish that eat zooplankton would be considered

.

A) producers B) primary consumers C) secondary consumers D) detritivores E) herbivores Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.2 17) Detritivores include

.

A) bacteria and fungi B) algae and photosynthetic bacteria C) millipedes, soil insects, and many ants D) wolves, lions, and oak trees E) species that can break down cellulose, bone, and other durable biopolymers Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.2 18) The energy content and biomass of

is lowest in any terrestrial food web.

A) top carnivores B) producers C) small carnivores such as spiders and lizards D) detritivores E) decomposers Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.2 19)

are typical primary consumers in a temperate deciduous forest.

A) Snakes B) Deer C) Shelf fungi D) Bison E) Wolves Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities 60 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 4.2 20) Which of the following is true about top predators?

A) They are often keystone species.

B) They are likely to be herbivores.

C) They are likely to be producers.

D) They include bacteria and fungi.

E) Their removal increases biodiversity.

Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.3 21) Kelp

.

A) is eaten by sea otters B) is an invasive exotic species C) suffers intense herbivory from zebra mussels D) suffers intense herbivory from sea urchins E) is pollinated by sea urchins Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.3 22) A trophic cascade is the effect of

on

.

A) detritivores; decomposers B) producers; first-level consumers C) top consumers; one another D) top consumers; lower trophic levels E) flooding; terrestrial ecosystems Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.3 23) A community may undergo a regime shift or a phase shift if A) pollutants cause a rapid rise in mutations B) it suffers a natural fire or flood C) it has too many symbiotic relationships among species D) it loses a keystone species or suffers a major climatic change E) all invasive species are removed Answer: D 61 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.4 24) Secondary succession

.

A) requires primary succession to precede it B) occurs after a volcano spreads lava across a landscape C) occurs after a fire or flood D) typically begins with lichen colonizing rock E) is predictable because it always ends in the formation of a climax community Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.4 25) Which of the following are pioneer species?

A) lichens B) wolves and mountain lions C) beavers D) aspen trees E) zebra mussels Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.4 26) A climax community always

.

A) is typical of the first stages of secondary succession B) remains in place until a disturbance restarts succession C) contains as many pioneer species as later successional species D) consists of a single population of organisms E) has the lowest biodiversity of all stages of succession Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.4 27) Ecologists researching Mount Saint Helens after the 1979 eruption determined that .

A) the landscape has remained barren for almost 40 years B) the red alder went extinct from the eruption C) nothing in the blast zone survived the eruption 62 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) many species in the blast zone survived the eruption E) plants in unseeded areas were growing better than plants in seeded areas Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.4 28) A restoration ecologist may do all of the following EXCEPT: A) remove invasive European buckthorn from a Minnesota forest.

B) plant trees in an area that has been mined.

C) place levees in sensitive areas to prevent seasonal flooding.

D) recreate a wetland in an area that had been drained for farming.

E) plant a prairie in an area that has been farmed.

Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.6 29) Which of the following is/are an abiotic factor?

A) oak trees B) snails C) temperature D) butterflies E) grasses Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.3 Earth's Biomes Learning Outcome: 4.7 30) The statement, "Hiking up a mountain in the southwestern United States is like walking from Mexico to Canada," is meant to demonstrate that change(s) rapidly as you change altitude and latitude.

A) biomes B) oxygen levels C) carbon dioxide levels D) levels of industrial air pollutants E) human population density Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.3 Earth's Biomes Learning Outcome: 4.7 31) What terrestrial biome has the most biodiversity?

63 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) temperate deciduous forest B) coral reefs C) tropical rainforest D) temperate rainforest E) boreal forest Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.3 Earth's Biomes Learning Outcome: 4.7 32) Global climate change may cause shifts in biomes because

.

A) biodiversity and day length will change B) mean temperature and precipitation for many areas will change C) many species may become extinct D) food web dynamics will change E) soil chemistry, pH of precipitation, and the frequency of invasive species will change Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.3 Earth's Biomes Learning Outcome: 4.7 33) What biome is depicted in this climate graph?

A) tropical rainforest B) savanna C) temperate grassland D) temperate rainforest E) boreal forest Answer: D 64 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.3 Earth's Biomes Learning Outcome: 4.7 34) Desert and tundra both

.

A) lack keystone species B) have wide temperature variations from season to season C) lack insects D) have relatively low precipitation E) lack shrubs Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.3 Earth's Biomes Learning Outcome: 4.7 35) Both taiga and tundra

.

A) lack trees B) have comparatively low temperatures throughout the year C) lack many birds D) have many burrowing rodents E) are found in the southeastern United States Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.3 Earth's Biomes Learning Outcome: 4.7 36) What biome is highly seasonal, with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers?

A) grassland B) savanna C) temperate rainforest D) boreal forest E) chaparral Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.3 Earth's Biomes Learning Outcome: 4.7 Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

Human activities, including fossil fuel combustion, farming, and deforestation, are known to increase atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Measurable warming of Earth due to these gases can alter ecosystem dynamics. In addition to the direct climatic effects on organisms within biomes, warming 65 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

can melt permafrost in the tundra and increase precipitation in arctic areas. Global warming also can increase sea surface temperatures, melting sea ice in the Arctic and increasing the intensity of hurricanes in temperate and tropical coastal areas. Within communities, climatic change can shift interdependent species "out-of-sync," potentially causing indirect loss of species.

37) The relationship between caterpillars and flowering plants is best described as .

A) intraspecific competition B) parasitism C) herbivory D) mutualism E) interspecific competition Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.1 Species Interactions Learning Outcome: 4.1 38) The relationship between flowering plants and bees is best described as

.

A) predation B) parasitism C) herbivory D) mutualism E) competition Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.1 Species Interactions Learning Outcome: 4.1 39) Global warming has been hypothesized to cause many plants to flower earlier. If bees and other pollinators begin the search for food earlier in response to this, this would represent within the community.

A) primary succession B) secondary succession C) coevolution D) climax E) extirpation Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.1 Species Interactions Learning Outcome: 4.4 40) If the climate warms significantly, glaciers may melt, exposing underlying rock. This 66 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

may lead to

in the community.

A) primary succession B) secondary succession C) coevolution D) climax E) facilitation Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.4 41) Which of the following might be first to populate an area after glaciers melt in response to global climate change?

A) lichens B) shrubs C) aspen trees D) grasses E) hardwood trees Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.4 42) Intense hurricanes that may result from global warming can directly lead to within impacted terrestrial communities.

A) primary succession B) secondary succession C) coevolution D) climax E) facilitation Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.4 43) Some models of climate change for North America predict that the grassland regions of the prairie states will become warmer and drier. This would result in .

A) a shift from grassland toward chaparral and savanna B) the need to develop varieties of agricultural crops that tolerate desert conditions C) less stress on groundwater and aquifers to irrigate crops in the area D) the need to plant temperate deciduous forest trees to shelter crops from the sun E) decreased damage from crop pests and diseases 67 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.3 Earth's Biomes Learning Outcome: 4.4 44) Imagine a coastal community facing the challenge of restoring a degraded wetland ecosystem, which has suffered from pollution and habitat destruction due to urban development. The community seeks to restore the wetland to its previous state to support biodiversity and ecosystem services such as flood control and water filtration.

In this situation described, why might restorationists choose to include non-native species in the restoration project?

A) to reduce biodiversity and simplify ecosystem structure B) to maintain the historical species composition of the wetland C) to enhance ecosystem resilience and adaptability to climate change D) to minimize habitat complexity and promote species extinction E) to decrease ecosystem function and impede natural processes Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.6 45) What is the primary focus of restoration ecology as described in the chapter?

A) preserving natural ecosystems without any human intervention B) restoring ecological communities to their historical conditions C) exploiting natural resources for economic development D) introducing invasive species to enhance biodiversity E) developing new technologies for agricultural production Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.6 4.2 Essay Questions 1) Discuss the differences between intraspecific and interspecific competition. 

Answer: Intraspecific competition is the competition for limited resources by members of the same species. This is part of the process of natural selection and determines which individuals are most fit and will survive to produce offspring under a given set of environmental conditions. Ultimately, this process benefits the species long-term, since unfit genetic combinations are weeded out of the population. Interspecific competition takes place between different species whose gene pools are closed to one another. This is the only ecological interaction considered to be (  /  ), since all species involved have smaller populations and fewer resources than if they were not competing. The long-term result will be for the competing species to evolve different 68 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

strategies for survival and different resource use patterns (resource partitioning), provided that one or more competitors is not extirpated by the stronger species.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.1 Species Interactions Learning Outcome: 4.1

2) List the three major trophic categories in a food web. What types of organisms are found in each level? At what levels are the autotrophs and heterotrophs found?

Discuss the significance of each level for the integral functioning of the food web. 

  

Answer: The three major trophic categories are producer, consumer, and decomposers and detritivores. At the bottom level of food webs are producers, which include green plants and chemo- and photosynthetic bacteria. All organisms at this level are autotrophs. The higher levels in a food web contain consumers, including herbivores as primary consumers and carnivores as secondary, tertiary, quaternary (etc.) consumers. All organisms at these levels are heterotrophs. The final trophic category in a food web includes decomposers (bacteria and fungi) and detritivores (a wide variety of soil-based invertebrates such as millipedes, which scavenge the waste products or corpses of other community members at all trophic levels). Consumers, decomposers, and detritivores are all heterotrophs. Producers are important because they provide the energy and biomass for consumption of all other levels. The decomposers/detritivores' role is to aid in soil production and fertility, and they recycle nutrients to the producers. The consumers are a very significant force in regulating populations of plants and prey animals. They also are important as pollinators and dispersers of plant species.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.2

3) Why do environmentalists favor the term food web as opposed to food chain? 

  

Answer: Ecological systems are far more complex than simple linear chains. Feeding relationships and energy flow among interacting organisms may take many paths within the community and involve hundreds or thousands of species. For instance, Figure 4.8 in the text illustrates how grasses are food for a variety of animals such as deer, mice, and rabbits. Birds eat a variety of insects, spiders, and berries. Soil bacteria decompose a variety of dead plants and animals. It is through the analysis of food webs that ecologists can identify keystone species and study the components of phase shifts in damaged communities.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.2

4) Discuss the interrelationship between sea otters, sea urchins, and kelp in the Pacific Ocean. 

Answer: At one time, sea otters, sea urchins, and kelp lived as part of balanced 69 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

ecosystem. The base of the food chain is kelp, a large rooted marine alga. Kelp is fed upon by sea urchins and the sea urchins are a favorite food of sea otters. When sea otters are present, they feed on sea urchins, keeping their numbers down and allowing luxuriant kelp forests to thrive. However, in the absence of sea otters, the sea urchin population explodes. Sea urchins eat kelp, so kelp beds are destroyed as the sea urchin population expands. This is devastating for the ecosystem because kelp is a habitat for many fish and invertebrates. Without kelp, the biodiversity and stability of the ecosystem is reduced significantly, and in fact, without kelp, it is more difficult for sea otters to live in an area because the otters cannot tether themselves to kelp to keep from drifting away. This story illustrates the interrelationship of organisms within ecosystems and establishes sea otters as a prime example of a keystone species.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.3

5) Briefly describe what is meant by "pioneer species," and give examples. 

  

Answer: Pioneer species are among the first to colonize a new substrate after a severe disturbance that creates the conditions for primary succession. Pioneer plant species usually have airborne dispersal mechanisms such as windblown seeds or spores or floating propagules for coastal ecosystems. Pioneer species such as lichens or mangroves begin the process of soil formation, paving the way for other vegetation and eventually animals to establish. Pioneer animal species would include flying or windborne insects and small birds.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.4

6) What ecological traits do successful invasive species possess? How do these traits interact to make controlling them difficult? 

  

Answer: Invasive species possess high fecundity, large dispersal ability, the tendency toward general habitat preference, and an absence of native biotic controls such as competitors, predators, and pathogens. Possessing these traits, they can be virtually impossible to eliminate. They are very adaptable to new environments and spread very rapidly once established.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.5

7) Distinguish between an introduced species and an invasive species. 

Answer: Invasive species are a subset of introduced species. Non-native species are species that have been intentionally or unintentionally brought into a new area by humans. If an introduced species causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health, it is considered to be invasive. Invasive species tend to be impossible to control and have clear negative consequences for the 70 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

environment and human health (e.g., Norway rats spreading disease, zebra mussels clogging water pipes, Asian carp maiming motorboaters and waterskiers, Burmese pythons eating everything from frogs to alligators in the Everglades, etc.) Noninvasive introduced species include ornamental trees not native to an area but that provide environmental heterogeneity (which boosts biodiversity), shelter for wildlife, and something nice to look at. For example, Colorado blue spruce is not native to Iowa but makes for a more pleasant and diverse landscape than just rows of corn and soybeans.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.5

8) Give an example of how an invasive species can cause ecological or economic harm.  

  

Answer: Answers will vary. Student may choose one of any number of invasive species. Sample answer for zebra mussels: Lacking predators, parasites, and/or competitors in their new environment, invasive species can proliferate and dominate a community. Impacts of invasive species have become more extensive in recent years because of the increased mobility of humans and globalization. An example of an invasive species is the zebra mussel. As adults, zebra mussels can attach to boats and ships (they were carried to the Great Lakes on ships). In their new environment, they did not encounter the predators, competitors, and parasites that limited their population growth in Asia and Europe. Their population grew, and they spread to other areas. They clog up water intake pipes at factories, power plants, and municipal water supplies and wastewater treatment facilities. They damage boat engines, degrade docks, foul fishing gear, and sink buoys. It is estimated that they cost the U.S. economy hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 4.2 Ecological Communities Learning Outcome: 4.5

Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 5 Economics, Policy, and Sustainable Development 5.1 Multiple Choice Questions

71 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) According to the figure, the basis for government policy regarding environmental issues .

A) comes only from the natural and social sciences and is acted upon without bias B) comes primarily from the private sector C) comes from both the public and the private sectors D) comes from the sciences, with additional input from the public and private sectors E) is primarily driven by lobbying Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.2 Environmental Policy: An Overview Learning Outcome: 5.4 2) The distinction of scientific study's input into governmental solution of environmental problems is that it .

A) is modified by consumer incentives, such as rebates and tax breaks B) is the product of both consumer advocacy and industrial goals C) is independent of any other influences in its effect on forming government policy D) bypasses the private sector in making improvements to technology E) bypasses the public sector in determining consumer choices and lifestyles Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.2 Environmental Policy: An Overview 72 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 5.5 3) Regarding the issue of global warming, until the hurricane season of 2005, the federal government's official stance was that the information available from the scientific community was neither conclusive nor persuasive. This governmental position was probably due to .

A) the lack of good, measurable data from the scientific community B) the private sector's reluctance to change manufacturing and land use strategies C) the consumer opinion polls D) lobbying efforts on the part of environmental organizations E) laws passed by voters Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 5.2 Environmental Policy: An Overview Learning Outcome: 5.4 4) In recent decades, a great deal of scientific research and observation has been funded and published by commercial and corporate interests. Since this science may not have to pass the peer review process and the researchers may have motives for biased reporting, such science could be included in the diagram as .

A) lobbying by the private sector B) a new means of establishing government environmental policies C) lobbying by the public sector D) a box between "Information and analysis" and "Government" E) a box above and pointing to the one titled "Science" Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 5.2 Environmental Policy: An Overview Learning Outcome: 5.5 5) Which of the following is the most accurate definition of economics?

A) the study of conversion of monetary units between nations B) the study of making money, goods, and services C) the study of how humans use potentially scarce resources to meet demand D) the study of tax laws, banking, and monetary policy E) the study of environmental systems and their monetary value Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment Learning Outcome: 5.1 6) The principle that "internal costs," which are the costs and benefits borne by the buyer and seller alone, represent the true and full economics of all transactions is a principle 73 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

of

.

A) sustainable economies B) neoclassical economics C) ecological economics D) classical economics E) steady-state economics Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment Learning Outcome: 5.2 7) External costs include

.

A) raw materials B) utilities C) wages D) worker's compensation and insurance E) environmental damage Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment Learning Outcome: 5.2 8) Environmental damage from industry or land development has traditionally been labeled as by economists.

A) ecosystem services B) greenwashing C) external costs D) steady-state economics E) free riders Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment Learning Outcome: 5.2 9) "If domestic gas prices rise to $5 per gallon, growth will slow significantly and our quality of life will decline." This view is consistent with economics.

A) environmental B) neoclassical C) subsistence D) social E) anarchic Answer: B 74 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment Learning Outcome: 5.2 10) In neoclassical economics, the practice of "discounting" is used to

.

A) decrease the importance and value of future people and goods B) dismiss viewpoints that run counter to the main tenets of neoclassical economics C) price goods that are in low demand D) price goods that are in low supply E) encourage sustainable practices by making it more economically feasible to update sewage treatment plants and municipal landfills Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment Learning Outcome: 5.2 11) A distinguishing feature of ecological economics is the concept of

.

A) cost-benefit analysis B) steady-state economies that neither grow nor shrink C) the only healthy economy is one that is growing D) environmental damage and also environmental benefits are external E) greenwashing to increase public acceptance of products Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment Learning Outcome: 5.3 12) "If domestic gas prices rise to $5 per gallon, conservation will increase, alternative fuels will be developed, and energy efficiency and our quality of life will improve." This view is consistent with economics.

A) environmental B) neoclassical C) subsistence D) social E) anarchic Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment Learning Outcome: 5.3 13) Which of the following is an ecosystem service?

A) erosion B) global warming 75 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) genetically modifying food D) pollination of crop plants E) creation of pollution Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment Learning Outcome: 5.3 14) By evaluating hundreds of studies that estimated dollar values for major ecosystem services, Robert Costanza and his colleagues have shown that .

A) ecosystem services cannot be assigned monetary values because they are external B) ecosystem services are valued at less than 0.5% of the U.S. G DP C) NAFTA has had environmental benefits worth $2.7 billion in 2011 D) the value of ecosystem services is more than $125 trillion in 2007 dollars E) nutrient cycling is the least valuable of ecosystem services Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment Learning Outcome: 5.3 15) Gross domestic product (GDP) is

.

A) the cost of services minus the economic value of enhancements or degradation to the environment B) all the resources necessary to produce ecosystem services C) the willingness of consumers to pay for ecosystem services D) a measure of conventional economic activity, with positive nonmonetary influences added and negative nonmonetary impacts subtracted E) the total monetary value of goods and services produced by a country Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment Learning Outcome: 5.2 16) Which of the following includes volunteer work and damage from pollution in its measure of a country's economic progress and prosperity?

A) GDP B) GNP C) GAP D) GPI E) ATP Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment 76 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 5.3 17) The GPI for the United States

.

A) has increased dramatically since 1975 B) has leveled off since 1975 C) increases when resource extraction increases D) increases when resource consumption increases E) is far below that of the rest of the world Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment Learning Outcome: 5.3 18) Which of the following best describes the concept of "natural capital"?

A) the total amount of money a country earns from natural resource exports B) the value of goods and services produced by a country's industries C) the combination of natural resources and ecosystem services that sustain human life and economic activity D) the financial investments made by a country in environmental protection E) the total area of biologically productive land available on Earth Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment Learning Outcome: 5.1 19) Which of the following best explains the relationship between economies and the environment?

A) Economies function independently of the environment and are not affected by ecological systems.

B) Economies only impact the environment through the consumption of fossil fuels.

C) The environment provides unlimited resources that do not affect economic activities.

D) Economies are separate entities that occasionally interact with environmental factors during resource extraction.

E) Economies exist within the environment, receiving natural resources and ecosystem services, and discharging waste into the environment.

Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment Learning Outcome: 5.1 20) Environmental policy aims to

.

A) use natural resources for economically important industrial products B) protect the values of landowners by regulating trade 77 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) promote human welfare and protect natural systems by regulating resource use and reducing pollution D) preserve all present natural areas in their pristine condition E) promote economic growth Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.2 Environmental Policy: An Overview Learning Outcome: 5.4 21) Lobbying, legal action, and campaign funding are all means used by influence governmental environmental policies.

to

A) citizenry (public sector) B) social science studies C) the scientific community D) the judicial branch of government E) the legislative branch Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.2 Environmental Policy: An Overview Learning Outcome: 5.4 22) Which of the following best illustrates the tragedy of the commons?

A) While landing at Midway Airport in Chicago, an airplane crashes through a barrier at the end of a runway and ends up plowing through a busy intersection, killing a young child in one of the vehicles.

B) A 10-year-old girl from your hometown dies of cancer.

C) A nonprofit organization does a winter clothing drive, and the first people to show up to get winter clothing grab far more than they need, leaving nothing for the families that show up a few minutes later.

D) A drought in Africa results in many deaths from starvation.

E) A rogue wave capsizes a ferry on Lake Michigan, killing several dozen passengers.

Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 5.2 Environmental Policy: An Overview Learning Outcome: 5.4 23) What role does scientific research play in policymaking?

A) It delays the decision-making process.

B) It provides additional economic factors for consideration.

C) It offers evidence-based guidance for effective policies.

D) It ensures all decisions are made by scientists.

E) It prioritizes political and economic interests.

Answer: C 78 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.2 Environmental Policy: An Overview Learning Outcome: 5.5 24) Enforcement and elaboration of U.S. legislation is given to

.

A) watchdog groups B) the legislative branch C) the judicial branch D) administrative agencies E) oversight committees including private citizens Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.3 U.S. Environmental Law and Policy Learning Outcome: 5.6 25) The first national park in the world was

.

A) Yosemite B) Yellowstone C) Grand Canyon D) Glacier National Park E) Death Valley Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.3 U.S. Environmental Law and Policy Learning Outcome: 5.6 26) Published in the 1962, Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring

.

A) awakened the American public to negative effects of artificial hormones B) was the beginning of the first wave of U.S. environmental policy C) focused on chemical pollutants, including industrial chemicals D) warned of insect pollinator losses through pesticide use E) was concerned with birth defects in humans Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.3 U.S. Environmental Law and Policy Learning Outcome: 5.6 27) The social changes in the United States in the 20th century gave rise to environmental laws concerned primarily with .

A) mining and homesteading B) management of private land C) the settlement of the West 79 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) preserving endangered species E) reducing pollution caused by industry Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.3 U.S. Environmental Law and Policy Learning Outcome: 5.6 28) What federal legislation passed in 1980 regulates the cleanup of hazardous waste sites?

A) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act B) Clean Water Act C) NEPA D) Toxic Substances Control Act E) CERCLA Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.3 U.S. Environmental Law and Policy Learning Outcome: 5.6 29) The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

.

A) was signed into law by Bill Clinton B) requires compensation to be given to anyone harmed by deliberate pollution from any business or corporate entity C) altered the amount of chemicals allowed in water as a result of industrial pollution D) put all federal land under stringent environmental protection E) required environmental impact statements for any projects funded by the U.S. government Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.3 U.S. Environmental Law and Policy Learning Outcome: 5.6 30) An environmental impact statement is required

.

A) before Congress can pass any law B) for any federal action that may affect U.S. environmental quality C) for implementation of any program funded by the World Bank D) only by executive order E) to be put to voters on every local ballot if federal action may affect local environments Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.3 U.S. Environmental Law and Policy Learning Outcome: 5.6 80 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

31) International environmental policies arise from

.

A) decisions by the United Nations Environment Programme B) informal agreements reached by multinational corporations C) environmental impact statements D) distribution and use of pollution permits E) international conventions or treaties Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.4 International Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.7 32) The primary role of the United Nations is to

.

A) maintain international environmental education standards B) develop international business cooperatives C) make international laws regarding commerce and the environment D) regulate international travel, emigration, and immigration among member states E) cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.4 International Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.7 33) The World Bank

.

A) is a U.S. NGO that funds any project that may affect the global environment B) regulates U.S. environmental administrative agencies C) mandates that environmental law preempt all other federal laws D) is a major source of funds for global economic development E) assists U.S. corporations to circumvent foreign nations' environmental laws Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.4 International Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.7 34) The World Bank was established in 1944 to

.

A) provide ease of banking for multinational corporations B) fund economic development for all countries, rich and poor, including dams and irrigation in the poorest countries, for the poorest peoples C) fund international projects for developed nations, including dams on international rivers, multicountry irrigation projects, and the spraying of herbicides and insecticides D) fund international environmental studies of issues such as pollution and global warming 81 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

E) help weak governments by loaning money to heads of state for military infrastructure Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.4 International Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.7 35) The promotes free trade by reducing obstacles to international commerce and enforcing fairness among nations in trading practices.

A) UN B) W TO C) CERCLA D) World Bank E) CITES Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.4 International Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.7 36) Critics of the World Trade Organization

.

A) charge that it gives too much money to environmental causes B) complain that it frequently worsens environmental problems C) complain that it shapes environmental policy by establishing unfair international laws D) say that the international taxes that it regulates are burdensome to smaller countries E) charge that the W TO's subsidy policies unfairly target poor people Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.4 International Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.7 37) The entire environmental policy process

.

A) includes more steps than the average citizen is able to accomplish alone B) can be accomplished by anyone acting alone C) is only accessible to wealthy individuals D) can only be completed by the major political parties E) can only be completed by paid political lobbyists Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.5 Approaches to Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.8 38) To control pollution, industry has been given limits and been threatened with punishment if these limits are violated. This approach is called .

A) end of the alley 82 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) carrot and stick C) command and control D) limit and manage E) paddle to the bottom Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.5 Approaches to Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.8 39) Cap and trade is a system that

.

A) allows industries to set their own levels for pollution emission so trading can continue B) has been repealed by Congress as useless in diminishing pollution C) specifies a certain cap on industrial pollutants that can be traded to other nations D) permits industries that pollute under the federal cap to sell credits to industries that pollute over the cap E) rapidly brings pollution emissions to near zero for participating industries Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.5 Approaches to Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.8 40)

encourages more sustainable business practices.

A) Increased economic growth B) Ecolabeling C) Greenwashing D) Abolishing permit trading E) The government providing all goods and services to citizens Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.5 Approaches to Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.8 41) You spend the night at a hotel and notice a sign in the bathroom asking you to place dirty towels on the floor and to hang up towels that you wish to reuse. By doing so, the hotel chain can help "save the planet" by conserving water and detergent. You recognize that the hotel chain would also save a lot of money by not having to launder so many towels, and you begin to wonder cynically whether the hotel isn't just practicing .

A) ecolabeling B) environmental justice C) greenwashing D) the externalizing of costs E) discounting 83 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.5 Approaches to Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.8 42)

involves meeting the needs of the present without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

A) Sustainable subsistence B) Economic development C) Sustainable development D) Ecological development E) Social justice Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.6 Sustainable Development Learning Outcome: 5.9 43) Leaders striving for sustainable development aim to satisfy a triple bottom line, which involves what three goals?

A) economic development, making money, and depleting resources slowly B) making money, lowering taxes, and protecting the environment C) protecting animals, protecting ecosystems, and protecting the biosphere D) racial equality, social equality, and political equality E) economic advancement, environmental protection, and social equity Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.6 Sustainable Development Learning Outcome: 5.9 44) Which of the following best defines sustainable development as outlined by the United Nations?

A) development that focuses solely on economic growth to meet present needs B) development that prioritizes social equity over environmental and economic factors C) development that relies on technological advancements to solve all environmental problems D) development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs E) development that ensures resource use is maximized for immediate economic benefits Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.6 Sustainable Development Learning Outcome: 5.9 84 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

Wetlands provide a multitude of ecological, economic, and social benefits. They provide habitat for many organisms and are nurseries for many saltwater and freshwater fishes and shellfish. Wetlands also hold and slowly release floodwater and snow melt, recharge groundwater, act as cleansing filters, recycle nutrients, and provide recreation. As of 2000, the contiguous United States was estimated to have about 105 million acres of wetlands remaining. Over the past 60 years, it has lost over 16 million acres of wetlands, and the loss continues at about 58,000 acres annually. Nearly one-third of the loss is due to urban development, with the rest being nearly equally divided between rural development, agriculture, and silviculture (predominantly logging). The southeastern United States is experiencing the greatest losses. The Emergency Wetlands Resources Act (EW RA) of 1986 requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct status and trend studies of the nation's wetlands and to report the results to Congress each decade.

The overall goal is to have no more net loss of wetlands. EW RA also established Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge along Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans, Louisiana.

45) In the United States, wetlands are primarily considered to be

.

A) important because they provide many valuable ecosystem services B) useful to develop for economic purposes C) important only for recreational purposes D) owned as private property, to be developed by the owner E) useful for fisheries Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.3 U.S. Environmental Law and Policy Learning Outcome: 5.6 46) Wetlands in the United States

.

A) have increased due to human development B) have increased due to natural causes, such as floods and hurricanes C) have decreased due to natural causes, such as floods and hurricanes D) have decreased due to human development E) have stayed about the same over the past 40 years Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.3 U.S. Environmental Law and Policy Learning Outcome: 5.6 47) The economic principles in play with the fate of U.S. wetlands have been governed by .

A) steady-state economics B) including the dollar value of wetlands' ecosystem services for flood control C) traditional neoclassical cost-benefit analysis, excluding environmental damage 85 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) careful attention to the guidelines outlined by Robert Constanza and colleagues E) a centrally planned economy Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 5.3 U.S. Environmental Law and Policy Learning Outcome: 5.2 48) The creation of our national wildlife refuge system has been credited to what U.S. president?

A) Richard Nixon B) Dwight Eisenhower C) Theodore Roosevelt D) Rutherford B. Hayes E) Barack Obama Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.3 U.S. Environmental Law and Policy Learning Outcome: 5.6 49) According to the scenario, if the United States continues to lose wetlands at current rates, in approximately what year would the country run out of wetlands?

A) 2100 B) 2180 C) 2800 D) 3800 E) 4522 Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 5.3 U.S. Environmental Law and Policy Learning Outcome: 5.6 5.2 Essay Questions 1) Discuss the differences between neoclassical, ecological, and environmental economics. 

Answer: Neoclassical economics is based on the psychological factors affecting both consumer choices and seller strategies to explain market prices for goods and services. Arising from this model is the "supply and demand" curve in which market stability is reached as a compromise between buyers wanting the cheapest price and sellers wanting the maximum profit. Decisions are often based on a "cost-benefit" analysis where expense outlays are measured against potential profits. Perhaps most important from an environmental point of view is the idea that the only relevant costs of a venture are internal, i.e., limited to the exchange of goods and services between individuals involved in the transaction. Anything else, such as environmental damage 86 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

or ecosystem services, is considered external and irrelevant. A sign of health in neoclassical thinking is continuous economic growth. Ecological economics holds that economies should mirror the principles governing natural systems, where there are no external costs. Everything must be included, since economic transactions are part of Earth's systems and depend on ecosystem services. Therefore, the principles of limiting factors and sustainability apply, and economics should pursue a steady-state, no-growth policy reflecting the availability of materials, energy, climate, and other factors that are linked to any transaction. Environmental economists take a slightly less radical stand than ecological economists. They agree that there are no externalities and that unlimited growth is unsustainable. However, they seek to modify the neoclassical system by assigning dollar values to ecosystem services. This, they feel, adds the inescapable reality of environmental concerns to the traditional cost-benefit analysis. In addition, environmental economists seek to improve efficiency as an important goal for sustainability.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 5.1 Economics and the Environment Learning Outcome: 5.3

2) What is the main goal of environmental policy? Describe the tragedy of the commons and external costs, and explain why environmental policy would focus on these problems. 

Answer: The goal of environmental policy is to protect the natural resources that people use while considering the values that people place on resources, and to promote equity in the use of resources. The tragedy of the commons is the idea that unless the land held in common is regulated, there will be overuse and degradation to the detriment of individuals and of society. Environmental policy is designed to limit degradation and overuse of all lands. External costs are impacts caused by market transactions that are borne by people not involved in the transaction. These impacts can be negative or positive. One role of environmental policy is to consider and deal with negative external costs in a fair manner.  Diff: 2  Topic/Section: 5.2 Environmental Policy: An Overview  Learning Outcome: 5.4 3) What is the significance of the National Environmental Policy Act? 

  

Answer: NEPA created an agency called the Council on Environmental Quality and required that an environmental impact statement (E IS) be prepared for any major federal action. The EIS process forces government agencies, and any businesses that contract with them, to slow down and evaluate impacts on the environment before proceeding with a new dam, highway, or building project. It serves as a powerful disincentive for environmentally damaging work.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.3 U.S. Environmental Law and Policy Learning Outcome: 5.6 87 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

4) What is an environmental impact statement (EIS)? What is the role of an EIS, and who is required to prepare it? 

  

Answer: An environmental impact statement (EIS) is required (by N EPA) for any major federal action that might significantly affect environmental quality. It is a report from detailed studies that assess the potential environmental impacts resulting from a development project or other action undertaken or funded by the government. The E I S process forces government agencies and any businesses that contract with them to evaluate impacts on the environment before proceeding with a project. This generally does not halt such projects, but it can serve as an incentive to lessen the environmental damage.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.3 U.S. Environmental Law and Policy Learning Outcome: 5.6

5) Discuss the three major eras of environmental law in the United States. What key events sparked each era and/or resulted from each one? 

  

Answer: The first major era addressed public land management, whereby western expansion was encouraged. It promoted settlement of the West and utilization of its resources. The end of this era saw the development of the national park system, aimed at preserving pieces of land for public use. The second major era sought to address the impacts of the first major era of environmental law and lasted through the beginning of the 20th century. Laws included declaring some areas off-limits to logging and hunting, creating wildlife refuges, and protecting forests. The third era was in response to the increasing effects of environmental pollution. Pollution policy was driven by new evidence, such as Carson's Silent Spring and the burning of the Cuyahoga River, which focused attention on the nearly nonexistent environmental standards in this country. Laws were passed regulating air and water quality and the types of pesticides that could be used.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.3 U.S. Environmental Law and Policy Learning Outcome: 5.6

6) Political boundaries do not always match environmental boundaries. What does this mean for environmental protection in each country? 

  

Answer: Countries are often dependent upon each other to solve environmental problems because the pollution that is of concern may originate in another country. In such cases, international cooperation is required to correct the problem. The resolution can be exacerbated by the varying enforcement of, or even enactment of, environmental regulations in the countries involved.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 5.4 International Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.7

7) Briefly discuss the relationship between N AFT A and environmental protection.

88 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.



  

Answer: NAFTA was set up to promote free trade among the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Yet, it is possible that if the environmental laws of any of the participating nations were viewed as a barrier to trade and development, they could be overturned.

Also, there is the obvious fear that industries might relocate to whichever nations have the weakest environmental laws to increase their profit. The tri-national Commission on Environmental Cooperation (C EC) has made an exhaustive study to see if these fears are based in reality. Their findings in general have been that NAFTA has been environmentally neutral to slightly positive and that governmental regulating agencies should stay tuned to trade developments and look for ways to encourage win-win scenarios between free trade and environmental quality.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 5.4 International Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.7

8) List the economics-based approaches to environmental policy. How are these superior to the use of lawsuits for controlling pollution? 

  

Answer: Economics-based approaches include green taxes and marketable emission permits. The most effective approaches offer financial incentives for "good" behavior rather than punishment for bad behavior. These are superior to the use of lawsuits because a lawsuit sets the legal precedent that if the pollution control is more expensive than the damage that the pollution causes, the pollution will be allowed to continue. These economic incentives therefore have a better chance of reducing pollution than do lawsuits.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 5.5 Approaches to Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.8

9) Differentiate between a green tax and marketable emission permits. Which is superior for U.S. markets, and why? 

  

Answer: A green tax is a tax on activities and products that cause undesirable environmental change. These costs are usually passed on to the consumer and do not have the desired effect on the targeted industry. Emission permits are issued to polluters, allowing holders to emit a fraction of the industry-set limit. If the holder releases less pollution than its permit total, then it can sell its remaining units to other polluters. The emission permits are a more effective way of controlling pollution because they give industries a direct financial incentive to reduce pollution per unit of a product made or item sold.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 5.5 Approaches to Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.8

10) What is a subsidy? Describe the role of subsidies in natural resource management. 

Answer: A subsidy is a government giveaway of publicly owned resources, or it can consist of cash or a tax break. It is intended to encourage certain activities while 89 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

discouraging others. Subsidies can be used to promote sustainable activities, although more often, they have been used to prop up unsustainable ones. Subsidies for mining and coal industries and the money spent to build roads so that logging companies can harvest timber in our national forests are some examples.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 5.5 Approaches to Environmental Policy Learning Outcome: 5.8

Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 6 Human Population 6.1 Multiple Choice Questions

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) Which of the following can be inferred from the age structure shown?

A) The population in Canada is growing more rapidly than Nigeria.

B) The population in Nigeria is growing more rapidly than Canada.

C) The population in Nigeria has many more males than females.

D) The population in Nigeria is aging rapidly.

E) There was a "baby boom" in Nigeria 30 years ago.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.3 2) What is the population in Canada likely to experience soon?

A) more single males 90 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) exponential population growth C) government institution of a population control policy D) more senior citizens E) resource depletion and decreased quality of life Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.3 3) According to the figure, Nigeria has a population size than Canada, with a median age and a proportion of the population at post-reproductive age.

A) smaller; higher; larger B) larger; lower; smaller C) smaller; lower; smaller D) larger; higher; larger E) larger; lower; larger Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.3 4) The age structure diagram of Canada suggests that its total fertility rate (T FR) is .

A) less than the replacement rate B) zero C) over 5.0 D) steadily rising E) less than zero Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.3 5) Till 2023, was the world's most populous nation, home to people living on Earth.

A) China; half B) China; one-fifth C) The United States; half D) The United States; one-fifth E) India; one-third Answer: B 91 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

of the

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.1 6) Which statement most accurately describes recent population control efforts in China?

A) There is minimal governmental financial support for birth control for all couples.

B) Changing public attitudes about family size through communication, education, counseling, and contraceptives have reduced the population growth rates.

C) A One-Child Policy that is enforced through taxation and penalties has successfully controlled population growth.

D) Increased child survival, elevated status and employment levels for women, and increased literacy in the general population have decreased fertility rates.

E) A One-Child Policy that requires all women to work and education for all have decreased fertility rates.

Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.1 7) There are approximately

people on Earth.

A) 15 million B) 6.7 billion C) 1.5 billion D) 8 billion E) 10 billion Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.1 8) During which of the following periods did the world's population more than double?

A) 1750-1800 B) 1800-1850 C) 1850-1900 D) 1900-1950 E) 1950-2000 Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.1 9) Which of the following best describes the human population from early times to the present?

92 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) slow, steady growth throughout the period B) rapid, explosive growth throughout the period C) slow, uneven growth until the 1800s, then increasingly rapid growth D) early rapid growth that has leveled off to a nearly constant value in the last 20 years E) early rapid growth that has increased rapidly in the last 20 years Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.1 10) A graph of world population growth over the past 500 years most closely resembles the letter .

A) M B) U C) S D) J E) K Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.1 11) The world population growth rate is currently approximately

%.

A) 20 B) 10 C) 5 D) 2.5 E) 0.9 Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.1 12) If a population roughly doubles in the course of 50 years, its growth rate would be approximately %.

A) 1.4 B) 5 C) 10 D) 20 E) 25 Answer: A Diff: 3 93 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.1 13) In 2016, the population of the United States was approximately 325 million people, with an annual growth rate of approximately 0.7%. If the population of the United States were to continue to grow at this rate, it would double around the year .

A) 2066 B) 2086 C) 2096 D) 2116 E) 2136 Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.1 14) In 2016, the population of the United States was approximately 325 million people, with an annual growth rate of approximately 0.7%. If the population of the United States were to continue to grow at this rate, what would be the approximate population size of the United States in the year 2216?

A) 500 million B) 650 million C) 975 million D) 1.3 billion E) 2.6 billion Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.1 15) Malthus was responsible for

.

A) authoring the book The Population Bomb, which described the disastrous effects of human population growth B) the idea that without social restrictions, increasing human population would lead to war, disease, and starvation C) the idea that population growth would lead to greater industry and prosperity D) recognizing the demographic transition effect in developing nations E) defining the concept of ecosystem services Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.1 94 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

16) The view held by both Malthus and Paul Ehrlich suggests that depletion of resource supplies due to greater numbers of people .

A) is not a problem because new resources can always be found to replace depleted ones B) is not a problem because disease will limit population size C) is a problem because most resources are limited and can be depleted D) will lead to natural selection of the most fit individuals E) will result in exponential population growth Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.2 17) The most serious problem caused by population growth is

.

A) too few jobs B) inefficient food transportation C) crowding D) increasing demand for resources E) lack of farmland to meet food needs Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.2 18) IPAT stands for

.

A) Impact, People, Affluence, and Technology B) Industry, People, Attitude, and Teaching C) Impact, Population, Affluence, and Technology D) Industry, Population, Attitude, and Teaching E) Impact, Population, Attitude, and Technology Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.2 19) According to the IPAT model, technology that enhances our acquisition of minerals, fossil fuels, timber, and ocean fish .

A) increases environmental impact B) decreases environmental impact C) increases population D) increases sensitivity E) decreases sensitivity 95 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.2 20) The "sensitivity factor" (S) that is often used in the I PAT (IPATS) model denotes .

A) human sensitivity to what needs to be done to protect the environment B) the sensitivity of an environment to human pressures C) the sensitivity of endangered species to human population infringement D) the sensitivity of governments to carrying capacity demands E) economic sensitivity to resource use Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.2 21) The most accurate terms describing the trend over the past 50 years for human use of natural resources are .

A) increasing and unsustainable B) decreasing and sustainable C) steady state, no change D) from unsustainable to sustainable E) rapidly increasing, moving from unsustainable to sustainable Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.2 22) All of the following are among the world's top five most populous nations EXCEPT: A) Japan.

B) United States.

C) Indonesia.

D) Pakistan.

E) India.

Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.3 23) The United Nations predicts that the world population will be almost 2050.

A) 9 96 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

billion in

B) 10 C) 7 D) 5 E) 4 Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.3 24) Zero population growth occurs in a population when

.

A) people have as many children as they can in the first 5 years of marriage B) birth rate equals death rate and there is no migration C) the carrying capacity is larger than the ecological footprint D) the ecological footprints are larger than the carrying capacity E) total fertility rate exceeds the average replacement rate Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.3 25) Which of the following regions has the lowest total fertility rate (T FR)?

A) Europe B) Australia and the South Pacific C) Africa D) Latin America and the Caribbean E) North America Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.3 26) Which of the following countries has the highest population growth rate?

A) China B) Italy C) Nigeria D) Canada E) United States Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.3 97 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

27) Nigeria's age-structure diagram

.

A) looks like an urn, with a narrow base and an expanded apex B) reflects unequal distribution of males and females at all age groups C) reflects a "baby boom" in the early 1980s D) reflects an aging population E) reflects a population with a high growth rate Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.3 28) Replacement fertility

.

A) restores population size after a catastrophic event B) is a contraceptive technique C) is below 2 in Latin America and the Caribbean D) is below 2 in Africa E) is equal to approximately 2.1 Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.3 29) The annual global growth rate of the human population peaked in the has been declining ever since.

and

A) early 1900s B) 1950s C) 1960s D) 1990s E) year 2000 Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.1 30) The term demographic transition refers to

.

A) a requirement for a population to reach a specific size before it becomes stable B) the slowing down in the growth of a population as it approaches the carrying capacity C) the decline in death rates followed by decline in birth rates, occurring as a country economically develops D) the decline in death rates followed by a decline in birth rates that occurred because sanitation levels in areas improved E) the slowing down in the growth of a population as it approaches it biocapacity 98 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.4 31) During the stage of the demographic transition model, you would find high birth rates but declining death rates due to increased food production and improved medical care.

A) preindustrial B) stabilization C) transitional D) postindustrial E) revolutionary Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.4 32) At what stage is the United States in the demographic transition model?

A) the preindustrial stage B) the transitional stage C) the industrial stage D) the postindustrial stage E) the stability transition stage Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.4 33) The transitional stage in the demographic model is initiated by

.

A) government intervention B) the increased use of contraceptives C) epidemics D) industrialization E) resource depletion Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.4 34) In the demographic transition model, the highest population growth rate in a country is likely to occur during .

A) stage 1, the preindustrial stage 99 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) stage 2, the transitional stage C) stage 3, the industrial stage D) stage 4, the postindustrial stage E) stage 5, the stability transition stage Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.4 35) A population in the postindustrial stage would be expected to have

.

A) birth and death rates at low stable levels B) increasing population size, birth rates, and death rates C) an age-distribution diagram that is pyramidal with a broad base D) a sex ratio skewed in favor of females E) lower birth rates but much higher death rates and environmental impact Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.4 36) The world population growth peaked at

% in the 1960s.

A) 4.8 B) 100 C) 5.7 D) 1.2 E) 2.1 Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.1 37) The nations with the contraceptive use of 75% or more are France and A) South Africa B) Botswana C) Albania D) China E) Zimbabwe Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society Learning Outcome: 6.5 100 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

38) Recent research suggests that has/have contributed to the large drop in fertility rates in Brazil over the past several decades.

A) legalization of abortions B) AIDS and malaria C) laws preventing women from having more than one child D) exposure to environmental estrogens E) soap operas Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society Learning Outcome: 6.5 39) A country with

is not expected to grow quickly in the near future.

A) a broad-based, pyramid-shaped age-structure diagram B) high female employment and literacy C) a female-to-male ratio of 1.2 to 1 D) growing industrialization E) many developing regions Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society Learning Outcome: 6.5 40) Which of the following factors drives T FR down?

A) rural lifestyle B) social security C) poverty D) history and tradition E) high infant mortality Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society Learning Outcome: 6.5 41) In a country where there are increasingly more households, A) consumption should decrease B) consumption should increase C) birth rates should increase D) birth rates should remain constant E) population growth rates should increase Answer: B Diff: 3 101 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society Learning Outcome: 6.5 42) Increasing levels of literacy among women are shown to

.

A) lower TFR B) raise T FR C) decrease the use of contraception D) have no effect on T FR or contraceptive use E) result in having children at a younger age Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society Learning Outcome: 6.5 43) Declining population growth rates in poor countries can be partially attributed to .

A) the education of women B) valuing the birth of a son C) reproducing beyond replacement fertility D) economic disasters E) illness in infants Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society Learning Outcome: 6.5

44) Which of the following can be inferred from the figure?

A) Females in South Sudan do not go to school because they cannot take time off from having children.

102 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) There is no relationship between T FR and the education of women.

C) There is a correlation between T FR and female enrollment in secondary school.

D) Contraception is more readily available in Ethiopia than in South Sudan.

E) TFR is zero for those countries where all females attend high school.

Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society Learning Outcome: 6.5 45) A population that is not growing will have a TFR of

.

A) zero B) 1.2 C) 2.1 or lower D) 5 or higher E) less than 1.0 Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society Learning Outcome: 6.3 46) Most of the world population growth in the near future will be in

.

A) Europe B) North America C) developing countries D) developed countries E) currently uninhabited areas such as Antarctica Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society Learning Outcome: 6.4 47) The richest one-fifth of the world's population possesses approximately times the income of the poorest one-fifth, and the richest one-fifth uses over 85% of the world's resources.

A) 10 B) 20 C) 40 D) 60 E) 80 Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society 103 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 6.3 48) The global ecological footprint for humans is estimated to be

.

A) twice what Earth can support B) less than what would be needed as an ecological reserve C) roughly 5 times what Earth can support D) approximately half of what Earth can support E) 50% greater than what Earth can support Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society Learning Outcome: 6.2 Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

Population growth is at the root of many serious environmental problems. From the ancient Babylonians thousands of years ago, to Thomas Malthus two centuries ago, to present day neo-Malthusians, humans seem to possess an awareness of Earth's limitations in the face of growing populations. Today, our ability to accurately quantify and monitor population growth is very sophisticated. We can measure growth and make predictions about world growth with mathematical and computer models. Despite long-lasting, rapid global population growth that is only recently starting to show signs of slowing, we have thus far been able to avoid global catastrophe. Can we continue to avoid disaster?

49) Despite dire predictions in the past, humans still inhabit Earth. A few economists would argue that this is because .

A) technological developments have alleviated some of the strain on Earth's resources B) space exploration has revealed new frontiers C) Malthus's measurements were inaccurate D) world population growth has been slower than expected E) Malthus overestimated Earth's environmental sensitivity Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.2 50) Because of the success of China's population control programs, A) environmental problems in China have been virtually eliminated B) European nations have instituted similar programs C) African nations have instituted similar programs D) there is a younger population in China today E) China's population growth rate is much lower than it was in the 1970s 104 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.1 51) Which of the following will increase a population's growth rate?

A) increased emigration B) increased immigration C) decreased immigration D) increased urbanization E) increased industrialization Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.3 52) Aside from contraception, human society and government policy can control population growth's negative effects on the environment.

to

A) encourage consumption B) encourage emigration from Africa C) discourage emigration from Africa D) discourage population movement into sensitive environmental areas E) discourage equal education, employment, and literacy for women Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society Learning Outcome: 6.2 6.2 Essay Questions 1) Briefly describe the population control program that China instituted after the 1970s.

Explain why it was instituted, how it was enforced, and why it was controversial. 

Answer: In the 1970s, China's population swelled due to improved health and food production and distribution. At that time, the average Chinese woman gave birth to 5.8 children. The burgeoning population and its industrial and agricultural development were eroding the nation's soils, depleting its water, leveling its forests, and polluting its air. The government instituted a population control program that precluded Chinese couples in urban areas from having more than one child. Rewards (e.g., better housing, schooling, and medical treatment) and punishments (e.g., fines, employment discrimination, and social scorn) were used to enforce the one-child limit. The "success" of the program was facilitated by China's communist government. It is unlikely that a similar policy instituted in a democratic society would have been met with as much acceptance and compliance. The policy is controversial to Westerners because it restricts personal freedoms.

105 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.5

2) Describe the unintended consequences of China's one-child policy. 

  

Answer: Although China's one-child policy was successful in slowing China's population growth, the policy has resulted in a shrinking labor force, increasing numbers of old people, and too few women. Because Chinese women have been having fewer children, there are not enough workers to maintain China's growing economy and to support the older citizens who rely on government support. China cannot produce goods as cheaply as it once did and faces the risk of its industries relocating to countries with cheaper and more readily available labor. Because Chinese culture favors sons over daughters, selective abortion of female fetuses and the killing and abandonment of female infants became common practice once the policy went into effect. As a result of the skewed sex ratio, many young Chinese men cannot find brides and are forced to remain bachelors. China relaxed its one-child policy in 2015, but demographers believe that the move was too late to defuse the socioeconomic "time bomb," and in fact, most Chinese couples no longer want to have more than one child.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.5

3) Why do environmentalists such as Paul Ehrlich view unchecked population growth as a problem? 

  

Answer: Environmentalists recognize that much of Earth's natural capital cannot be effectively replaced. Land area is one of these. We cannot expand Earth, increasing its surface area to accommodate an unlimited population. Overpopulation also leads to degradation of natural systems and loss of biodiversity. We cannot always devise a prosthesis for lost ecosystem services and cannot replicate the exact function of missing species in ecosystems. Lost species may perform vital ecosystem services, such as pollination, and also have educational, aesthetic, or medicinal value that is irreplaceable. While Ehrlich's predictions of the 1960s have not fully materialized in the 2000s, the fact remains that many ecosystem services are in a state of decline, and despite the view of some Cornucopian economists that we can safely ignore his warnings, the pressure of a growing population on essential resources and biodiversity remains unmistakable.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.1

4) Explain human population growth in terms of carrying capacity. How does this differ from organisms that exist in natural ecosystems? Explain how population growth for human populations is a problem.

106 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.



  

Answer: Organisms in ecosystems are limited by carrying capacity, which is the maximum population size that a given environment can sustain. Some believe that the idea of carrying capacity does not apply to the human world because humans are not passive with respect to their environment. Human beings can create resources to meet their needs. Environmental scientists point out that many resources and ecosystem services are irreplaceable when depleted. The problem with unlimited human population growth is that higher population sizes will decrease the quality of life as resources, social systems, and the natural environment are stressed beyond their limits, especially since humans are so mobile and prefer certain types of environments such as proximity to water supplies and to coastal areas.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.2

5) What three-factor model is used for representing the impact on environment? What is a fourth factor that could be added to this? Give a simple explanation for each factor and describe what it means in terms of human impacts on the environment.  

  

Answer: The full equation is I = P + A + T. The terms are as follows: I = total impact on the environment by a population of individuals; P = population, which represents the value for the size of the population; A = affluence, which represents the value for the relative standard of living or greater per capita resource consumption that accompanies greater wealth; T = technology, which represents changes in the availability of technology and can either increase or decrease impact, depending on whether the change makes resources more or less sustainable. The fourth factor that could be added is S, for sensitivity, to denote how sensitive a given environment is to these pressures.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.2

6) How do poverty and affluence affect the environment? 



Answer: Poverty sometimes results in environmental degradation. Because poor families need natural resources to survive, destructive farming techniques, deforestation, and hunting may become prevalent in poor areas. On the other hand, poor cultures may be regarded as more environmentally aware because they live closer to the land and are more appreciative of its fragility. They have a vested interest in sustainable resource use. Affluence may be associated with more environmental awareness because more affluent people are not preoccupied with meeting their basic needs. However, affluence can be destructive. Developed nations presently consume massive and unprecedented levels of natural resources. Affluence encourages wastefulness and lack of concern for nature due to the desire to acquire more and more material possessions and the fact that wealthier people tend to live in urban areas.

Diff: 2 107 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

 

Topic/Section: 6.1 Our World at 8 Billion Learning Outcome: 6.2

7) What specific population characteristics do demographers study? Why is it important to study these things? 

  

Answer: They study population size, density, distribution, age structure, sex ratio, birth and death rates, and the immigration and emigration of humans. Data gathered by demographers help us understand how differences in population characteristics and related phenomena (for instance, decisions about reproduction) affect human communities and their environments. We can use demographic data to predict population dynamics and the potential environmental impacts of populations.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.3

8) What is a demographic transition? What are its four stages? State why each stage is important and what the consequence is for population growth. Do all countries go through the demographic transition? 



  

Answer: A demographic transition is a theoretical model of economic and cultural change proposed in the 1940s and 1950s to explain the declining death rates and birth rates that occurred in Western nations as they experienced industrialization. The first stage is a stable preindustrial stage of high birth and death rates. The second stage is a transitional stage characterized by declining death rates due to increased food production and improved medical care. Birth rates are still high, as citizens have not yet grown used to the new economic and social conditions, resulting in a surge in population growth. The third stage is the industrial stage. Widespread industrialization creates opportunities for employment outside the home. Children become less of a critical economic asset. Birth rates begin to fall. The last stage is a stable postindustrial stage of low birth and death rates.

Some countries do not go through the demographic transition. Transition may be different in developing countries as they industrialize or in countries that place greater value on childbirth or grant women fewer freedoms. Resources may also limit the ability to attain an equal standard of living in all countries. Also, it is now becoming increasingly clear that HIV/AIDS in Africa is causing many nations to move backward into what is nearly a preindustrial society and so do not follow the model for demographic transition.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 6.2 Demography Learning Outcome: 6.4

9) Briefly explain how the status of women affects population growth. 

Answer: Higher status of women in a society usually results in lower population growth. Increased female literacy is strongly associated with reduced birth rates in many nations. Studies show that educated women have better access to 108 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

contraceptives, marry later, and have fewer children, keeping population growth low.

In societies where females have little power, there are more unintended pregnancies and much higher T FRs. Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society Learning Outcome: 6.3

10) Define ecological footprint and differentiate between the ecological footprint of a developing country and that of the United States. Support or challenge the following statement: "The population problem does not lie entirely with the developing world." 

  

Answer: An ecological footprint is the cumulative amount of land and water required to provide the raw materials that a person or population consumes and the disposal or recycling of waste that is produced. The ecological footprint of the average U.S. citizen is significantly larger than that of the average resident of a developing country and is clearly unsustainable. The population problem does not lie entirely with the developing world because the developed world's consumption is rising faster than its population (e.g., U.S. and China). A child born today in the United States has an ecological footprint 8 times higher than that of a child born in India and produces 10 times more carbon dioxide, so ultimately population growth in developed nations like the United States will have a larger negative impact on global ecosystems than will the same amount of population growth in developing nations like India.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society Learning Outcome: 6.2

11) What social and economic challenges are faced by rapidly growing populations and by aging populations? 

  

Answer: Growing populations face problems associated with depletion of resources such as fertile agricultural and grazing land, clean water, and raw material and energy stores. Growing populations also face issues of dealing with increased pollution and waste. Aging populations face the challenges of caring for their elderly. Health care and social security programs may become stressed to the limit as there are fewer young workers to support those who are retired and reliant on government support.

Economic growth may be compromised because of a lack of young workers, and there might be a weaker military. Upkeep of infrastructure such as schools and roads may become more challenging because of a decrease in tax revenue.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 6.3 Population and Society Learning Outcome: 6.3

Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 7 Soil, Agriculture, and the Future of Food 7.1 Multiple Choice Questions 109 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) The figure illustrates that it requires roughly produce 1 kg of eggs than 1 k g of milk.

times more feed input to

A) 30 B) 40 C) 50 D) 15 E) 4 Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.7 Raising Animals for Food Learning Outcome: 7.8 2) Which of the following can be inferred from the figure?

A) Grain is a renewable resource.

B) We cannot survive without eating the foods pictured.

110 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) The same grain used to feed chickens and cows could be fed to many humans instead.

D) Cows are a keystone species.

E) The production of beef and pork is resource-intensive.

Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.7 Raising Animals for Food Learning Outcome: 7.8 3) Why do cows require a large quantity of feed, proportional to body size?

A) They are genetically modified organisms.

B) They can feed more people than pigs.

C) They are raised on feedlots.

D) They take time to grow and have a low energy conversion efficiency.

E) They are the best source of high-quality protein.

Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.7 Raising Animals for Food Learning Outcome: 7.8 4) Which of the following changes in your diet would decrease the size of your ecological footprint without causing health problems?

A) shifting your protein intake from beef and pork to eggs and dairy products B) shifting your protein intake from eggs and dairy products to beef and pork C) shifting to beef exclusively because of the large amount of meat from a single cow D) shifting your protein intake from adult cows and pigs to younger cows and pigs E) eliminating all protein from your diet Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.7 Raising Animals for Food Learning Outcome: 7.8 5) For most Americans, factory farms and feedlots are their source for the foods shown in the figure. All of the following are negative impacts from factory farms and feedlots EXCEPT: A) the animals are fed grain, which is an energy-inefficient food source.

B) overgrazing.

C) water pollution.

D) greenhouse gas emissions.

E) overuse of antibiotics.

Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.7 Raising Animals for Food 111 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 7.8 6) During the past half-century, global food production has growth.

world population

A) grown at a faster rate than B) fallen behind C) stayed about even with D) surpassed by several orders of magnitude E) fallen to critical levels compared to Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.1 The Race to Feed the World Learning Outcome: 7.1 7) Globally, approximately how many people are undernourished?

A) 1 million B) 1 billion C) 800 thousand D) 735 million E) 1 trillion Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.1 The Race to Feed the World Learning Outcome: 7.1 8) Which of the following is true?

A) World hunger has increased significantly since 1970.

B) Aquaculture has decreased significantly since 1985.

C) World grain production has tripled since 1985.

D) More than one in three adults in the United States is obese.

E) People are undernourished because they are not educated about proper nutrition.

Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.1 The Race to Feed the World Learning Outcome: 7.1 9) What factors contribute to the challenge of feeding a growing human population?

A) Insufficient technological advancements in agriculture.

B) Limited availability of arable land for farming.

C) Decreasing global population growth.

D) Overemphasis on calorie-rich but nutrient-poor foods.

E) Lack of government intervention in food distribution.

112 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.1 The Race to Feed the World Learning Outcome: 7.1 10) Until about 10,000 years ago, our species depended on

.

A) crops B) hunting and herding C) cattle D) crops and cattle E) hunting and gathering Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.2 The Changing Face of Agriculture Learning Outcome: 7.2 11) Industrial agriculture

.

A) has had no impact on society B) was replaced by more modern farming practices during the Green Revolution C) has increased our ability to obtain more food from the same area D) has permanently improved soils, providing more food from less space E) has rapidly deteriorated soils, requiring continuous conversion of new areas to cropland Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.2 The Changing Face of Agriculture Learning Outcome: 7.2 12) Monoculture

.

A) is an agricultural practice that uses no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides B) farming is illegal in most countries C) describes diets low in protein, such as vegetarianism D) describes food that has not been genetically modified E) is the agricultural practice of growing large stands of a single species Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.2 The Changing Face of Agriculture Learning Outcome: 7.2 13) Monoculture farming

.

A) is typical of Indigenous people farming techniques B) is always accompanied by no-till agriculture 113 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) requires no artificial pesticides or fertilizers D) is a development of industrial agriculture E) accounts for less than 1% of U.S. farmland Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.2 The Changing Face of Agriculture Learning Outcome: 7.2 14) Seed banks are important for

.

A) agricultural investments in developing countries B) protecting monoculture productivity C) protecting genetic diversity D) providing loans to developing countries to promote organic agriculture E) providing farmers with the current year's genetically modified crops Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.2 The Changing Face of Agriculture Learning Outcome: 7.2 15) Roughly

% of the food we consume comes from

crop species.

A) 90; 15 B) 90; 100 C) 50; 20 D) 50; 50 E) 10; 100 Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.2 The Changing Face of Agriculture Learning Outcome: 7.2 16) Green Revolution techniques

.

A) focus on organic farming B) have contributed to an increased diversity of foods in the human diet C) have increased crop yields but may not be sustainable D) focus on preserving biodiversity E) focus on sustainability Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.2 The Changing Face of Agriculture Learning Outcome: 7.3 17) Normal Borlaug, who passed away in 2009, pioneered the development of 114 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

A) organic agriculture B) IPM C) GM crops D) high-yield wheat E) monoculture farming Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.2 The Changing Face of Agriculture Learning Outcome: 7.3 18) What were the primary goals of the Green Revolution?

A) preservation of biodiversity and natural ecosystems B) reduction of energy inputs in agriculture C) introducing new technology and farming practices D) exporting industrial agriculture methods E) promoting traditional farming techniques Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.2 The Changing Face of Agriculture Learning Outcome: 7.3 19) Factors involved in soil formation include

.

A) nitrogen-fixing bacteria and grazing by herbivores B) erosion, level terrain, and the absence of rooted vegetation C) weathering of parent material and the addition of organic material D) tropical climate, acid precipitation, and frequent wildfires E) seasonal changes in the tides Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.3 Soils Learning Outcome: 7.4 20) The breakdown of large rocks into smaller pieces is A) called mineralization B) affected by rainfall, freezing, and thawing C) unaffected by winds D) a major cause of topsoil erosion E) caused primarily by topsoil erosion Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.3 Soils Learning Outcome: 7.4 115 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

21) Humus is

.

A) an artificial fertilizer applied to monocultures B) the organic soil component that holds soil moisture and enhances soil fertility C) the layer sometimes found in a soil horizon that is created by eluviation; it causes serious problems in agricultural fields D) caused by agricultural runoff into waterways or into the water table E) one of the primary causes of desertification if it is present in excess Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.3 Soils Learning Outcome: 7.4 22) The O horizon is

.

A) composed primarily of bedrock B) composed of equal amounts of bedrock and organic material C) primarily loam D) usually more sand than silt or clay E) primarily composed of organic materials Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.3 Soils Learning Outcome: 7.4 23) Leaching

.

A) can help plant growth only if done properly B) is caused by movement of water upward through soil from the water table C) adds nutrients to soil naturally D) removes water-soluble nutrients from topsoil E) is a common agricultural practice to improve soil Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.3 Soils Learning Outcome: 7.4 24) Irrigation can result in the salinization of soils because

.

A) shortages of fresh water require the use of saltwater for irrigation B) irrigation is typically used in areas where windblown salts from sea spray can accumulate when the protective vegetation is removed C) the irrigation water washes away soil leaving behind concentrated salts D) many of the plants grown in these regions excrete salts into the soil E) salts in the water are deposited on the soil surface as water evaporates Answer: E 116 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.4 Watering and Fertilizing Crops Learning Outcome: 7.5 25) Overirrigation can result in

.

A) soil salinization and waterlogging B) leaching C) erosion D) crop rotation E) higher numbers of agricultural pests Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.4 Watering and Fertilizing Crops Learning Outcome: 7.5 26) To make organic fertilizer by composting, you should not include

.

A) animal manures B) shredded plastic and metals C) crop residues D) dead leaves, weeds E) wood chips Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.4 Watering and Fertilizing Crops Learning Outcome: 7.4 27) The results of overapplying fertilizer can include

.

A) very large fruits and vegetables B) eutrophication in nearby waterways C) large crop yields per acre D) crops spreading rapidly into nearby areas E) very fertile soils in future years Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.4 Watering and Fertilizing Crops Learning Outcome: 7.5 28)

is the loss of more than 10% of soil productivity in arid areas due to such factors as erosion, soil compaction, overgrazing, and forest removal.

A) Climatization B) Alkalinization C) Desertification 117 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) Salinization E) Stratification Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.5 Conserving Agricultural Resources Learning Outcome: 7.5 29) We lose 5 to 7 million hectares of productive cropland per year to

.

A) forest replanting and regeneration B) soil degradation C) recreational land use D) soil conservation efforts E) abandonment, feralization, and other factors Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.5 Conserving Agricultural Resources Learning Outcome: 7.5 30) Terracing, contour farming, intercropping, and crop rotation all A) are techniques for conserving soil resources and fertility B) contribute to leaching C) contribute to erosion and desertification D) are aspects of IPM E) are prohibited in organic farming Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.5 Conserving Agricultural Resources Learning Outcome: 7.5 31) No-till farming would be most beneficial for farmers

.

A) with steeply sloped fields B) who plant a cash crop every third year C) who typically experience minimal soil erosion D) using contour strip cropping E) whose cropland is in the Conservation Reserve Program Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.5 Conserving Agricultural Resources Learning Outcome: 7.5 32) The Conservation Reserve Program pays farmers to A) grow native crops such as corn and beans 118 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

.

B) stop cultivating highly erodible land C) grow cattle feed instead of commercial crops D) stop growing tobacco E) grow soybeans and other kinds of harvestable groundcover Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.5 Conserving Agricultural Resources Learning Outcome: 7.5 33) Since 1960, pesticide use has increased

worldwide.

A) twofold B) threefold C) fourfold D) fivefold E) sixfold Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.6 Controlling Pests, Preserving Pollinators Learning Outcome: 7.6 34) In Australia, cactus moths

.

A) effectively cleared non-native prickly pear cactus from rangeland B) are an invasive species C) are raised as a food source by Indigenous people D) are examples of species that have developed resistance to pesticides E) are a keystone species Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.6 Controlling Pests, Preserving Pollinators Learning Outcome: 7.6 35) Managing crop competitors and pests has been challenging to agronomists for centuries. One approach, integrated pest management, .

A) uses only synthetic chemical pesticides B) uses no pesticides of any kind C) uses only natural pesticides D) combines synthetic chemical pesticides with biocontrol techniques E) combines a variety of pesticides to combat the pest Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.6 Controlling Pests, Preserving Pollinators Learning Outcome: 7.6 119 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

36) Which of the following best describes integrated pest management (I PM)?

A) biocontrol measures, crop rotation, and habitat diversification B) major reliance on synthetic pesticides C) subsidies for pesticide use D) continuous monoculture cropping and harvesting E) transgenic crops Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.6 Controlling Pests, Preserving Pollinators Learning Outcome: 7.6 37) Insects serve what beneficial role(s) in agriculture?

A) keystone species B) invasive species C) genetically modified species D) essential pollinators and predators E) harmful herbivores that need to be eliminated Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.6 Controlling Pests, Preserving Pollinators Learning Outcome: 7.6 38) All of the following factors are thought to contribute to colony collapse disorder EXCEPT: A) abnormally harsh winters.

B) the use of Roundup to kill weeds.

C) loss of habitat such as prairie.

D) the use of insecticides.

E) parasites and pathogens.

Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.6 Controlling Pests, Preserving Pollinators Learning Outcome: 7.6 39) The average consumer can reduce his or her ecological footprint the most by .

A) eating more locally grown foods B) eating less meat and dairy products C) eating more meat and less grains D) drinking bottled water that is high in mineral content E) eating mainly foods that are shipped in large, bulk shipments Answer: B 120 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.7 Raising Animals for Food Learning Outcome: 7.8 40) Raising which of the following requires the most land and water?

A) beef cattle B) dairy cattle C) chickens D) pigs E) goats Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.7 Raising Animals for Food Learning Outcome: 7.8 41) Of the following,

requires the least land to produce 1 k g of protein.

A) eggs B) milk C) chicken D) pork E) beef Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.7 Raising Animals for Food Learning Outcome: 7.8 42) It is more energetically efficient for us to eat more

.

A) plant-based foods B) herbivorous animals like cattle and chicken C) carnivorous animals like fish and alligator D) GM foods E) foods grown using IPM methods Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.7 Raising Animals for Food Learning Outcome: 7.8 43) All of the following are negative impacts of concentrated animal feeding operations (C AFOs) EXCEPT: A) the animals are fed grain, which is an energy-inefficient food source.

B) overgrazing.

C) water pollution.

121 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) greenhouse gas emissions.

E) overuse of antibiotics.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.7 Raising Animals for Food Learning Outcome: 7.8 44) Aquaculture

.

A) can bring economic benefits and food security to many developing regions B) has no real environmental disadvantages C) frequently results in unintended catch of nontarget species D) requires the flooding of fields to produce water-intensive crops such as cotton and rice E) produces less fish per unit area than ocean water harvesting Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.7 Raising Animals for Food Learning Outcome: 7.8 45) Recombinant DNA

.

A) is pollination of one plant by another of the same species B) is cross-pollination of one plant by a different species C) is the merging of DNA from unrelated organisms to create new genetic varieties D) is assembled in the lab from mononucleotides E) was part of the Green Revolution of the 1960s Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.8 Genetically Modified Food Learning Outcome: 7.7 46) Place the following list of steps into the correct sequence for creating a genetically modified organism. a) The gene is transferred to the target organism. b) The bacteria containing the recombinant D NA are allowed to reproduce. c) The gene of interest is inserted into a plasmid. d) A plasmid is isolated from a strain of bacteria. e) The plasmid containing the recombinant D NA is inserted into bacteria. f) The gene of interest is isolated from the cell of an organism.

A) fdcdab B) dfceba C) fdabce D) decfab E) abcdfe 122 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 7.8 Genetically Modified Food Learning Outcome: 7.7 47) Bt crops

.

A) have not yet been approved by the F DA B) include strawberries that are resistant to frost damage C) have been given a bacterial gene that gives chemical protection against pests D) have seeds that will only germinate under laboratory conditions E) are widely grown in Europe Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.8 Genetically Modified Food Learning Outcome: 7.7 48) Your friend plants Roundup Ready seeds in her garden and several months later notices that her garden is overrun with weeds. She calls the seed company to complain. How should the customer service agent respond?

A) The customer service agent should apologize, because the seeds were already treated with Roundup, which should have controlled the weeds.

B) The customer service agent should point out that the Roundup Ready plants would survive being sprayed with Roundup. Your friend never used Roundup on her garden, so the weeds overran her garden.

C) The customer service agent should point out that Roundup Ready crops are no longer legal and should advise your friend that any crops she is growing need to be destroyed and not eaten because they are contaminated.

D) The customer service agent should point out that the kind of weeds in her garden must already be resistant to the effects of the Roundup that was in the seeds.

E) The customer service agent should put your friend on hold indefinitely.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.8 Genetically Modified Food Learning Outcome: 7.7 49)

composes/compose just over half of all of the world's G M crops.

A) Corn B) Cotton C) Tomatoes D) Canola E) Soybeans Answer: E Diff: 2 123 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 7.8 Genetically Modified Food Learning Outcome: 7.7 50) Which of the following is true about G M crops?

A) Europe leads the world in land area dedicated to G M crops.

B) The United States leads the world in land area dedicated to G M crops.

C) Latin America leads the world in land area dedicated to G M crops.

D) They require artificial pollination methods.

E) They are unanimously favored by environmentalists.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.8 Genetically Modified Food Learning Outcome: 7.7 51) Organic farming

.

A) began in the 1960s B) has no state or national standards in the United States C) and organically grown produce have not been supported by the European Union D) has increased in the United States, Canada, and Europe in recent years E) is presently limited to crops of fruits and vegetables Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.9 The Growth of Sustainable Agriculture Learning Outcome: 7.9 52) The main obstacle for consumers to organic foods is

.

A) safety B) price C) availability D) ignorance E) fear Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.9 The Growth of Sustainable Agriculture Learning Outcome: 7.9 Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

Despite the high cost of the technology to design genetically modified (G M) crops, American companies have invested in their development. The first genetically engineered crop was the Flavr Savr tomato, which was created by reversing the function of a normal tomato gene. It was approved by the F DA for sale in the United States in 1994. Its grower, the Calgene Corporation, maintained that it would ripen longer on the vine, taste and ship 124 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

better, and last longer on supermarket shelves compared to conventional tomatoes. It is no longer marketed because of technical problems and public safety concerns. Today, most engineered crops are modified for insect and herbicide resistance. In 1997, the Monsanto company first marketed G M corn. This Bt corn was engineered using genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria that made the corn resistant to some pests. In 1999, environmentalists were alarmed when it was reported that pollen from B t corn could kill monarch butterfly larvae if corn pollen drifted onto milkweed plants that monarchs fed upon. Consumers feared the unknown and were concerned about potential food allergies. Presently, soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola dominate the GM food market.

These crops are grown and distributed mostly in the United States, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, and China. They are used mostly for animal feed, clothing, or to make oil or other ingredients for processed food, which has helped them gain public acceptance. Although GM crops such as strawberries, potatoes, and lettuce have all been marketed in the United States, GM food field trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have dropped significantly during the past several years, and the pace of new product introductions has fallen sharply. This narrow range of crops could mean that biotechnology may not realize its full potential in the future.

53) Which of the following was a positive environmental aspect of the Flavr Savr tomato?

A) It could be shipped further.

B) It has a better taste.

C) It has a better appearance.

D) It is available at a lower cost to the consumer.

E) It is grown using less chemicals because it is less likely to rot.

Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.8 Genetically Modified Food Learning Outcome: 7.7 54) The Flavr Savr tomato is no longer marketed because

.

A) Calgene failed to attain government approval to market it B) people were nervous about eating genetically modified tomatoes C) genetically modified crops presently are not approved for sale in the United States D) butterfly larvae that ate the tomato plants were poisoned E) they require too much water to grow Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.8 Genetically Modified Food Learning Outcome: 7.7 55) Why do soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola dominate the G M crop market?

A) They are inexpensive to produce.

B) They are exempt from U.S. regulations.

C) They are the only GMO crops approved since the Flavr Savr tomato.

125 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) These crops help to feed and clothe the poor.

E) They are ingredients in processed foods, so they are more easily accepted.

Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.8 Genetically Modified Food Learning Outcome: 7.7 56) Why have most bioengineered crops been modified for "resistance" traits?

A) These traits have the economic potential to save on production costs.

B) No technology exists to engineer other traits successfully.

C) These are the only traits proven safe for the environment.

D) These are the only traits proven safe for human health.

E) Crops with these traits taste better.

Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 7.8 Genetically Modified Food Learning Outcome: 7.7 57) If GM crops can decrease pesticide use, why are environmentalists still concerned about them?

A) The FDA does not regulate them.

B) Inserted genes can spread to nontarget species.

C) The government funds most G M crop research.

D) Trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have increased dramatically in recent years.

E) There is no public opposition to G M crops.

Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 7.8 Genetically Modified Food Learning Outcome: 7.7 7.2 Essay Questions 1) Describe the goals and effects of industrial agriculture. 

Answer: Through the use of large amounts of fossil fuels, mechanization of traditional farming techniques for growing and transporting crops, and the development of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides, industrial agriculture has greatly expanded humakind's ability to produce food and keep pace with population growth.

However, efficiency has dictated that crops be grown in monocultures, with huge amounts of land devoted to a single crop species. This has resulted in increased use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, resulting in a host of negative environmental impacts. The "Green Revolution," which promised greater yields of staple crops, especially in developing nations, has indeed delivered as promised but has damaged soils in the process and, with heavy dependence on pesticides and fertilizers, has 126 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

become increasingly expensive for poorer farmers to practice.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.2 The Changing Face of Agriculture Learning Outcome: 7.2

2) What was the Green Revolution, and what impact did it have on developing countries?

Discuss the impact of the Green Revolution on the environment. 

  

Answer: The need for higher quantity and better quality of food for the growing human population led in the mid- and late 20th century to the Green Revolution, wherein scientists in the developed world created methods and technology to increase crop output per unit area of existing cultivated land. In developing countries, this greatly increased agricultural production. The Green Revolution has enabled India to stop importing grain and to maintain extra grain reserves as a buffer against food shortages. However, the Green Revolution depends heavily upon chemical pesticides and fertilizers, which can be expensive and lead to pesticide resistance.

Environmentally, in the short term, this was positive because it decreased the need for new areas for cultivation and reduced rates of deforestation. Unfortunately, it also increased the use of water, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and fossil fuels, increasing pollution, salinization, desertification, and the chance of crops developing pesticide resistance and thus may not be sustainable in the long term.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.2 The Changing Face of Agriculture Learning Outcome: 7.3

3) Define the term soil profile. What factors affect the development of a soil profile, and why do profiles differ?  Answer: The layers of soil found in a particular location are known as that area's soil profile. The process of soil formation can lead to characteristic aspects of soil structure. Once mechanical, chemical, and biological weathering have produced a layer of smaller particles between the parent material and atmosphere, wind and water begin to move and sort them. Organisms migrate in and move soils as well.

Eventually, distinct zones and patterns appear. Soil profiles differ from location to location due to variations in parent material, climate, and other factors. For example, dry areas with low productivity will not have much O and A horizons.  Diff: 2  Topic/Section: 7.3 Soils  Learning Outcome: 7.4 4) Describe the American Dust Bowl and the lesson learned. 

Answer: Homesteaders cultivated the native prairies of the Great Plains of the United States. In this area, prairie grasses had prevented erosion. Farmers removed the grass and planted wheat and raised cattle. This damaged the soil structure. In the early 1930s, a drought exacerbated the ongoing impact of humans on soils and resulted in wind erosion of millions of tons of topsoil. Impacts of soil entrained in the 127 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

atmosphere were detected as far away as New York, where black snow and rain fell.

The lesson was that soil conservation had to be a priority to protect the ability to produce food in this country. With that goal in mind, the Soil Conservation Service was created.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.5 Conserving Agricultural Resources Learning Outcome: 7.5

5) Discuss several practices used by farmers to protect their soils. 

  

Answer: There are numerous practices used by farmers to protect their soils. Crop rotation can return nutrients to the soil and can be used as an alternative to letting fields lie fallow, which exposes soils to erosion. Contour farming protects soils against erosion by shaping agricultural fields to minimize the possibility of water running down a hillside. Intercropping is the planting of two types of vegetation in the same field, either overlapping the crops or planting them in alternating rows. It provides a more complete land cover by decreasing bare areas between rows. Shelterbelts provide windbreaks that slow ground wind speed across a field. No-till, or conservation, tillage decreases the plowing of soil and provides less exposure of soils to wind and water for erosion. The use of irrigation can prevent wind erosion, although used incorrectly it can cause water erosion and salinization. The final way to protect soils is by composting, returning vegetable wastes to cropland so that their fiber and minerals can promote humus development.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.5 Conserving Agricultural Resources Learning Outcome: 7.5

6) Describe and discuss the use of biological control for battling pests. 

  

Answer: This strategy uses predators, pathogens, and parasitoids of crop pests, rather than chemicals, to control pest densities. An organism that eats a crop pest is released into a crop; it kills the crop pest, decreasing the density of the crop pest without chemicals. The fact that many biocontrol agents are functioning parts of the ecosystem's food web greatly reduces the chances of pests becoming resistant to a predator or disease vector. It goes without saying that biological control of this type precludes using chemical sprays at the same time.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.6 Controlling Pests, Preserving Pollinators Learning Outcome: 7.6

7) What are the dangers associated with pesticide use? How can biocontrol and use of crops with high genetic diversity decrease the amount of pesticides used? 

Answer: Pesticides are toxins that are general biocides that kill many nontarget useful species, such as pollinators and predators, and also can harm humans. Pesticide use has increased to lower crop loss due to pests and increase yield. Increased use results in resistance developing in pest populations. When this occurs, the type of 128 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

pesticide used has to be altered so that pests can be controlled. Increasing the toxicity of pesticides is often the solution. Biological control can decrease pest density by introducing enemies of the pests to the field. This decreases pest numbers without chemicals. Increasing the genetic diversity of the crop can also decrease pest numbers because pests may not be able to consume all genetic varieties in the crop.

Different species also "host" predators of pests and balance nutrient use. This will result in higher yields through healthier plants and reduction of pest populations.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 7.6 Controlling Pests, Preserving Pollinators Learning Outcome: 7.6

8) Why is resistance of pest populations to pesticides likely to occur over time? 

  

Answer: A small fraction of large pest populations may have genes that confer some degree of immunity to a given pesticide. If very few resistant pests survive, they may reproduce quickly and create a new population of genetically resistant pests because their population is no longer balanced by the susceptible individuals. The pesticide will not be effective against this new resistant pest population.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.6 Controlling Pests, Preserving Pollinators Learning Outcome: 7.6

9) Explain the statement "The lower down in the food chain we eat, the greater percentage of solar energy we put to use, and the more people Earth can support" in terms of trophic levels and pyramids of energy. 

  

Answer: Meat is more levels from the sun in the food chain than plant material.

Consuming meat decreases the amount of usable energy that is obtained directly from the sun because animals must first consume plants before they are eaten by humans.

Every time energy moves from one trophic level to the next, as much as 90% of the useful energy present in the lower trophic level is lost. This occurs because the second law of energy states that entropy increases as one goes from one level to the next, and energy is lost as heat or light at each transfer. For this reason, people who rely heavily on meat as a source of food energy are less energy-efficient than people relying on fewer animal products or eating a vegetarian diet. The biomass pyramid reflects this, as each trophic level contains less biomass (energy) than the lower level.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.7 Raising Animals for Food Learning Outcome: 7.8

10) Briefly discuss some disadvantages of aquaculture. 

Answer: Dense concentrations of farmed animals can increase the incidence of disease, which reduces food security, necessitates antibiotic treatment, and results in additional expense. Aquaculture can also produce high amounts of waste from the farmed organisms and from the large portion of feed that goes uneaten and decomposes in the water column. If farmed aquatic organisms escape where they are 129 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

not native, they can cause unpredictable harm by spreading disease or outcompeting native organisms.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.7 Raising Animals for Food Learning Outcome: 7.8

11) What are the arguments for and against genetically modified crops? Discuss the scientific, economic, and political issues. 

  

Answer: Proponents of G M crops stress continuity with the agricultural past, arguing that there is little reason to expect that today's G M food is any less safe than the selectively bred food of the past. They also argue that conferring pest resistance to crops can decrease use of chemical pesticides. Critics point out that the new techniques differ from traditional breeding techniques because they mix species, create species in the lab, not the field, and deal with novel gene combinations not possible in nature. They worry about allergic reactions in people and the "spread" of inserted genes into the soil and other organisms in the ecosystem. There is also the question of maintaining the genetic diversity and integrity of the many varieties of indigenous crops such as corn. Many of these varieties have been cultivated for centuries by the indigenous farmers of Mexico and many other nations. Corn is wind pollinated, and patented G M corn has been forming transgenic hybrids with a variety of indigenous strains. Unfortunately, there is little to prevent many G M crops from spreading to non-GM crops in adjacent fields. Controversy has arisen as the corporate agribusiness developers of G M crops have been suing farmers for patent infringement because of this unintentional and often unrecognized contamination. The political debate involves labeling and an individual's right to know what is in the food they consume. Industry has a large financial stake in seeing the continued use of G M foods. Critics argue that we should adopt the precautionary principle with G M foods.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 7.8 Genetically Modified Food Learning Outcome: 7.7

12) Why is variety in crop plants important for "food security"? How is this threatened by G M food crops? What is the United States' position on G M products? How does this differ from the position of other countries? 

 

Answer: Varieties contain genes that, through conventional breeding, might confer resistance to disease, pests, inbreeding, and other pressures that challenge modern agriculture. Monocultures of industrial agriculture place all our eggs in one basket, so that any single catastrophe could potentially wipe out multiple crops. Wild relatives contain genetic diversity that may have ready-made solutions to unforeseen problems. The position of the United States is that G M foods are an acceptable food crop. Many nations refuse to purchase or accept food or seed crops that are G M. The European Union has been extremely outspoken against the use or trade of G M foods.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 7.8 Genetically Modified Food 130 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.



Learning Outcome: 7.7

13) What is the basic concept of sustainable agriculture? 

  

Answer: Sustainable agriculture is agriculture that does not deplete soils faster than they form and does not destroy the biodiversity of the area. Sustainable farming and ranching do not reduce the amount of healthy soil, clean water, genetic diversity of crop plants and animals. Maintaining as much ecological biodiversity as possible in the agro-ecosystem is essential to long-term crop and livestock production. After all, our concept of sustainability is based on the functioning of intact ecosystems, and agro-ecosystems are modified ecosystems which are governed by the same rules of stability and interdependence as their natural counterparts.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 7.9 The Growth of Sustainable Agriculture Learning Outcome: 7.9

Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 8 Biodiversity and Conservation Biology 8.1 Multiple Choice Questions

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) What two events led to the recovery of bald eagle numbers in the United States starting in the 1970s?

A) The Environmental Protection Agency was created, and mercury was banned as an insecticide ingredient in the United States.

B) The Sierra Club was founded, and the hunting of eagles was banned.

C) The Endangered Species Act was passed, and D DT was banned in the United States.

D) Both DDT and the hunting of eagles was banned in the United States.

131 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

E) The bald eagle was declared our national bird, and the hunting of eagles was banned.

Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.6 2) There are currently approximately 15,000 pairs of bald eagles in the lower 48 states, which is a % increase over the number of pairs in 2006.

A) 33 B) 50 C) 150 D) 133 E) 200 Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.6 3) During what period did the number of pairs of bald eagles increase by the greatest percentage?

A) 2000-2006 B) 1974-1981 C) 1994-2000 D) 1986-1992 E) 1992-1998 Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.6 4) A large flock of endemic birds is discovered on a remote island. There appears to be two similar but different kinds of birds within the flock. Which of the following information is most important in deciding whether the two kinds of birds belong to a single species?

A) whether both kinds share many physical characteristics B) whether both kinds mate with one another C) whether both kinds of males sing similar songs D) whether the matings between kinds produce viable offspring E) whether both kinds of birds eat the same range of food Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 8.1 Life's Diversity on Earth Learning Outcome: 8.1 132 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

5) The greatest species diversity is found in which of the following groups?

A) flowering plants B) fish C) insects D) birds E) mammals Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.1 Life's Diversity on Earth Learning Outcome: 8.1 6) The greatest diversity is found in which of the following groups of organisms?

A) plants B) vertebrates C) invertebrates D) birds E) mammals Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.1 Life's Diversity on Earth Learning Outcome: 8.1 7) Approximately half of all vertebrate species on Earth are

.

A) mammals B) fishes C) birds D) amphibians E) reptiles Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 8.1 Life's Diversity on Earth Learning Outcome: 8.1 8) Biodiversity enhances human food security because it

.

A) creates genetic uniformity B) reduces the number of pollinators available to any one plant species C) is a potential source of new foods or new varieties of existing foods D) decreases the number of predators E) increases the number of available pathogens Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.2 Benefits of Biodiversity 133 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 8.2 9) In his 2005 book, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv maintains that today's children .

A) develop more balanced emotions in urban compared to natural settings B) should not be exposed to the dangers of natural ecosystems C) have a better understanding of natural environments than their grandparents D) suffer psychologically and emotionally from "nature deficit syndrome" E) should not participate in environmental education programs until high school Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.2 Benefits of Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 8.2 10) Removal of which of the following species will result in the greatest changes in an ecological system?

A) a competitive species B) a carnivore species C) a keystone species D) a producer species E) a decomposer species Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.2 Benefits of Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 8.2 11) Ecotourism

.

A) is a reasonable option only in impoverished countries B) decreases biodiversity by causing increased speciation in environmentally sensitive areas C) increases biodiversity by providing income to areas that might otherwise be destroyed D) decreases biodiversity by selling souvenir organisms E) increases biodiversity by introducing new, rare species Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.2 Benefits of Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 8.2 12) A migratory bat species pollinates agave plants in northern Mexico on its way to the southwestern United States where it spends the summer eating insects and reproducing. Farmers spraying pesticides affect these bats, which eat the insects and also feed them to the baby bats. This could be the start of a story about .

A) sustainable agriculture 134 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) an extirpation C) an umbrella species D) insect biodiversity E) threats to a keystone species Answer: E Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 8.2 Benefits of Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 8.2 13) The direct consequences of biodiversity loss include

.

A) health and social impacts B) increased human population growth C) the loss of sources of medicines D) overharvesting E) global climate change Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.2 Benefits of Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 8.2 14) Ecotourism

.

A) is a reasonable option only in impoverished countries B) decreases biodiversity by causing increased speciation in environmentally sensitive areas C) maintains biodiversity by providing income to areas that might otherwise be destroyed D) decreases biodiversity by selling souvenir organisms E) increases biodiversity by introducing new, rare species Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.2 Benefits of Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 8.2 15) Animals that are harmed by human modification of the environment tend to have all of the following characteristics EXCEPT: A) being large.

B) being a habitat specialist.

C) having a small geographic range.

D) being a dietary generalist.

E) being high on the food chain.

Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss 135 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 8.4 16) The loss of a particular population from a given area (but not the entire species globally) is called .

A) extinction B) extirpation C) emigration D) evolution E) adaptation Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 17) Paleontologists estimate that

.

A) extinction is tied exclusively to human activities B) 99% of all species that have ever existed are now extinct C) biodiversity is evenly spread over the earth's biomes D) more than 99% of all species alive today have been discovered and described E) more species are alive today than ever before Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.3 18) Changes in habitat have tremendous effects on the organisms that depend on them.

These effects are .

A) generally negative; organisms are already adapted to the habitats in which they occur and any change is likely to render the habitat less suitable B) generally positive; organisms are already adapted to the habitats in which they occur and any change is likely to render the habitat more suitable C) generally positive; the changes increase the habitat that is available for species to colonize D) generally negative; the changes usually cause rapid extinction of most species E) generally neutral; the variations within each species allow them to adapt very quickly Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 19) We can lessen the loss of aesthetic and spiritual ties with nature if we A) increase per capita consumption B) accelerate globalization 136 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

C) increase the rate of harvesting economically important species D) decrease the rate of habitat alteration and destruction E) do nothing to slow global climate change Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 20) More greenhouse gas emissions will indirectly lead to

.

A) loss of ecosystem services B) globalization C) human population growth D) an increase in invasive species E) overharvesting Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 21) The causes of the current (sixth) mass extinction include all of the following EXCEPT: A) habitat alteration and destruction.

B) invasive exotic species.

C) pollution from pesticides, eutrophication, and other causes.

D) earthquakes, tsunamis, and forest fires.

E) global climate change.

Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.3 22) The IUCN's Red List is

.

A) an updated list of species facing unusually high risk of extinction B) a list of unidentified species C) a list of ecologically damaged ecosystems D) an identification list of known species E) a scorecard of international failures at conservation Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 23) The greatest cause of the worldwide loss of species is 137 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

A) habitat destruction B) anthropogenic activities C) air pollution D) water pollution E) decreased soil nutrients Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 24) Wildlife in the Serengeti is currently threatened by

.

A) plans to legalize hunting of most of the large animal species in the park B) an invasive fish that has been introduced into the major river that flows through the park C) an overabundance of elephants D) pollution from a nearby coal power plant E) plans to build a highway that passes through the park Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 25) The wood thrush makes its nest in woodlands in the northern and eastern United States. As patches of woods become smaller, increasing numbers of wood thrush nests have eggs laid in them by the brown-headed cowbird. Cowbirds live in open fields and are nest parasites; the female cowbird flies up to an unattended nest, quickly lays an egg in it, and leaves the host parents to raise their "adopted" young.

Wood thrushes are decreasing in numbers because .

A) habitat fragmentation makes it easier for cowbird parasitism to occur B) cowbirds are an invasive species that is rapidly increasing C) climate change is reducing nest site availability D) overharvesting in the open fields has driven the cowbirds into the woodlands E) pollution of the open fields has caused a change in cowbird behavior Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 26) The country of Belize depends on lobster for a major portion of its income, along with fishing and tourism. Over the past 30 years, the average size of an individual lobster has dropped, even as increasing numbers of Belizeans buy boats, build lobster traps, and enter the industry. This is an example of .

A) the problems with monoculture 138 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) habitat alteration C) the effects of pollution D) the results of an invasive species E) overharvesting Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 27) The type of species that is generally most vulnerable to human impact is the .

A) top predator B) primary consumer C) decomposer D) producer E) competitive species Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 28) In general, successfully introduced nonnative species experience

.

A) increased environmental resistance B) competitive success against native species C) increases in limiting factors D) increased competition from other organisms E) decreased biotic potential Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 29) The introduction of onto the island of Guam has resulted in the extinction of most of the endemic forest bird species on the island.

A) kudzu B) cane toads C) European starlings D) Nile perch E) brown tree snakes Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss 139 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 8.4 30) Bullfrog tadpoles are often sold as fish bait, even in areas where they do not occur naturally. When people buy 10 of them and don't use them all, they often dump the remainder into the lake or river. This is an example of .

A) habitat destruction B) overharvesting of species from the wild C) an introduced species D) inbreeding E) extirpation Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 31) European rabbits were introduced into Australia and quickly spread, reproduced, and became a terrible pest. They eat up to $600 million worth of food and pasture crops annually and have damaged the populations of many native plants and the populations of animals that eat the plants. Twice in the past 50 years, rabbit diseases have been introduced to try to control the population, with some success. This is a case where .

A) an extirpation has occurred B) habitat alteration resulted in decreased biodiversity C) an invasive species has reduced the genetic diversity of native species D) an invasive species has caused overharvesting E) climate change has decreased the genetic diversity of native species Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 32) What is the greatest contributing factor in the loss of polar bears in arctic areas?

A) decline in sea ice B) fires in the taiga and tundra C) the tundra shifting northward D) hunting of the polar bear by the Inuit people E) the decline of lemmings; the primary food of the polar bear Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 33) A species of lizard has gone extinct. This could be due to any of the following reasons 140 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

EXCEPT: A) inbreeding.

B) habitat destruction by humans.

C) introduction of a species that competed for food resources.

D) increased genetic diversity within the species.

E) climate change.

Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 34) Of the following, only

can change global species diversity.

A) extirpation B) extinction C) migration D) taxonomists E) extirpation and extinction Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.4 35) The field of conservation biology

.

A) developed in response to government intervention B) was initially viewed as too measurement-oriented, looking at details and not at the big picture C) attempts to integrate an understanding of evolution, ecology, and extinction D) tries to conserve every species, everywhere E) tries to increase speciation events in order to increase biodiversity Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.5 36) Contrary to popular belief, the Endangered Species Act allows

.

A) landowners to kill endangered species for food if necessary B) endangered species to be hunted as long as records are kept of numbers and sex of individuals taken C) landowners to harm a protected species in one area if they improve habitat for it elsewhere D) international trade in protected species to aid in times of economic hardship E) habitats of protected species to be developed or logged as long as no individuals of 141 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

the species are killed Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.6 37) Which of the following activities would violate C ITES? A) Your friend shoots a bald eagle that seems to be eying the calf he has been raising for his 4-H project.

B) Your friend brings back an ivory chess set that he bought while on safari in Lesotho.

C) Your friend catches a small-mouth bass that is technically not large enough to keep, but he keeps it and cooks it for dinner instead of releasing it.

D) Your friend breaks into a California condor breeding facility and releases all of the condors being raised there because he feels sorry for them.

E) Your friend transports firewood infested with emerald ash borer from Minneapolis to the Black Hills of South Dakota, inadvertently introducing the pest to Rapid City, where it destroys all of the ash trees in the city within a decade.

Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.6 38) Currently, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 is

.

A) generally supported by the public but is criticized as putting wildlife before people B) being weakened in funding and enforcement C) protecting only 1300 species out of an original 3000 D) being repealed by the U.S. Congress E) being harshly criticized by the scientific community Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.6 39) The Convention on Biological Diversity has goals that

.

A) include a set of international laws B) are designed to reduce biodiversity C) include using biodiversity in a sustainable manner D) ensure the distribution of biodiversity's benefits to wealthy countries who can pay for them E) spell out future management plans for all biomes Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions 142 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 8.6 40) One of the ongoing problems for wild California condors is

.

A) that lead shot is still used for hunting, and the lead can build up in a condor's system because condors eat dead animals that have been shot B) that people continue to hunt condors for sport, despite the bird's being listed as federally endangered and despite the educational campaigns that teach young people the value of having condors in an ecosystem C) that the federal government refuses to list the condor as being endangered because doing so would have a negative impact on the oil and gas industry D) that there are so few of them that they cannot find mates E) that they readily succumb to sylvatic plague, which can ravage an entire colony of condors in a matter of weeks Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.6 41) Endemic species are

.

A) well established and show the least risk of extinction B) limited to just one location, such as an island C) widely distributed, found especially on large continents D) usually the dominant species within an ecosystem E) on the brink of extinction Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.6 42) What do researchers hope to accomplish by performing genetic analyses on confiscated ivory?

A) They hope to learn more about the extent of inbreeding of elephants in different areas of Africa.

B) They hope to determine whether the ivory came from elephants or from seals.

C) They hope to determine where the elephants were poached.

D) They hope to determine how long ago each animal was killed for its ivory.

E) They hope to determine whether possession of the ivory violated international treaties.

Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.6 Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

143 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Many biologists and environmental educators are interested in maintaining biodiversity in urban landscapes, where preserves or reserves are scarce unless land has been set aside for them in urban planning. Nonetheless, they have discovered that making even small changes in commercial and residential landscaping can help promote biodiversity.

Some of the changes that have been recommended include using native species for street trees and for decorative landscaping, reducing pesticide use on lawns and gardens, and reducing fertilizer use through composting and mulching. Also, schools, businesses, and residents are encouraged to increase habitat diversity by creating "landscape islands" that include larger trees surrounded by shrubs and herbaceous plants. Landscape islands ideally should include native species, mixed with exotic ornamentals at the discretion of the landowners.

43) Being interested in native butterflies, you include the native caterpillar host plants of several butterflies in your annual landscape design. You are happy to see that caterpillars and butterflies appear in your yard. However, the butterflies tend to disperse out of our yard. Which of the following could you do to keep the butterflies in your garden?

A) try to introduce predators of the butterflies B) use pesticides to kill off predators C) introduce native flowering plants the adult butterflies need for nectar, their main food D) place pans of honey solution around your yard to feed the butterflies E) ask the neighbors to refrain from planting "butterfly plants" in their yards Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.7 44) In addition to the butterfly project, you decide to stop spraying the pesticides that control lawn pests. Over the next year, you notice that the lawn grass doesn't grow as well, and many other species of plants invade the lawn, many of them native species.

The disuse of pesticides would likely result in all of the following EXCEPT: A) an increase in herbivorous insects and the small predators that eat them.

B) an increase in bird species in your yard.

C) an increase in pollinating insects visiting your lawn and gardens.

D) competition between the lawn grass and the new species that colonize the area.

E) lower survival rates for the caterpillars and butterflies.

Answer: E Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.7 45) The butterflies you established in your yard are now thriving, but you notice that some of the caterpillars are suffering from predators and parasites. After some study and consultation, you would most logically decide to .

144 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) spray pesticides on the plants to control the predators B) resume spraying pesticides on the lawn C) catch and kill the predators and parasites by hand D) plant more host plants in several different areas but otherwise do nothing E) give up on the butterfly species you encouraged and try to attract new species Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.7 46) You also decide to greatly reduce the amount of chemical fertilizers you use in your landscape and rely more on mulching and composting. This will benefit your yard "ecosystem" by .

A) increasing the populations of butterflies B) decreasing the number of predatory animals and insects C) reducing nutrient pollution in nearby areas and increasing soil organisms' biodiversity D) making habitats for pollinators E) decreasing the plant biodiversity of the yard Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.7 47) Conservation genetics determine a minimum viable population size for populations.

What problem occurs if the population is below the minimum viable size?

A) undernutrition B) habitat destruction C) inbreeding depression D) extinction E) migration Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.5 48) Which of the following provided a sophisticated tool for conservation biologists to counter poaching?

A) meteorology B) forensic science C) paleontology D) precision agriculture E) genetic engineering 145 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.5 8.2 Essay Questions 1) What is the value to a species of having genetic diversity?  Answer: Species with more genetic diversity have better chances of surviving, because their built-in variation better enables them to cope with environmental change. According to the principles of evolutionary biology, species with little genetic diversity are vulnerable to environmental change for which they are not genetically prepared. Species with depressed genetic diversity may also be more vulnerable to disease and may suffer the effects of inbreeding, which occurs when parents that are too genetically similar mate and produce weak or defective offspring. Genetic diversity in our crop plants is important for protection of our food sources.  Diff: 2  Topic/Section: 8.1 Life's Diversity on Earth  Learning Outcome: 8.1 2) Provide several reasons why our estimates of species numbers are incomplete. 

  

Answer: One reason is that some areas of Earth remain mostly unexplored, such as the ocean depths, hydrothermal vents, and the tree canopies and soils of tropical forests. Another reason is that many species are tiny and easily overlooked; these inconspicuous organisms include species of bacteria, nematodes (roundworms), fungi, protists, and soil-dwelling arthropods. In addition, many organisms are so difficult to identify that a population thought to be a single species turns out to be two or more species on close investigation. The opposite could also be true, where two populations considered as separate species are, on close investigation, actually the same species.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.1 Life's Diversity on Earth Learning Outcome: 8.1

3) What is the value to humankind of biodiversity in the organisms with which we share our planet? 



Answer: Biodiversity provides valuable ecosystem services (e.g., pollination, new food choices, continued soil fertility and pest control for agriculture free of charge).

Biodiversity provides a wide variety traditional medicines and high-tech pharmaceutical products. Biodiversity provides economic benefits through tourism and recreation. Perhaps most importantly, as E.O. Wilson and Richard Louv have insisted, people need, value, and seek out connections with nature, which offer such intangible services as creative inspiration, self-growth, the experiences of beauty, and peace of mind.

Diff: 2 146 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

 

Topic/Section: 8.2 Benefits of Biodiversity Learning Outcome: 8.2

4) What are the major causes of the sixth mass extinction event, and why is it of particular concern? 

  

Answer: The most potent cause of sixth mass extinction event is human alteration and destruction of landscapes. In addition, the introduction of invasive exotic species is contributing to many extinctions and local extirpations of native species. Pollution from pesticides, acidity and eutrophication is causing biodiversity loss in both fresh water and marine habitats. Overharvesting, poaching, and overhunting of commercially important species is causing their populations to decline to the point where many are at risk. All of these factors are worsened by the rapid growth of the human population, which directly and indirectly places stress on all natural ecosystems. Loss of biodiversity is of particular concern because the current global extinction rate is 1000 times greater than it would have been without human destruction of habitat.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.3

5) Is extinction natural? How has the extinction rate changed over time? Why are extinction rates today different from past extinction rates? 

  

Answer: Students should discuss some of the following. Extinction is a natural process. Extinction rates have risen higher than the background extinction rate during several mass extinction events during Earth's history. In the past 440 million years, there have been five major episodes of mass extinction. If current trends continue, the modern era may see the extinction of more than half of all species. While similar in scale to previous mass extinctions, today's ongoing mass extinction is different in two respects. First, humans are causing it. Second, humans will suffer as a result.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.3 Biodiversity Loss Learning Outcome: 8.3

6) What is the Endangered Species Act? Describe one of its successes and explain some of the current controversies surrounding it. 



Answer: The Endangered Species Act is the primary legislation for protecting biodiversity in the United States. It forbids the government and private citizens from taking actions (such as developing land) that would destroy endangered species or their habitats and also forbids trade in products made from endangered species. The aim is to prevent extinctions, stabilize declining populations, and, when possible, to enable populations to recover to the point where they no longer need protection.

The ESA has had a number of notable successes; students might mention any of the following. After the banning of DDT and years of management programs, birds such as the peregrine falcon, brown pelican, and bald eagle have recovered and been taken off the endangered list. Intensive management efforts with other species such 147 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

as the red-cockaded woodpecker have held formerly declining populations steady in the face of continued habitat degradation. Roughly 40% of declining populations have been held stable. While most Americans support endangered species protection, some have opposed provisions of the E SA. Some of the resentment results from the perception that the E SA is focused only on single species and values the life of an endangered species over the life or livelihood of a person. Most of the concern over the ESA, however, is basically economic and has stemmed from worries of landowners that federal officials will restrict the use of private land if threatened or endangered species are found on it.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 8.4 Conservation Biology: The Search for Solutions Learning Outcome: 8.6

Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 9 Forests, Forest Management, and Protected Areas 9.1 Multiple Choice Questions

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) This figure shows population growth over time for a harvestable resource. The point on the curve at the top right of the graph indicates the .

A) point of fastest growth B) stable population size when selective harvesting is occurring C) population size where births in the population exactly offset deaths D) extinction point E) point of maximum sustainable yield Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 148 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

2) This figure shows population growth over time for a harvestable resource. Most forest resource managers aim to maintain resource populations of the pictured curve.

A) at the bottom B) at the top C) in the middle D) to the left E) to the right Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 3) This figure shows population growth over time for a harvestable resource. Forest resource managers generally aim to maintain a resource population at the level where it .

A) delivers the maximum sustainable timber yield B) best protects habitat C) best protects predators D) represents the carrying capacity E) represents the point just before dieback of the population Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 4) This figure shows population growth over time for a harvestable resource. Which of the following graphs depicts the population growth rate for this population?

149 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) Figure A B) Figure B C) Figure C D) Figure D E) Figure E Answer: E Diff: 3 150 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 5) This figure shows population growth over time for a harvestable resource. At what two population sizes would this population be experiencing the same population growth rate?

A) Growth rate is unique to a single population size, so there are no two population sizes that would experience the same growth rate.

B) at carrying capacity and twice the carrying capacity C) at carrying capacity and 1/ 2 of the carrying capacity D) at 1/ 4 and 3 / 4 of the carrying capacity E) at 1/ 2 and twice the carrying capacity Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 6) Most of the world's forests are

.

A) temperate deciduous forest and chaparral B) savanna and pine barrens C) boreal forest and rainforest D) tropical dry forest and montane forest E) temperate rainforest and mangrove forest Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.1 Forest Ecosystems and Resources Learning Outcome: 9.1 7) About

% of Earth's land area is currently covered by forest.

A) Less than 5 B) 5-10 C) 31 D) 45 E) 52 Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.1 Forest Ecosystems and Resources Learning Outcome: 9.1 8) Which of the following is a consequence of clearing forests for agriculture purposes?

A) The soil becomes richer and retains moisture better because there are few trees to take up the water and soil nutrients.

B) Biodiversity increases because of habitat diversification.

151 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) Soil erosion increases because the tree roots and other vegetation that stabilize the soil have been removed.

D) Water runoff decreases because crops will take up more of the moisture.

E)

CO2 levels in the atmosphere drop to dangerously low levels.

Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.1 Forest Ecosystems and Resources Learning Outcome: 9.1 9) The U.N. FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment of 2020 concluded that .

A) deforestation has slowed but we are still losing forests at a rapid rate B) deforestation is now in equilibrium with new planting C) there will be no forest ecosystems left by 2040 D) all nationally owned forests should be managed by clear-cutting E) to protect forest biodiversity, forested public lands should be closed to recreation Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.1 Forest Ecosystems and Resources Learning Outcome: 9.1 10) Most commercial logging today takes place in

.

A) Europe and Canada B) Canada, Russia, Indonesia, and Brazil C) the United States, Lesotho, Australia, and China D) Australia, New Zealand, China, and Greenland (Denmark) E) Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.1 Forest Ecosystems and Resources Learning Outcome: 9.2 11) In the United States, most logging takes place in A) national parks B) New England C) the northern Midwest D) Pennsylvania and New York E) conifer forests in the west and pine plantations in the south Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.2 Forest Loss Learning Outcome: 9.2 152 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

12) Second-growth forests

.

A) become established after virgin timber has been removed from an area B) are forests whose timber has second-rate value C) are less abundant on Earth today than they were 500 years ago D) in North America are found mainly in British Columbia and Alaska E) are those forests in the National Parks that are protected from logging Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.2 Forest Loss Learning Outcome: 9.2 13)

are replacing primary forests in much of southeast Asia.

A) World heritage sites B) Oil palm plantations C) Reserves for indigenous peoples D) Walmarts E) Invasive exotic species Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.2 Forest Loss Learning Outcome: 9.2 14) Why do developing nations impose few or no restrictions on logging?

A) Local residents use most of the timber, and the government does not want to impose restrictions on its citizens.

B) They are desperate for economic development.

C) Most timber is extracted by local corporations that support the government.

D) There is an infinite supply of timber because wood is a renewable resource.

E) No ancient forests remain in developing nations.

Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.2 Forest Loss Learning Outcome: 9.2 15) Concessions granted by developing nations allow

.

A) the establishment of national parks B) restoration of deforested regions C) establishment of wilderness areas D) timber extraction by foreign multinational corporations E) timber extraction according to strictly sustainable forestry principles Answer: D Diff: 2 153 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 9.2 Forest Loss Learning Outcome: 9.2 16) Many environmental advocates believe that biofuel made from palm oil is not an appropriate replacement for fossil fuels such as petroleum because .

A) burning palm oil actually puts more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than burning gasoline B) human rights are being violated because of the palm oil slave trade C) tropical forests must be cleared to plant oil palms D) oil palm plantations take land away from coffee growers E) it is better to use palm oil in snack foods Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.2 Forest Loss Learning Outcome: 9.2 17) The program Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (RED D +) .

A) gives wealthy nations carbon-offsets if they pay poorer nations to conserve forests B) supports research to develop trees which permanently sequester carbon C) was passed unanimously by the Copenhagen Conference (2010) on global climate change D) seeks to reduce the 30% of global carbon emissions caused by primary forests E) combats unsustainable forestry practices through controlled burning programs Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.2 Forest Loss Learning Outcome: 9.2 18) Ecosystem-based timber harvesting uses methods that

.

A) are the most cost efficient in the short term B) have the greatest impacts on forest ecosystems C) leave seed-producing or mature trees uncut to provide for future forests D) are ecologically harmless E) are very popular with timber companies Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 19) Which of the following accurately describes a benefit or a drawback of managing an even-aged tree plantation?

A) Even-aged stands are less vulnerable to disease and insect outbreaks.

154 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) Even-aged stands possess more structural complexity than natural forests.

C) Even-aged stands create a more complex groundcover habitat.

D) Even-aged stands are unpopular because they are difficult to harvest and replant.

E) Even-aged stands are more vulnerable to pests such as bark beetles.

Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 20) Clear-cutting

.

A) restricts timber harvesting to mountaintops B) is harvesting trees from coastal areas only C) involves elimination of subsidies to farmers D) is a form of violent protest favored by radical environmental organizations E) removes all trees from an area Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 21) The system of timber harvesting involves leaving small numbers of mature trees in place to provide shelter for seedlings as they grow.

A) clear-cutting B) shelterwood C) single-tree selection D) "cherry-picking" E) nursery-tree Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 22) The National Forest Management Act

national forest land.

A) was passed in 1976 with the intent to ensure multiple use and sustainable yield of B) was passed by the Bush administration in 2004 to loosen environmental protections and restrict public oversight of C) directs timber companies to remove small trees, underbrush, and dead trees to reduce fires in D) offers subsidies to timber companies for road building on E) was passed to set up the formation of land trusts on Answer: A Diff: 2 155 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.4 23) Fire history in an open pine woodland ecosystem would be best determined by .

A) the density of vegetation B) charcoal in the soil C) soil chemistry D) tree ring scars E) ambient air temperature Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3

24) This figure shows annual totals for area burned by wildfires in the United States from 1983 to 2020. Which of the following accounts for the trend shown?

A) There is no consistent trend in the figure. More forests burn during dry years than wet years.

B) Forest cover has been increasing in the United States since the 1980s, so we see an associated trend in the amount of forest burned annually.

C) Fire suppression has resulted in an accumulation of kindling for larger and more catastrophic wildfires during dry years.

156 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) We now fight fires more aggressively than we did in the 1980s, and the annual number of acres burned reflects these efforts.

E) Arsonists are starting more wildfires than they did 30 years ago.

Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 25) Salvage logging is most likely to do which of the following?

A) eliminate wildfires B) cause more wildfires C) provide additional food and habitat for many types of wildlife D) increase soil erosion E) decrease long-term timber yield by more than 60% Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 26) Prescribed burns would be used in forests

.

A) that have high densities of endangered species, such as tropical rain forests B) that have heavy recreational use to warn people about the dangers of fires C) that are subject to severe wild fires to remove fuel load and stimulate new growth D) plagued with insects as a cheaper alternative to pesticides E) to convert primary forests into secondary forests Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 27) In recent years, global climate change has caused more severe droughts in the western United States, resulting in .

A) trees being weakened and stressed, making them more susceptible to bark beetle infestation B) fewer problems with diseases C) extended growing seasons that benefit the trees D) lower occurrence of forest fires E) the loss of western tropical rainforests Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 157 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

28) Since the 1990s, United States.

have killed tens of billions of conifers in the western

A) foresters B) pine shoot beetles C) bark beetles D) ladybird beetles E) invasive fungi Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 29) In the western United States, bark beetle outbreaks have become much worse than in the past for all of the following reasons EXCEPT: A) Beetles are attacking the myriad even-aged forests throughout the West, which are the perfect age for infestation.

B) Catastrophic wildfires have resulted in the increased growth of the kinds of trees that the bark beetles prefer.

C) Milder winters caused by climate change are enabling beetles to spread northward.

D) Long-term droughts have stressed trees, making them vulnerable to attack.

E) Warmer climate has resulted in increased reproductive output for the beetles.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 30) The Forest Stewardship Council

national forest land.

A) was passed in 1976 with the intent to ensure multiple use and sustainable yield of B) restricts the use of snowmobiles on C) has rigorous standards to certify that forest products are produced sustainably on D) offers subsidies to timber companies if they replant areas of E) was passed to set up the formation of land trusts on Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 31) The forests in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan from which your text book was made are .

A) harvested by clear-cutting B) harvested using ecosystem-based management C) being salvage logged after the catastrophic wildfire of 2008 and subsequent pine 158 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

beetle infestation D) plantation forests of pine and spruce E) suffering from erosion and heavy pesticide use Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3 32) The first national park was

.

A) Yosemite B) General Grant (King's Canyon) C) Yellowstone D) Sequoia E) Mount Rainier Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.4 Parks and Protected Areas Learning Outcome: 9.4 33) Wilderness areas

.

A) allow hunting, so long as proper permits are acquired B) are off-limits to development of any kind but are open to low-impact recreation C) were set up under the administration of George W. Bush in the early 2000s D) were set up under the wise-use movement of the 1980s and 1990s E) are biosphere reserves managed by U NESC O Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.4 Parks and Protected Areas Learning Outcome: 9.4 34)

are federal lands that are off-limits to development but are open to hiking, nature study, and other low-impact public recreational activities.

A) National forests B) Bureau of Land Management lands C) Biosphere reserves D) Wilderness areas E) State parks Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.4 Parks and Protected Areas Learning Outcome: 9.4 35) Paper parks are

.

159 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) portions of the national parks where timber harvesting is permitted B) portions of the wilderness areas where timber harvesting is permitted C) land trust areas where timber harvesting is permitted D) parks established where timber harvesters formerly harvested wood for paper mills E) areas protected on paper but not in reality due to lack of funding Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.4 Parks and Protected Areas Learning Outcome: 9.5 36) Land trusts are

.

A) municipal government entities B) state government entities C) federal government entities D) corporations E) private nonprofit groups Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.4 Parks and Protected Areas Learning Outcome: 9.5 37) Which of the following is a land trust?

A) The Nature Conservancy B) Grand Teton National Park C) Texas A&M University D) DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge E) Long Island, New York Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.4 Parks and Protected Areas Learning Outcome: 9.5 38) "Edge effects" become particularly problematic when

.

A) forests undergo biodiversity changes as a result of climate change B) trying to manage and protect island biodiversity C) preserves have a very large area and a roughly circular shape D) formerly large habitats are reduced to small fragments E) wildlife corridors are developed in urban landscapes Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.4 Parks and Protected Areas Learning Outcome: 9.5 160 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

The western United States contains a series of tall mountain ranges that also extend far down into Mexico. Two of the largest of these ranges are the Rockies and the Sierra Madres, but they are all part of the same mountain-building event that occurred many millions of years ago, and they all have similar features. Much of the vegetation on these mountaintops is the same, or very similar, and they are often referred to as the "Sky Islands" because of their similarity to each other and their isolation from the lower, drier areas surrounding them. With global climate change producing increasingly visible effects, conservation biologists fear that these mountaintop ecosystems will undergo major changes in temperature and humidity and that the many endemic species that live there may literally have no place to go.

39) There are groups of tropical birds, such as trogons and parrots, that are usually considered to live in Central America and the mountains of southern and central Mexico. Small populations of these birds migrate into the United States each year. It is probably true that .

A) more of these birds are found in the mountains of New Mexico and Arizona than in the mountains of Colorado, Utah, or Nevada B) more of these birds are found in the taller mountains of Colorado than in the shorter mountains in southern Arizona, even if the relative area of the mountains is the same C) these birds can live in the lower, drier elevations in the United States as well as in the mountain ranges D) these birds migrate to the United States in the winter because it is warmer here E) these birds have higher genetic diversity in the U.S. populations than in the populations in Central America Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.4 Parks and Protected Areas Learning Outcome: 9.5 40) Large predators and omnivores, such as mountain lions and bears, roam these mountain ranges. Which of the following statements is true?

A) Because of habitat fragmentation, the individual populations of these Sky Islands have more biodiversity than they did in the past.

B) Because of habitat fragmentation, the individual populations of these Sky Islands have less genetic diversity than they did in the past.

C) Because of immigration and emigration, the individual populations of these Sky Islands have less biodiversity than they did in the past.

D) Because of immigration and emigration, the individual populations of these Sky Islands have more biomass than they did in the past.

E) Because of extirpation, many of these individual populations have more biodiversity than they did in the past.

Answer: B Diff: 3 161 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 9.4 Parks and Protected Areas Learning Outcome: 9.5 41) The tendency of humans to want to live in these Sky Islands, visit them for recreation, and use them for lumber or for wood pulp causes .

A) increased buffer zones B) increased genetic diversity C) increased transitional areas D) increased habitat fragmentation and alteration E) major changes in local climate Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.4 Parks and Protected Areas Learning Outcome: 9.5 42) If the Sky Islands become warmer and drier, the species that live at lower elevation will .

A) move even farther down the slopes B) become extinct C) move into and dominate the altered sky islands D) strengthen the biodiversity of the islands by adding many new species E) create a helpful buffer zone between themselves and the "sky island" species Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.4 Parks and Protected Areas Learning Outcome: 9.5 43) If the Sky Islands become rapidly warmer and drier, the endemic species there will .

A) probably suffer a high extinction rate B) successfully adapt to changing conditions C) be forced to interbreed with other species to preserve genetic diversity D) move down the mountain slopes and displace species living at lower elevations E) move farther into the core area of the "sky island" Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.4 Parks and Protected Areas Learning Outcome: 9.5 44) An effective strategy for protecting the endemic species of the Sky Islands could be to .

A) protect the smallest Sky Islands and leave the rest open to logging and development B) protect one large Sky Island at each end of the mountain chain and allow logging and 162 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

development in the others C) introduce drought tolerant species into all the Sky Islands D) prevent immigration and emigration between the Islands E) protect as many adjacent Sky Islands as possible, giving wildlife corridors to move between mountaintops Answer: E Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 9.4 Parks and Protected Areas Learning Outcome: 9.5 9.2 Essay Questions 1) What aspect of American history makes it difficult for us to suggest halting deforestation in the tropical rain forest? How did deforestation proceed in the United States? How and why is deforestation in the tropical rain forest different than it was in the United States? 

  

Answer: Timber harvesting propelled the growth of the United States throughout its phenomenal expansion across the continent in the 19th century and into the 20th.

Cities of the Atlantic seaboard and the Midwest were built with timber felled in the vast pine and hardwood forests of the East. Those forests were virtually stripped of their trees in the 19th century and were replaced largely by small farms. Logging operations then moved south to harvest more wood for the growing nation. The pine woodlands of the South were logged, and many of them were converted to pine plantations.

When the largest, most valuable trees had been removed from these areas, timber companies moved west, cutting the continent's biggest trees in the Rockies, the Sierras, the Cascades, and the Pacific Coast ranges. By the mid-20th century almost no virgin timber was left in the lower 48 states. The patterns of deforestation in the United States are being paralleled internationally, but some developing nations, such as Brazil, are in the position the United States faced a century or two ago, having a vast frontier to conquer. However, in these countries, deforestation can proceed more quickly because of newer technology. Furthermore, much of the cutting is being done not by the people of those countries but through concessions to multinational corporations that export the products elsewhere.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.2 Forest Loss Learning Outcome: 9.2

2) Briefly discuss the components of a sustainable forestry program and the meaning of FSC certified forest products. 

Answer: Sustainable forestry implies not only the capacity of a harvesting system to provide timber on a continuing basis, but also to conserve the biodiversity and ecosystem services of the harvested forest to the greatest extent possible. The principle of ecosystem-based management includes these goals. Specific strategies would be to remove trees in such a way that the understory suffers minimal damage, to leave enough mature trees to support the biodiversity that depends on them and to 163 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

minimize erosion. All aspects of the timber preparation or pulping process (for paper) would need to be energy-efficient and to employ non-toxic biodegradable chemicals at all stages. Effluents from sawmills or paper mills should not contribute to eutrophication of receiving lakes or rivers. If all of the steps from tree to marketed product meet the Forest Stewardship Council's standards for sustainable forestry, the process should earn an F SC certification.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3

3) How has the Smokey the Bear campaign, which attempted to eliminate wildfires from forested areas altogether, damaged forest health? What is the importance of fire in ecosystem management? What is the cost of fire suppression for ecosystem health?

What is the alternative to fire suppression? 

  

Answer: For over a century, the Forest Service and other land management agencies have suppressed fire whenever and wherever it has broken out. Yet ecological research now clearly shows that many ecosystems depend on fire to maintain themselves. Certain plants have seeds that germinate only in response to fire, and researchers studying tree rings have documented that many ecosystems historically experienced fire with some frequency. Ecosystems dependent on fire are adversely affected by its suppression; open pine woodlands become cluttered with hardwood understory that ordinarily would be cleared away by fire, for instance, and animal diversity and abundance decline in such cluttered habitats. In addition, fire suppression increases the likelihood of catastrophic fires that truly do damage forests and that destroy human property and threaten human lives. This is because fire suppression allows the buildup of years' worth of limbs, logs, sticks, and leaf litter on the forest floor–excellent kindling for a catastrophic fire. Such fuel buildup helped cause the 1988 fires in Yellowstone National Park and thousands of other fires across the continent, and it is why catastrophic fires have become more of a problem than in the past. To reduce this fuel load and improve the health and safety of forests, the Forest Service and other agencies have in recent years been burning areas of forest under carefully controlled conditions. These prescribed burning programs have worked where they have been applied, but they require so much time and effort that a relatively small amount of land has been treated. Sometimes controlled burns can get out of control, as happened in 2000 in New Mexico. Efforts at controlled burns also have been complicated by public misunderstanding and by interference from politicians who have not taken time to understand the science behind the approach.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3

4) Who owns the forest land that is home to timber harvesting? Why was the national forest system established, what was its mission, and who specifically directed its development? How did the political climate in the United States aid the formation of a system that incorporated the theme of conservation?

164 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.



  

Answer: Most timber harvesting in the United States takes place on private land, including that owned by timber companies, but some takes place on public lands, notably the national forests. The national forest system, managed by the U.S. Forest Service, covers over 8% of the nation's land area. The depletion of the eastern forests and the fear of a "timber famine" spurred the formation of the Forest Service in 1905, under Gifford Pinchot. Pinchot and others developed the concept of resource management and conservation during the Progressive era in American politics, a time of social reform when people had confidence that the application of science and education to public policy could greatly improve society. In line with Pinchot's conservation ethic, the Service aimed to manage the forests for "the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run." Pinchot believed the nation should extract and use resources from its public lands, so timber harvesting was from the start the goal of the national forests. But conservation meant planting trees as well as harvesting them, and the Forest Service would seek restrained use and wise management of timber resources, which are not renewable if not given time to grow back.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3

5) Explain salvage logging. 

  

Answer: Salvage logging is the removal of dead trees, or snags, following a natural disturbance. From an economic standpoint, salvage logging may seem to make good sense. However, ecologically, snags have immense value; the insects that decay them provide food for wildlife, and many birds, mammals, and reptiles depend on holes in snags for nesting and roosting sites. Opponents of salvage logging point out that conducting timber removal operations on recently burned land can cause severe erosion and soil damage.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 9.3 Forest Management Learning Outcome: 9.3

6) Why do we need stretches of uninhabited and undeveloped land? 

  

Answer: Large stretches of undeveloped land provide natural resources such as timber and food. Areas of natural land provide ecosystem services, including purification of water and air, nutrient cycling, waste treatment, and escape from the stresses of urban life. They provide open space, greenery, scenic beauty, and places for recreation. They also provide habitat for wildlife, which satisfies our natural affinity for contact with other organisms. In addition to the utilitarian reasons cited above, many people feel an ethical obligation to preserve wild landscapes and biodiversity for the sake of nonhuman organisms and/or the integrity of ecological systems.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.4 Parks and Protected Areas Learning Outcome: 9.5 165 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

7) What are the traditional reasons for the development of parks and protected areas?

What other reasons have been added recently? 

  

Answer: First is the belief that enormous, beautiful, or unusual features such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Mount Rainier should be protected. Second, parks have been created at sites lacking economically valuable material resources; land that holds little monetary value is easy to set aside because no one wants to buy it. A third reason we have set aside parks is for utilitarian purposes. A watershed protected from development provides cities with clean drinking water and a buffer against floods. A fourth reason for the creation of protected areas has been their recreational value to tourists, hikers, fishers, hunters, and others. The preservation of biodiversity is a fifth reason that has been increasingly prioritized in recent years. Human impact alters habitats in myriad ways and has led to countless population declines and species extinctions. A park or reserve is widely viewed as a kind of Noah's ark, an island of habitat that can, scientists hope, maintain species that might otherwise disappear. In addition, forests are valuable protection against global climate change. Deforestation accounts for as much as 12% of global carbon emissions.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 9.4 Parks and Protected Areas Learning Outcome: 9.5

Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 10 Environmental Health and Toxicology 10.1 Multiple Choice Questions

166 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) Figures such as these

.

A) are used by epidemiologists in the assessment of a toxicant's effect 167 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) are used by scientists in determining which organs are damaged by a toxicant C) are used to report the effects of a toxicant on wildlife populations D) represent typical dose-response curves for endocrine disruptors E) allow scientists to determine the exact quantity of a toxicant that will harm humans Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.4 Studying Effects of Hazards Learning Outcome: 10.4 2) The LD50 indicates the

.

A) amount of toxicant it takes to kill half the population B) lowest dose that kills any member of the population C) lowest dose that kills 50 out of 1000 members of the population D) lowest dose required to cure half of the population E) lowest dose required to cure the entire population Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.4 Studying Effects of Hazards Learning Outcome: 10.4 3) Assume that the scales for graphs (a) and (b) are identical. Compare the graphs.

Which of the following statements is true?

A) The toxicant shown in (b) has a lower LD50 compared to the toxicant shown in (a).

B) The toxicant shown in (b) has a higher toxicity than the toxicant shown in (a).

C) The toxicant shown in (b) has a lower toxicity than the toxicant shown in (a).

D) Graphs (a) and (b) show results for the same toxicant, but graph (a) shows a higher dose than graph (b).

E) Graphs (a) and (b) show results for the same toxicant, but graph (b) shows a higher dose than graph (a).

Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 10.4 Studying Effects of Hazards Learning Outcome: 10.4 4) The flat line at the left in (b) probably represents

.

A) the fact that there is no biological effect of the toxicant at low doses B) that no data were collected for the flat line area C) competing effects of some other substance whose effect wasn't measured D) no visible effect because the body's physiological processes can cope with low doses of a toxicant E) the fact that no toxicant was introduced until the response line begins to rise Answer: D 168 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.4 Studying Effects of Hazards Learning Outcome: 10.4 5) The curve shown in (c) is most similar to which of the following effective dose responses?

A) the effect of lead on children's brains B) the effect of an estrogen mimic on the reproductive system of fish C) the effect of asbestos on human lungs D) the effect of radon on human lungs E) the effect of ultraviolet radiation on skin cells Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 10.4 Studying Effects of Hazards Learning Outcome: 10.4 6) A is an organism, such as a mosquito, that transmits a disease-causing organism to a host.

A) vector B) virus C) bacterium D) vehicle E) fungus Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.1 Environmental Health Learning Outcome: 10.1 7)

are examples of naturally occurring biological hazards.

A) Crude oil seeps and radon gas B) DDT and DDE C) Phthalates and bisphenol A D) Carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas E) Viruses and Salmonella Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.1 Environmental Health Learning Outcome: 10.1 8) Which of the following is a cultural hazard?

A) a high-fat diet B) an earthquake 169 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) Zika virus D) UV radiation from the sun E) flooding Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.1 Environmental Health Learning Outcome: 10.1 9) Infectious disease accounts for

% of deaths globally.

A) less than 1 B) 17 C) 30 D) 40 E) almost 50 Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.1 Environmental Health Learning Outcome: 10.1 10) A person is more likely to die of

than any other cause.

A) old age B) infectious disease C) starvation D) cardiovascular disease E) cancer Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.1 Environmental Health Learning Outcome: 10.1 11)

is a naturally occurring substance that seeps up from the ground and is potentially toxic to people.

A) Radon gas B) DDE C) Bisphenol A D) Crude oil E) Salmonella Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.1 Environmental Health Learning Outcome: 10.1 12)

are examples of indoor chemical hazards.

170 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) BPA and PCBs B) DDT and DDE C) Radon and asbestos D) Petroleum and pesticides E) Wastewater toxicants Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.1 Environmental Health Learning Outcome: 10.1 13) Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring focuses primarily on the environmental problems associated with .

A) aquifer depletion B) pesticide toxicity C) invasive species D) overpopulation E) deforestation Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.2 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Organisms Learning Outcome: 10.2 14)

are substances that cause cancer.

A) Allergens B) Teratogens C) Carcinogens D) Neurotoxins E) Vectors Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.2 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Organisms Learning Outcome: 10.2 15) Carcinogens may be difficult to identify because

.

A) they are the least common toxicants B) there is a long lag time between exposure to the agent and disease C) they are rare in nature D) there is no way to measure the carcinogenic potential of a substance E) most are invisible Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.2 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Organisms 171 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 10.2 16) The effect of toxicants on fetuses and young children

.

A) is greater because of their developmental immaturity, rapid growth, and smaller biomass B) is less than for adults because their metabolism is higher C) has not raised concern among environmental health professionals D) has been thoroughly evaluated for every chemical released into both indoor and outdoor environments E) is generally the same for adults Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.2 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Organisms Learning Outcome: 10.2 17)

are substances that cause birth defects.

A) Allergens B) Teratogens C) Carcinogens D) Neurotoxins E) Vectors Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.2 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Organisms Learning Outcome: 10.2 18) Toxicants that cause harm by triggering overactivation of the immune system are called .

A) neurotoxins B) allergens C) teratogens D) hormones E) antibiotics Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.2 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Organisms Learning Outcome: 10.2 19) All of the following statements are true of allergens EXCEPT: A) Allergens trigger an immune response when one is not necessary.

B) Everyone is affected by an allergen at a high enough dose.

C) Asthma can be triggered by allergies.

172 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) Synthetic chemicals may trigger allergic reactions.

E) A person's response to an allergen does not necessarily correlate with the degree of exposure.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.2 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Organisms Learning Outcome: 10.2 20)

are toxicants that interrupt essential biochemical processes in organisms by blocking one or more steps in important biochemical reactions.

A) Neurotoxins B) Pathway inhibitors C) Mutagens D) Carcinogens E) Insecticides Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.2 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Organisms Learning Outcome: 10.2 21) Bisphenol A is

.

A) an estrogen mimic used in plastic manufacturing B) produced when fossil fuels are burned C) released from aerosol spray cans D) a currently used herbicide E) a banned insecticide Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.2 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Organisms Learning Outcome: 10.2 22) Acute exposure to an environmental toxin

.

A) involves low levels of exposure over long periods of time B) makes it difficult to associate the symptoms with a cause C) is a high exposure over short times and associated with a specific cause D) is usually untreatable and fatal E) is the case with chronic alcohol and nicotine abuse Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.2 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Organisms Learning Outcome: 10.2 23) Which of the following statements about chronic versus acute exposure is true?

173 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) Acute exposure to a toxicant is more difficult to study than chronic exposure.

B) Safe levels for chronic exposure to a toxicant are lower than safe levels for acute exposure.

C) Chronic levels of a toxicant are assessed for individuals with chronic conditions such as arthritis.

D) A person has experienced acute exposure if the exposure was at high levels for a long period of time.

E) A person getting an x-ray is experiencing chronic exposure to radiation, whereas the radiologist is trying to minimize levels of acute exposure.

Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 10.2 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Organisms Learning Outcome: 10.2 24) Why are many contaminants found at higher concentrations in polar bears and people living in Greenland than they are in bears and people living in temperate and tropical areas?

A) There are fewer regulations regarding the release of toxic pollutants in Greenland than in other regions of the world.

B) Polar bears and people living in Greenland eat penguins, which are naturally high in toxic contaminants.

C) Global atmospheric circulation carries airborne toxins toward the poles, where their deposition exceeds evaporation.

D) Most of Greenland's G DP comes from importing toxic chemicals for disposal deep beneath its ice sheets.

E) The ice sheets in Greenland, which provide both people and polar bears with fresh water, were contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3 25) Transport of airborne toxicants, a specific problem in agricultural environments, is called pesticide .

A) leaching B) drift C) run-off D) transposition E) globalization Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3 174 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

26) Which of the following describes a scenario involving pesticide drift?

A) Pesticides run off into a local waterway that flows into a nearby fishing lake, killing some of the sensitive species of fish that live in the lake.

B) Pesticides leach into groundwater aquifers, sickening those who use the aquifers for drinking water.

C) Pesticides contain carcinogens that cause cancer in the workers using the chemicals.

D) Pesticides are copied by companies producing generic varieties, but the generic varieties have greater toxic effects than the original pesticides.

E) Pesticides being used in a mountain valley are carried by air currents into the surrounding hills, killing amphibians living in the hills' streams.

Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3 27) Aquatic animals such as fish and frogs are especially good indicators of water pollution because .

A) they are easy to catch B) these organisms are the most abundant on Earth C) most chemicals are water soluble so they enter these organisms through drinking or skin absorption D) all chemical toxicants are found in water E) the metabolism of these organisms is most like ours Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3 28)

is/are biodegradable and known to have (a) short persistence time(s).

A) DDT B) DDE C) PCBs D) PBDEs E) Bt toxin Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3 29) DDT, DDE, PCBs, and PBDEs are all

.

A) biodegradable and do not persist in the environment B) teratogens 175 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) nonbiodegradable and subject to bioaccumulation and/or biomagnification D) toxic at the organism level but not at the ecosystem level E) approved for use as pesticides by the E PA Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3 30) What are the properties of toxicants that are likely to build up in animals through bioaccumulation?

A) They are nonbiodegradable and lipid soluble.

B) They are biodegradable and water soluble.

C) They are gases that are readily carried by pesticide drift.

D) They contain nitrogen and sulfur.

E) They are carcinogenic and mutagenic.

Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3 31) The concentration of DDT in a certain lake is 0.0000003 ppm (parts per million), while the concentration of DDT in the tissues of a nearby osprey (a fish-eating bird) is 25 p p m. This is an example of .

A) bioreduction B) bioremediation C) biodegradation D) biomagnification E) biotruncation Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3 32) The bald eagle, osprey, and peregrine falcon all are

.

A) found only in Florida B) U.S. invasive species C) overhunted for their feathers D) extinct E) top consumers susceptible to eggshell damage caused by D DT Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3 176 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

33) Alligators in polluted lakes in Florida have been shown to have a higher prevalence of than alligators in uncontaminated lakes.

A) lung cancer B) mercury poisoning C) suicide D) reproductive abnormalities E) lead poisoning and poaching Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.4 Studying Effects of Hazards Learning Outcome: 10.4

34) Your friend is somehow convinced that water is toxic and wants to test the toxicity of water on corn plants. After providing different amounts of water to different groups of corn plants for the duration of a growing season, your friend graphs the results. The graph is most likely to look like which of the dose-response curves depicted above?

A) A B) B C) C D) D E) E Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 10.4 Studying Effects of Hazards Learning Outcome: 10.4 35) Synergistic effects of toxicants

.

177 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) have effects of individual toxicants that tend to cancel one another out B) typically exhibit additive effects of the individual toxicants C) are not numerous in the natural environment D) are greater than the sum of the effects of the components E) always involve synthetic toxicants Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.4 Studying Effects of Hazards Learning Outcome: 10.4 36) Studies of endocrine disruptors have shown that they are closely associated with all of the following EXCEPT: A) gonadal abnormalities.

B) lung cancer.

C) erectile dysfunction.

D) male feminization.

E) thyroid hormone abnormalities.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.4 Studying Effects of Hazards Learning Outcome: 10.4 37) The book Our Stolen Future was important because it

.

A) was the first book that discussed water pollution problems in Lake Apopka B) was the first book that discussed environmental problems with D DT C) was the first book to focus on the impacts of endocrine-disrupting chemicals D) was the first book to dispute claims in Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring E) is credited with starting the environmental movement in the United States Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.4 Studying Effects of Hazards Learning Outcome: 10.4 38) A risk manager would do which of the following?

A) assess the LD50 level of a new herbicide B) determine the neurological effects of a new herbicide C) establish rules restricting the use of a new herbicide D) determine the level of exposure of farm workers to a new herbicide E) set the purchase price of a new herbicide Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.5 Risk Assessment and Risk Management 178 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 10.5 39) According to the precautionary principle, we should

.

A) halt the manufacture and use of synthetic chemicals B) levy large fines against companies that manufacture toxic substances C) do extensive government scientific testing before restricting a chemical for use D) allow industry to do their own research to determine if a chemical is safe E) restrict any chemical that is suspected of toxicity until it is demonstrated to be safe Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.5 Risk Assessment and Risk Management Learning Outcome: 10.5 40) Pesticides in the United States are registered through the

.

A) FDA B) EPA C) USDA D) BLM E) PRA Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.5 Risk Assessment and Risk Management Learning Outcome: 10.6 41) The Toxic Substances Control Act regulates

.

A) industrial chemicals B) drugs C) pesticides D) food additives E) cosmetics Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 10.5 Risk Assessment and Risk Management Learning Outcome: 10.6 42) The passage of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act improves upon the Toxic Substances Control Act by directing the to review the potential toxicity of all industrial chemicals currently in use and by subjecting new chemicals to rigorous safety testing.

A) FDA B) EPA C) USDA 179 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) USFS E) PRA Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.5 Risk Assessment and Risk Management Learning Outcome: 10.6 43) Initiated in 2007, the REACH program

.

A) requires all chemicals imported into the United States to have a material safety data sheet B) was passed by the European Union to protect its citizens from unsafe chemicals C) replaced the Toxic Substances Control Act with a policy that was more strict regarding chemical safety D) protects European companies that have patented trade secrets from revealing the chemical information about their products E) regulates the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.5 Risk Assessment and Risk Management Learning Outcome: 10.6 44) The first goal of the Stockholm Convention is to

.

A) reduce global warming by preventing the manufacture of H FCFs B) reduce exposure to allergens and teratogens in developing countries C) end the use and release of 12 P OPs shown to be the most dangerous D) prevent the spread of A IDS E) educate women about birth control in developing countries Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.5 Risk Assessment and Risk Management Learning Outcome: 10.6 45) The "dirty dozen" POPs targeted by the Stockholm Convention include A) Dr. Pepper and Mountain Dew B) Bt toxin and isopropyl alcohol C) PCBs D) Roundup and glyphosate E) BPA and radon Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.5 Risk Assessment and Risk Management Learning Outcome: 10.6 180 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

Mercury is a heavy metal that occurs naturally in minerals and rocks. Release of mercury from natural sources has been relatively constant over time. However, anthropogenic release of mercury has increased significantly in recent years primarily due to increased fossil fuel mining and combustion. Mercury that is released into the air eventually ends up in soils or surface water. Once in water, microbes convert mercury into methyl mercury, which is absorbed quickly and concentrated in the tissues of predatory fish such as shark and swordfish. Large fish typically concentrate more mercury than small fish. People who eat fish with high methyl mercury concentrations can show tremors, deafness, muscle dysfunction, and attention deficits. Pregnant women and children are especially sensitive to methyl mercury's toxic effects. Learning disabilities and developmental delays are common in children who have been exposed to significant levels of methyl mercury.

46) Based on the specific health effects described above, mercury would be best classified as a(n) .

A) synergist B) neurotoxin C) carcinogen D) endocrine disruptor E) allergen Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.2 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Organisms Learning Outcome: 10.2 47) Mercury is to methylmercury as D DT is to

.

A) DDE B) DEP C) POP D) PCB E) PBP Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3 48) Mercury is not readily excreted. Instead, it is stored and concentrated in mammalian body tissues through a process called .

A) distillation B) toxification C) biomagnification D) bioaccumulation E) synergism 181 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3 49) As a result of , concentrations of methyl mercury are higher in large fish relative to concentrations in smaller fish.

A) distillation B) toxification C) biomagnification D) bioaccumulation E) synergism Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3 50) Pregnant women and children are warned not to eat certain kinds of fish that have high mercury content. Why do some fish tend to have higher mercury levels than other fish?

A) Some fish tend to thrive in habitats near factories that release high levels of mercury.

B) Fish that are high in the food chain eat prey that already have biomagnified levels of methylmercury, thus further biomagnifying the pollutant.

C) Fish that are high in the food chain eat prey that already have bioaccumulated levels of methylmercury, thus further bioaccumulating the pollutant.

D) Some species of fish live in areas that are more contaminated with methylmercury.

The species of fish living in those areas should be avoided.

E) The high levels of mercury are an adaptation to avoid predation by humans.

Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3 51) Which of the following U.S. agencies is primarily responsible for addressing issues regarding mercury pollution?

A) DOE B) EPA C) USDA D) BLM E) OSHA Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.5 Risk Assessment and Risk Management 182 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 10.5 52) Prior to 2005, no rules regulating mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants existed in the United States. This represents the .

A) precautionary principle B) innocent-until-proven-guilty approach C) dose-response initiative D) case-study approach E) Ames approach Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.5 Risk Assessment and Risk Management Learning Outcome: 10.5 10.2 Essay Questions 1) What does the field of environmental health encompass? 

  

Answer: The field of environmental health assesses environmental factors that influence human health and quality of life. It seeks to prevent adverse effects on human health and on ecological systems essential to environmental quality and long-term human well-being. The field encompasses four types of hazards: (1) physical, which includes blizzards, hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, and floods; (2) chemical, which involves exposure to natural and synthetic substances; (3) biological, which involves exposure to pathogenic organisms and viruses; and (4) cultural, which includes occupational, social, and behavioral exposure such as coal mining, driving, and smoking cigarettes.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.1 Environmental Health Learning Outcome: 10.1

2) Debate over the use of DDT to control malaria is likely to continue. However, over the past several decades, much has been learned about how this insecticide works and why its extensive use poses an environmental concern. Discuss three characteristics of this chemical that cause it to be problematic. 

Answer: DDT is a synthetic chemical, developed in the mid-1940s as an insecticide to be used against malaria. This chemical has many critical characteristics causing it to be particularly harmful to a wide array of warm-blooded organisms, including humans.

Its persistence, transport in the environment, and uptake by many nontarget organisms contribute significantly to its environmental health concerns. DDT is not easily broken down in the environment, and even its by-products are toxic. DDT's environmental persistence is estimated to vary between 30 and 100 years. Because it is sprayed over wide areas, it easily gets into water supplies and affects aquatic food webs. Because it is taken up by insects and other small organisms found in lower trophic levels, its ability to bioaccumulate in higher organisms in the food chain is dependent on its fat-solubility characteristic. That is, DDT is able to be stored in the 183 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

tissues of living organisms without breaking down, and this characteristic leads to its biomagnification in the food web. Organisms that feed on other organisms whose tissues have stored DDT are likely to store an even higher concentration. Some of the most well-documented environmental effects of DDT have been egg-shell thinning in birds of prey; however, cancer and developmental abnormalities have also been documented in amphibians and other higher vertebrates.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3

3) Explain what endocrine disruptors are, and give examples. Explain why endocrine disruptors are a problem for humans, and discuss why they have not been banned. 

  

Answer: Endocrine disruptors are toxicants that interfere with the body's hormones.

Examples include DDT and bisphenol A. Endocrine disruptors are problems for humans because human reproduction, growth, and development can be affected by hormone mimics. They have not been banned because scientific evidence for the problems they cause has been slow in coming. Research documenting endocrine disruptor effects is controversial because it is relatively new. Research poses economic threats to chemical manufacturers as well, such as the manufacturer of atrazine.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.4

4) Briefly comment on the research to determine the toxicity of bisphenol A (BPA). Also, explain why this topic represents a challenge to scientific integrity and credibility and the implications for national and international policies on this compound that depend on the research. 



Answer: Bisphenol A (B PA) has been implicated as a hormone (estrogen) mimic and disruptor in various species of mammals and in humans. Used in the manufacture of many plastic products, it is liable to leach out of the products, especially drinking bottles, and be ingested along with food, water, baby formula, etc. There is more than a 90% chance of the presence of BPA in any American's body. Research has shown that BPA is a potent hormone disruptor in mice. Recently, BPA has been implicated as a correlative factor in diabetes and cardiovascular disease. European studies have shown that BPA is also harming numerous wildlife species. Yet, there are different opinions, presumably based upon whether you look at peer-reviewed scientific studies or the opinions of industry, which tell us that unless you have human-based evidence, we are perfectly safe. This once again warns us to be sure to enquire about the funding sources of research where the profit motive is strong. Canada and many European countries have banned the use of many kinds of phthalates, and in 2012, the FDA banned the use of BPA in baby bottles. With conflicting information from industry and federally sponsored research, the E PA and FDA are in the process of trying to formulate policy for managing the risk from BPA. Diff: 3 184 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

 

Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3

5) Describe the environmental factors and chemical properties that determine the rate of degradation of toxicants. 

  

Answer: Environmental factors such as temperature, moisture, available oxygen, and sun exposure can affect the rate of degradation of toxicants. The chemistry of the toxicant would determine how it is degraded and to what extent these environmental factors affect its degradation. Atrazine is an example of a toxicant that has variable persistence, depending on environmental conditions. Biodegradable toxicants are quickly broken down under conditions that favor the sustenance of the organisms degrading them. DDT, PCBs, and toxicants used in the manufacture of plastics, however, resist breakdown under most environmental conditions, and often, they are specifically designed not to degrade.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3

6) Explain and give an example of biomagnification. Identify two key characteristics of toxins that become biomagnified. 

  

Answer: When one organism ingests a toxicant, the toxicant may become concentrated within its tissues. When the higher level consumer feeds, it eats multiple organisms at the lower trophic level, consuming magnified quantities of toxin with each feeding. Thus, with every step up the food chain from primary producer to top predator, concentrations of toxicant increase. An example of biomagnification in nature is when birds of prey consume toxic amounts of DDT because they eat big fish that have eaten small fish that have eaten zooplankton that have eaten algae that have ingested small amounts of DDT from polluted water. Another example of biomagnification in nature is seen in polar bears of Svalbard Island in Arctic Norway.

Polar bears fed on seals that have already experienced biomagnification of toxicants such as PCBs. Properties that biomagnified toxins have in common are that they are lipid soluble and nonbiodegradable or slowly degradable.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.3 Toxic Substances and Their Effects on Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 10.3

7) What are epidemiological studies, and what is their value? Are there any disadvantages to epidemiological studies? 

Answer: Epidemiological studies involve large-scale comparisons among groups of people, usually contrasting a group known to have been exposed to a toxicant with a group that has not. They allow for the risk of exposure to a toxicant to be determined.

They are realistic, but a long time is required for the results of the studies to be determined. Furthermore, they do not address future effects of new products. Results of epidemiological studies must be interpreted cautiously because many factors affect 185 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

health, and results do not determine cause and effect; they only measure statistical association.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.4 Studying Effects of Hazards Learning Outcome: 10.4

8) Briefly explain dose-response analysis. 

  

Answer: Dose-response analysis allows scientists to quantify the toxicity of a given substance by measuring how much effect a toxicant produces at different doses or how many animals are affected by different doses of the toxic agent. Dose is the amount of toxicant the test animal receives, and the response is the type or magnitude of negative effects the animal exhibits as a result. The relationship between dose and response can vary from one kind of toxicant to another. Some toxicants are only harmful at high concentrations, while others may have a more unusual dose-response relationship and be more harmful at low or intermediate doses.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.4 Studying Effects of Hazards Learning Outcome: 10.4

9) Explain risk assessment and risk management. Discuss how risk management combines science and other social factors. 

  

Answer: The first step in risk assessment determines whether a substance has toxic effects by measuring dose-response effects of toxicant exposure. The second step assesses the likely exposure that an individual will have to the toxicant including frequency, concentration, and time of exposure. Risk management consists of decisions and strategies to minimize risk. Federal agencies charged with managing risk consider findings in light of economic, social, and political needs and values.

Costs and benefits are addressed with regard to both scientific and nonscientific concerns. While economic benefits are generally known, easily quantified, and of a definite and stable amount, health risks are hard-to-measure probabilities that impact a small percentage of people that will suffer greatly. For example, if a pesticide is used, people may suffer, but if it is not used, people may not have enough to eat. Both costs must be considered before banning the pesticide.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.5 Risk Assessment and Risk Management Learning Outcome: 10.5

10) How is the precautionary principle used in environmental health? What is an alternative philosophical approach? 

Answer: The precautionary principle states that substances, such as potential toxicants, are assumed to be harmful until shown to be harmless. This approach allows us to identify troublesome toxicants before they are released into the environment, but it may also significantly impede the pace of technological and economic advances. Thoroughly testing every existing substance for its effects is 186 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

long, complicated, and expensive. So some may favor the innocent-until-proven-guilty approach. This approach assumes that substances are harmless until shown to be harmful. This approach may lead to putting substances into wide use that may later turn out to be dangerous.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 10.5 Risk Assessment and Risk Management Learning Outcome: 10.6

Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 11 Geology, Minerals, and Mining 11.1 Multiple Choice Questions

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) The data in this figure indicate that

.

A) all the metals will be available at current prices for between 100 and 400 years B) metals are renewable resources C) using current technology, the prices of lead and zinc will decline in the next century D) if consumption rates of these metals rise, the price should come down E) at current rates of consumption, metals will become scarcer Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.7 2) All else being equal, increased recycling will

.

187 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) increase the amount of economically recoverable metals B) increase the lifetime of economically recoverable metals C) cause a sharp rise in the price of metals D) shift extraction and mining methods to technically recoverable metals E) result in discoveries of new metal deposits Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.7 3) Increasing consumption of metals will

.

A) have no effect on price B) force prices lower as nations compete for limited resources C) raise prices as nations compete for limited resources D) increase the lifetime of economically recoverable metal deposits E) have the smallest effect on the price of lead, zinc, and copper, but largest for titanium Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.7 4) We can conclude from the data in the figure that

.

A) our collective use of metal resources is unsustainable B) we are currently using metals sustainably C) after 400 years, all the metals shown will have entirely disappeared from Earth D) recycling, reducing consumption, and finding alternative materials will not keep prices from rising E) known global reserves are increasing to keep pace with consumption Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.7 5) The data in the figure indicate that all of the metals shown will

.

A) eventually become unavailable, even with current technological capabilities B) never be exhausted C) be available for at least 500 more years D) be easily replaced by other metals E) become less expensive to extract over time Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use 188 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 11.7 6) Coltan ore contains

.

A) coal B) tantalum C) uranium D) aluminum E) cobalt Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.1 Geology: The Physical Basis for Environmental Science Learning Outcome: 11.3 7) Tantalum is used primarily for the manufacture of

.

A) electronics, such as cell phones, computers, and digital cameras B) high-quality steel C) plastics D) aerospace engines and aircraft hulls E) pesticides, fertilizers, and biodiesel fuel Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.1 Geology: The Physical Basis for Environmental Science Learning Outcome: 11.3 8) Earth's mantle

.

A) is formed by plate boundaries B) is the outermost part of the earth's crust C) is located in Pangaea D) surrounds the core as a thick, elastic rock formation E) is composed of molten metals Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.1 Geology: The Physical Basis for Environmental Science Learning Outcome: 11.1 9) The lithosphere consists of

.

A) the upper mantle and core B) the uppermost mantle and the continental and oceanic crust C) the upper part of the asthenosphere D) soils and vegetation E) magma and molten metal Answer: B 189 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.1 Geology: The Physical Basis for Environmental Science Learning Outcome: 11.1 10) Minerals are components of

.

A) the troposphere B) sedimentary rocks C) the lithosphere D) soil horizons E) organic components of Earth's crust Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.1 Geology: The Physical Basis for Environmental Science Learning Outcome: 11.1 11) Plate tectonic movement results from

.

A) unstable surface rock formations B) molten materials from the core escaping to the surface C) high surface winds and erosion D) convective movements of rock in the underlying mantle E) mass wasting Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.1 Geology: The Physical Basis for Environmental Science Learning Outcome: 11.1 12) At plate boundaries, tectonic plates are pushed away from each other when magma rises to the surface, creating new crust.

A) convergent B) divergent C) transform D) subvergent E) trench Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 11.1 Geology: The Physical Basis for Environmental Science Learning Outcome: 11.1 13) A is a naturally occurring solid chemical element or inorganic compound with a distinct composition and a crystal structure.

A) rock B) sediment 190 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) mineral D) nutrient E) horizon Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.1 Geology: The Physical Basis for Environmental Science Learning Outcome: 11.1 14) A(n)

is a solid aggregation of

.

A) mineral; rocks B) crystal; rocks C) mineral; crystals D) element; crystals E) rock; minerals Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.1 Geology: The Physical Basis for Environmental Science Learning Outcome: 11.1 15)

forms when magma or lava cools.

A) Igneous rock B) A subduction zone C) Metamorphic rock D) Deposition E) Sedimentary rock Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.1 Geology: The Physical Basis for Environmental Science Learning Outcome: 11.1 16) Sedimentary rock is formed

.

A) by the melting of metamorphic rock B) from the heating of igneous rock by the heat of Earth's core C) when igneous rock cools D) from the vaporization of organic material by magma E) as sediments are pressed together and infiltrated by minerals Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.1 Geology: The Physical Basis for Environmental Science Learning Outcome: 11.1 17) The Pacific "ring of fire" is a volcanic area where 191 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

A) there is a great deal of mass wasting B) sedimentary rock is being formed from igneous rock C) pyroclastic flow has caused landslides D) there are many earthquakes and active plate boundaries E) there is severe coastal erosion Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.2 Geologic and Natural Hazards Learning Outcome: 11.2 18) Earthquakes are likely to occur

.

A) where the mantle and the crust make contact B) where there is movement along tectonic plate boundaries C) as a result of volcanic activity D) at the boundaries of igneous and sedimentary rock E) in areas far from tectonic plate boundaries Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.2 Geologic and Natural Hazards Learning Outcome: 11.2 19) Volcanoes are formed

.

A) when Earth's core erupts onto the surface B) where Earth's crust is especially thick C) in subduction zones and rift valleys D) after earthquakes have damaged Earth's crust E) as a result of water seeping into the core from the surface Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.2 Geologic and Natural Hazards Learning Outcome: 11.2 20) Tsunamis are caused by

.

A) abnormally high and sustained winds B) abrupt changes in temperature of seawater C) global climate change D) hot water entering the oceans from undersea faults E) the displacement of sea water by volcanoes, earthquakes or coastal landslides Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.2 Geologic and Natural Hazards Learning Outcome: 11.2 192 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

21) If a mineral is opaque, lustrous, malleable, and can conduct heat and electricity, it is a(n) .

A) element B) gemstone C) radioactive element D) metal E) crystal Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.3 Earth's Mineral Resources Learning Outcome: 11.3 22) Most metals, such as iron and copper, do not occur in a pure state in Earth's crust, but occur within .

A) igneous rocks B) ores C) organic materials D) the O horizon of the soil E) sediments Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.3 Earth's Mineral Resources Learning Outcome: 11.3 23) Smelting of iron ore involves

.

A) crushing and heating the ore at its melting point B) heating beyond iron's melting point and combining the material with carbon C) washing the ore with acid to extract iron D) dissolving the ore in hot water to separate iron and aluminum E) oxidizing iron to ferric oxide and then adding silicon and boron Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.3 Earth's Mineral Resources Learning Outcome: 11.3 24) Examples of valuable nonmetallic minerals extracted by mining include A) gold, platinum, and copper B) nitrogen, hydrogen, and neon C) lead, cadmium, and mercury D) sand, gravel, and phosphates E) radon, radium, and sodium Answer: D 193 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.3 Earth's Mineral Resources Learning Outcome: 11.3 25) If you want to avoid buying a "blood diamond," you should avoid purchasing .

A) any rose-colored diamonds B) a diamond from Sierra Leone C) a diamond mined from a subsurface mine in the Ukraine D) a synthetically produced diamond E) a diamond that has been manufactured from mercury via alchemy Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 11.3 Earth's Mineral Resources Learning Outcome: 11.3 26) Many types of mining, such as for coal, produce a specific type of water pollution called A) eutrophication B) acid drainage C) chlorinated pesticides D) sludge E) suspended limestone particles Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.4 Mining Methods and Their Impacts Learning Outcome: 11.5 27) Subsurface mining is used extensively in the extraction of A) coltan B) coal, diamonds, and gold C) oil sands D) limestone, natural gas, and peat E) organic soils for landscaping Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.4 Mining Methods and Their Impacts Learning Outcome: 11.4 28) Heavy landscape damage and water pollution have occurred in result of .

A) Canada; subsurface mining for oil sands B) Florida; open pit mining of limestone 194 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

as a

C) Appalachia; mountaintop removal mining for coal D) San Francisco; placer mining for gold E) Mississippi; strip mining for uranium Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.4 Mining Methods and Their Impacts Learning Outcome: 11.4 29) Placer mining involves the use of

.

A) draglines and heavy dump trucks B) screens or pans and running water C) explosives and support beams D) a pickaxe and rock hammer E) seismic activators and thermal couplers Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.4 Mining Methods and Their Impacts Learning Outcome: 11.4 30) Placer mining is environmentally damaging because most placer mining methods .

A) inject toxic solutions deep into the ground B) remove large amounts of surface soil and rock, leading to wide-scale erosion C) wash large amounts of sediments into streams, making the streams uninhabitable for many forms of aquatic life D) create large open pits that fill up with groundwater and react with sulfides to form sulfuric acid E) lead to acid drainage that affects nearby streams and rivers Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.4 Mining Methods and Their Impacts Learning Outcome: 11.5 31) The U.S. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 requires A) mining companies to post bonds to cover restoration of mined areas before permits are granted B) 20% of sales revenues to be donated to national park maintenance C) restoration of the identical ecosystem and biodiversity present before mining began D) no remediation of water pollution, except in the case of uranium mining E) all mined minerals to be processed and sold only within the United States Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.4 Mining Methods and Their Impacts 195 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

Learning Outcome: 11.6 32) The General Mining Act of 1872

.

A) requires remediation and reclamation of areas damaged by mining operations B) officially legalized mountaintop removal C) encouraged the prospecting for minerals on federal lands D) was named after a Civil War general who died at the Battle of Gettysburg E) legalized the mining for gold in California Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 11.4 Mining Methods and Their Impacts Learning Outcome: 11.6 33) According to critics, the U.S. General Mining Act of 1872

.

A) opened mining rights to foreign nations that staked claims on U.S. land B) made mining unprofitable except for the largest corporations C) had pollution and remediation clauses that were too strict D) allowed mining in urban centers with dense commercial development E) practically gave away resources located on public land Answer: E Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 11.4 Mining Methods and Their Impacts Learning Outcome: 11.6 34) At today's rate of consumption, the world's known reserves of tantalum will last about more years.

A) 2,016 B) 56 C) 377 D) 314 E) 80 Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.7 35) The mining of coltan in Congo and coal in Appalachia has produced issues of .

A) job losses and air pollution B) economic prosperity for local residents, but high prices for everyone else C) industrial smog D) environmental damage and socioeconomic injustice 196 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

E) black market activity for stolen and poached minerals Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.5 36) Longer projected lifetimes for scarce minerals can be achieved with all of the following, EXCEPT: A) lowering prices for products using these minerals.

B) finding more available substitutes for these minerals.

C) recycling.

D) exploring for new mineral reserves.

E) researching more efficient extraction techniques.

Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.7 37) The newest bonanza for recycling scarce and toxic metals is to recover them from .

A) car batteries B) construction dump sites C) closed landfills D) e-wastes E) compact discs, LPs, and 8-track tapes Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.7 38) The dwindling supplies of rare strategic metals such as indium, tantalum, and platinum may be extended if we rigorously .

A) exploit known deposits more efficiently B) relax environmental requirements for mining C) recycle existing supplies D) reduce demands for social and economic justice E) increase demand for the products in which they are used Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.7 39) In 2010, geologists from the U.S. military discovered nearly $1 trillion worth of 197 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

minerals in

.

A) Vietnam B) Iraq C) Nevada D) Afghanistan E) Peru Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.7 40) Recycled tantalum accounts for approximately manufacturing.

of its availability for use in

A) 5-10% B) 25-30% C) one-third D) half E) 87% Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.7 41) All of the following metals are found in cell phones EXCEPT: A) gold.

B) copper.

C) platinum.

D) silver.

E) sodium.

Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.3 42) It takes recycled sources.

energy to produce aluminum from ore than to obtain it from

A) 20 times more B) 20 times less C) roughly the same amount of D) 7 times more E) 7 times less Answer: A 198 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.7 43) Bauxite ore is a source of

.

A) lead B) tantalum C) aluminum D) coal E) coltan Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.7 Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

In 2010, geologists working for the U.S. military operations in Afghanistan discovered a literal treasure trove of mineral deposits with a preliminary estimated value at nearly U.S. $1 trillion. So far, no proposals have been made for extracting these resources, but already parallels have been drawn to the many dimensions of human rights issues that have plagued coltan production in the Congo, oil drilling in Nigeria, and the "blood diamonds" of Sierra Leone.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (U SAID) manages a program called the Mining Investment and Development for Afghanistan Sustainability (M IDAS) project, whose goal is to assist the Afghan government in responsibly developing the nation's mining industry.

44) You have been appointed as a chief advisor for the MIDAS project. As far as costs of restoration and reclamation of mining sites, you should strongly recommend that .

A) the Afghan central government should take responsibility for all costs incurred B) the U.S. military should take responsibility for all costs incurred C) any corporation wishing to invest should post a bond for reclamation and hire Afghans to do the work D) the U.S. EPA should oversee the operation and pay for it E) the costs be shared by the Afghan central government and also by the most powerful tribal leaders Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.5 45) USAID is likely to do or support all of the following actions EXCEPT: A) deploy mineral exploration teams of Afghani geologists and engineers to search for 199 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

mineral deposits.

B) provide technical assistance to Afghanistan's Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.

C) train Afghanis to become mining technicians.

D) encourage international mining corporations to regulate mining activities in Afghanistan.

E) aid in environmental protection and help plan future reclamation of mined areas.

Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.5 46) For the Afghan people, which of the following would be the most useful benefit from mining profits?

A) permanent enclaves of foreign scientists and mine managers located near mining sites B) training for Afghan mining technicians and establishment of Afghan mining institutes C) creation of improved roads into and around mining sites for corporate transport and mining machinery D) use of the U.S. military to provide security at mines E) establishment of high-end tourist hotels for visiting foreign mine executives and their families Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.5 11.2 Essay Questions 1) Briefly discuss the relationship between plate tectonics, volcanic activity, earthquakes, and tsunamis. 



Answer: The earth's crust and mantle are not completely solid and stationary. Heat from the core melts the overlying mantle rocks to produce magma or lava. The mantle moves in slow convective currents as hot rock rises, cools, and sinks back toward the core to be heated again. The semi-fluid upper mantle moves against the outer crust, producing movements called plate tectonics. Where plates collide and one dives under another (subduction), diverge and spread apart (rift valleys), or slide past one another, the movements can cause shock waves that we feel as earthquakes. Or, crust movements in faults may expose the underlying liquid mantle, which erupts upwards, creating a volcano. When earthquakes and volcanic activity occur under the ocean, there may be a sudden displacement of enormous amounts of sea water. The force of the displacement may travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers until it reaches a shoreline, producing a tsunami. It was an underwater earthquake that caused the devastating tsunami that struck northern Japan in April 2011.

Diff: 3 200 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

 

Topic/Section: 11.2 Geologic and Natural Hazards Learning Outcome: 11.2

2) Discuss the major environmental impacts of mining operations. 

  

Answer: Because mineral resources are solids that are part of the Earth's crust, extracting them can involve serious ecological disruptions, landscape alteration, and sometimes large-scale pollution of water and air. Mountaintop removal is a technique of coal extraction in which more than 100 vertical meters of a mountaintop are blasted and removed to expose deposits. This causes debris to rain down the hillsides, clogging and polluting stream sources and thus water supplies, destroying wildlife habitats, and causing the loss of biodiversity. In the case of mining in Appalachia, physical destruction of homes and other buildings also occurs. Smelting of iron and other ores may produce large of amounts of sulfur oxides, which cause acid precipitation and ecosystem destruction. In mining operations that require extraction and washing techniques, streams and groundwater are likely to become contaminated by sulfates (acidification) and soluble toxic metal ions such as aluminum, manganese, cadmium, and nickel. In addition, other chemicals used in the extraction process may be present in mine tailings and cause further water pollution. The operations of strip mining and open-pit mining remove extensive areas of native vegetation, damage fertile soils, and increase rates of erosion. They also can cause acid drainage, when sulfide ores are exposed to and oxidized by atmospheric oxygen. The sulfates thus formed are mixed with rainwater and cause the same sorts of damage to soils and plants found in acid deposition from coal-fired industries and electrical generating plants.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.4 Mining Methods and Their Impacts Learning Outcome: 11.5

3) Briefly discuss the economic and social justice issues that can arise from mining operations. 

Answer: We live in a global and interdependent economic system. Materials for manufacturing can easily be drawn from several continents before the item in question (for example, cellular telephones) comes off the conveyor belt. With costs of extraction, processing, transportation, refining, marketing, and finally assembly of product, international corporations are constantly looking for ways to keep costs low and make their product competitive. That said, often the nations or domestic regions that actually extract minerals are not given the humane and environmental consideration they deserve. Furthermore, when minerals are extracted from areas that are in the process of civil war or have weak central governments, workers may be mercilessly exploited and the in-region profits co-opted by militias, government officials, or war lords. The result of these mining operations can be the direct financing of war, slavery, ethnic strife, and the economic disenfranchisement of the field workers, most of whom are desperately poor. This has been the case of petroleum extraction in Nigeria, coltan mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and "blood" diamond mining in Sierra Leone. Even in the United States, the plight of people living in the Appalachians under control of large coal-mining corporations have suffered 201 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

from the results of mountaintop removal mining techniques. Hope may dawn on this grim scene as public awareness and outrage at these events are prompting action by several developed nations as well as the United Nations.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 11.4 Mining Methods and Their Impacts Learning Outcome: 11.5

4) Discuss the facets of sustainable mineral use. 

  

Answer: Minerals are nonrenewable resources and therefore need to be mined and utilized efficiently. Otherwise, scarce minerals such as indium, copper, gold, and tantalum will rapidly reach the depletion point, past which their extraction and processing will be prohibitively expensive. A cornerstone of sustainable mineral use is recycling. The greater the volume of recycled scarce mineral and the more efficient the recycling process, the longer the supplies will last and the longer we will have to discover more available, cheaper, and more renewable replacements. Practical goals are those already attained for gold, where more metal is recycled than consumed, and lead, where most of U.S. lead consumed comes from recycled items such as car batteries. Finally, new deposits need to be sought, and more efficient extraction technologies need to be developed.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 11.5 Toward Sustainable Mineral Use Learning Outcome: 11.7

Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 12 Fresh Water, Oceans, and Coasts 12.1 Multiple Choice Questions

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) Most of Earth's liquid fresh water is found

.

A) in ice caps and glaciers 202 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) in lakes C) underground D) in the oceans E) in the atmosphere Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.1 Freshwater Systems Learning Outcome: 12.1 2) Approximately

% of Earth's water is found in ice caps and glaciers.

A) 79 B) 20 C) 2.5 D) 2 E) 1 Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.1 Freshwater Systems Learning Outcome: 12.1 3) What percentage of Earth's water is found in lakes?

A) 97.5% B) 52% C) 1% D) 0.52% E) 0.013% Answer: E Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 12.1 Freshwater Systems Learning Outcome: 12.1 4) Which of the following statements is true?

A) The majority of Earth's fresh surface water is found in rivers.

B) Most of Earth's fresh water would require desalination in order to make it suitable for consumption.

C) Most of Earth's fresh water is found within 100 miles of densely populated areas.

D) Most of Earth's fresh water is frozen.

E) Soil and atmospheric moisture comprise the majority of Earth's surface fresh water.

Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.1 Freshwater Systems Learning Outcome: 12.1 203 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

5) What percentage of Earth's fresh water is found in oceans?

A) 97.5% B) 79% C) 2.5% D) 0% E) Cannot be determined from the information in the figure Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.1 Freshwater Systems Learning Outcome: 12.1 6) What percentage of Earth's fresh water is found in rivers?

A) 1% B) 0.1% C) 0.01% D) 0.001% E) 0% Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 12.1 Freshwater Systems Learning Outcome: 12.1 7) Which of the following statements about Earth's fresh water is true?

A) Most of Earth's fresh water is in large, freshwater lakes.

B) Most of Earth's fresh water is in polar ice caps, glaciers, and underground aquifers and thus is not easily accessed for human use.

C) Most of Earth's fresh water is in underground aquifers.

D) Over half of Earth's fresh water is extremely hard water and is largely unusable for drinking or agriculture.

E) Over half of Earth's fresh water is in wetlands near coastlines.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.1 Freshwater Systems Learning Outcome: 12.1 8) One-fifth of Earth's total fresh water supply is in A) ponds B) the ocean C) groundwater D) estuaries E) the tundra Answer: C 204 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.1 Freshwater Systems Learning Outcome: 12.1 9) Precipitation that falls on Earth's surface

.

A) is usually already unusable because of acid rain B) mostly runs off into salt marshes or the ocean C) almost entirely filters down into the underground aquifers D) may take a variety of pathways through surface water or groundwater flow E) is mostly taken up by plants or other organisms Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.1 Freshwater Systems Learning Outcome: 12.1 10) An artesian aquifer occurs where

.

A) there are several aquifers that have merged B) granite is overlain by a sandy substrate, allowing percolation into the aquifer C) an aquifer is trapped under pressure between two layers that are less permeable D) a well is dug through layers of sand and gravel into the water table E) a water-bearing, porous layer of rock, sand, or gravel has accumulated groundwater over a long period of time Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.1 Freshwater Systems Learning Outcome: 12.1 11) A watershed is

.

A) the area of land that drains into a river or lake B) an inland basin that connects to another inland basin C) a river that drains into the sea D) a term used to describe water stored underground E) the water held in the atmosphere prior to returning to Earth in the form of rainfall Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.1 Freshwater Systems Learning Outcome: 12.1 12) Emergent vegetation such as cattails and reeds grow in the lake.

A) aphotic B) limnetic 205 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

zone of a

C) benthic D) littoral E) profundal Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.1 Freshwater Systems Learning Outcome: 12.2 13) Which of the following best describes a floodplain?

A) a region of land that is periodically flooded when a river overflows B) an area that is periodically flooded because humans have altered the landscape C) an area that is incidentally flooded when farming or mining operations change the course of rivers D) an area where flood irrigation of crops is used, such as a rice paddy E) a region of land that has been deliberately, permanently flooded due to human disturbance, such as in dam building Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.1 Freshwater Systems Learning Outcome: 12.2 14) Freshwater wetlands provide important ecosystem services, including A) reducing flooding B) recharging aquifers C) filtering pollutants D) slowing runoff E) all of the above Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.1 Freshwater Systems Learning Outcome: 12.2 15) Upwelling

.

A) occurs in areas where there are no currents B) is the flow of warm water upward toward the ocean surface C) occurs when winds blow at right angles to a coastline D) brings benthic nutrients to the ocean surface promoting high primary productivity E) transports oxygen from deep to surface waters Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.2 The Oceans Learning Outcome: 12.2 206 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

16) Water in the surface zone of the ocean is, for the most part,

.

A) depleted of oxygen B) the coldest C) the densest D) the saltiest E) well-mixed Answer: E Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 12.2 The Oceans Learning Outcome: 12.2 17) The area that underlies the shallow water bordering continents is called the .

A) groundwater aeration zone B) water table C) continental shelf D) benthic zone E) pelagic zone Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.2 The Oceans Learning Outcome: 12.2 18) In thermohaline circulation of global current systems, surface water is A) saltier and colder B) cold and dense C) less salty, less dense, and warmer D) warm and dense E) driven by winds from north to south Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 12.2 The Oceans Learning Outcome: 12.2 19) The rapid melting of Greenland's ice cap could disrupt the N ADW formation by .

A) adding heat and salt to deep ocean waters B) adding huge amounts of less-dense fresh water to the surface of the system C) acidifying ocean water D) adding excess nutrients to cold northern waters E) reversing the El Niño-La Niña cycle Answer: B 207 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 12.2 The Oceans Learning Outcome: 12.2 20) The exceptionally strong warming of the eastern Pacific is referred to as

.

A) the Coriolis effect B) La Niña C) El Niño D) cyclonic storm formation E) downwelling Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.2 The Oceans Learning Outcome: 12.2 21) Which of the following statements is true regarding the future risks of decadal (11-year) and multidecadal (35-year) droughts in the southwestern United States and Great Plains?

A) Models indicate that the southwestern United States, including California, is more likely to experience these long-term droughts in the latter half of the 21st century, and much of the agricultural loss in that region will have to be offset in the Central Plains, where models indicate a very low probability of long-term drought.

B) Although El Niño patterns have caused short-term droughts in California and the Central Plains, neither region is expected to experience long-term droughts during the latter half of the 21st century.

C) Fewer multidecadal droughts are likely, but more decadal droughts are expected to occur during the latter half of the 21st century.

D) Although the future risks of decadal droughts are low for both regions, multidecadal droughts are expected to occur in both areas during the latter half of the 21st century.

E) Models indicate that both regions are more likely to experience decadal and multidecadal droughts in the latter half of the 21st century than during the latter half of the 20th century.

Answer: E Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 12.3 Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 12.2 22) Water bodies where rivers flow into the oceans, mixing fresh water with saltwater, are called .

A) mangroves B) estuaries C) littoral ecosystems D) upwellings 208 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

E) salt marshes Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.3 Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 12.2 23) Salt marshes are

ecosystems, while mangroves are

.

A) tropical intertidal; found on temperate shorelines B) temperate intertidal; found on subtropical and tropical shorelines C) benthic; freshwater tropical ecosystems D) dominated by kelp; found in coral reefs E) freshwater; pelagic Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.3 Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 12.2 24) Zooxanthellae are

.

A) an endangered species of fish in the Aral Sea B) used in the treatment of wastewater C) bacteria that fix nitrogen in ocean sediments D) symbiotic algae that provide energy to many species of corals E) an invasive kelp species in the Indian Ocean Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.3 Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Learning Outcome: 12.2 25) Humans use more fresh water for

than for any other purpose.

A) household use B) cooking and drinking C) irrigating crops D) industrial processes E) producing hydrogen fuel Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.3 26) Humans allocate approximately 70% of their annual freshwater use for A) drinking and cooking B) washing and home use 209 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

C) agricultural irrigation and providing water for livestock D) mining and industrial processes E) electrical production Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.3 27) Data indicate that the present rate of freshwater consumption in most developed countries is .

A) sustainable for the foreseeable future B) unsustainable C) irrelevant, as water is not currently limiting D) only a problem in areas not on the coast E) increasing groundwater storage and decreasing surface water storage Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.3 28) Why was the irrigation of Soviet cotton farming operations a problem?

A) There was governmental opposition that limited water access, killing crops.

B) Irrigation water came from rivers feeding into one of the largest lakes on Earth and resulted in major contamination of that source.

C) It drained the Aral Sea and increased the salt content of soils.

D) It angered local resort communities, which did not want farming in the region.

E) It was, for the most part, not a problem.

Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.4 29) The resource allocation of the Colorado River's water is being complicated by .

A) the rapid growth of Las Vegas B) the large numbers of people moving out of Nevada C) sinkhole collapses in Arizona and southern California D) the rapid growth of vegetable farms in southern Arizona E) saltwater intrusion into the Colorado estuary near San Diego Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.4 210 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

30) Why is grain production in the Great Plains considered largely unsustainable?

A) The Ogallala aquifer is being depleted for irrigation water.

B) Competition with cattle ranching is resulting in a decline in crop production.

C) More and more people are becoming gluten intolerant, so there will be less and less demand for wheat, barley, and rye.

D) So many pesticides are needed for grain production that streams in the Great Plains are becoming dead zones.

E) The energetics of crop production in the Great Plains are such that more energy is needed to grow the crops than can be gotten from the crops.

Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.4 31) The initial consequence of falling water tables would be the loss of

.

A) trees that do best with low precipitation B) mammals that thrive in dry habitats C) birds that live in upland areas D) deep lakes E) agricultural irrigation water Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.4 32) Sinkholes can result from

.

A) overconsumption of water from aquifers B) building on floodplains C) flood damage and chemical erosion D) poorly drilled wells in soft soils E) substrates that become weak following rain Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.4 33) Recent research that analyzed the content of commercial bottled water indicates that .

A) bottled water has no contamination from hormone mimic plasticizers B) bottled water is no safer or purer than most samples of tap water C) bottled water is generally much safer and purer than tap water D) bottled water consumes less fossil fuel in reaching the consumer than does tap water 211 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

E) all surveyed brands had information about the source of the water and how the water was treated Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.3 34) Levees are used

.

A) to block water flow and hold water in a reservoir B) to pump water from an aquifer C) to prevent flooding and facilitate shipping D) to transport water from a river to an urban center E) along scenic byways so drivers can get a better view of a river Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.3 35) We build dams to

.

A) drain wetlands for urban development B) generate electricity, prevent flooding, and provide irrigation and drinking water C) control the spread of water borne diseases D) transform watersheds into farms, towns, and recreational areas E) improve habitat for native fish Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.3 36) Dam removal in the United States

.

A) is controversial because dams provide such good habitats for native species B) will probably continue because the environmental impacts of dams are reviewed periodically C) will assist with our transition to more natural forms of renewable energy D) provides many new jobs and opportunities and so is economically beneficial E) will probably increase rapidly as we move to a more fossil-fuel-dependent society Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.3 37) Xeriscaping can save water by

.

A) replacing landscaping plants with rocks, sand, and sculpture 212 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) creating wetlands instead of landscaping C) planting native or drought-resistant landscaping plants D) replacing lawns with artificial turf and gravel parking areas E) collecting rain water and storing it in cisterns or tanks Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 12.5 Solutions to Depletion of Fresh Water Learning Outcome: 12.4 38) Which of the following will contribute to water conservation?

A) using aerial sprays for crop irrigation B) planting nonnative wetland plants for landscaping C) washing dishes by hand D) watering lawns at night and landscaping with native plants E) watering lawns during peak sunlight hours, when plants need water most Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 12.5 Solutions to Depletion of Fresh Water Learning Outcome: 12.4 39) All of the following are examples of point sources of pollution EXCEPT: A) a sewer pipe.

B) a large farm.

C) an overturned tanker truck that spills into a creek.

D) a factory discharging wastes into a lake through a large outlet.

E) a car repair shop dumping waste oil into the storm drain.

Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.5 40) You want to maintain a healthy pond at your school site. Last year, another pond became eutrophic; to avoid that, you want to .

A) increase the carbon-based fertilizers in the littoral zone B) provide nitrogen for good nutrient mixing in the benthic zone C) increase the ozone in the littoral zone D) avoid increasing phosphorus runoff into the limnetic zone E) decrease the calcium available in the profundal zone Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.5 213 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

41) The fish in the lake at the local park are dying, and a professor from the local college comes to investigate. First, she measures the levels of dissolved oxygen in order to check for .

A) the presence of heavy metals B) the presence of bacteria C) hypoxia D) aquatic biodiversity E) the influence of acid precipitation Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.5 42) A key characteristic of aquatic dead zones is

.

A) a lack of water B) a low concentration of keystone species C) a high concentration of urban development D) a low concentration of oxygen E) low concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.5 43) The primary effect of thermal pollution on aquatic ecosystems is A) causing a large increase in plant productivity B) lowering the pH of the water C) depleting dissolved oxygen D) increased evaporation E) lowering the water table Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.5 44) Which of the following is one of the major pollutants of groundwater?

A) acid rain B) treated sewage from cities C) agricultural chemicals D) radon E) pathogenic microbes Answer: C 214 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.5 45) "Blue-baby" syndrome is a consequence of excess

in the water supply.

A) E. coli B) nitrates C) phosphates D) chlorine E) carbonation Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.5 46) Pathogens and waterborne diseases enter drinking water supplies from A) poorly treated wastewater and animal wastes from feed lots B) upwelling C) pesticides entering groundwater D) oil and chemical spills E) excess nitrogen and phosphorus as agricultural runoff Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.6 47) A septic system is

.

A) a toxic or badly polluted waterway B) a rural method of processing wastewater C) an early version of a wastewater treatment plant D) a second level mechanism to remove bacteria at a wastewater treatment plant E) the use of natural wetlands to cleanse wastewater Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.6 48) In a municipal wastewater treatment plant, the primary treatment step consists of .

A) micro-filtering the sewage B) chlorinating the sewage C) adding bacteria to the sewage 215 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

D) letting sewage sit in large tanks so suspended solids settle out E) stirring the sewage to increase oxidation Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.6 49) Wastewater that is stirred and aerated so that aerobic bacteria consume most of the small pieces of organic matter in the wastewater is being subjected to .

A) primary treatment B) tertiary treatment C) pretreatment D) secondary treatment E) basic treatment Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.6 50) "Biosolids" produced at a wastewater treatment plant are often

.

A) trucked to special biohazard landfills for disposal B) used as part of the "fill" to develop wetlands into agriculture or housing areas C) loaded onto barges and sent to underdeveloped countries to use as fertilizer D) used as crop fertilizer E) placed in deep injection wells to keep them out of the water table Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.6 51) Artificial wetlands

.

A) are the major program for replacing lost natural wetlands B) purify water for use as bottled drinking water C) are a source of arsenic contamination in Bangladesh D) are created using xeriscaping methods E) can help purify water and also provide recreational opportunities Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.6 52) Currently, the greatest ecological crisis facing marine food webs is 216 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

A) radiation B) oil spills C) plastic dumping D) overharvesting E) abandoned fishing nets Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.7 Emptying the Oceans Learning Outcome: 12.7 53) Bycatch

.

A) is fishing only at deep levels of the ocean B) is fishing only at the surface of the ocean C) is the practice of returning female and young fish back to the ocean D) refers to the accidental capture of animals E) is fishing for two species of fish concurrently Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.7 Emptying the Oceans Learning Outcome: 12.7 54) A 2003 study reported that % of large-bodied fish and sharks were lost since the advent of industrialized fishing.

A) 10 B) 20 C) 40 D) 50 E) 90 Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.7 Emptying the Oceans Learning Outcome: 12.7 55) Many present-day fishery managers

.

A) wish to set aside areas of ocean where systems can function without human interference B) want all laws regarding fishing to be abolished C) favor short-term solutions to marine ecosystem problems D) favor protection of commercially valuable species and not others E) favor taxes on commercial fishing boats Answer: A Diff: 2 217 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 12.7 Emptying the Oceans Learning Outcome: 12.8 56) Most marine protected areas

.

A) are in the open oceans B) have been established without the consent of the United States C) prohibit the installation if oil pipelines and fiber-optic cable lines within them D) are along the coastlines of developed nations E) ban fishing and extractive activities Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.7 Emptying the Oceans Learning Outcome: 12.8 57) Oceans have absorbed approximately one-third of the excess carbon dioxide that humans have added to the Earth's atmosphere so far. This has slowed the progression of global climate change, but it has led to .

A) an increase in the p H of the world's oceans B) loss of oxygen from the oceans C) a decrease in the p H (ocean acidification) D) increases in growth of coral reefs E) growth of oyster populations worldwide Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.7 Emptying the Oceans Learning Outcome: 12.7 Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

The formation of sinkholes has become a fairly common phenomenon in the state of Florida. Most sinkholes are small, but some sinkholes have led to catastrophic property damage and loss of life. One September day in 1999, folks began to notice that Lake Jackson in the panhandle region was shrinking. Within a few days, it was almost gone. A sinkhole had opened beneath the lake and drained it, along with all of the fish and alligators. Another sinkhole formed just 10 miles from Walt Disney World in August 2013, swallowing a 48-unit villa at Summer Bay Resort.

As aquifers lose water, their substrates can become weaker and less capable of supporting overlying strata and any human structures built upon them. In such cases, the land surface above may subside. Sometimes subsidence can occur locally and suddenly, in the form of sinkholes, areas where the ground gives way with little warning. Once the ground subsides, soil becomes compacted, losing the porosity that enabled it to hold water. Recharging a depleted aquifer may therefore become more difficult.

58) Sinkholes can occur when

.

A) too much weight above an aquifer causes it to cave in 218 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) the water level in an aquifer rises, pushing through to the surface C) the water in an artesian aquifer is under sufficient pressure that it breaks through to the surface D) excessive water use lowers a water table and weakens the substrate E) nonconsumptive use lowers an aquifer Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.4 59) Sinkholes are an extreme form of

.

A) aquifer B) water table C) subsidence D) artesian aquifer E) consumptive use Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.4 60) A serious problem that results from excessive water being withdrawn from aquifers is that .

A) the water tends to overflow and flood the entire area B) subsidence can occur, reducing the size of the aquifer C) the soils contaminate the aquifer, making it unfit for human use D) the aquifer increases in size, draining a larger surface area and leaving less water in rivers, streams, and lakes E) the aquifer decreases in size and new aquifers form Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.4 61) One reasonable way to prevent sinkholes might be to

.

A) install supports to maintain the shape of the underground aquifer B) increase groundwater recharge by constructing artificial wetlands that use treated municipal wastewater C) pump wastewater and sewage directly into the aquifer to maintain the water table D) have the local water company regularly transfer water from one local aquifer to the next, maintaining the average water level E) pump sand and gravel into the aquifer to fill in the bottom levels, thus raising the water table 219 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.4 62) According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the number of human-induced sinkholes has doubled since 1930. Insurance claims increased 1200% from 1987 to 1991, costing nearly $100 million. A major reason for this is .

A) global warming B) increased rainfall, raising the water level C) roadway construction, leading to increased runoff D) increased water consumption through development and urbanization E) decreases in agriculture Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.4 63) In July 2001, the town of Spring Hill, Florida, about 45 miles north of Tampa, had 18 sinkholes appear in a single day. The largest holes were nearly 100 feet deep. This is an indication that .

A) earthquakes had recently occurred, and the water table sank B) hurricanes had recently occurred, and the water table rose C) prolonged rainstorms had recently occurred, and the water table rose D) agriculture had increased, and the water table rose with irrigation recharge E) a drought had recently occurred, along with increased development and groundwater use Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.4 64) Besides drought and water removal, which of the following might also cause the water level of an aquifer to drop?

A) paving large areas of land B) placing rain gardens where water can run off into creeks C) removing water-loving invasive species such as Russian olive trees D) creating artificial wetlands along a creek E) removing levees along a river to allow for seasonal flooding of the floodplain Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways 220 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 12.4 12.2 Essay Questions 1) Explain the NADW in the context of global climate change. 

  

Answer: The North Atlantic Deep Water Circulation Pattern is a sort of conveyor belt that moves less salty (fresher), less dense warmer water from the equatorial zones northward, carrying heat to higher latitudes in the Atlantic Ocean, thus moderating Europe's climate. Recently, scientists have realized that interrupting the NADW could trigger climate change. If global warming causes large portions of the Greenland ice sheet to melt, freshwater runoff into the North Atlantic would increase. Surface waters would become less dense from the dilution and warming because warm freshwater is less dense than cold saltwater. This could stop the northward flow of warm equatorial water, whereby the entire North Atlantic region, including much of Europe, could cool rapidly as a result.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 12.2 The Oceans Learning Outcome: 12.2

2) Explain how warmer coastal waters resulting from global climate change may affect coral reefs. 

  

Answer: If water temperatures increase many species of coral will eject their zooxanthellae, subsequently bleaching and dying. Also, global climate change is strongly correlated with rising carbon dioxide levels, increasing amounts of which will dissolve in ocean waters. This produces acidification of ocean waters, and increased acidity increases the conversion of limestone, which comprises the corals' skeletal material, into soluble bicarbonate, i.e., increases the mortality of corals. On the other hand, corals may be able to colonize waters that were previously too cold for them and also move into low-elevation areas that may become flooded by expanding oceans.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 12.2 The Oceans Learning Outcome: 12.2

3) Use the example of the Three Gorges Dam on China's Yangtze River to illustrate the benefits and costs associated with building dams. 

Answer: Dams generate hydroelectric power, enable boats and barges to travel farther upstream, and provide flood control and water for irrigation. The power generation may be enough to replace dozens of large coal or nuclear plants. One of the costs of the Three Gorges Dam, aside from its $39 billion construction price tag, is that its reservoir flooded 22 cities and the homes of 1.2 million people, requiring the largest-ever resettlement project. The reservoir behind the dam also inundated archaeological sites that were 10,000 years old and submerged productive farmlands and wildlife habitat. In addition, the reservoir slows the flow of the river so much that suspended sediment settles and begins to fill the reservoir, rather than being carried to tidal marshes at the mouth of the Yangtze River. Other scientists worry about water 221 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

quality, saying that the Yangtze's many pollutants will be trapped in the reservoir, making the water even more undrinkable than it already is, but the Chinese government plans to invest $5 billion into building hundreds of sewage treatment and waste-disposal facilities.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.3

4) Discuss the environmental, quality, and economic issues associated with the manufacture and consumption of bottled water. 

  

Answer: First, let's discuss some of the data on the U.S. consumption of bottled water.

The average American drinks 36 gallons of bottled water annually and pays collectively over $14 billion per year. They pay more per gallon for water than for gasoline. In 2009, a study of the energy outlays for bottled water showed that 1000 to 2000 times the energy was expended than for an equivalent amount of tap water.

Most of the energy involved with bottled water is used in manufacturing the product and transporting it, and both the material for the bottlers and the energy used to transport it require fossil fuels. After use, only one in four bottles is recycled. Second, there is a measurable environmental impact from the extraction of water used for bottling. A few large corporations account for the vast majority of the manufacturing, and the withdrawal of already limited ground water is drawing public opposition from many communities. Finally, recent chemical analyses of bottled water have shown that these products are no healthier or purer than most tap water and also contain many pollutants, some of them hormone mimic plasticizers leached into the water from the bottles themselves.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.4 Effects of Human Activities on Waterways Learning Outcome: 12.4

5) It is estimated that by 2035 half of the people in the world will live under severe water shortages. Discuss three specific strategies for conserving water. 

Answer: Since approximately 70% of the water that humans use goes to irrigate agricultural crops, improved technologies that can reduce evaporation and runoff from agricultural lands are essential. Drip irrigation, a process of delivering water to the roots of individual plants through a network of perforated tubes at the soil surface, has made a significant impact in reducing evaporation and runoff. A second strategy might be to reuse municipal wastewater, recycling it to irrigate crops and/or for landscape watering. An essential consideration is to ensure that this wastewater is not contaminated with industrial by-products (heavy metals) if it is to be reused for human agriculture. Since wastewater is naturally high in nitrogen and other nutrients, using it to irrigate crops reduces the need for additional fertilizers. Along those lines, one could also use gray water to water landscaping plants. A third strategy involves personal water conservation approaches, such as reducing shower time, using a low-flow shower head, and for home yards, using native plants that are adapted to the region where one lives, rather than exotic grasses that require large amounts of water in 222 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

order to thrive.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.5 Solutions to Depletion of Fresh Water Learning Outcome: 12.4

6) How can agricultural irrigation practices be altered to decrease the loss of fresh water? 

  

Answer: Farmers can use technology to improve efficiency in a number of ways, including lining irrigation canals to prevent leaks and leveling fields to minimize runoff.

Furthermore, some methods of applying irrigation water are more efficient than others.

We can increase irrigation efficiency by using low-pressure spray irrigation that sprays water downward toward plants and by using drip irrigation systems that target individual plants and introduce water directly onto the soil. Both methods reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation and surface runoff. In addition, choosing crops to match the land and climate in which they are being farmed can save huge amounts of water. Presently, crops that require a great deal of water, such as cotton, rice, and alfalfa, are often planted in hot and arid areas where irrigation is government subsidized. The true cost of water, therefore, is not taken into account as part of the costs of growing the crop. Eliminating subsidies and growing crops in climates that provide adequate rainfall could greatly reduce water use in many parts of the world. In addition, the selective breeding and/or genetic modification of crops is resulting in some varieties that require less water.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.5 Solutions to Depletion of Fresh Water Learning Outcome: 12.4

7) Define water pollution, point source pollution, and non-point-source pollution. Which of the two (point source or non-point-source) is easier to identify? Which is easier to legislate? Which currently poses the greatest threat to fresh water? 

Answer: The term pollution describes any matter or energy released into the environment, whether from human activity or from natural sources, that causes undesirable impacts on the health and well-being of humans or other organisms.

Water pollution can be emitted from point sources—single locations such as a pipe from a factory—or can consist of non-point-sources—multiple cumulative inputs over larger areas, such as farms, city streets, and residential neighborhoods. Point sources are easy to identify but sometimes difficult to regulate, especially if owners or supporters of industrial plants lobby politicians to pressure agencies not to enforce regulations. Non-point-source pollution is difficult to pinpoint and presents a different type of societal challenge, requiring public education and the willingness of citizens to change certain behaviors. It is non-point-source pollution that poses the greatest threat to water quality in the United States. Many common activities give rise to non-point-source water pollution, including applying fertilizers and pesticides to lawns, applying salt to roads in winter, and changing automobile oil. These activities are difficult to monitor and legislate, and they have a serious cumulative effect on our water resources.

223 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.5

8) How can algal growth be a problem in a freshwater system? 

  

Answer: Algae that grow too rapidly can cover the water's surface, harming the deeper-water plants that depend on sunlight for survival. As algae die off, they provide food for decomposing bacteria. Because decomposition of organic matter requires oxygen, the increased bacterial activity drives down levels of dissolved oxygen. These levels can drop too low to support fish and shellfish, leading to dramatic changes in aquatic ecosystems and loss of biodiversity. Also, the increasing turbidity and anaerobic metabolism have a destructive effect on coastal marine communities, especially coral reefs, making these eutrophic systems unappealing to fishermen and recreational users.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.5

9) Describe the benefits of artificial wetlands. 

  

Answer: Artificial wetlands can do the same tasks that natural wetlands perform. First, using wetlands as filtering devices helps to cleanse wastewater and some types of agricultural runoff. Wastewater treatment engineers are now manipulating wetlands and even constructing wetlands to employ them to cleanse wastewater. At the same time, these wetland areas serve as havens for wildlife and areas for human recreation.

The artificial marshes can be constructed adjacent to a conventional sewage treatment plant, to filter contaminants from partially treated municipal wastewater and also to provide a wetland oasis that provides habitat for birds and wildlife. Treated water is used to irrigate city parks, schoolyards, golf courses, and median strips.

Water is channeled from the marshes into recharge basins, where it is allowed to infiltrate the soil. This can help to recharge the water table in an area where groundwater has been depleted by overpumping. The practice of treating wastewater with artificial wetlands is growing fast; today over 500 artificially constructed or restored wetlands in the United States are performing this service.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.6

10) Discuss the impacts of human-made pollution on ocean ecosystems. 

Answer: Oceans have long been a sink for human wastes. Even into the mid-20th century, it was common for coastal cities in the United States to dump trash and pump untreated sewage onto mudflats and into embayments. Coastal dumping practices have left a toxic legacy around the United States, but marine pollution continues today including oil, plastic, industrial chemicals, sewage sludge, excess nutrients, and abandoned fishing gear. Pollutants such as crude oil are also a problem. The majority 224 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

of oil pollution in the oceans comes not only from catastrophic large spills, such as the Exxon Valdez and BP's Deepwater Horizon blowout of 2010, but from cumulative small sources, including leakage from small boats and runoff from human activities on land. In addition, the amount of petroleum spilled into the oceans each year is equaled by the amount that seeps into the water from naturally occurring seafloor deposits.

Pollution from petroleum products is extremely detrimental to the marine environment and the human economies that draw sustenance from that environment. The extent of this damage is only now being appreciated in the case of the Deepwater Horizon event in the Gulf of Mexico. Petroleum can physically coat and kill intertidal and free-swimming marine organisms, and ingested chemical components in petroleum can poison marine life. Plastic bags and bottles, fishing nets, gloves, fishing line, buckets, floats, abandoned cargo, and nearly everything else that humans transport on the sea or dispose into it can present problems for marine organisms and for people who depend upon the sea. Because most plastic is not biodegradable, it can drift for decades before washing up on beaches. Some marine animals, including seabirds, fish, and endangered sea turtles, can mistake floating plastic debris for food (such as mistaking clear plastic for jellyfish), and many die as a result. Artificial pollution from fertilizer runoff or other nutrient inputs can also have dire effects on marine ecosystems, as we saw with the Gulf of Mexico's dead zone. The release of excess nutrients into surface waters can spur unusually high growth rates and population densities of phytoplankton, causing eutrophication in both freshwater and saltwater ecosystems, particularly highly productive coral reefs and coastal shallows.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.6 Water Pollution and Its Control Learning Outcome: 12.6

11) Summarize some of the positive effects of establishing marine reserves. 

  

Answer: Continuing studies of marine reserves such as those off the coast of Florida and in St. Lucia's Soufriere Marine Management Area have shown the clear benefits to fish and other marine wildlife. Besides boosting fish biomass and total catch and producing record-sized fish, marine reserves were found to produce rapid and long-term increases in abundance, diversity, and productivity of many marine organisms. They decreased mortality and habitat destruction, lessened the likelihood of extirpation of species, and "seeded the seas" because protected species spread outside the reserve area. Establishing marine reserves is challenging because marine reserves are inherently more open than terrestrial systems, making them difficult to manage and patrol, and it is clear that reserves need to be backed up by other management tools such as restrictions of commercial and sport fishing.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 12.7 Emptying the Oceans Learning Outcome: 12.8

Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 13 The Atmosphere and Air Pollution Control 13.1 Multiple Choice Questions 225 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) The figure shows that

.

A) temperature decreases uniformly throughout the atmosphere B) temperature increases uniformly throughout the atmosphere C) ozone concentration reaches its highest level in the thermosphere D) peak ozone levels in the stratosphere correlates with rising temperature E) the mesosphere and troposphere are at the same altitude Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 13.1 The Atmosphere Learning Outcome: 13.1 2) In the troposphere,

.

A) ozone levels decrease with altitude B) temperature decreases nearly linearly with altitude C) ozone levels increase with altitude D) temperatures never dip below freezing 226 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

E) warmest temperatures reflect an absence of ozone Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 13.1 The Atmosphere Learning Outcome: 13.1 3) In the stratosphere,

.

A) increase in temperature and ozone levels are strongly correlated B) temperature and ozone concentration are inversely correlated C) temperature continues to decrease with altitude as in the troposphere D) the average temperature is much lower than for the troposphere E) ozone appears to be evenly distributed at all altitudes Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.1 The Atmosphere Learning Outcome: 13.1 4) What gas composes the largest portion of Earth's atmosphere?

A) oxygen B) nitrogen C) sulfur D) ozone E) argon Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 13.1 The Atmosphere Learning Outcome: 13.1 5) The Earth's atmosphere is composed mostly of A) water and carbon dioxide B) oxygen and carbon dioxide C) nitrogen and carbon dioxide D) nitrogen and oxygen E) water and oxygen Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 13.1 The Atmosphere Learning Outcome: 13.1 6) Weather occurs in the

.

A) stratosphere B) mesosphere 227 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

C) troposphere D) lithosphere E) biosphere Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 13.1 The Atmosphere Learning Outcome: 13.2 7) Air near Earth's surface tends to be

.

A) warmer and wetter; then it rises, expanding and cooling B) warmer and drier; then it rises, condensing and gathering moisture C) cooler and wetter; then it rises, is warmed by the sun, and sinks again D) cooler and drier; it rises when it is displaced by sinking warm air E) warmer; it rises as it is displaced by Coriolis forces Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.1 The Atmosphere Learning Outcome: 13.2 8) Ozone in the is important for absorbing and scattering much of the U V radiation coming into Earth's atmosphere from the sun.

A) troposphere B) mesosphere C) thermosphere D) stratosphere E) clouds Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 13.1 The Atmosphere Learning Outcome: 13.1 9) If all of the stratospheric ozone suddenly disappeared,

.

A) Earth's surface would warm considerably B) most life on Earth would cease to exist because of the amount of UV radiation penetrating the atmosphere C) plants would flourish because of the extra solar energy reaching Earth's surface D) insects would be the only organisms to survive E) there would be a dramatic decrease in skin cancers Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.1 The Atmosphere Learning Outcome: 13.1 228 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

10) Temperature increases with altitude through most of the stratosphere because .

A) heat is released when oxygen and ozone absorb the sun's U V radiation B) sunlight is more intense in the stratosphere C) jet stream winds produce frictional heat D) water vapor levels are high and store heat E) greenhouse gases warm the air Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 13.1 The Atmosphere Learning Outcome: 13.1 11) Typical patterns of atmospheric conditions in a specific location over years, decades, and longer time periods are described by .

A) climate B) sunspots C) alignment of planets D) the moon E) weather Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.1 The Atmosphere Learning Outcome: 13.2 12) Occasionally, a layer of cool air forms under a layer of warmer air in the troposphere.

This change from the normal temperature profile in the troposphere is called a .

A) temperature or thermal subversion B) cold front C) temperature or thermal inversion D) tornado or supercell E) low-pressure system Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.1 The Atmosphere Learning Outcome: 13.2 13) Near the equator, the patterns of convection currents are called A) Coriolis cells B) Hadley cells C) high-pressure cells D) El Niño events 229 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

E) Ferrel cells Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.1 The Atmosphere Learning Outcome: 13.2 14) The Coriolis effect

.

A) keeps Earth from spinning too fast B) is caused by the moon C) results in seasonal periods of 24-hour darkness at the poles in winter D) keeps the wind circulating at constant speed around the planet E) is caused by Earth's rotation Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.1 The Atmosphere Learning Outcome: 13.2 15) The Coriolis effect contributes to

.

A) global wind patterns B) global warming C) increased acidic deposition D) a reduction in eutrophication E) an increase in eutrophication Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.1 The Atmosphere Learning Outcome: 13.2 16) Natural sources of air pollution include

.

A) internal combustion engines B) coal-fired electrical plants C) soil dust, wildfires, and volcanic dust D) evaporation of solvents E) birds Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 17) The huge dust storms that took place in the United States in the 1930s A) were triggered by tornados, worsened by global climate change B) were the result of polar cells 230 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

C) were the result of poor farming techniques D) were the result of glacier melt E) were the result of ozone depletion Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 18) Residence time is the

.

A) chemical change that occurs with time, when substances are altered by the sun or metabolized by microorganisms B) length of time a pollutant spends in the environment C) chemical change that occurs with time, when substances alter the growth and development of humans D) length of time it takes for chemicals to be stored in the tissues of living organisms E) length of time it takes to produce toxic chemicals in the environment Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 19) Which of the following pollutants has the longest residence time?

A) NO B) NO 2 C) SO 2 D) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) E) CO Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 20) Which of the following is a secondary air pollutant?

A) nitrogen oxide B) radon C) ozone D) sulfur dioxide E) carbon monoxide Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 231 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

21) Carbon monoxide

.

A) causes ozone depletion B) is a major component of the atmosphere C) blocks oxygen transport in human blood D) is produced by plants during photosynthesis E) is consumed by plants for photosynthesis Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 22) Lead pollution is a problem because lead

.

A) is a precious metal and it is being lost to the atmosphere B) will cause the ozone hole to increase C) causes central nervous system damage in humans D) can become attached to radon E) causes excess nutrification of waterways, resulting in eutrophication Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 23) In 1970, the United States.

was/were the source of most of the airborne lead emissions in

A) water pipes B) gasoline C) paint D) pencil factories E) coal-burning power plants Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 24) In the United States, which of the following has decreased since 1980?

A) energy consumption B) air pollution emissions C) population D) vehicle miles traveled E) gross domestic product (G DP) Answer: B Diff: 2 232 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 25) A(n) is a device designed to remove airborne pollutants from smokestack emissions.

A) scrubber B) air filter C) tall stack D) coal washer E) boiler Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.4 26) The decrease in NOX emissions in the United States since 1970 can be partially attributed to which of the following?

A) the use of scrubbers in motor vehicles B) the use of catalytic converters in motor vehicles C) a decrease in the amount of energy consumed D) a decrease in vehicle miles traveled E) a decrease in the amount of nitrogen in the atmosphere Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.4 27) Tropospheric ozone

.

A) protects Earth from most of the harmful U V radiation B) binds with hemoglobin, preventing binding with oxygen in red blood cells C) is produced through the interaction of heat and U V light, with nitrogen oxides and carbon-containing compounds D) is a primary pollutant E) is caused by poor farming techniques Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 28) When coal or oil is burned, some part of it is completely combusted, forming CO2 ; another part is partially combusted, forming CO (carbon monoxide); and some remains unburned and is released as soot. Along with sulfur dioxide, these are the main components of .

233 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) photochemical smog B) particulates C) industrial smog D) ozone E) CFCs Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 29) The most obvious cause of industrial smog is

.

A) burning trash B) fires for heating food C) indoor air pollution D) burning fossil fuels E) generation of nuclear power Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 30) Photochemical smog differs from industrial smog in that it A) is formed only in the presence of sunlight B) has large quantities of soot C) is primarily composed of carbon monoxide D) consists of primary pollutants E) is an unhealthy mixture of pollutants Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 31)

is/are not yet regulated by the E PA.

A) Sulfur and nitrogen oxides B) Lead C) Carbon dioxide D) Ozone E) Carbon monoxide Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.4 234 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

32) You have been hired by a rapidly growing small city to improve the air quality, which has deteriorated in the past 10 years. Which of the following is most likely to be your first suggestion?

A) investigate the large city downwind whose factories produce large amounts of pollution B) decrease the amount of C FCs used locally C) move or close the cattle feed lots near the river D) improve transportation options, including carpool lanes, buses, and light rail E) remove the hydroelectric dam on the river Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.4 33) In the 1970s, sources of CFC pollution in the United States included all of the following EXCEPT: A) aerosol spray cans.

B) refrigerators.

C) air conditioners.

D) polystyrene manufacturing plants.

E) coal-burning power plants.

Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.3 Ozone Depletion and Recovery Learning Outcome: 13.5 34) One of the problems that occur as a consequence of CFC pollution is

.

A) increased rates of skin cancer in humans B) increased rates of respiratory irritation and lung cancer C) accelerated damage to human red blood cells D) the movement of toxins into lakes and rivers, poisoning fish E) the eutrophication of waterways Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 13.3 Ozone Depletion and Recovery Learning Outcome: 13.5 35) The Montreal Protocol

.

A) addressed transnational movement of acid-forming pollutants B) developed the framework for reduction of carbon dioxide in the United States and Canada C) developed the international treaty for eliminating sulfur emissions from nuclear power 235 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

plants D) resulted in a significant reduction in the production of C FCs by signatory nations E) is an example of a failed attempt to reduce international air pollution Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.3 Ozone Depletion and Recovery Learning Outcome: 13.5 36) The goal of the Montreal Protocol was to

.

A) prevent global warming B) slow global climate change C) prevent stratospheric ozone depletion D) prevent tropospheric ozone depletion E) micromanage the actions of the United States Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.3 Ozone Depletion and Recovery Learning Outcome: 13.5 37) The primary cause(s) of acid deposition is/are

.

A) tropospheric ozone B) sulfur and nitrogen oxides C) soil dust and sand D) radon gas and fuel wood smoke E) carbon monoxide and formaldehyde Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 13.4 Addressing Acid Deposition Learning Outcome: 13.6 38) Which of the following is a consequence of acidic deposition?

A) It increases the likelihood of low-lying ground fogs.

B) It results in offshore eutrophication, damaging coral reefs.

C) It creates rainwater that can damage skin cells or cause cancers.

D) It leaches out important minerals from soils.

E) It is increasing the rate of global warming.

Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.4 Addressing Acid Deposition Learning Outcome: 13.6 39) The Acid Rain Program established under the Clean Air Act of 1990 has been successful in reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide and .

236 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) carbon dioxide B) nitrogen oxides C) CFCs D) lead E) carbon monoxide Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.4 Addressing Acid Deposition Learning Outcome: 13.6 40) Today,

has the worst acid deposition problem, primarily because of .

A) the United States; soil dust aerosols B) European Union nations; tropospheric ozone C) Tehran; burning fuel wood D) Sweden; methane emissions from cattle and natural gas heating E) China; coal-fired electrical and industrial plants Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 13.4 Addressing Acid Deposition Learning Outcome: 13.6 41) In developed countries, the two most deadly sources of indoor pollution are .

A) pesticides and cleaning agents B) synthetic furniture materials and radiation from electronic equipment C) radiation from electronic equipment and pesticides D) radon and cigarette smoke E) pesticides and cigarette smoke Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.5 Indoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.7 42)

is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that may cause lung cancer.

A) Hydrogen sulfide B) Radon C) Carbon monoxide D) Helium E) Secondhand smoke Answer: B Diff: 2 237 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 13.5 Indoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.7 43) Radon

.

A) is formed by the breakdown of the ozone layer B) may cause lung cancer when inhaled C) binds with hemoglobin, preventing binding with oxygen D) contributes to the breakdown of the ozone layer E) in the atmosphere limits the availability of sunlight for plants Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.5 Indoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.7 44) Bacteria and fungal spores can be included as

.

A) causes of building-related illness B) VOCs and POPs C) sources of radon in the home D) problems in degrading the ozone layer E) a cause of high pesticide use in the home Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.5 Indoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.7 45) A great deal of volatile organic components participating in indoor air pollution comes from .

A) outdoor pollution B) carbon monoxide C) cooking with natural gas stoves D) carpets, furniture, and laser printers E) washing dishes Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 13.5 Indoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.7 Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

Thousands of young families moved "over the hills" and into the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, after World War II . New neighborhoods were springing up, replacing orange groves and open space; roads and schools quickly sprang into existence, trying to keep pace with the rapid population growth. Ringed by beautiful 238 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

mountains, the entire Los Angeles basin looked like a new, green, sun-filled paradise to the families seeking a fresh start. In the early 1950s, one of the common family chores in Los Angeles was to carry the trash out to the stone incinerator behind the garage where each family burned all of their dry trash. "Wet" garbage was collected and taken to a city dump, where it was burned by the city. Everyone throughout the city either used an incinerator or burned things in an open trash pile; there were over 400,000 backyard trash incinerators. On warm afternoons, eyes would sometimes sting and burn. People would stop, close their eyes, and let the cleansing tears refresh irritated eyes. They accepted this as a normal part of life in sunny California.

46) Part of the reason that people's eyes would sting was

.

A) the lead emissions from the burning trash B) the carbon monoxide from the burning trash C) the smoke and particulates from the burning trash D) the excess water vapor from the burning trash E) the plastics and chemicals in the burning trash Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 47) In the 1950s, Los Angeles became famous for its smog. Which of the following contributed to the smog problem?

A) the increase in the number of automobiles B) heavy industry along the coastline C) natural gas leaks from wells D) pollution from the dams on the Colorado River E) dust from inland farms Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 48) One key to the puzzle of Los Angeles's smog is the fact that

.

A) the offshore breezes carry inland pollution to coastal Los Angeles B) the Hadley cell for that area drops cool air, and pollution, right over Los Angeles C) Los Angeles and its suburbs are all ringed by mountains D) incoming tides in the harbor push air pollution ahead of them E) there are so many rainy days, increasing the acidic deposition Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 239 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

49) The Los Angeles smog problem is made much worse by

.

A) the foggy climate, which leads to acidic deposition B) nearby mountains and the warm sunshine, which cause inversion layers C) the convection cells, which bring pollutants from other cities D) the high cloud levels, which deplete the local ozone layer E) the onshore breezes, which prevent pollution from dispersing Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 50) A combination of events and situations, including Los Angeles' smog problem, led to Congress passing the in 1963. This legislation and its major amendments in 1970 and 1990 fund research into pollution control, set standards for air quality, and encourage emissions standards for automobiles and point sources such as industrial plants. They also impose limits on emissions from new sources, fund a national air quality monitoring system, and enable citizens to sue parties violating the standards.

A) Air Pollution Control Act B) California Air Act C) Environmental Protection Act D) Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act E) Clean Air Act Answer: E Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3 51) In 1958 trash collection programs were established, and backyard incinerators were banned in the hope of reducing smog. However, it was estimated that massive amounts of gasoline were evaporating from storage tanks, fuel pump nozzles, and delivery trucks. This was also considered a serious contributor to smog, and over the next 20 years, several new rules and several new devices were put in place to alleviate it. There was still a great deal of smog, now identified as photochemical smog, despite the changes. The major remaining problem was .

A) backyard trash incineration B) the influx of new manufacturing, with new chemicals C) too many coal-fired power plants along the coast D) the large distances driven daily by solitary commuters E) insufficient city funding to improve waste dumps Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality 240 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 13.3 13.2 Essay Questions 1) Using the examples of Tehran and Los Angeles, discuss the special problems that vehicles create for urban outdoor air pollution. 



  

Answer: Tehran and Los Angeles are cities that have one important thing in common, photochemical smog. Photochemical smog is a mixture of primary (nitrogen oxides and VOCs) and secondary pollutants (tropospheric ozone and more than 100 different toxic derivatives from their interaction in the presence of solar UV light). Both cities have geographic conditions that promote the formation of thermal inversions which can trap the smog near the ground for long periods of time and produce dangerously high concentrations of pollutants. The result is an assault of human respiratory systems that in both cities causes thousands to die premature deaths.

Los Angeles has greatly improved the levels of smog by developing mass transit and by requiring strict pollution control technologies on vehicles. Expensive gasoline has made fuel-efficient vehicles popular. In Tehran, until recently, very cheap gasoline was available to all, and millions of inefficient, gas-guzzling vehicles, most without any pollution control devices, produce smog that was typical of the Los Angeles area 30 years ago. Tehran city leaders now require vehicle inspections, regulate traffic into the city center, and pay drivers to turn in old, polluting cars for newer, cleaner ones. They reduced sulfur in diesel fuel and converted buses to run on natural gas. To raise public awareness, electronic billboards were installed around the city, displaying current pollutant levels. All these efforts helped reduce pollution, but stronger measures became necessary, so officials lowered gasoline subsidies, rationed fuel, and began expanding the subway.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 13.2 Outdoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.3

2) Discuss the objective, and the success, of the 1987 Montreal Protocol. To what factors do scientists attribute its success? 

Answer: The objective of the Montreal Protocol was to reduce the use of C FCs, which were contributing to the growth of the ozone hole, and which, subsequently, would increase the probability of humans developing skin cancer. The world community came together in 1987 to craft the Montreal Protocol, which has now been signed by over 180 nations. At this convention, nations agreed to cut C FC production in half.

Today, the production and use of ozone-depleting compounds has fallen 95% since the late 1980s, and scientists can discern the beginnings of long-term recovery of the ozone layer. For these reasons, the Montreal Protocol and its follow-up amendments are widely considered to be the biggest success story thus far in addressing a global environmental problem. Environmental scientists have attributed this success primarily to scientific research that proceeded rapidly and used the latest technologies and to government and industry working together to develop technological fixes and replacement chemicals. Finally, the process successfully followed an adaptive management approach, which allowed for changing strategies midstream in response 241 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

to new scientific data, technological advances, or economic figures.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.3 Ozone Depletion and Recovery Learning Outcome: 13.5

3) Define acid deposition, and explain its causes and effects. 

  

Answer: Acidic deposition refers to the wet or dry deposition of acidic or acid-forming pollutants. This can take place either by precipitation (primarily acid rain, but also including acid snow, sleet, and hail), by fog, by gases, or by the deposition of dry particles. Acidic deposition comes primarily from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, pollutants produced largely through fossil fuel combustion by automobiles, electric utilities, and industrial facilities. Once emitted into the troposphere, these pollutants can react with water, oxygen, and oxidants to produce compounds of low p H. Droplets of these acids may travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers. Acidic deposition can have wide-ranging, cumulative, detrimental effects on ecosystems and on our built environment. It leaches basic minerals such as calcium and magnesium from the soil, changing soil chemistry and harming plants and soil organisms. Streams, rivers, and lakes may become significantly acidified from runoff. Some forests in eastern North America have experienced widespread tree dieback from these conditions. Acidic precipitation also may damage stone buildings, eat away at cars, and erase the writing from tombstones.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.4 Addressing Acid Deposition Learning Outcome: 13.6

4) Why is indoor pollution still such a large problem in developed nations? What are the most dangerous indoor pollutants in developing and developed nations? 

  

Answer: Indoor air pollution was not recognized as a problem until fairly recently. The 1970 U.S. Clean Air Act did not even mention indoor air pollution; rather, indoor spaces were assumed to be safe havens from outdoor pollution. Even smoke from indoor fires was viewed merely as a nuisance, in the absence of data showing it to cause health problems. Furthermore, actions to seal buildings to improve energy efficiency have resulted in decreased ventilation of indoor air pollutants to the outdoors. Some of the biggest indoor air pollution problems come from dust, dander, and mites, as well as toxins given off by furniture and rugs. The two most dangerous indoor pollutants in developed nations are cigarette smoke and radon, but V O C s and microorganisms also play significant roles. In developing nations, the biggest problems are soot and carbon monoxide resulting from burning fuelwood.

International health research estimates that 7% of all deaths in developing nations are attributed to these factors.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 13.5 Indoor Air Quality Learning Outcome: 13.7 242 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 14 Climate Change 14.1 multiple Choice Questions

Use the above figure to answer the following question(s).

1) The best fit between observed and model data is shown by the model that .

A) incorporates only natural factors B) incorporates observed global temperature changes C) incorporates both natural and anthropogenic factors D) reflects both observed and predicted temperature changes E) emphasizes natural factors over anthropogenic factors Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 14.2 Studying Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.3 2) On average, how much warmer were global temperatures in the year 2000 than temperatures predicted by the climate change model that incorporates only natural factors?

A) Average global temperatures were about the same as temperatures predicted by the model.

B) 0C C) 0.6C D) 0.9C E) 1.1C Answer: C Diff: 2 243 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 14.2 Studying Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.3 3) If anthropogenic factors continue to increase, then in the future

.

A) the lines for all three models should level out B) all of the lines will look more like the line for observed data C) the lines for all three models should show decreases while the observation line would be expected to increase D) the observed temperature trends shown in the figures should continue E) the lines for all three models and for observed data should show marked decreases Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 14.2 Studying Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.3 4) According to the graph, how much warmer on average were global temperatures in the year 2000 than in the year 1900?

A) Average global temperatures were about the same both years.

B) 0.3C C) 0.6C D) 0.9C E) 1.2C Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 14.2 Studying Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.3

244 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

5) What proportion of incoming solar radiation reaches Earth's surface?

A) 7% B) 47% C) 54% D) 67% E) 77% Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.1 6) The greenhouse effect involves warming of Earth's surface and the

.

A) troposphere B) mesosphere C) stratosphere D) thermosphere E) ionosphere Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.1 7) The atmosphere around Earth can cause global warming because 245 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

A) warm air cannot escape, as in a greenhouse B) molecules in the atmosphere are warmed by radiation from Earth and retain that heat C) fossil fuels release heat D) plants absorb CO2 E) plants release CO 2 Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.1

Use the above figure to answer the following question(s).

8) Which of the following greenhouse gases has/have experienced at least a 50% increase in atmospheric concentration since 1750?

A) carbon dioxide only B) methane only C) nitrous oxide only D) carbon dioxide and methane E) carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.2 9) Of the following greenhouse gases, the greatest percentage since 1750.

concentrations have increased by

A) water vapor B) carbon dioxide C) nitrous oxide D) ozone E) methane 246 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.2 10) Carbon dioxide is

.

A) the most potent (per molecule of gas) of the greenhouse gases B) the most abundant greenhouse gas C) more potent (per molecule of gas) than methane D) produced during the combustion of fossil fuels E) the only greenhouse gas presently increasing in the atmosphere Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.2 11) Carbon-based fuels in the lithosphere

.

A) have been slowly sequestered over many millions of years B) are readily lost from Earth's surface in the absence of humans C) are formed from the deposition, partial decay, and compression of inorganic matter D) cannot be lost to the atmosphere by human processes once stabilized on Earth's surface E) will be lost before the end of the decade Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.2 12) Human sources of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere include all of the following EXCEPT: A) burning fuel wood.

B) feedlots.

C) chemical manufacturing plants.

D) automobiles.

E) synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.2 13) Growing rice results in the release of

into the atmosphere.

A) methane B) sulfur oxides C) ozone D) nitrous dioxide E) sulfate aerosols 247 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.2 14) All of the following are anthropogenic factors contributing to climate change EXCEPT: A) the combustion of fossil fuels.

B) breathing.

C) deforestation.

D) growing rice.

E) raising livestock.

Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.2 15) Soot particles ("black carbon aerosols") generally cause atmosphere by solar energy.

of Earth's

A) cooling; absorbing B) cooling; reflecting C) warming; absorbing D) warming; reflecting E) cooling; radiating Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.1 16) The oceans hold

carbon than the atmosphere.

A) 10,000 times more B) 50 times more C) 1000 times less D) 10,000 times less E) 5 times more Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.2 17) Which of the following may result in a positive feedback mechanism that would intensify climate change?

A) Warmer temperatures result in increased evaporation of water, leading to an increase in cloud cover.

B) Warmer temperatures result in the melting of permafrost.

C) At higher temperatures, trees increase rates of photosynthesis.

D) A large volcano emits huge quantities of sulfate aerosols into the atmosphere.

248 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

E) An increase in rainfall results in increased plant growth.

Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.1 18) Milankovitch cycles

.

A) refer to shifts in the temperature of surface water in the middle latitudes of the Pacific Ocean B) are changes in Earth's rotation and orbit that may trigger climate variation C) describe the timing of the northern lights in the thermosphere D) describe the transpiration, evaporation, and precipitation of Earth's water E) describe upwelling and downwelling in the ocean Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.1 19) Recent research indicates that the variation in solar output

.

A) is the major factor driving temperature change B) is greater than all the anthropogenic factors affecting climate change C) is more than 20 watts / m2 is less than any of the anthropogenic factors affecting climate change D) will increase by a hundredfold over the next century Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.1 20) The most recent analyses of polar ice cores have given us the ability to profile global climate change as far back as years.

A) 800,000 B) 100,000 C) 1000 D) 50,000 E) 300,000,000 Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.2 Studying Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.3 21) Evidence from polar ice core analysis shows that, until now, carbon dioxide levels have never exceeded ppm in the last several hundred thousand years.

A) 50 B) 100 C) 25 249 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) 300 E) 200 Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 14.2 Studying Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.3 22) Keeling's reports from Mauna Loa demonstrated

.

A) an increase in tropospheric CO 2 from the 1950s to present B) that sediments deposited on the seafloor can yield clues about past climates C) that as distances from cities decreased, CO 2 concentrations increased D) that CO 2 levels have been stable over the last 40 years E) the presence of El Niño Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.2 Studying Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.3 23) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is an international panel that .

A) constructed the Kyoto Protocol B) performed the research included in the climate change findings C) reports on how climate change influences wildlife, ecosystems, and society D) fines companies that pollute E) could not achieve its objectives because of lack of popular support Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 14.3 Impacts of Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.4 24) Which of the following states is expected to experience the greatest increase in temperature by the year 2100?

A) Florida B) Alaska C) California D) Hawaii E) Iowa Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 14.3 Impacts of Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.4 25) Small island nations such as the Maldives are in the international spotlight because they .

A) may be among the first nations to be completely flooded by rising sea levels 250 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) are accepting climate change refugees from other nations C) have exceeded the emissions reductions set by the Kyoto Protocol D) are the largest emissions producers in their respective areas E) opposed China's proposals for global carbon neutrality at the Copenhagen Conference in 2009 Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.3 Impacts of Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.4 26) More than % of U.S. citizens live in coastal counties and are thus vulnerable to rises in sea level.

A) 95 B) 83 C) 50 D) 20 E) 10 Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.3 Impacts of Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.4 27) Rising sea levels result in all of the following EXCEPT: A) saltwater contamination of drinking water supplies.

B) increased flooding from hurricanes.

C) ocean acidification.

D) increased beach erosion.

E) more dangerous storm surges.

Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.3 Impacts of Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.4 28) Which of the following is an adaptation response to climate change?

A) replacing incandescent light bulbs with L ED bulbs B) increasing fuel efficiency of new automobiles C) a Pacific island nation building higher seawalls D) building a nuclear power plant to replace an outdated coal-burning power plant E) replanting a tropical rainforest Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.5 29) Which of the following technologies is currently allowing us to decrease carbon emissions from automobiles?

A) nuclear cars 251 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) solar cars C) the internal combustion engine D) hydrogen fuel cells E) wind-powered vehicles Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.5 30) Hydrogen fuel cells, biodiesel, and long-term electric batteries are potential solutions to .

A) reducing carbon emissions from cars and trucks B) carbon sequestration C) cap-and-trade emission control D) replacing coal as a major fuel for generating electricity E) cutting back the carbon emissions from hydroelectric plants Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.5 31) Over % of the fuel you pump into your automobile does something other than move your vehicle down the road.

A) 65 B) 55 C) 45 D) 25 E) 85 Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.5 32) Hydroelectric power generation

.

A) produces high quantities of greenhouse gases B) has no undesirable environmental effects C) produces pollutants that contribute significantly to acid precipitation D) uses fuel cells to generate electricity E) is an alternative to fossil fuels that produces fewer greenhouse gases Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.5 33) Which of the following are market mechanisms for addressing climate change?

A) international treaties from global conferences 252 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) carbon taxes and fee-and-dividend benefits C) cap-and-trade and carbon offsets D) mitigation and adaptation E) carbon neutrality and carbon aggression policies Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.5 34) The U.S. policymakers and industry leaders have so far opposed emissions reductions on the grounds that .

A) no other nations have pledged reductions B) the United States does not emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases C) President Obama rejected the scientific basis of global climate change D) it might hurt the economy E) the United States already has reduced its emissions by 68% as agreed in the Copenhagen treaty Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.5 35) The Kyoto Protocol

.

A) increased federal funding for controlling greenhouse gas emissions from U .S. power plants B) required equal concessions from all countries involved in greenhouse gas emission C) required increases in nuclear power generation D) would have resulted in overall increases in greenhouse emissions E) was intended to reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases to levels lower than those of 1990 Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.5 36) The Kyoto Protocol uses the 1990 emission levels of each nation as a baseline target for greenhouse gas reductions. Which of the following countries showed the remarkable decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990?

A) United States B) Canada C) Russia D) Japan E) European nations Answer: E Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change 253 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 14.5 37) The Kyoto Protocol is to carbon dioxide as the Montreal Protocol is to

.

A) nitrous oxide B) ozone C) methane D) halocarbons E) carbon monoxide Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.5 38) In the wake of the U.S. failure to ratify the Kyoto Protocol

.

A) many nations have severed diplomatic relations with the United States B) U.S. cities and states are setting their own programs for reducing greenhouse gas emissions C) the United States has shown that it is a leader in carbon emission reduction without having signed the Protocol D) dozens of other nations pulled out of the Protocol E) oil exporting nations have refused to sell to the United States Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.5 Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that physical, biological, and economic evidence exists confirming global climate change due to human-produced greenhouse gases. Although the United States emits most of Earth's carbon dioxide, its policies do not reflect concern over its environmental effects. The United States failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement signed by other developed nations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Requested voluntary reductions of carbon dioxide emissions have not been effective in reducing greenhouse gases. Revisions to the 1970 Clean Air Act, called the "Clear Skies Initiative," were proposed to limit mercury, nitric oxides, and sulfur oxide emissions from power plants. Nicknamed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as the "Clear Lies Initiative," this proposal did not specifically address emission of carbon dioxide, and its loopholes precluded older power plants from modernizing, seemingly supporting polluting industries with political influence.

Environmentalists are arguing for immediate action, including stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions and subsidies for renewable energy. They favor "portfolio standards," requiring electric companies to provide clean energy alternatives to consumers and "green tags," "wind certificates," and "green pricing" to support the use of alternative fuels.

254 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

39) The United States should enact laws slowing global climate change because .

A) the United States is the most populous nation on Earth B) U.S. industry supports the legislation C) the United States is a major source of the problem D) effects of global climate change are most significant in the United States E) no other nations have initiated efforts to slow global climate change Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.5 40) Environmentalists and scientists advocate immediate intervention regarding global climate change because .

A) they are concerned about future global economic losses that will result from climate change B) they fear the consequences of inaction caused by lack of full scientific certainty C) most are Cornucopians D) most live in areas that are already seriously affected by global climate change E) they favor anthropocentric ethical principles Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.5 41) One factor contributing to U.S. resistance to legal intervention regarding global climate change is .

A) lack of scientific evidence supporting global climate change B) political influence of the petroleum, coal, and automobile industries C) the success of voluntary reductions of carbon dioxide emissions by U.S. power plants D) lack of support from other developed nations around the world E) the precautionary principle Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.5 42) Why do environmentalists and scientists advocate stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions and subsidies for renewable energy?

A) No laws currently exist to regulate these industries.

B) Environmentalists do not want to anger farmers, even though agriculture produces the most carbon dioxide.

C) Power companies do not have labor unions that oppose legal restrictions.

D) These industries export goods to all other nations on Earth.

E) Fossil fuel industries produce the most greenhouse gases.

Answer: E 255 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.5 43) Which of the following is an alternative fuel that could decrease carbon dioxide emissions in the transportation sector?

A) gasoline B) compressed natural gas C) coal D) nuclear fuel rods E) vaporized water Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.5 14.2 Essay Questions 1) Briefly explain why water vapor may either contribute to or slow global warming. 

  

Answer: If temperatures continue to rise, the oceans and other water bodies could transfer increasingly more water vapor into the atmosphere. This positive feedback could amplify the greenhouse effect. Alternatively, increased atmospheric water vapor could increase cloudiness, which could slow global warming by reflecting more incoming solar radiation back into space.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.1

2) Why is the concept of radiative forcing critical to understanding the causes of global climate change? 

  

Answer: Radiative forcing is the amount of change in thermal energy units (watts/square meter on the earth's surface) caused by a given factor. This allows a quantitative scientific evaluation of the many variables that make up the equation of the earth's heat balance. The variables include solar output, ocean absorption, ocean circulation, changes in albedo, Milankovitch cycles, aerosols and anthropogenic factors. Positive values indicate a warming effect, while negative values have a cooling effect. This analytical approach strengthens the scientific conclusions drawn about the relative importance of each variable contributing to climate change.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.1

3) Distinguish between the terms weather and climate, and briefly discuss how the understanding of these terms can affect public understanding about climate change.

256 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.



  

Answer: Weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions such as temperature, moisture content, wind, precipitation, barometric pressure, solar radiation, and other characteristics. Climate is an area's long-term pattern of atmospheric conditions.

Confusion of these two concepts leads to a great deal of public misconception about the nature of global climate change. Thus, a cold winter in New England or Florida may be reported as proof that global climate change is not a valid concept, or an unusually hot summer may exaggerate the long-term processes of climate change.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.1 Our Dynamic Climate Learning Outcome: 14.1

4) How can scientists learn about climatic history? 

  

Answer: Scientists can directly measure gases known to change climate. They also can use models such as coupled general circulation models. They can drill into Earth's ice caps and glaciers to extract cores of ice, which contain trapped air bubbles of the ancient atmosphere. Atmospheric gases, temperature trends, precipitation, and solar activity can be determined from these bubbles. Scientists also collect cones of sediments at lake bottoms, which contain pollen and other plant remnants that can indicate regional climate. Plant fossils of cones, tree stems, and bark indicate vegetational and climatological history of local areas. Charcoal indicates where forest fires may have occurred. Ice core analysis has given information about climate more than 800,000 years ago, while sediment, charcoal, and other plant remains give data about more recent times.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.2 Studying Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.3

5) Explain how climate change can affect agriculture and forestry. 

Answer: The overall effect of a warmer climate on agricultural productivity is difficult to predict because the effect will vary regionally. Productivity might increase in some areas and decrease in others. Some croplands already stressed by heat and water availability could be pushed beyond their ability to produce food. If average temperatures increase by more than a few degrees, most tropical and subtropical areas will likely see decreased crop production, and farmlands in mid-latitudes may begin to see significant declines. Conversely, warmer temperatures could potentially lead to longer growing seasons and increase agricultural productivity at higher latitudes. In addition, temperate areas that begin to experience a more subtropical climate may see the invasion of more tropical crop pests into regions that have not experienced them before. Plants need warmth and carbon to grow. Forests may become more productive because additional carbon dioxide can act as a fertilizer, although the data from the FACE projects suggest that this may be less than previously expected. The frequency and intensity of drought and forest fires could increase. Forest communities could in general move northward and upward in elevation as temperature and moisture levels change. Finally, both agricultural and 257 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

forest systems may experience changes in pollinator populations that could affect the abundance and distribution of many plant species.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.3 Impacts of Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.4

6) Describe how freshwater ecosystems face challenges of global climate change. 

  

Answer: In regions where climate change increases precipitation and stream flow, erosion and flooding could threaten the structure and function of aquatic systems.

Where human activities have altered the landscape, flooding could bring increased pollution. In regions where precipitation decreases, water bodies could shrink, affecting organisms in these habitats, as well as human health and well-being. Also, low-lying coastal wetlands, such as the Florida Everglades and Gulf coast marshlands, will very likely make a transition either to brackish water ecosystems or even marine ecosystems as seal levels rise.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 14.3 Impacts of Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.4

7) Explain how human health may be positively and negatively affected by global climate change. 

  

Answer: People may face increased likelihood of exposure to some health risks due to global climate change. These risks include heat stress, infectious diseases resulting from flooding and failed sewage systems, the movement of disease vectors such as malarial mosquitoes into new warmer and wetter areas, and injuries due to increased storm frequency and intensity. A warmer world might, however, present fewer cold-related diseases and injuries such as hypothermia and famine. In addition, there are the obvious health problems that will arise as agriculture and water supplies gradually fail in some populated areas, producing refugees who will need to be supplied with food, water, and medical treatment.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 14.3 Impacts of Climate Change Learning Outcome: 14.4

8) How certain are scientists that humans are causing global climate change? Describe the language used by scientists and some of the particular climate trends they have identified. Why is there still debate about global climate change? 

Answer: Nearly all environmental scientists agree that Earth's atmosphere and climate are changing. Most environmental scientists have concluded that human activity, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases, is the primary reason for this change. Scientists express conclusions as probabilities, so reports are often written in language that the lay public may interpret as uncertain. Particular climate trends include changes in surface temperature, snow and ice cover, rising sea level and warmer oceans, and alterations to precipitation intensity and patterns. Scientists 258 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

debate some of the exact mechanisms, how the mechanisms interact in making predictive models, and the extent of the effects of global climate change on humans.

The debate continues over how to address climate change in political and economic arenas. There is sometimes discourse among scientists, economists, business leaders, policymakers, and others over these issues because some critics of human-induced global climate change have a vested interest in continuing the widespread use of fossil fuels, and they may purposively cast doubt on scientific findings. Furthermore, some greenhouse skeptics and scientists are funded by industries such as the coal, petroleum, and auto industries that benefit from fossil fuel use. Some of these skeptics have considerable sway over policymakers, particularly in the United States. Finally, there is continuing confusion, often in popular media, between short-term "weather" events and the long-term processes of climate change.

So, for example, an unusually cold winter in some areas is often reported as a contradiction to scientific evidence for anthropogenic factors contributing to global climate change.  Diff: 2  Topic/Section: 14.4 Responding to Climate Change  Learning Outcome: 14.5 Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 15 Nonrenewable Energy: Sources, Impacts, and Conservation 15.1 Multiple Choice Questions

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) Of the five countries shown, production.

have essentially no domestic oil

A) Japan and the United States B) Russia and Saudi Arabia C) the United States and Germany 259 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) Japan and Germany E) Germany and the United States Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.3 2) The country with the greatest differential between domestic production and total consumption is .

A) Japan B) Germany C) the United States D) Russia E) Saudi Arabia Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.3 3) The country with the largest amount of domestic oil available for sale on the international market is .

A) Japan B) Germany C) the United States D) Russia E) Saudi Arabia Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.3 4) Of the following countries, PEC oil embargo.

would be affected most severely by another O

A) Japan B) the United States C) Germany D) Russia E) Saudi Arabia Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.3 260 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

5) When assessing energy resources, it is helpful to use a measure called E ROI, which is .

A) energy returned minus energy invested B) energy returned plus energy invested C) amount of energy invested minus heat released into the environment D) money invested in extraction and processing minus income from sales E) energy returned divided by energy invested F) Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.1 Sources of Energy Learning Outcome: 15.2 6) All of the following, are forms of renewable energy EXCEPT: A) solar.

B) wind.

C) geothermal.

D) coal.

E) tidal.

Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.1 Sources of Energy Learning Outcome: 15.1 7) All of the following are fossil fuels EXCEPT: A) oil.

B) natural gas.

C) uranium.

D) coal.

E) tar sands.

Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.1 Sources of Energy Learning Outcome: 15.1 8) How has the EROI ratio for conventional oil and gas changed in the United States since the 1950s?

A) The EROI ratio rose about two times.

B) The EROI ratio rose about ten times.

C) The EROI ratio declined about ten times.

D) The EROI ratio declined about two times.

E) The EROI ratio almost has not changed.

261 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.1 Sources of Energy Learning Outcome: 15.2 9) What is the main reason for E ROI changes in the last 50 years?

A) Technologies to extract and process fuel become more efficient, so E ROI generally rises.

B) The easiest deposits were found and extracted already, so E ROI generally declines.

C) The easiest deposits were found and extracted already, so E ROI generally rises.

D) Technologies to extract and process fuel become more efficient, so E ROI generally declines.

E) EROI is defined primarily by the chemical composition of fossil fuels, so it generally does not change.

Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.1 Sources of Energy Learning Outcome: 15.2 10) Which of the following extraction techniques extends our reach for fossil fuels, but lowers the EROI? A) hydraulic fracturing B) strip mining C) pyrolysis D) cogeneration E) refining Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.2 Fossil Fuels: Their Formation, Extraction, and Use Learning Outcome: 15.2 11) The world's most abundant fossil fuel is

.

A) biodiesel B) coal C) oil D) natural gas E) methane Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.2 Fossil Fuels: Their Formation, Extraction, and Use Learning Outcome: 15.3 12) Natural gas is primarily composed of

.

262 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) methane B) oxygen C) nitrite D) nitrogen E) sulfur dioxide Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.2 Fossil Fuels: Their Formation, Extraction, and Use Learning Outcome: 15.3 13) Crude oil is

.

A) composed of less than ten different hydrocarbon molecules B) usable in its raw form C) formed less than 100 yards below the surface; in deeper places with more pressure, coal is formed D) formed in a wide range of temperature and pressure circumstances E) refined to separate the chemicals used for gasoline, lubricants, plastics, and other products Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.2 Fossil Fuels: Their Formation, Extraction, and Use Learning Outcome: 15.3 14) What happens at an oil refinery?

A) Oil is heated to high temperatures to evaporate off harmful impurities such as radon.

B) Oil is microfiltered to remove small dirt and rock particles.

C) Oil is made more viscous by evaporating off most of the water.

D) Oil is separated into its component compounds.

E) Oil is turned into a cleaner-burning material called synfuel.

Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.2 Fossil Fuels: Their Formation, Extraction, and Use Learning Outcome: 15.3 15) All of the following are standard steps at a coal-fired power plant in the United States EXCEPT: A) heating.

B) cooling.

C) pulverization of coal.

D) rotation of a turbine.

E) carbon capture.

Answer: E 263 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.2 Fossil Fuels: Their Formation, Extraction, and Use Learning Outcome: 15.3 16) Which of the following is the most cleanly burning fossil fuel available, producing the least carbon dioxide per unit of energy released?

A) coal B) kerosene C) natural gas D) nuclear energy E) petroleum Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.2 Fossil Fuels: Their Formation, Extraction, and Use Learning Outcome: 15.3 17) Which country leads the world in coal production and consumption by extracting and consuming approximately half of the world's annual coal yield?

A) United States B) Russia C) Canada D) China E) India Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 15.2 Fossil Fuels: Their Formation, Extraction, and Use Learning Outcome: 15.3 18) Coal continues to be the main fuel used to generate electricity in the United States.

This is partially because .

A) the country has such large reserves of coal B) the quality of coal in the United States is very consistent from deposit to deposit C) coal causes almost no air pollution when burned D) coal deposits in the United States lie very close to the surface and are easily extracted E) compared to natural gas and oil, coal contains very few impurities, such as sulfur Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 15.2 Fossil Fuels: Their Formation, Extraction, and Use Learning Outcome: 15.3 19) Reserves of which of the conventional fuels will last the longest (at current consumption rates)?

A) natural gas 264 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) oil C) coal D) methane hydrate E) uranium Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.2 Fossil Fuels: Their Formation, Extraction, and Use Learning Outcome: 15.4 20) Which of the following extraction techniques extends our reach for coal?

A) secondary extraction B) hydraulic fracturing C) offshore drilling D) mountaintop removal mining E) exploratory drilling Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.4 21) Which of the following extraction techniques not only expands our amount of fossil fuel energy but allows us to lessen the surface footprint of extraction?

A) directional drilling B) secondary extraction C) drilling in ice-free waters of the Arctic D) mountaintop removal mining E) subsurface mining Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.4 22) Secondary extraction of petroleum

.

A) occurs immediately after primary extraction B) is less expensive than primary extraction C) uses solvents, water, or steam D) allows the oil to be extracted to the last drop E) causes less environmental damage than tertiary extraction Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.5 265 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

23) Natural gas

.

A) has octane as its primary component B) can be extracted via hydraulic fracturing C) was discovered by M. King Hubbert in 1885 D) will be depleted by 2030 at current usage rates E) is transported primarily by truck and rail Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.5 24) The oil spill resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster

.

A) is considered a minor incident compared to other oil spills B) is the largest accidental oil spill in world history C) resulted in a permanent ban on all offshore drilling in U.S. coastal waters D) eclipsed all non-point oil spills by 500% E) was quickly cleaned up, preventing loss of wildlife and damage to fisheries along the Gulf Coast Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 25) Scientists currently assessing the environmental impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico report that .

A) the damage was limited to wildlife kills immediately after the spill B) the entire Gulf food web will eventually collapse C) it may take years or decades before the full impacts are known D) Gulf productivity has already returned to normal and no further effects will be felt E) the coastal marshes of Louisiana suffered no measurable damage Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 26) Which of the following would be put at risk by the Keystone XL pipeline?

A) Lake Michigan B) Yellowstone National Park C) the Nebraska Sandhills D) the American bison E) the Ogallala Aquifer Answer: E 266 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 27) The Keystone XL pipeline

.

A) carries petroleum from northern Alaska to the Gulf of Alaska B) carries natural gas from gas fields near Keystone, South Dakota, to the eastern United States C) was a hotly debated pipeline that would have carried petroleum from Canada to the southern United States D) was a hotly debated oil pipeline that would have passed through Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona E) would have allowed Canada to import more oil from Brazil Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 28) What was the primary cause of the decline in oil prices in 2016 to only one quarter of the prices in 2008?

A) the war against ISIS B) the oil supply glut caused by fracking C) energy conservation and the use of renewable technologies D) a typographical error in a Black Friday sale ad E) a prolonged peace in the Middle East Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.5 29) When we burn fossil fuels,

.

A) we liberate carbon back into the carbon cycle, increasing the amount available for plant growth, causing plants to flourish B) the resulting carbonic acid leads to acid rain C) the greatest environmental impact is the impact on the ozone layer D) the greatest environmental impact is increased greenhouse gases E) the greatest environmental impact is the local damage from extraction Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 30) Carbon sequestration

.

267 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) has been used by U.S. electrical plants since 1955, converting carbon dioxide to limestone B) involves capturing carbon emissions and then releasing them into the stratosphere C) has proved to be more dangerous to the environment than releasing carbon emissions D) is an unproven technology first used in 2008 in Germany E) permanently removes captured carbon from the environment Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 31) What is the current status of carbon capture and storage (C CS) in the United States?

A) Many coal power plants are currently voluntarily retrofitting their systems to capture carbon emissions.

B) The U.S. government is currently requiring all coal power plants to institute carbon capture and storage technologies by the year 2025.

C) Carbon is now captured and converted to plastics at most coal power plants in the United States.

D) Technologies are not sufficiently reliable, and it is currently too energetically expensive for coal power plants to capture and store their carbon emissions.

E) The rejection of Yucca Mountain as a carbon storage site has resulted in coal power plants storing carbon on-site until a permanent storage location can be approved.

Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 32) All of the following are aspects of the technology of "clean coal" EXCEPT: A) removing sulfur oxides from the emissions.

B) capturing and sequestering carbon emissions.

C) converting coal to syngas (natural gas).

D) removing carbon content from coal before combustion.

E) injecting captured carbon dioxide into rock formations deep underground.

Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 33) Alaskans benefit from the trans-Alaska pipeline because Alaska's state constitution requires approximately 25% of state revenues associated with the oil industry to be placed into a monetary fund called the Permanent Fund, which .

A) is used as a main source of funds to reduce environmental damage B) pays for education of native Alaskans through scholarships 268 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) pays yearly dividends to all Alaska residents D) is divided equally among the politicians in the state for running their offices E) is used for social infrastructure, such as hospitals, roads, and schools Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 34) One of the problems with finding new fossil fuel deposits in developing countries is that .

A) it is very expensive to transport the deposit elsewhere B) those countries tend to keep the resource for themselves, not sharing with other countries C) multinational corporations often move in to harvest the new deposit, and very little money or resource remains in the country D) their governments seldom allow extraction of the deposit without meeting expensive environmental regulations E) their governments seldom allow extraction of the deposit without imposing huge taxes to fund new social benefits for the country Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 35) U.S. oil production

.

A) falls short of U.S. oil consumption B) is sufficient to meet national needs thanks to major conservation efforts C) will peak out in 2100, requiring for the first time imports to meet growing demand D) is now high enough for us to export nearly 50% E) has to fit the quotas imposed by O PEC Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.5 36) Organizations like OPEC have formed

.

A) in order to take maximum advantage of developed nations dependence on imported oil B) to develop technologies to conserve nonrenewable energy resources C) to protect their national members' petroleum reserves for their own use D) as a military alliance to protect developed nations' energy reserves E) to ensure that developing nations get their fair share of fossil fuels Answer: A 269 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 37) The practice of reducing wasteful or unnecessary energy use is called

.

A) energy efficiency B) energy conservation C) technology reduction D) energy switching E) cogeneration Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.4 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Learning Outcome: 15.7 38) Energy conservation in the United States

.

A) can be accomplished only through changes in environmental laws B) is unlikely to ever occur C) can be accomplished by changes in tax laws D) becomes more difficult during times of war E) can be achieved through personal actions and more efficient technologies Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.4 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Learning Outcome: 15.7 39) In the United States, per capita energy use .

, and energy intensity

A) has been increasing since 1950; has also been increasing since 1950 B) has been increasing since 1950; has been declining since 1950 C) increased sharply from 1950 to the 1970s but has since declined; decreased from 1950 to the 1970s but has since increased D) increased sharply from 1950 to the 1970s but has since declined; has been declining since 1970 E) was stable from 1950 to 1970 but has since increased sharply; has been increasing since 1950 Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.4 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Learning Outcome: 15.7 40) Efficiency of coal-fired power plants can be nearly doubled by A) using cogeneration 270 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

B) switching to oil C) using household wastes along with the coal D) using coal with higher sulfur content E) adding wood chips to the coal Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 15.4 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Learning Outcome: 15.7 41) Energy can be conserved by

.

A) using heat from a power plant to heat nearby homes B) using cogeneration in automobiles, especially in S UVs C) replacing compact florescent bulbs with tungsten bulbs D) replacing mass transit with more and larger roads for cars and trucks E) repealing the law of entropy Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.4 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Learning Outcome: 15.7 42) In 2007, Congress mandated strict Corporate Average Fuel Economy (C AFE) standards that called for automakers to raise average fleet fuel efficiency to mpg by the year .

A) 25; 2025 B) 35; 2035 C) 54.5; 2030 D) 48; 2025 E) 35; 2020 Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.4 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Learning Outcome: 15.7 43) Nuclear energy in power plants is created via

.

A) fusion of electrons B) ionic transformation of atoms C) extraction of energy from the nucleus of cells D) bombarding radioactive elements with electrons E) the fission of uranium atoms by bombarding them with neutrons Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.5 Nuclear Power 271 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 15.8 44) First developed in the the .

, nuclear power showed the most growth during

A) 1940s; 1950s B) 1930s; 1950s C) 1950s; 1970s and 1980s D) 1980s; 1990s E) 1960s; 1990s Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.5 Nuclear Power Learning Outcome: 15.8 45) Which of the following countries leads the world in nuclear power capacity?

A) France B) United States C) Canada D) Sweden E) Russia Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 15.5 Nuclear Power Learning Outcome: 15.8 46) Which of the following countries has the highest percentage of electricity generated from nuclear power plants?

A) France B) United States C) Canada D) Sweden E) Russia Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 15.5 Nuclear Power Learning Outcome: 15.8 47) Nuclear power plants in use today rely on

.

A) fission reactions to generate heat to boil water to generate electricity B) fission reactions to directly generate electricity C) fusion reactions to generate heat to boil water to generate electricity D) fusion reactions to directly generate electricity 272 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

E) fusion reactions to create a flow of electrons to generate electricity Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.5 Nuclear Power Learning Outcome: 15.8 48) In a nuclear power plant, the amount of electricity generated is regulated by .

A) moving the nuclear fuel in and out of water B) changing the water levels that surround the control rods C) releasing surplus heat out of cooling towers that are always part of nuclear power plants D) moving control rods into or out of spaces between the fuel rods E) the Federal Trade Commission Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.5 Nuclear Power Learning Outcome: 15.8 49) When uranium-235 atoms undergo fission,

are produced.

A) smaller atoms (fission fragments), free neutrons, and energy B) larger atoms such as plutonium C) large amounts of energy, as all mass has been converted and lost, D) moderators and water E) large amounts of CO 2 Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.5 Nuclear Power Learning Outcome: 15.8 50) All of the following are advantages of nuclear power EXCEPT: A) the power-generating process is emission-free.

B) uranium generates far greater amounts of energy than coal by weight or volume.

C) nuclear power plants generate no nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

D) uranium mines cause less environmental damage than coal mines because less uranium is needed to generate power.

E) nuclear wastes can be safely disposed of.

Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.5 Nuclear Power Learning Outcome: 15.9 51) Effects attributed to Chernobyl

.

273 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) were contained within 40 k m of the plant B) have not been extensively documented C) include serious respiratory illnesses but no fatalities D) include increased incidence of thyroid cancers E) include increased incidence of emphysema Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.5 Nuclear Power Learning Outcome: 15.9 52) All of the following contributed to the nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daiichi EXCEPT: A) a tsunami.

B) the location of emergency generators.

C) an earthquake.

D) terrorism.

E) a power outage.

Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.5 Nuclear Power Learning Outcome: 15.9 Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

In Johannesburg, South Africa, the South West Township (Soweto) was one of several areas established early in the last century for blacks to live away from the white ruling minority. On the hills surrounding Soweto, the company that provides South Africa's electricity, Eskom, built a large coal-burning power plant. The electricity was for white areas of Johannesburg, miles away from the plant. The residents of Soweto had no electrical connections.

53) The fact that there is a high sulfur content of the coal burned in South African power plants means that the .

A) power plants contribute to acidic deposition B) power plants burn cleanly, with little pollution C) power plants emit high levels of radioactive pollution D) coal is very inexpensive, leading to an improved economy E) coal is very expensive, forcing most poor people to go without electricity Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 54) The heavy levels of soot from the electrical plant upwind of Soweto, along with dust from gigantic gold and coal mines, created particulate pollution more than three times 274 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

the recommended level. This would be expected to result in

.

A) high levels of heart disease B) increased incidence of lung disease C) high levels of birth defects D) problems with running local automobiles and other machinery E) enriched agricultural fields and increased crop yields Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 55) Along with many other governmental reforms that began in 1994, the electrical plant just outside Soweto was closed in 2000, and other plants were brought into use. Some parts of Soweto were then wired for electricity. It is estimated, however, that only about 30% of the more than 1.2 million black inhabitants have electricity in their homes; the remainder either cannot afford the costs involved or live in areas that have no electrical access. These inhabitants probably use for fuel.

A) natural gas and solar cells B) natural gas and backyard windmills C) charcoal and candles D) wood and coal E) gas-powered home generators Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 56) In the year 2000, the worst air pollution levels in the region were in downtown Johannesburg and Soweto. The probable explanation is that in downtown Johannesburg , while in Soweto .

A) coal-fired electrical plants were the cause; automobile traffic in overcrowded areas was the problem B) automobile traffic was the cause; ozone depletion was also the cause C) automobile traffic was the cause; the burning of fuels in each home for heating, light, and cooking was a major contributor to indoor and outdoor air pollution D) gasoline-powered electrical generators were the cause; trash incinerators were a problem E) trash incinerators were a problem; gasoline-powered electrical generators were the cause Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 275 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

57) The high demand for electricity in South Africa has resulted in years of scheduled blackouts. Which of the following pricing scenarios is most likely to INCREASE the demand for electricity and make the blackouts worse?

A) flat-fee pricing, where every household pays the same regardless of how much electricity is used B) allotting a small amount of free electricity to each household to provide just enough electricity for the needs of the poorest households, with a premium price charged per kilowatt-hour used beyond the amount provided for free C) charging each household a rate based solely on the amount of electricity used D) charging each household a rate based on the amount of electricity used and what time of day it is used E) charging each household a different rate based on annual income and amount of electricity used Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6 15.2 Essay Questions 1) Identify and explain the ultimate sources of all of Earth's energy. 

  

Answer: Most of Earth's energy comes from the Sun. We can harness energy from the sun's radiation directly, but solar radiation also makes possible several other energy sources. Solar radiation drives wind patterns and the hydrologic cycle, and plant growth gives us wood to burn. A great deal of energy also emanates from Earth's core, enabling us to harness geothermal power. A much smaller amount of energy results from the gravitational pull of the moon and Sun. An immense amount of energy resides within the nuclei of atoms, and this energy provides us with nuclear power.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.1 Sources of Energy Learning Outcome: 15.1

2) Discuss the three types of energy sources and give examples of each. 

  

Answer: Renewable resources are those that will always be plentiful on a human time scale. This includes solar, wind, geothermal, and tidal energy, for instance. Other resources are renewable if we do not overharvest them. For example, trees for wood fuel and charcoal will always be plentiful if we do not log too many too rapidly, and if we allow regrowth to occur. Finally, there are nonrenewable sources of energy, primarily the fossil and nuclear fuels that we are extracting and using, and that are not being replaced.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.1 Sources of Energy Learning Outcome: 15.1 276 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

3) Compare and contrast the three patterns of energy use in developing and developed countries, including the amount of use, the type of energy used, and the major uses. 

  

Answer: Citizens of developed nations generally consume much more energy than do those of developing nations. Per person, the most-industrialized nations use up to 100 times more energy than do the least-industrialized nations. Industrialized nations rely more on equipment and technology, so they use more fossil fuels. People in developing countries often rely on manual or animal energy sources, and use much more wood as a fuel source. Developing nations devote a greater proportion of energy to subsistence activities such as food preparation, home heating, and food growing, whereas industrialized countries use a greater proportion for transportation and industry.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.1 Sources of Energy Learning Outcome: 15.1

4) What are some of the alternative, unconventional resources for oil and natural gas? 

  

Answer: Both oil shale and oil sands (tar sands) are potential major and largely untapped resources for petroleum, and marine deposits of methane hydrate may have large supplies of natural gas. Oil shale and tar sands have not been cost effective until recently. Canada is now producing a major fraction of its petroleum from oil sands. Oil shale may become more economically attractive as conventional supplies are depleted and retail prices rise. The technology for safely extracting methane hydrate has yet to be developed. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and accidental release of large quantities might significantly accelerate global climate change.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.5

5) Why is it that in most parts of the world local people do not benefit from the removal of fossil fuels from their local environment? Discuss the economics, politics, and environmental reasons that locals may not benefit. 

Answer: In most parts of the world where the oil industry has extracted oil, local residents have not seen great benefits. To the contrary, in many instances, they have experienced disruption and harm to their way of life. This has occurred repeatedly when multinational corporations have extracted oil in developing countries, paying those countries' governments' concessions for access to the oil. All too often, the money has not trickled down to residents of the region from which the oil is extracted.

Furthermore, oil-rich developing countries such as Ecuador and Nigeria often have few environmental regulations, and existing regulations may be infrequently enforced if a government does not want to risk losing the large sums of money associated with oil development. Some critics accuse multinational oil corporations of furthering environmental degradation and political repression in developing countries by funding dictatorships and by threatening to withdraw investment and development money if environmental protection regulations are enforced.

277 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.3 Reaching Further for Fossil Fuels and Coping with the Impacts Learning Outcome: 15.6

6) Explain the process of nuclear fusion, and describe its role in commercial power generation. 

  

Answer: Nuclear fusion is the process responsible for the immense amount of energy that the sun generates and the force behind hydrogen and thermonuclear bombs. It involves forcing together small nuclei of lightweight elements under extremely high temperatures and pressure. For example, the hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium can be fused to form helium, releasing a neutron and a tremendous amount of energy. Because fusion requires extremely high temperatures, researchers have not successfully developed nuclear fusion for use in commercial power generation. If we find a way to control fusion in a reactor, we could produce vast amounts of energy using water as a fuel; the potential payoffs would be immense. We could produce vast amounts of energy using water as a fuel, and the process would create only low-level radioactive wastes, without air pollution or the risk of dangerous accidents, sabotage, or weapons proliferation. A prototype reactor (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) is slated for completion in 2019, but even if this project succeeds in unlocking the secrets to commercial power generation using nuclear fusion, we will not see commercial production of electricity via nuclear fusion in the foreseeable future.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 15.5 Nuclear Power Learning Outcome: 15.8

7) Explain the reactions that occur in a nuclear power plant. 

  

Answer: A nuclear power plant is fueled by uranium rods containing 3% radioactive uranium-235. When an atom of U-235 is hit by a neutron, it splits into two smaller atoms, such as barium and krypton. "Extra" neutrons are also released, along with energy in the form of heat. The released neutrons strike other atoms of uranium-235, creating a chain reaction and continuing the process. Control rods control the rate of the reaction by absorbing neutrons and slowing the process.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.5 Nuclear Power Learning Outcome: 15.8

8) Why is waste disposal a significant problem in nuclear power generation? Discuss Yucca Mountain. 

Answer: Nuclear fission uses uranium-235 as fuel, leaving most of the remaining uranium-238 as waste. The half-lives of the isotopes that make up the fragments of fission are physical constants that cannot be altered or shortened. Because uranium has a long half-life, wastes emit dangerous radiation for thousands of years. It must be placed in a stable, secure location where the radiation cannot escape and harm the 278 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

public by contaminating air or water supplies. It must also be protected from terrorist attack. The U.S. DOE estimated that by 2010, 75% of U.S. nuclear power plants would have no room left for waste storage. In 2002 Congress recommended that nuclear wastes be stored deep underground at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Although geological and hydrological studies revealed that the site posed minimal earthquake and groundwater contamination risk, concerned Nevadans have expressed dismay and challenged these findings. Although Yucca Mountain was in an unpopulated area, there would have been risks of sabotage or accidents en route. In 2009, heeding the opposition to the site, President Obama withdrew federal support from the project.

Therefore, the United States currently has no long-term plan to deal with the pressing problem on nuclear waste storage.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.5 Nuclear Power Learning Outcome: 15.9

9) Compare the events at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants. 

  

Answer: Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima Daiichi were catastrophic nuclear power plant accidents that spawned a great deal of public anxiety over nuclear power. As a result of mechanical failure and human error, Three Mile Island experienced a partial reactor core meltdown. Most of the radiation remained within the containment building. The incident at Chernobyl was much more extensive and harmful than Three Mile Island. When engineers turned off safety systems to conduct tests, human error and unsafe reactor design caused an explosion that completely destroyed the reactor and released radioactive debris and fallout into surrounding areas for up to 10 days. The accident directly killed 31 people and sickened many more. Atmospheric currents carried radioactive fallout across much of the Northern Hemisphere, and radioisotopes were detected as far away as Sweden. The Soviet government did not admit to the accident until days later. Many cases of thyroid cancer resulted from exposure to radiation from Chernobyl. The nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi resulted from a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami. The earthquake shut down power, and the tsunami flooded the plant's emergency power generators. The tsunami overtopped the seawall, and the generators were located in the basement of the plant and were thus flooded. Without electricity, workers could not use moderators and control rods to cool the uranium fuel, and the fuel began to overheat as fission proceeded. Several explosions and fires occurred over the next few days, and eventually three reactors experienced full meltdowns. The amount of radioactivity released during and after these events was about one-tenth of that released from Chernobyl. Much of the radioactivity spread by air or water into the Pacific Ocean.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 15.5 Nuclear Power Learning Outcome: 15.9

10) Compare the environmental effects of coal and uranium as power sources.

279 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.



  

Answer: Coal and uranium are both mined, which creates landscape damage and harmful tailings that can contaminate waterways. Uranium generates more power than coal by weight or volume, so less of it needs to be mined. Combusting coal for electricity emits sulfur and nitrogen oxides that contribute to acidic deposition. Coal burning also emits particulate matter, which threatens human health and creates carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.

Even considering all the steps involved in building plants and generating power, researchers from the International Atomic Energy Agency calculated that nuclear power lowers emissions 4 to 150 times below fossil fuel combustion. Because of safety regulations, nuclear power plants are safer for workers than coal-fired power plants. However, uranium from nuclear power plants creates radioactive waste that must be disposed of and sequestered for centuries. Also, people fear the catastrophic consequences of accidents and sabotage to nuclear power plants.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 15.5 Nuclear Power Learning Outcome: 15.9

Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 16 Renewable Energy 16.1 Multiple Choice Questions

280 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) The United States generates more electricity from renewable energy source.

than from any other

A) geothermal energy B) bioenergy C) solar energy D) hydropower E) wind energy Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.1 Renewable Energy Sources Learning Outcome: 16.2 2) The United States consumes more

than any other renewable energy

281 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

source.

A) geothermal energy B) bioenergy C) hydropower D) wind energy E) solar energy Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.1 Renewable Energy Sources Learning Outcome: 16.2 3) Electricity from hydropower composes approximately electricity produced in the United States.

% of the total

A) 6 B) 14 C) 44 D) 25 E) 2 Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.1 Renewable Energy Sources Learning Outcome: 16.2 4) The smallest amount of electricity generation is from

.

A) wind energy B) bioenergy C) hydropower D) geothermal energy E) solar energy Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.1 Renewable Energy Sources Learning Outcome: 16.2 5) Which of the following is most likely to be used for purposes other than the production of electricity?

A) wind energy B) hydropower C) nuclear energy D) bioenergy E) solar energy Answer: D 282 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 16.1 Renewable Energy Sources Learning Outcome: 16.2 6) Which of the following is NOT the benefit of renewable energy?

A) long-time energy security B) decreasing the level of air pollution C) reducing the greenhouse emission D) lower costs without subsidies and external costs included E) reducing reliance on imported fuel Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.1 Renewable Energy Sources Learning Outcome: 16.1 7) Which of the following is the direct economic benefit of shifting to renewable energy sources?

A) new employment opportunities B) much lower prices compared with fossil fuel C) much lower EROI D) easier transmission E) providing energy in three major ways Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.1 Renewable Energy Sources Learning Outcome: 16.1 8) Worldwide, the most widely used renewable energy resource is A) solar B) hydroelectric C) bioenergy D) wind E) nuclear Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.1 Renewable Energy Sources Learning Outcome: 16.2 9) The major renewable energy source for electricity in the United States is .

A) hydropower B) wind 283 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

C) fossil fuels D) nuclear E) bioenergy Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.1 Renewable Energy Sources Learning Outcome: 16.2 10) Which of the following represents the proper ranking of total energy consumed in the United States from the greatest to least used?

A) renewables, fossil fuels, nuclear, hydropower B) fossil fuels, hydropower, nuclear, geothermal C) fossil fuels, hydropower, solar, nuclear D) fossil fuels, nuclear, bioenergy, wind E) nuclear, fossil fuels, hydropower, wind Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 16.1 Renewable Energy Sources Learning Outcome: 16.1 11) A major advantage of solar power is that

.

A) it is inexpensive compared to other renewable energy sources B) the only emissions are carbon dioxide and water C) all regions are sunny enough to provide adequate power with current technology D) there is a lack of knowledge on long-term impacts E) solar systems provide local, decentralized control over power Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.2 Solar Energy Learning Outcome: 16.3 12) Passive solar power involves using

.

A) the energy of sunlight without relying on electrical or mechanical devices B) mechanical devices to heat water and buildings or electrical devices to generate electricity C) photovoltaic cells to produce light energy D) mirrors to concentrate the sun's rays on a tower or a series of pipes holding water E) silicon wafers to generate light energy Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.2 Solar Energy Learning Outcome: 16.3 284 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

13) Designing buildings to maximize absorption of sunlight during winter and to keep the interiors cool during summer is referred to as .

A) active solar energy collection B) passive solar energy collection C) geothermal energy collection D) wind energy collection E) nuclear energy collection Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.2 Solar Energy Learning Outcome: 16.3 14) Which of the following methods would be considered a type of passive solar energy collection?

A) using heat-absorbing construction materials B) rooftop solar panels C) ocean thermal energy conversion (O TEC) D) photovoltaic cells E) rooftop flat-plate solar collectors Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.2 Solar Energy Learning Outcome: 16.3 15) Solar power-generating facilities that generate electricity at large centralized facilities and transmit that power to homes and businesses through the electric grid are called .

A) photovoltaic systems B) passive solar energy collection systems C) diffuse solar energy collection systems D) concentrated solar power facilities E) dispersed solar collection facilities Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.2 Solar Energy Learning Outcome: 16.3 16) Photovoltaic technology is best described as

.

A) a passive solar technology B) using the sun's energy to warm a room without mechanical devices C) using sunlight to directly generate electricity D) trapping the sun's heat and storing it for various uses 285 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

E) using mirrors to concentrate sunlight, in order to heat water and produce steam for electricity generation Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.2 Solar Energy Learning Outcome: 16.3 17) Photovoltaic cells

.

A) require an outside source of electricity to generate electricity on their own B) have small rotational generators built into every cell C) rely on the electrical current produced when silicon is struck by sunlight D) are increasingly costly to produce, which precludes major commercial application E) are the major form of renewable energy produced in the United States Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.2 Solar Energy Learning Outcome: 16.3 18) Although photovoltaic electricity is considered a "clean" power source, one issue with this electricity is that it .

A) is dangerous if stored too long B) is produced only when the sun shines C) is not sufficiently understood D) will be replaced shortly with other sources of power for homes E) is less efficient than fossil fuels Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.2 Solar Energy Learning Outcome: 16.3 19) The rotational energy of the blades of a wind turbine

.

A) drives a generator inside the nacelle compartment to produce electricity B) is used to generate hydrogen from water C) will not occur unless electricity is provided to generate the motion D) is so expensive to produce that no commercial development has been possible E) generates as much greenhouse gases as burning natural gas Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.3 Wind Power Learning Outcome: 16.4 20) As of 2023, the nation leading in generating wind power is A) China 286 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

B) the United States C) Canada D) India E) Germany Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.3 Wind Power Learning Outcome: 16.4 21)

built the first offshore wind farm in 1991.

A) Denmark B) The United States C) Spain D) Mexico E) France Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.3 Wind Power Learning Outcome: 16.4 22) More and more wind farms are being located stronger there.

because winds are

A) in densely populated urban areas B) offshore C) in deserts D) in the Arctic E) in mature forests Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.3 Wind Power Learning Outcome: 16.4 23) A major obstacle to the establishment of wind farms near populated and scenic areas is .

A) the lack of infrastructure to support wind-generated electricity B) not-in-my-backyard (NI MBY) syndrome C) the lack of financial support for the construction of wind farms D) we-want-solar-power (W ASPY) syndrome E) the lack of large land areas needed to construct wind farms Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.3 Wind Power 287 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 16.4 24) Compared to the use of fossil fuels for generating electricity, wind energy .

A) is more consistent B) requires very little investment C) produces no exhaust pollutants and contributes little to global climate change D) is less renewable E) is more widely used in the United States Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.3 Wind Power Learning Outcome: 16.4 25) The form of energy delivered to an electrical generating turbine in a geothermal facility is in the form of .

A) radioactive isotopes B) hot water or steam C) molten magma D) warm soils and crushed rock E) heated hydrogen gas Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.5 Geothermal Energy Learning Outcome: 16.6 26) In the United States, geothermal energy is most available in A) the Northeast B) the Southeast C) Texas D) the West E) the Florida Keys Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.5 Geothermal Energy Learning Outcome: 16.6 27) Ground-source heat pumps

.

A) are an increasing source of small-scale electricity generation B) have been known to cause minor earthquakes C) produce pollution of groundwater D) require nearby volcanic activity to be effective 288 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

E) heat and cool houses and buildings more efficiently than conventional methods Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.5 Geothermal Energy Learning Outcome: 16.6 28) The best locations to install tidal electrical generating stations are places where .

A) differences in height between low and high tides are small B) there is very little wind C) differences in height between low and high tides are large D) there are forests along the coast E) the water is frozen for half of the year Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.4 Energy from Water Learning Outcome: 16.5 29) A potential energy source from oceans is

.

A) chemiluminescent bacteria B) ocean thermal energy C) solar reflection D) lightning strikes in salt water E) magnetic field generators Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.4 Energy from Water Learning Outcome: 16.5 30) The only energy sources from ocean water so far put into commercial production are .

A) tidal electrical generators B) tidal and ocean wave generators C) OTEC and ocean wave generators D) OTEC E) tidal and OTEC generators Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 16.4 Energy from Water Learning Outcome: 16.5 31)

strongly influences the amount of energy generated from hydropower.

A) The temperature of reservoir water 289 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) Latitude C) The phase of the moon D) The volume of water released and the height of the fall E) The temperature of water in the boiler and turbine Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.4 Energy from Water Learning Outcome: 16.5 32) Which of the following are documented negative impacts of dams?

A) flooding, habitat destruction, alteration of river sediment deposition B) alteration of river salinity C) acid deposition D) increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and CFCs E) increased carbon monoxide emissions, decreased rainfall Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.4 Energy from Water Learning Outcome: 16.5 33) The run-of-river approach to hydropower describes

.

A) impounding water in reservoirs behind concrete dams B) the purchase of state-run dams by major corporations C) dams that run all the way across a river D) the most expensive type of dams to build and maintain E) diversion of a portion of a river's flow through pipes Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.4 Energy from Water Learning Outcome: 16.5 34) Ultimately, all biofuels are

, because they are the product of

A) geological; sedimentation B) solar; photosynthesis C) inefficient; decomposition by microorganisms D) synthetic; chemical manipulation of hydrocarbons E) polymers; biological metabolic processes Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.6 Energy from Biomass Learning Outcome: 16.7 290 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

35) Biofuels

.

A) can be created by microbial action or burned directly as wood or dung B) require fossil fuel input to produce C) produce no greenhouse gases when burned D) could not supply an alternative fuel to gasoline E) are a form of fossil fuel Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.6 Energy from Biomass Learning Outcome: 16.7 36) Harvesting fuelwood at unsustainably high rates often leads to

.

A) increases in soil fertility B) soil erosion and desertification C) higher levels of plant biodiversity D) removal of pest insect species E) more land being available for corn fields Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.6 Energy from Biomass Learning Outcome: 16.7 37) Ethanol produced from bioenergy starts with

produced by

.

A) methane; sewage sludge B) hydrogen gas; wind turbines C) ammonia; anaerobic bacteria D) starch; corn or sugar cane E) ; burning fossil fuels Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.6 Energy from Biomass Learning Outcome: 16.7 38) E-85

.

A) was an international summit of 85 nations that met to restrict greenhouse gas emissions B) was an international summit of 85 nations that met to determine vehicle fuel efficiency standards C) was an international summit of 85 nations that met to restrict C FC use D) is an isotope of uranium used to generate electricity E) is an ethanol-gasoline mixture used in flexible-fuel vehicles Answer: E 291 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.6 Energy from Biomass Learning Outcome: 16.7 39) All of the following are drawbacks of corn-based ethanol production, EXCEPT: A) increased use of pesticides.

B) increased use of fertilizers.

C) depletion of fresh water.

D) inputs of fossil fuel energy.

E) the inability to store the product.

Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.6 Energy from Biomass Learning Outcome: 16.7 40) Ethanol made from corn

.

A) results in higher food prices for corn and corn products B) yields more than 10 times the energy required to produce it C) does not produce greenhouse gases when burned D) cannot be mixed with other fuels E) does not require inputs of fossil fuel energy Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.6 Energy from Biomass Learning Outcome: 16.7 41) Bagasse- and sugarcane-based ethanol are major items in the energy resources of .

A) China B) Brazil C) the Maldives D) the United States E) Mexico Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.6 Energy from Biomass Learning Outcome: 16.7 42) Biodiesel

.

A) is the most common type of diesel in the United States B) is produced from sugarcane C) can be used in vehicles with diesel engines without engine modification 292 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) is twice as expensive as conventional diesel E) produces more pollution than conventional diesel Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.6 Energy from Biomass Learning Outcome: 16.7 43) Biodiesel is to

as ethanol is to gasoline.

A) vegetable oil B) conventional diesel C) gasohol D) glycerin E) petroleum Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.6 Energy from Biomass Learning Outcome: 16.7 44) With regard to bioenergy, B20 represents

.

A) a new vitamin recently isolated from sugarcane bagasse B) a synthetic compound that can be mixed with fossil fuel to give more energy C) diesel containing 20% biodiesel D) a bacterial strain used to ferment corn to make ethanol E) a variety of broccoli used in the production of cellulosic ethanol Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.6 Energy from Biomass Learning Outcome: 16.7 45) To determine whether using a food crop as a source of biofuels is environmentally sustainable, one would have to consider all of the following EXCEPT: A) the impact on food supplies and prices.

B) the amount of fertilizers used and their impact on aquatic ecosystems.

C) the amount of pesticides used and their impact on biodiversity and groundwater.

D) the corporate profits that would be made.

E) the amount of water and land necessary for the crops.

Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.6 Energy from Biomass Learning Outcome: 16.7 46) Pyrolysis is a way of producing

from

293 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

A) a liquid fuel; biomass B) coal; bioenergy C) biodiesel; limestone D) hydroelectric fuel; coal E) pesticides and fertilizers; bioenergy Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 16.6 Energy from Biomass Learning Outcome: 16.7 47) Which of the renewable energy sources can be locally depleted?

A) biomass B) wind power C) solar power D) geothermal energy E) tidal energy Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.7 Transmission, Storage, and Transportation Learning Outcome: 16.8 48) Which of the following requires less effort to establish in a landlocked rural community at approximately 35N ?

A) wind farm B) hydroelectric power plant with a dam C) enhanced geothermal system D) solar collector heating water E) tidal energy turbine Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.7 Transmission, Storage, and Transportation Learning Outcome: 16.8 49) Which of the renewable energy sources is less dependent on the geographic conditions?

A) hydropower B) geothermal energy C) solar energy D) energy from biomass E) wind power Answer: D Diff: 1 294 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 16.7 Transmission, Storage, and Transportation Learning Outcome: 16.8 50) The first stage in generating power from a hydrogen fuel cell is to

.

A) reduce water to hydrogen and oxygen gases B) convert water into a hydrocarbon C) split hydrogen atoms into hydrogen ions ( H ) and electrons D) react water with CO2 E) split methane ( CH4 ) into hydrogen atoms and carbon Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 16.7 Transmission, Storage, and Transportation Learning Outcome: 16.9 51) The chemical product produced by a hydrogen fuel cell is

.

A) carbon monoxide B) acid C) water D) nontoxic ash E) carbon dioxide Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.7 Transmission, Storage, and Transportation Learning Outcome: 16.9 52) One difficulty with the process of using hydrogen as a power source is that it .

A) first needs to be converted to helium through nuclear fission B) is less efficient than fossil fuels C) requires a fuel that is a nonrenewable resource D) requires a substantial energy investment to produce the fuel E) has highly volatile and explosive components Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.7 Transmission, Storage, and Transportation Learning Outcome: 16.9 53) Whether a hydrogen-based energy system is environmentally cleaner than a fossil fuel system depends on .

A) the car driven B) the source of oxygen used for the process C) the source of energy used to produce the hydrogen 295 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) governmental incentives for research E) the amount of fossil fuels that are invested in long-term storage Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 16.7 Transmission, Storage, and Transportation Learning Outcome: 16.9 54) Besides the new energy sources, a full shift to renewable sources will require the expansion of the current electrical grid. What is the estimated total length of wires and cables required worldwide?

A) 20 million miles B) 100 million miles C) 400 million miles D) 5 million miles E) 1 million miles Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.7 Transmission, Storage, and Transportation Learning Outcome: 16.10a 55) Why do solar and wind power require more complex and "smart" electric grids than fossil fuel or nuclear fuel power plants?

A) Fossil and nuclear fuel power plants release not only electricity energy but heat energy too. Photovoltaic cells or wind turbines produce electric energy only, so they are harder to operate.

B) Wind and solar power plants depend on the geographic conditions, therefore they tend to be clustered tightly and generate a much greater amount of energy than fuel-based power plants.

C) Nonrenewable power plants' generation rates can be adjusted relatively easily, while solar and wind power generation rates are highly and uncontrollably variable.

D) Energy returned on investment ratio is much higher for fossil fuel and nuclear fuel than that for solar and wind power. Therefore, the electric grid should compensate for that difference.

E) Since nuclear and fossil fuels can be depleted, the electric grid can have relatively short terms of service. Solar and wind power are perpetually available, so they require a long-sustain electrical grid.

Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.7 Transmission, Storage, and Transportation Learning Outcome: 16.10a 56) Which of the renewable energy sources requires the least changes in the electric grid?

A) geothermal energy B) tidal energy 296 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) solar energy D) wind power E) energy from biomass Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.7 Transmission, Storage, and Transportation Learning Outcome: 16.10a 57) What is required for mass-scale electrification of vehicles, besides the electric cars themselves?

A) Electric vehicles require a special type of fuel that is not yet widely available.

B) Although cars can be charged at home, more charging stations on the road should be built for convenient usage.

C) Mass-scale transfer to electric vehicles would involve the need for additional driver training programs.

D) On average, electric vehicles need to be driven in specific weather conditions to function properly.

E) All conditions for mass-scale electrification of vehicles are met already, so that's just a matter of time.

Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.7 Transmission, Storage, and Transportation Learning Outcome: 16.11 58) In which country are most of the electric vehicles produced? In which country are most of the electric vehicles sold?

A) produced in Japan, sold in Germany B) produced in Germany, sold in China C) produced in China, sold in the United States D) the United States, both produced and sold E) China, both produced and sold Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.7 Transmission, Storage, and Transportation Learning Outcome: 16.11 59) Which of the following is NOT a benefit of electric vehicles (EVs)?

A) EVs can use energy from both renewable and nonrenewable sources.

B) Despite relatively high up-front costs, EVs have lower maintenance costs.

C) EVs have greater mileage ranges per one full charge.

D) EVs emit much less carbon pollution.

E) With bidirectional charging stations, EVs can flatten the daily energy demand.

Answer: C 297 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 16.7 Transmission, Storage, and Transportation Learning Outcome: 16.11 Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

The oldest wind farm in Pennsylvania is Humboldt Industrial Park, in Luzerne County, which went online December 31, 1999. The two 65-kilowatt wind turbines were predicted to generate 200,000 kilowatt-hours of wind energy each year, replacing conventional electric generation that would otherwise annually produce 140 tons of carbon dioxide–the primary source of global climate change. Wind energy from these first two turbines also avoids the annual production of 800 pounds of nitrogen oxides and 1900 pounds of sulfur dioxide.

The local community in Luzerne County had mixed reactions to the news that another wind farm was being installed in 2005. Some were excited about the possibility of lower energy bills, some were concerned about the effects on the environment, and others wondered if there was enough local wind (average wind speed = 10 miles per hour) to make such an investment worthwhile. An average wind speed of 9 to 13 mph is sufficient for most sizes of wind turbines. The power available in the wind is proportional to the cube of its speed, which means that doubling the wind speed increases the available power by a factor of eight.

60) If the wind speed averages 11 mph on Ashley Hill and 12 mph on Genevie Hill, then a turbine operating on Genevie Hill could, in theory, generate about % more electricity than a turbine on Ashley Hill.

A) 1 B) 10 C) 20 D) 30 E) 50 Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 16.3 Wind Power Learning Outcome: 16.4 61) Using wind turbines to produce electricity avoids the production of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, which are the major pollutants .

A) in acid rain B) damaging the ozone layer C) that trigger asthma and other respiratory ailments D) causing eutrophication of waterways E) in fertilizers Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.3 Wind Power 298 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 16.4 62) An average household uses about 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. The first two turbines installed at Humboldt Industrial Park provide enough electricity to completely provide for the needs of approximately how many households?

A) 20 B) 200 C) 2000 D) 20,000 E) 200,000 Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 16.3 Wind Power Learning Outcome: 16.4 63) An average household uses about 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. How many tons of carbon dioxide would be produced if the household's electricity were generated using only conventional energy sources?

A) 2,800,000 B) 1,400,000 C) 270 D) 70 E) 5 Answer: E Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 16.3 Wind Power Learning Outcome: 16.4 64) The production and consumption of electricity are most commonly measured in kilowatt-hours (kW h). A kilowatt-hour is 1 kilowatt (1000 watts) of electricity produced or consumed for 1 hour. A 10-kW wind turbine can generate about 10,000 kWh annually (enough to power a typical household) at a site such as Spirit Lake, Iowa, with wind speeds averaging 12 miles per hour. The 250- W h turbine installed at the elementary school in Spirit Lake provides about of electricity annually.

A) 250 kW h B) 250 mW h C) 2,500 kW h D) 25,000 kW h E) 250,000 kW h Answer: E Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 16.3 Wind Power Learning Outcome: 16.4 299 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

16.2 Essay Questions 1) Discuss the conventional alternatives to fossil fuels. Why are we not using more renewables? 

  

Answer: Many renewable energy sources depend on technologies that are not yet fully developed and are more costly than fossil fuel use in the short term. Wind power, hydroelectric power, and energy from bioenergy are three conventional alternative energy sources that are currently the most developed and widely used. These alternatives currently play substantial roles in the energy and electricity budgets of many nations. They exert considerably less environmental impact than fossils fuels, and wind, an example of the "new renewable" alternatives, exert still smaller environmental impacts. Finally, in some nations, particularly the United States, corporate interests with heavy investments in fossil fuels have used political pressure and media campaigns to delay the development of renewable energies.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.1 Renewable Energy Sources Learning Outcome: 16.2

2) Compare and contrast passive solar collection and active solar collection. 



Answer: Passive solar energy collection features buildings that are designed, and building materials that are chosen, to maximize direct absorption of sunlight in winter, even as they keep the interior cool in the heat of summer. One passive solar design technique involves installing low, south-facing windows (in the Northern Hemisphere) or north-facing windows (in the Southern Hemisphere) to maximize sunlight capture in the winter. Overhangs that block light from above can shade these windows in the summer when the sun is high in the sky and when cooling, not heating, is desired.

Strategically placed deciduous trees can likewise shade windows in the summer but let light pass through in the winter. Passive solar techniques also include the use of heat-absorbing construction materials. Often called thermal mass, these materials absorb heat, store it, and release it later. Thermal mass (of straw, brick, concrete, or other materials) most often makes up floors, roofs, and walls, but also can comprise portable blocks. Any of these may be strategically located so that in cold weather the mass receives a great amount of sunlight and can radiate heat in the interior of the building. In warm weather, the mass should be located away from sunlight so that it absorbs warmed air in the interior to cool it. Passive solar design can also involve using vegetation planted in particular locations around a building. By heating buildings in cold weather and cooling them in warm weather, passive solar methods help conserve energy and reduce energy costs.

This approach contrasts with active solar energy collection, which requires some outside energy input and makes use of technological devices to focus, move, or store solar energy. One active method for harnessing solar energy involves using solar panels or flat-plate solar collectors, which are most often installed on rooftops. These panels generally consist of dark-colored, heat-absorbing metal plates mounted in large, flat boxes covered with glass panes. Water, air, or antifreeze solutions are run through tubes that pass through the collectors, transferring heat throughout a building.

Heated water can be pumped to tanks designed to store the heat for later use and 300 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

through pipes designed to release the heat into the building. Such systems have proven especially effective for heating water for residences.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.2 Solar Energy Learning Outcome: 16.3

3) Briefly discuss environmental impacts and economics of solar energy.  

  

Answer: Solar energy is one of the fastest growing and diverse sources of alternative energy.

Photovoltaic cells are rapidly increasing in production and deployment while at the same time the production costs are falling. Germany is leading the way with its "100,000 Rooftops" solar panels program that has already exceeded its goal. Some solar projects use mirrors to concentrate solar power for large-scale electricity production. Two such large arrays are in the planning stage, one in the U .S. Mojave Desert and another in the Sahara Desert being constructed by Germany. One of the low-key but highly effective solar sources is "passive solar systems." Passive solar takes advantage of the heat-retaining qualities of building materials to gain, radiate, or reflect heat. Using these physical properties as design components, buildings can be heated or cooled and provided with a source of solar-heated water. Although the United States is a leader in the production of solar photocells, only a tiny fraction of the research and development budget goes to solar and other renewable energies. The economic and policy leadership belongs mainly to European Union nations, especially Germany. The environmental impacts are clearly less severe than using fossil fuels or nuclear power. No emissions are directly produced by solar technology. The carbon footprint for solar technology is very low in comparison; it is not zero because some fossil fuels must still be used in the manufacture and installation of solar systems.

Because the collection areas needed for homes and especially for large solar collection systems are very large, large amounts of space are required, but when weighed against the damage from greenhouse gases, acid precipitation, and landscape alteration from mining and drilling activities that are associated with fossil fuels, the impacts are much, much less. Finally, the long-term economic prospects are very bright. The costs of manufacturing solar technology are rapidly dropping with continuing research and development, and soon solar systems will be as affordable as fossil fuels.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 16.2 Solar Energy Learning Outcome: 16.3

4) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of wind power. 

Answer: Advantages: Wind produces no emissions once the necessary equipment is manufactured and installed. As a replacement for fossil fuel combustion in the average U.S. utility generator, running a wind turbine can prevent the release of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury. Wind power appears considerably more energy-efficient than conventional power sources. Wind farms also use less water than do traditional generating plants. Wind turbine technology can be 301 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.



  

used on many scales, from a single tower for local use to fields of thousands for utilities to supply large regions. Small-scale turbine development can help make local areas more self-sufficient. Currently, start-up costs of wind farms are considerable, but they incur fewer expenses once up and running.

Disadvantages: We have no control over when wind will occur; it is an intermittent resource. This poses little problem if wind is one of several sources contributing to a utility's power generation. Moreover, several available technologies can help address the problem. For example, batteries or hydrogen fuel can store energy generated by wind and release it later when needed. Some areas are windier than others. Global wind patterns combine with local topography–mountains, hills, water bodies, forests, and cities–to create local wind patterns. Good wind resources are not always near population centers. Thus, transmission networks would need to be greatly expanded.

Moreover, when wind farms are proposed near population centers, local residents sometimes oppose them. Many people object to wind farms for aesthetic reasons.

Wind turbines also pose a threat to birds and bats, which can be killed when they fly into the rotating blades. Studies estimate that the number of birds killed this way is far less than the millions already being killed annually by other human causes. The key for protecting birds seems to be selecting sites for wind farms that are not in the midst of prime habitat.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.3 Wind Power Learning Outcome: 16.4

5) What is geothermal power? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the use of geothermal power? 





Answer: Definition: Geothermal energy involves the radioactive decay of elements deep in Earth, generating heat that rises to the surface through magma and through fissures and cracks. Where this energy heats groundwater, natural spurts of heated water and steam are sent up from below. Terrestrial geysers and submarine hydrothermal vents are the surface manifestations of these processes. Geothermal power plants use the heat energy of natural hot springs to generate electricity.

Advantages: Like other renewable sources, geothermal power greatly reduces emissions relative to fossil fuel combustion. Geothermal sources currently used produce no nitrous oxides or sulfurous gases and only one-sixth of the carbon dioxide produced by natural gas-fueled plants. Geothermal developments using the latest technology produce virtually no emissions. Recently, experiments with enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) have developed the technology to drill very deep into the earth and then inject cold water. The water is heated geothermally and then pumped back to the surface to generate power. The amount of heat energy available beneath the United States has been estimated to be enough to supply the world's energy needs for several millennia.

Disadvantages: Geothermal sources may not always be truly sustainable, such as when a power plant uses heated groundwater faster than it can be replenished. In addition, the water of many hot springs is laced with salts and other minerals that corrode equipment and can pollute the soil and air, so these may shorten the lifetime 302 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

of plants and increase maintenance costs. Like solar and wind power, geothermal power involves substantial development costs but low operations costs compared to fossil-fuel-fired processes. Adopting the technology will likely save money in the long run. Finally, geothermal power is limited to being used in certain areas where it occurs.

Nonetheless, many more hydrothermal resources remain unexploited around the world, awaiting improved technology and economic and policy encouragement by governments. EGS, although holding enormous promise as a source of renewable energy, has been plagued because the process can trigger earthquakes. We await the technical means to use E GS safely before application can proceed at full speed.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.5 Geothermal Energy Learning Outcome: 16.6

6) Briefly discuss the pros and cons of hydropower. 

  

Answer: Hydropower is renewable and clean; it produces enormous amounts of energy with little air pollution. The E ROI of hydroelectric plants are on the order of 10 : 1, among the highest of any energy process. Fossil fuels are used in the construction and maintenance of dams, however, and recent evidence suggests that reservoirs release some methane, a greenhouse gas. Damming rivers destroys habitat because it floods areas above dam sites and reduces water flow below dam sites. Also, any extensive hydroelectric project will cause the displacement of human settlements. Dams disrupt flooding cycles of rivers, affect the dynamics of estuaries, and prevent floodplains from receiving nutrient-laden sediments. Dams also cause thermal pollution that kills native fish. They block the passage of fish and other aquatic organisms within the ecosystem, fragmenting rivers and reducing biodiversity. These concerns require that extensive environmental impact studies be made prior to undertaking a hydropower project.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 16.4 Energy from Water Learning Outcome: 16.5

7) Is the use of biofuels for power generation economically feasible and sustainable?

Why or why not? 

Answer: Biofuels include wood from trees, charcoal from burned wood, combustible animal waste (used directly for biopower), and products such as ethanol, methanol, and biodiesel, which are derived from processing once-living matter. Captured landfill methane can be used as fuel as well, which consequently reduces methane gas emissions. Using bioenergy can be energy and cost efficient and is an inexpensive fuel for combustion in power plants. Although combustion of bioenergy releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, emissions are lower than through burning fossil fuels. There is no net addition of carbon to the atmosphere (carbon neutrality) because bioenergy is the product of recent photosynthesis–the carbon output of its combustion is balanced by the carbon input of the photosynthesis that created it.

Where waste costs money to dispose of, using waste for fuel can save money. Liquid fuels made from bioenergy are competitive in price with petroleum gasoline.

303 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

Gas-ethanol mixtures and biodiesel successfully fuel vehicles, stoves, and heaters, and these biofuels burn cleaner than conventional gasoline and conventional diesel.

The technology used to process bioenergy is important, however, because processing bioenergy into biofuels can be energy-intensive. Growing crops exclusively for energy is not sustainable if monocultures are grown on land that could otherwise be preserved and if farmers apply petroleum products, such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, to their crops to increase yields. In addition, these agrochemicals cause damage to biodiversity, promote eutrophication, and contaminate water supplies.

Overharvesting wood and crops is also unsustainable because it can lead to deforestation, soil erosion, and desertification, which damages landscapes, eliminates biodiversity, and impoverishes human societies dependent on an area's resources.

Careful long-term planning and analysis are necessary to decide what level of crop-produced biofuels can be sustainable in a given area.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 16.6 Energy from Biomass Learning Outcome: 16.7

8) What are some of the benefits and obstacles to using hydrogen as a fuel? 

  

Answer: Hydrogen fuel is clean, nontoxic, and produces few pollutants. It is comparatively safe to transport and store and is energy-efficient. The basic source for hydrogen is water, which can be broken down to component hydrogen and oxygen gases either by electrolysis or high-temperature pyrolysis. Both of these processes require large amounts of energy inputs. If the power needed is from nonrenewable fossil fuels, there is a question of whether it can be sustainable and not contribute to global climate change and other sorts of air pollution. If the power can be provided by solar technologies, then large-scale hydrogen usage has a clearer future. Both Iceland and Germany are planning large-scale hydrogen transportation projects by converting bus fleets to hydrogen. However, the general economic downturn since 2008 has delayed the progress of establishing the hydrogen infrastructure.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 16.7 Transmission, Storage, and Transportation Learning Outcome: 16.9

Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 17 Managing Our Waste 17.1 Multiple Choice Questions

304 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) From the 1960s to 2005, the trend was that

over time.

A) less waste was sent to landfills B) more overall waste was produced C) less waste was recovered for recycling D) less overall waste was produced E) there have been equal ratios of land disposal, combustion, and recovery Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.1 Approaches to Waste Management Learning Outcome: 17.1 2) According to the figure, which of the following trends occurred from 1960 to 2000?

A) a decrease in the amount of waste produced B) a decrease in the amount of waste sent to landfills C) an increase in the amount of waste being recycled D) a decrease in the amount of waste being combusted E) an increase in the number of functioning landfills Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.1 Approaches to Waste Management Learning Outcome: 17.1 3) In which of the following years was the greatest volume of material recycled?

305 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) 1970 B) 1980 C) 1990 D) 2000 E) 2010 Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.1 Approaches to Waste Management Learning Outcome: 17.1 4) Which decade was associated with the greatest percentage increase in the amount of waste disposed of in landfills?

A) 1960s B) 1970s C) 1980s D) 1990s E) 2000s Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.1 Approaches to Waste Management Learning Outcome: 17.1 5) According to the figure, which of the following trends has occurred since 1990?

A) an increase in the amount of waste being composted B) an increase in the amount of waste being landfilled C) an increase in the amount of waste being combusted D) a decrease in the amount of waste being recycled E) a decrease in the amount of waste produced Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.1 Approaches to Waste Management Learning Outcome: 17.1 6) In 2013, how many millions of tons of U .S. municipal solid waste were either recycled or composted?

A) 250 B) 160 C) 90 D) 130 E) 20 Answer: C Diff: 1 306 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 17.1 Approaches to Waste Management Learning Outcome: 17.1 7) Of the following, the demonstrated the greatest rate of increase in total municipal solid waste generated.

A) 1960s B) 1970s C) 1980s D) 1990s E) 2000s Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.1 Approaches to Waste Management Learning Outcome: 17.2 8) The amount of waste sent to landfills leveled off around

.

A) 1995 B) 1985 C) 1965 D) 1970 E) 2009 Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.1 Approaches to Waste Management Learning Outcome: 17.2 9) Volume of waste recovered by composting was insignificant until A) the early 1960s B) 1980 C) the late 1980s D) 2000 E) 2009 Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.1 Approaches to Waste Management Learning Outcome: 17.1 10) The best solution to the solid waste problem is to A) increase the number of W TE facilities B) increase the number of sanitary landfills C) reduce the amount of material that enters the waste stream D) subsidize W TE facilities 307 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

.

E) increase the number of oceanic burial sites Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.1 Approaches to Waste Management Learning Outcome: 17.1 11) The average American generates approximately day.

lbs. of solid waste per

A) 40 B) 1.5 C) 4.9 D) 13.7 E) 9 Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.2 12) Which of the following statements best describes the trend in waste generation in the United States since 1960?

A) Waste generation has remained constant, but per-person waste generation has declined.

B) Waste generation has more than tripled, and per-person waste generation has risen by 83%.

C) Waste generation has declined overall, but the amount of plastics has increased.

D) Waste generation has more than tripled, but per-person waste generation has remained constant.

E) Waste generation has doubled, and per-person waste generation has risen by 50%.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.2 13) What are the principal components of municipal solid waste in the United States after recycling and composting efforts?

A) paper and yard trimmings B) e-waste C) glass and metals D) food scraps and plastics E) cardboard and textiles Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste 308 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 17.2 14)

is the conversion of organic waste into mulch or humus.

A) Compacting B) Cogeneration C) Composting D) Reusing E) Injecting Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.3 15) The earthworms, fungi, and bacteria in your compost pile will NOT be happy if you give them .

A) food scraps B) grass clippings C) paper D) autumn leaves E) plastic Answer: E Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.3 16) Approximately % of all U.S. residents are served by curbside recycling programs, and the part of the U.S. waste stream that is recycled (not including composting) in 2018 is about %.

A) 30; 30 B) 30; 90 C) 50; 50 D) 75; 24 E) 70; 73 Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.3 17) Recycling aluminum cans saves % of the energy needed to make the same amount of aluminum from virgin bauxite.

A) 95 B) 80 309 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) 70 D) 50 E) 25 Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.3 18) Bottle bills

.

A) have been passed in all 50 states and Puerto Rico B) have been passed in just over half of the states in the United States.

C) usually involve consumers paying a nickel deposit on a beverage container D) have not effectively increased recycling rates in states that have them E) are fees paid by beverage companies in certain states.

Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.3 19) The first bottle bills were

.

A) designed to provide glass for road construction B) initiated in the 1990s C) designed to cut down on litter D) designed to provide incentives to industry E) a consequence of landfill regulations Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.3 20) Lining a landfill with a thick tough plastic barrier is a strategy to address problems related to .

A) methane production B) settling C) incomplete decomposition D) leachate E) mudslides and trash slides Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.4 21) To safeguard against groundwater contamination, sanitary landfills are 310 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

A) located on slopes so water runs downhill B) lined with plastic and compacted clay C) lined with cement D) located in unpopulated areas E) located on industrial sites where groundwater is not used for drinking or agriculture Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.4 22) Decomposition in a landfill will happen faster if there is more

.

A) sunlight B) moisture C) garbage D) methane E) natural gas Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.4 23) Which of the following is produced by anaerobic decomposition in landfills?

A) carbon dioxide B) ozone C) nitrogen oxides D) methane E) methylmercury Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.4 24) The Fresh Kills Landfill

.

A) collapsed onto a residential neighborhood because it had been filled to too great a height B) will remain open until late 2020s C) is being converted into a public park D) is a Superfund site located in Philadelphia E) is New York's first and only modern sanitary landfill Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste 311 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 17.4 25) Industrial ecologists

.

A) favor an economy that moves linearly rather than circularly B) advocate for taxes on green industries C) redesign industrial systems to maximize physical and economic efficiency D) urge an emphasis on internal manufacturing costs rather than external costs E) primarily analyze industrial inputs Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.3 Industrial Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.5 26) Life-cycle analysis

.

A) is an environmental movement designed to reduce municipal traffic and encourage alternative forms of transport B) defines how different organisms interact within ecosystems C) examines the cycling of carbon in the environment D) is the study of statistical changes in the human population E) examines the life of products to increase efficiency Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.3 Industrial Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.5 27) Which of the following represent the categories of hazardous waste?

A) inorganic and organic B) ignitable, corrosive, reactive, and toxic C) nonbiodegradable and biodegradable D) municipal, industrial, and agricultural E) solid, liquid, and gaseous Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.7 28) All of the following are considered to define types of hazardous waste EXCEPT: A) corrosive.

B) toxic.

C) ignitable.

D) inert.

E) reactive.

312 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.7 29) Of the following,

produce(s) the largest amount of hazardous waste.

A) industry B) households C) agriculture D) utilities E) building demolitions Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.7 30) In the developed nations, which of the following produce(s) the largest amount of unregulated hazardous waste?

A) industry B) households C) agriculture D) utilities E) military Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.7 31) Of the following,

are classified as hazardous heavy metals.

A) lead, mercury, and cadmium B) nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium C) carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen D) aluminum, iron, and silicon E) all nonbiodegradable materials Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.7 32) Heavy metals

.

A) become less hazardous after incineration B) become less hazardous over time as they degrade chemically 313 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) are unregulated by the U .S. government D) bioaccumulate in animal tissues E) are not harmful unless they are directly ingested Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.7 33) E-wastes are a source of

.

A) compostable organic compounds B) ignitables C) heavy and precious metals D) radioactive materials E) acid corrosives Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.6 34) E-waste often leaches hazardous levels of which of the following metals?

A) gold B) silver C) lead D) uranium E) platinum Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.6 35) In the 2020 Tokyo Winter Olympics, the metals in the winners' medals were .

A) produced from mining wastes in Tokyo B) made entirely from precious metals recovered from recycled e-waste C) recovered from local landfills D) recovered from local MRFs E) recovered from surface impoundments Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.6 36) The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act is a U .S. law enacted in the 1970s to 314 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

A) reduce environmental levels of the 12 most toxic chemicals, called the "dirty dozen" B) regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants C) protect endangered species D) regulate how hazardous waste is handled E) restrict use of off-road vehicles in national parks Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.7 37) Deep-well injection

.

A) is a method of disposing of hazardous wastes in deep aquifers B) is a pool of strong acids on the land surface used for breaking down e-waste C) involves putting hazardous wastes into layers of porous rock deep beneath human water supplies D) is the EPA-approved method of disposing of low-level radioactive wastes E) has been banned as unsafe by the Department of the Interior Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.7 38) The Superfund, established to clean up hazardous waste sites in the United States, is a part of what legislation?

A) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act B) The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act C) Superfund Authority Act D) Hazardous Waste Management Act E) Superfund Management and Liability Act Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.6 39) The EPA is charged with cleaning up brownfields, which are

.

A) agricultural lands polluted by acid and heavy metals B) urban areas contaminated by acid drainage from mining C) lands whose reuse or development is complicated by the presence of hazardous materials D) coastal sea grass beds damaged by industrial dumping E) desert regions used for unsafe nuclear waste disposal 315 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.6 40) What do the site of Valley of Drums, Louisville, Kentucky, and the Love Canal neighborhood of Niagara Falls, New York, have in common?

A) Both recently won presidential recycling awards.

B) Both were evacuated because of contamination by toxins.

C) Both have banned the use of plastic grocery bags.

D) Both have municipal programs for dealing with e-waste.

E) Both were built on closed municipal landfills.

Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.6 41) As of 2014, under the jurisdiction of the E PA, approximately % of hazardous sites identified under C ERCLA as a national priority have been cleaned up.

A) 60 B) 50 C) 40 D) 30 E) 3 Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.6 42) Funding for superfund toxic waste sites

.

A) is currently paid by polluting industries B) has become the responsibility of taxpayers since 2004 C) is a portion of the E PA's budget D) has been eased because the costs of cleanup have diminished E) is no longer necessary because by 2010 all sites had been cleaned and restored Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.6 43) Recycling rates of E-waste vary significantly from place to place. How do the rates of E-waste recycling differ in European nations and in the United States?

A) The United States recycles two times more E-waste than the European nations.

316 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

B) The European nations recycle approximately the same amount of E-waste as the United States.

C) The European nations recycle approximately three times more E-waste than the United States.

D) The United States recycles five times more E-waste than the European nations.

E) The European nations recycle approximately ten times more E-waste than the United States.

Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.6 44) What is the main goal of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (R CRA) in managing hazardous waste?

A) to promote recycling of hazardous materials B) to reduce the cost of hazardous waste disposal C) to track hazardous materials from cradle to grave D) to eliminate the use of hazardous materials in industries E) to encourage the export of hazardous waste to developing nations Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.7 45) What significant event led to the establishment of the Superfund program under C E R CLA in the United States?

A) the widespread illegal dumping of hazardous waste by companies B) the international agreement under the Basel Convention C) the increase in hazardous waste generation due to industrial growth D) the discovery of new hazardous waste treatment methods E) the contamination of homes and an elementary school in Love Canal, New York Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.7 Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

A "throwaway mentality" and increased packaging have amplified the consumption of paper and plastic in our society. Disposable plates, cups, and utensils are convenient, sanitary, and inexpensive, and packaging preserves freshness, prevents breakage, protects against tampering, provides information to consumers, and allows shipment of products over long distances. However, paper and plastic do not degrade readily in sanitary landfills. Garbologist William Rathje found legible newspapers in landfills 317 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

decades after disposal. Because trees used to make virgin paper and petrochemicals used to make plastics may soon become depleted, source reduction is the best solution to the waste dilemma. Denmark has banned the use of nonrefillable beverage containers, and McDonald's restaurants in Austria and Sweden have been using biodegradable, compostable cutlery. Recycling has value as well, as long as the recycling loop is closed and people purchase recycled items. Bottle bills and municipal curbside collection provide recycling incentives. Paper recycling is profitable if waste is properly sorted. All kinds of paper and cardboard are recyclable. Food and paperboard (noncorrugated thin coated board such as cereal boxes) can contaminate collections, however, reducing their value. After processing, paper and cardboard are used to make paper towels and paperboard for packaging cereal, shoes, and toys. Uncapped, washed, and flattened plastic is recycled into carpets, pillows, and new bottles. Although low-density polyethylene (LDPE), from which grocery bags are made, is the most widely used plastic, beverage bottle polyethylene terephthalate, or P ET(E), and high-density polyethylene, or HDPE, are the most widely recycled plastics. Containers from toxic substances such as motor oil, pesticides, and solvents are not usually accepted with collected plastic because of contamination. Methods to reuse and recycle polystyrene are in development, although presently, Styrofoam is not collected with other plastics and is considered a contaminant as well.

46) The best way to reduce plastic in landfills is to

.

A) increase use of recycled items B) use biodegradable plastic items C) urge the government to pass more bottle bills D) buy products produced locally with minimal packaging E) reuse beverage bottles Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.3 47) Closing the recycling loop refers to

.

A) avoiding contamination of plastic and paper collectables during sorting B) finding ways to recycle all plastics, including polystyrene C) covering landfills once they have outlived their usefulness and converting the sites to public parks D) composting of biodegradable plastic E) purchasing items made from recycled materials Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.3 48) Plastic

.

318 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

A) containers from motor oil are recycled with beverage bottles to make new bottles B) polystyrene is considered a plastic contaminant C) not made from recyclables is made from renewable raw materials D) from beverage containers is easily recyclable if uncapped, washed, and flattened E) from grocery bags is labeled with recycling symbols #1 and #2 Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.3 49)

can contaminate wastepaper and decrease the value of collected paper and cardboard.

A) Corrugated cardboard boxes B) Cereal boxes C) Office papers D) Newspapers E) Paper shopping bags Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.3 50) Paper and plastic waste share which of the following characteristics?

A) They are both made from petrochemicals.

B) They readily degrade in landfills.

C) Their increased consumption leads to increased waste.

D) They cannot be incinerated to produce energy.

E) Both are more than 90% recycled in the United States.

Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.3 51) LDPE is

.

A) not currently recycled B) the most widely recycled plastic C) the plastic used to make grocery bags D) banned in Denmark E) a toxin found in most plastics Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste 319 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 17.3 17.2 Essay Questions 1) Briefly describe the three main components of waste management. Which method is preferred? 

  

Answer: The preferred approach to waste management is minimizing waste at its source. This is called source reduction. It includes the more efficient use of resources by manufacturers, reduced consumption, and the promotion of reuse, which includes purchasing used and durable goods and products with less packaging and donating unwanted items. The second best strategy is recovery, which includes recycling and composting. Paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastic, and e-wastes have all become increasingly recyclable as new technologies have developed and as markets for recycled materials grow. Biological decomposition or composting effectively recycles organic waste. Third, safe and effective disposal of what remains is typically accomplished through incineration and/or internment in landfills.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.1 Approaches to Waste Management Learning Outcome: 17.1

2) Describe the advantages of composting. 

  

Answer: In natural systems, there is no solid waste. All organic waste is used for food by other organisms. Conversion of organic waste into mulch or humus through the natural biological processes of decomposition reduces landfill waste, enriches soil and helps it retain water and resist erosion, encourages soil biodiversity, makes for healthier plants and more pleasing gardens, and reduces the need for irrigation and chemical fertilizers.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.3

3) What are the four basic steps in the recycling loop? What is the step that needs the most attention if the recycling loop is going to work? 

 

Answer: The first step is collection and processing of recyclable goods and materials after they have been used. Items collected are taken to materials recovery facilities in the second step where they are sorted and processed, often with the help of automated machinery. The facilities clean the materials, shred them, and prepare them for reprocessing into new items. In the third step, these materials are used in manufacturing new goods. In the fourth step, consumers and businesses must purchase these eco-labeled products made from recycled materials if the recycling loop is to work and become economically sustainable. Some items currently made from recycled materials include plastic benches and bridges in city parks, "glassphalt" for paving roads and paths, and books.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste 320 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.



Learning Outcome: 17.4

4) Briefly describe the pros and cons of curbside recycling. 

  

Answer: People take satisfaction in recycling, and municipalities see it as a way to reduce waste. Recycling saves a great deal of energy expended in making products from virgin materials and offers entrepreneurs opportunities to start new businesses and save money. Sometimes the expense of collecting, sorting, and processing recycled goods is more than recyclables are worth on the market. Furthermore, the more people recycle, the more glass, metals, paper, and plastic are made available to manufacturers for purchase, driving prices down. Recycling advocates argue, however, that conventional supply-and-demand economics and market prices do not account for external costs.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.3

5) Identify steps that can be taken to reduce the size of the waste stream. 

  

Answer: Industry can decrease waste by making their practices more efficient with regard to wastes produced and by minimizing packaging. Consumers can minimize waste by purchasing fewer goods, choosing products with minimal packaging (e.g., buying a case of toilet paper that does not contain individually wrapped four-packs), reusing goods they already own, buying used items, and donating unwanted items rather than disposing of them. Consumers can also recycle items such as cardboard, newspaper, metals, glass, and plastics, and they can compost yard waste and food scraps.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.3

6) What are the benefits and drawbacks of incinerating trash? How have these problems been dealt with in most developed countries? 

Answer: Incinerating waste reduces its weight by up to 75% and its volume by up to 90%. Most North American incinerators today also generate electricity in a process called waste-to-energy (W TE). The remaining ash is generally shipped to hazardous waste landfills. Although high-temperature incineration can destroy certain pollutants such as PCBs, it does not always eliminate all toxins, and such combustion actually can create new hazardous chemicals. Particulates, acids, dioxins, and heavy metals may be contained in incinerator smoke. Early incinerators did not include mechanisms for mitigating air pollution, and many citizens still fear the health effects of released incinerator gases. Most developed nations now regulate incinerator emissions, and some have banned incineration outright. Scrubbers have been installed in some incinerators to remove hazardous combustion by-products and neutralize acidic gases. Baghouse filters have been installed to reduce particulate emissions. Most incinerators are required to test their emissions to ensure that discarded ash meets safety standards.

321 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.3

7) Discuss the benefits and disadvantages of modern-day landfills in the United States. 

  

Answer: In contrast to open landfills, modern-day sanitary landfills are lined and covered to prevent waste from contaminating the environment and threatening public health. They are regulated by state or local governments and must meet federal standards. U.S. regulations specify that landfills must be located away from wetlands and earthquake-prone faults and be 20 feet above the water table. The bottom and sides must be lined with heavy plastic and clay to prevent aquifer contamination.

Leachate must be collected in pipes, treated, and monitored. Anaerobic bacteria that decompose landfill waste produce methane, which can be captured and used as an energy source. If this landfill gas is not captured, however, it can contribute to smog and global climate change. It also can explode. Many experts believe leachate escapes from landfills due to liner breakage. The dry state of landfills precludes rapid waste decay because decomposers thrive in wet conditions. Paper has been found to survive intact for decades. It has become increasingly difficult to find areas to locate new landfills. Most communities do not want large landfills in their midst for aesthetic reasons and for fear of potential health risks. In North America, as a result of the N I M BY syndrome, landfills are rarely sited in wealthy, educated, and politically powerful neighborhoods, but instead are disproportionately sited in poor and minority communities. Besides the obvious injustice of this pattern, an uneven distribution of landfills decreases efficiency, requiring waste shipments over long distances.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.2 Municipal Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.4

8) If reducing waste can increase efficiency, why is the output of industrial waste still so great? What is the application of industrial ecology and life-cycle analysis to these problems? 

Answer: Physical efficiency is not always equivalent to economic efficiency. Often it is cheaper for industry to generate waste than to avoid it. Market prices drive industry's decisions, even though market prices do not reflect external societal and ecological costs. Possible solutions to decrease waste and increase physical efficiency include the following: raising corporate waste-disposal costs and offering tax incentives to corporations that reduce waste; creating market systems that internalize ecological costs into the production process; and encouraging consumers to purchase recycled goods through price supports on recycled goods or taxes on goods not made from recycled raw materials. The most recent progress is coming through the field of industrial ecology and its life-cycle analysis of waste. Companies that subscribe to life-cycle analysis concentrate on every category of waste and try to identify other companies that may be able to use their wastes as a resource or try to recycle materials. The Swiss Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives (ZERI) have sponsored many such innovative projects of this type all over the world.

322 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 17.3 Industrial Solid Waste Learning Outcome: 17.5

9) Describe the growing problems in dealing with e-waste. 

  

Answer: E-wastes include cell phones, computer components, F AX machines, televisions, VCRs, and other electronic equipment. Many are turning up in landfills.

These items contain heavy metals and flame retardants, which make them candidates for hazardous waste designation. This designation would keep them out of ordinary landfills. Many discarded electronic devices can be disassembled for recycling. There are many businesses and nonprofit groups that collect items for recycling. Because of the toxic materials risk, guidelines for the recycling industry need to be developed.

Although recycling rates have improved in the last decade, more than half of all e-waste is still ending up in landfills and incinerators.

Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.6

10) Describe what environmentalists mean when they say that RCRA deals with waste streams by life-cycle analysis ("from cradle to grave"). 

  

Answer: RCRA requires large generators of hazardous waste to obtain permits and track the path of hazardous materials and to prevent illegal dumping and encourage the use of reputable waste carriers and disposal facilities. As hazardous waste is generated, transported, and disposed of, the producer, carrier, and disposal facility must each report to the EPA the type and amount of material generated. They must document the location, origin, and destination of the hazardous material and document the way it is handled.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.7

11) There are three main disposal methods for hazardous waste. One is landfills.

Describe how hazardous waste landfills differ from ordinary sanitary landfills. Briefly discuss the other two ways that hazardous waste is contained. 

Answer: There are three primary means of hazardous waste disposal in the United States and most other developed countries: landfills, surface impoundments, and injection wells. Secure landfills store hazardous waste so that it is isolated from people, wildlife, and ecosystems. The standards for landfills that receive hazardous waste are higher than those of ordinary sanitary landfills. They must have several impervious liners and leachate removal systems and must be located far from aquifers. Another method for storing hazardous waste, particularly liquid hazardous waste or waste in dissolved form, is in ponds or surface impoundments. To create a surface impoundment, a shallow depression is dug and lined with plastic or an impervious material such as clay. Water containing small amounts of hazardous 323 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

  

waste is placed in the pond and allowed to evaporate, eventually leaving a residue of solid hazardous waste on the bottom. The dry material is removed and transported elsewhere for permanent disposal. Surface impoundments may leak waste, and some toxic material may evaporate, blow away, or travel in floodwater to surrounding areas.

Therefore, impoundments are usually used only for temporary storage. The third disposal method is deep-well injection. In this long-term disposal method, a well is drilled deep beneath an area's water table. The well must reach below an impervious soil layer and must enter into porous rock. Wastes are injected into the well with the idea that they will be absorbed into the porous rock and remain deep underground, isolated from groundwater and human contact. Sometimes wells become corroded and leak waste into soil and aquifers.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 17.4 Hazardous Waste Learning Outcome: 17.7

Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta) Chapter 18 The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities 18.1 Multiple Choice Questions

324 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).

1) Which of the following can be inferred from the data shown in parts (a) and (b) of the figure?

A) Pickup trucks are more energy efficient than S UVs. B) Buses are inefficient when there are few people riding on them.

C) In most cities, public mass transit systems are too expensive to be a viable long-term strategy for decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

D) Most cities would be better served by having both a bus system and a commuter rail system.

E) Pickup trucks are only about half as energy efficient as SUVs. Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4 325 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

2) The operating costs for transportation

.

A) clearly show the economies of scale, with large cities costing less per automobile than small cities B) show that bus transport is the least expensive when all costs are included C) indicate that city planners should invest more in parking lots D) take into account the costs to public health and to the environment of vehicle emissions E) indicate that, when all operating costs are included, rail is the most sensible means of transport Answer: E Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4 3) Given the energy consumption and operating costs per passenger-kilometer, one of the best overall strategies for cities to consider is .

A) to create carpool lanes on all major routes B) to increase affordable, high-rise parking sites in multiple locations throughout the city C) to create or improve a convenient, affordable rail transit system D) to create more suburban communities with work, shopping, and housing in central locations E) to improve and increase city bus routes by providing affordable, pleasant buses Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4 4) It costs less to operate an automobile in a small city than in a large city because .

A) automobiles generally cost less to purchase in a small city than in a large city B) people in smaller cities tend to use mass transit more than they do in large cities C) people tend to drive smaller cars in small cities than in large cities D) people generally drive fewer miles to and from work in a small city than in a large city E) parking costs more in a large city than in a small city Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4 5) An SUV uses approximately

% more fuel energy than a sedan.

A) 25 B) 33 326 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) 50 D) 100 E) 0.9 Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4 6) Worldwide, the fastest growing cities today are mostly

.

A) cities in the northern United States, such as Chicago, Illinois, and Portland, Oregon B) small cities in the southern United States, such as Austin, Texas, and Raleigh, North Carolina C) the megacities such as Tokyo, Mexico City, and New York City D) in developing nations, such as Delhi, India E) large cities worldwide, such as Paris, London, and Los Angeles Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.1 Our Urbanizing World Learning Outcome: 18.1 7) In developing nations, such as India and Nigeria,

.

A) most of the population is moving to the suburbs from the city centers B) very little change has occurred in the past 40 years regarding where people live C) small numbers of people have moved into the cities D) rural people are moving to the cities in large numbers E) more people are moving to the suburbs than to the city centers Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 18.1 Our Urbanizing World Learning Outcome: 18.1 8) The world's urban populations are

.

A) shrinking, compared to rural populations B) growing at a faster rate than the global population as a whole C) growing at about the same rate as the rural populations D) growing most rapidly in the developed nations E) shrinking in developing nations Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 18.1 Our Urbanizing World Learning Outcome: 18.1 9) Historically, large cities have tended to develop 327 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

A) away from large bodies of water that might cause flooding during storms B) their own agricultural areas within city limits C) in locations where explorers first landed D) within walking distance of hunting and gathering grounds E) along trade routes Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.1 Our Urbanizing World Learning Outcome: 18.1 10) Over the past 60 years, most U .S. citizens who could afford to do so A) migrated into the cities B) improved the cities C) left the cities for the suburbs D) moved into high-rise condominiums E) moved into "downtown" city center areas Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 18.1 Our Urbanizing World Learning Outcome: 18.2 11) What is the major factor driving the move to the suburbs from cities?

A) desire to have a garden B) availability of more jobs in suburbs C) desire to live in less crowded, more peaceful conditions D) concern over demographic transitions E) desire for close-knit communities Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.1 Our Urbanizing World Learning Outcome: 18.2 12) All of the following factors have contributed to movement of people to suburbs EXCEPT: A) more space.

B) better economic opportunities.

C) greater availability of mass transit.

D) better schools.

E) lower crime rates.

Answer: C Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 18.1 Our Urbanizing World 328 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

.

Learning Outcome: 18.2 13) American cities in the northern United States, such as Chicago, Philadelphia, and Detroit, .

A) have steadily lost population over the past 100 years B) grew very rapidly in the 19th and early 20th centuries C) have always grown rapidly and continue to do so D) have maintained a steady-state population since the 1970s E) have increased their rate of growth dramatically in the past 20 years Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.1 Our Urbanizing World Learning Outcome: 18.1

14) This figure shows the population of Portland, Oregon, from 1850 to 2015. What is the explanation for the population trend from 1950 to 1980?

A) the adoption of urban growth regulations that prohibited population growth B) the exodus of residents to the suburbs C) the preservation of sensitive habitat within Portland's borders D) the downturn of Portland's economy caused by the crash of the stock market E) growth driven by the shipping trade Answer: B Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 18.1 Our Urbanizing World Learning Outcome: 18.2 329 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

15) Air travel, the Internet, cheap fossil fuels, and television all have allowed people to .

A) consume less energy and materials B) live more densely packed into urban areas C) remain connected while living in less centralized locations D) return to an agricultural society E) live within the UDBs demanded by smart city design Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.2 Sprawl Learning Outcome: 18.2 16) Urban sprawl typically results in

.

A) narrower highways B) increased commuting distances C) increased population densities D) decreased reliance on automobiles E) high-density housing outside of the central city Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 18.2 Sprawl Learning Outcome: 18.2 17) Suburban living encourages

.

A) increased use of automobiles B) investment in and improvement of downtown centers C) walking, riding bicycles, and other kinds of physical activity D) driving electric cars E) increased agricultural activities Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 18.2 Sprawl Learning Outcome: 18.2 18) Any consideration of the true costs of sprawl must include

.

A) the restoration of natural areas to inner cities B) the problems of decreased water use and decreased energy consumption C) increased use of pesticides D) increased use of fossil fuels E) more time for families to be together Answer: D Diff: 2 330 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 18.2 Sprawl Learning Outcome: 18.2 19) Pat and Terry are considering moving from near the center of a large city into the suburbs. Which of the following discussion points is valid?

A) If they move to the suburbs, it will cost much less for transportation.

B) If they stay in the city, they'll probably get less exercise.

C) If they stay in the city, they will contribute more to local pollution.

D) It will be easier to have a place for a vegetable garden if they move to the suburbs.

E) They will experience more stress if they move to the suburbs.

Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.2 Sprawl Learning Outcome: 18.2 20) L'Enfant's 1791 Plan of the U .S. capital represented the first

.

A) attempt to address biodiversity concerns B) thorough city planning program C) effort to address urban sprawl D) effort to design a freeway E) effort to plan for agriculture in city areas Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.3 21) The practice of classifying areas for different types of development and land use is referred to as .

A) deregulation B) zoning C) green-washing D) urbanism E) boundary-setting Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.3 22) The role of zoning is to

.

A) promote urbanization B) classify areas for different types of urban development and land use C) integrate agriculture with urban land use 331 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) run city governments like the federal government E) promote taxation according to land use Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.3 23) An urban growth boundary (UGB) is intended to

.

A) ensure that businesses do not locate in residential areas B) enforce certain restrictions within neighborhoods C) help an area retain its distinctive character D) provide guidelines for city development to separate areas desired to be urban from areas desired to be rural E) maintain low housing costs for the average homeowner Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.3 24) The requirement in Oregon for every metropolitan area to establish an urban growth boundary is intended to .

A) increase the size of suburbs B) reduce urban sprawl C) force people to move elsewhere D) take away incentives for renewal of urban areas E) reduce the size of natural areas adjacent to cities Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.3 25) Oregon's strong policy of enforcing UGBs (urban growth boundaries) to create livable cities has been exemplary for many years, but U GBs predate Oregon's efforts and have been established for a variety of reasons. The first U GB in the United States was probably that of ,enacted in 1958.

A) Seattle B) Lexington C) Denver D) Portland E) Austin Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities 332 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Outcome: 18.3 26) In 2010, the Portland area's Metropolitan Service District (Metro) made a historic agreement between landowners and citizens that .

A) included a regional plan to identify exactly where urban growth would be allowed over the next 50 years B) put up undeveloped land at auction to be sold to the highest bidders, public or private C) preserved all undeveloped land as natural ecosystems D) prohibited agriculture on any undeveloped land in the region E) removed UGBs because they were deemed unconstitutional Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.3 27) A city undergoing gentrification is experiencing

.

A) urban decay B) white flight C) the loss of working-class people from traditional neighborhoods as housing prices become too expensive D) an aging population and a declining tax base E) an increase in violent crimes and an increase in vacancy and abandonment of homes Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.3 28) The original purpose of parks in eastern U .S. cities was to

.

A) provide protected places for hunting foxes, birds, and deer B) provide wildlife sanctuaries within cities C) protect passenger pigeons, Carolina parakeets, and other rapidly declining species D) provide a European-style experience of the beauty and intimacy of formal landscapes E) provide open places for picnics and games, such as football, cricket, and lawn tennis Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4 29) New urbanism seeks to

.

A) develop walkable neighborhoods, with homes and businesses close together B) use zoning to keep small neighborhoods intact C) keep business in a central location, near transportation centers 333 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

D) provide low-cost, long-distance, mass transit systems E) use tiered taxation to maintain inner cities as vibrant, livable communities Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4 30) Which of the following is a method that governments use to improve urban transportation?

A) Give tax rebates to people who use only public transportation.

B) Designate lanes as carpool-only.

C) Make some public buildings and some communities accessible only by public transportation.

D) Provide bicycle lanes on freeways.

E) Provide motorcycle lanes in the center of rail lines.

Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4 31) Mass transit systems include all of the following EXCEPT: A) light rail.

B) buses.

C) commuter rail.

D) subways.

E) taxicabs.

Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4 32) Curitiba, Brazil, has shown us that

.

A) unregulated urban sprawl produces severe air pollution B) a walkable city center and expanded bus system can solve a large city's traffic congestion C) once roads are widened, traffic congestion decreases D) prohibition of all motorized vehicles within cities reduces pollution and saves energy E) traffic flows smoothly once pedestrians and bicycles are eliminated Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4 334 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

33) Greenways

.

A) are links that provide pathways for wildlife to travel between parks and preserves B) contain parks that are large enough to harbor populations of exotic flora and fauna C) prohibit hiking and biking or recreational opportunities D) are urban golf courses E) are waterways within city parks Answer: A Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4 34) Which of the following is a benefit of green buildings?

A) being built from sustainable materials B) reduced use of energy and water C) minimal adverse health effects on occupants D) pollution control E) All of these are benefits of green buildings.

Answer: E Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4 35) All of the following are landscaping features of green buildings EXCEPT: A) rooftops planted with vegetation.

B) rain gardens that absorb runoff.

C) landscaping with AstroTurf in dry environments.

D) the use of plants that are native to the area where the building is being constructed.

E) planting deciduous trees to allow light to pass in the winter and shade buildings in the summer.

Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4 36) Which of the following approaches would earn points toward L EED certification?

A) building near a school B) building on a golf course C) building with mahogany imported from Brazil D) recycling all construction wastes E) building a children's cancer hospital Answer: D Diff: 2 335 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4 37) LEED-certified buildings could be described by all of the following EXCEPT: A) They are energy efficient.

B) They are built with sustainable materials.

C) They have a reduced ecological footprint.

D) Their construction usually costs less than for conventional buildings.

E) They limit pollution and recycle wastes.

Answer: D Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4 38) The urban heat island effect is caused by

.

A) green buildings B) heat-generating buildings and dark, heat-absorbing surfaces C) nuclear power plants venting excess heat into the urban landscape D) street lighting and burning of wastes in landfills E) air warmed over adjacent oceans blowing into urban areas Answer: B Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.4 Urban Sustainability Learning Outcome: 18.6 39) In the study of urban ecology in Baltimore and Phoenix, how do the two cities differ in their citizens' exposure to toxic chemicals?

A) In Phoenix, ethnic minorities are more likely to be exposed to such hazards, whereas in Baltimore, those living in working-class white neighborhoods are more likely to be exposed.

B) Phoenix has largely eliminated exposure to toxic chemicals, whereas the citizens of Baltimore suffer from extreme exposure to such hazards.

C) Minorities in both cities are more likely to be exposed to such hazards than white citizens, but minorities in Phoenix are provided with better health care to offset the costs related to exposure.

D) Baltimore was built before building codes and zoning laws prohibited building homes on contaminated sites, so all of the citizens of Baltimore are exposed to high levels of toxic chemicals, whereas Phoenix has been built more recently and so does not have problems related to toxic chemical exposure.

E) Baltimore has taken a zero-tolerance approach to polluters, so its citizens are much less exposed to toxic chemicals than the citizens of Phoenix.

Answer: A Diff: 3 336 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

Topic/Section: 18.4 Urban Sustainability Learning Outcome: 18.6 40) People who seek to improve resource sustainability of our cities urge us to .

A) maintain a steady pattern of growth and development B) use zoning and taxation to promote livable cities C) oppose strict limits on growth (U GBs) D) use renewable energy sources and recycle materials E) find a balance between imports and exports of resources Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 18.4 Urban Sustainability Learning Outcome: 18.7 41) What challenges did Portland meet concurrently with the pandemic of C OVID-19?

A) overpopulation of the downtown B) overload of mass-transit system C) especially severe smog because of fuel emissions D) Black Lives Matter protests E) widespread wildfires in the surrounding areas Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 18.4 Urban Sustainability Learning Outcome: 18.5 42) The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences caused Portland’s population .

A) to rise for the first time since 1950 B) to rise for the first time since 1910 C) to fall for the first time since 1980 D) to fall for the first time since 1930 E) to rise for the first time since 1900 Answer: C Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 18.4 Urban Sustainability Learning Outcome: 18.5 43) Which of Portland’s economy components still has not recovered after the COVI D -19 pandemic?

A) software companies B) mass transit 337 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

C) metal fabrication D) advertising E) scrap steel industry Answer: B Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 18.4 Urban Sustainability Learning Outcome: 18.5 44) Although a city has a large ecological footprint, its residents may have moderate or small footprints per capita. What are the main reasons for that?

A) Goods and resources are distributed effectively in such cities, and provision of services is facilitated by the density of cities.

B) Residents of urban areas, on average, have lesser incomes and consume fewer resources than residents of rural areas.

C) Residents of urban areas, on average, are better educated, so most of them practice sustainable ways of life.

D) Because of the urban heat island effect, urban residents use fewer resources for heating and clothing.

E) Urban residents consume resources imported from lands elsewhere, while the rural residents consume resources from their own land.

Answer: A Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 18.4 Urban Sustainability Learning Outcome: 18.6 45) According to the studies funded by the National Science Foundation, how are urban ecology and urban economy related?

A) Pollution level and economic activity level are not dependent on each other.

B) Economic activity in the city prevents the spread of non-native species.

C) Neighborhoods with greater economic activity get more heat from the urban heat island effect.

D) Sources of pollution tend to be located in neighborhoods with little economic opportunity.

E) The pollution level correlates with increasing economic activity in the neighborhood.

Answer: D Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 18.4 Urban Sustainability Learning Outcome: 18.7 Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below.

A military base a few miles from a medium-sized city is being decommissioned. The base is a large one, sited along a coastline, and includes some small hills, pristine woodlands and wetlands, streams, a river, and a small lake. There is a railroad spur that connects the 338 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

base with the nearby city, as well as a four-lane highway. The base contains housing, schools, a hospital, shops, and recreational areas for a population of 10,000. The city's options for using, selling, or leasing the land are numerous, and many groups come forward with proposals.

46) One group proposes to convert the base to a new city suburb, with low-cost housing for several thousand of the current inner-city residents. A possible major problem with this might include .

A) that there is no guarantee that the buildings are in good condition B) that the inner-city residents may not be able to fully appreciate the natural areas and miss the inner-city quality of life C) the highway traffic to and from the city D) insufficient recreational opportunities for the new suburb E) the lack of jobs and lack of transportation to jobs Answer: E Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.3 47) A development group wishes to turn the area into a recreational facility, including an RV resort, a major-league sports arena, a small-craft harbor for water sports, a hunting lodge, and off- road activities, including motocross racing and dune buggy areas. An important ecological concern about this proposal would be .

A) that the parking facilities would need to be increased B) that the developer's fees might not be enough to justify the long-term lease C) habitat disturbance D) a need to widen the highway to sustain the increased traffic E) that the proximity of hunting activities to the other new development would increase the likelihood of accidental shooting Answer: C Diff: 2 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.3 48) Members of several local environmental groups propose that nearly all of the buildings be removed and the area turned into a regional hiking, fishing, and camping area, with very limited vehicle access. This will preserve the natural areas while providing recreation for the city dwellers. The most likely issue raised by opponents is whether .

A) revenue generated from users will pay for the changes and the maintenance of such a facility B) water sports will be accessible to all C) there will be sufficient space for RV camping D) anyone will be interested in that kind of recreation 339 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

E) such activities would irreparably harm the sensitive ecosystems Answer: A Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.3 49) As an ecological resource manager, your preliminary environmental studies should include an inquiry into whether .

A) the financial situation of some potential investors is shaky B) the city needs to obtain a great deal of revenue from the final choice C) a new housing development just outside the city limits may increase traffic on the connecting highway D) the wetlands include oyster beds and shallow estuaries that are habitats for shrimp, crabs, and fish that support many local industries E) the lake should be provided with docks and a marina for sport fishermen Answer: D Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.3 18.2 Essay Questions 1) List some of the reasons that urban dwellers move to the suburbs. 

  

Answer: Global interconnectedness makes communication easy. Location on a river or seacoast is not vital because we have jet planes, television, cell phones, and the Internet. Fossil fuels make it easy to commute, as well as to import and export resources, goods, and waste. All of these make it easy to live farther apart from people and places with whom you need to interact. Other reasons why urban dwellers move to the suburbs include the desire to escape the stress, noise, pollution, crime, and traffic of a crowded city.

Diff: 1 Topic/Section: 18.2 Sprawl Learning Outcome: 18.2

2) What are some of the reasons for the development of parks and protected areas in and around U.S. cities? 

Answer: First and most important, these areas keep ecological processes functioning by regulating climate, producing oxygen, and filtering out air and water pollutants.

Second, parks have been created in and near cities to satisfy our desire to be in contact with other organisms. A third reason we have set aside parks is for tranquility, enjoyment of lush greenery, and escape from the pollution and stress of the urban setting. A fourth reason for city parks (one of the earliest purposes) is as a pleasure ground for the wealthy and a place to relax. Fifth, many of the poverty-stricken immigrants who came to our cities wanted active recreation, as do modern city 340 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

dwellers, and places to play ball games, and needed open spaces to get away from overcrowded living conditions.   

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4

3) Summarize the sometimes conflicting historical goals that motivated the establishment and design of American city parks. 

  

Answer: American city parks were originally modeled on the western European parks and formal gardens meant to bring an experience of beauty, relaxation, and intimacy.

New York's Central Park, designed by Frederick Olmstead, is one example of this vision still in use today. On the other hand, parks were needed to alleviate congestion and allow some escape for the many poverty-stricken immigrants who lived in America's cities at the time. These park users were more interested in active recreation, such as ball games, than in carriage rides and formal landscaping. In an ecological sense, parks preserve portions of original ecosystems and their services, support wildlife, and offer city dwellers of all backgrounds the chance to experience nature.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.4

4) Explain at least three of the principles of smart growth.

Answer: Students should discuss three of the 10 principles of smart growth: 1. Mixed land uses; providing for easy access within walking distance of homes, businesses, schools, and shopping 2. Compact building design; building up rather than out 3. Ranges of housing choices; large and small family units available at reasonable cost 4. Walkable neighborhoods to improve health by increasing activity levels 5. Distinctive communities with a strong sense of place; minimize grass lawns on mountaintops and in deserts, don't bring tropical plants to the northern United States, and enjoy what is distinctive about where you live 6. Preservation of open spaces, farmlands, and critical environmental areas, all needed to provide resources, goods, and services, and to absorb and neutralize the wastes produced by cities 7. Development and strengthening of existing communities; spending money to maintain and improve what is present now, rather than focusing on new growth and allowing current communities to languish and decline 8. Varied transportation choices; having flexible, low-cost, timely bus service, light rail, subways, or other systems to discourage automobile traffic and improve congestion, lowering pollution 9. Predictable, fair, cost-effective development decisions, with development fees and taxes for trucks, factories, and other sources that create wastes and damage 341 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

resources. Don't spend money on new resources without recycling and maintaining what is already available 10. Encouraging community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions; don't leave decisions to business people, whose major consideration may be short-term profits, or to politicians, who may not consider all their constituents. All voters need to be informed and to provide input to their regulatory bodies when new decisions are being made.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 18.3 Creating Livable Cities Learning Outcome: 18.3 5) Why do urbanized societies need stretches of uninhabited and undeveloped land? 

  

Answer: Large stretches of undeveloped land outside cities provide natural resources needed to support urban populations. This includes providing city dwellers with timber, food, and other resources. Areas of natural land of all sizes close and far from urban centers provide ecosystem services, including purification of water and air, nutrient cycling, and waste treatment. Natural lands provide escape from the stresses of urban life. They provide open space, greenery, scenic beauty, and places for recreation.

They also provide habitat for wildlife, which serves to satisfy biophilia, our natural affinity for contact with other organisms. In addition to the utilitarian reasons cited above, many people feel an ethical obligation to preserve wild landscapes and biodiversity for the sake of nonhuman organisms and/or the integrity of ecological systems.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 18.4 Urban Sustainability Learning Outcome: 18.4

6) Discuss four of the findings that urban ecologists have described from their intensive analysis of Baltimore and Phoenix.

Answer: Using old maps, aerial photos, and remote sensing satellite data, urban ecologists have discovered the following: 1. In Baltimore, the amount of forest has remained the same for the past 100 years, but development has fragmented the forest into smaller patches.

2. In Baltimore, studies revealed that soil compaction and rooftop drainage result in poor infiltration into soils and rapid runoff into streams. The rapid flow cuts streambeds deeply into soils while at the same time leaving the soil drier. This has resulted in wetlands-adapted plants being replaced by more dry-adapted species.

3. In Baltimore, because wetlands have dried up in many areas, nutrient rich runoff from lawns is not broken down and metabolized as it should be in a healthy riverine ecosystem. Instead, the Chesapeake Bay receives high loads of nutrients and has become eutrophic with a large hypoxic dead zone.

4. When roads are salted in Baltimore, the salt makes its way into streams where concentrations can be as much as 100 times normal, killing organisms and impairing the streams' capacity to remove nitrogen.

342 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.

5. In both cities, residents import nonnative plant species for landscaping, which have become far more common than native species. Also, soil compaction and other factors have favored weedy generalist species rather than the more specialized native species of plants.

6. In Phoenix, food webs and relationships between species have been altered by several factors. Food is available to wildlife because of bird-feeders and garbage.

Watering boosts primary productivity, and the urban heat island effects tends to moderate the climate, especially in the cool seasons. The result is that there are higher densities of animals, but with decreased biodiversity, as generalists replace specialists.

7. In both cities, researchers found that sources of industrial pollution tend to be located in neighborhoods that are less affluent and that contain racial and ethnic minorities.

Mapping of air pollution and toxic chemical releases showed that children in these areas suffered from abnormally high rates of asthma.

8. In both cities, it was found that residences near urban parks had a higher value, unless the robbery rates were very high (as in Baltimore), in which case the property value decreased if it was close to a park.

Diff: 3 Topic/Section: 18.4 Urban Sustainability Learning Outcome: 18.7

343 Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.