• The Science Academy Of South Texas

• SCIENCE EARTH

Unit 1 – Environmental History, Ethics

1. Environmental science is the study of the interaction of humans with the environment. Which of these

would NOT be included as part of the environment?

a. What the soil is made of.

b. Animals and plants in the region and surrounding areas.

c. The average temperature, wind, precipitation, and other climate factors.

d. All of these would be considered part of the environment.

2. Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field of study. This means that…

a. It is limited to only one branch of science; ecology.

b. Each environmental issue is specific to only one type of science.

c. Multiple branches of science only (biology, chemistry, etc) are covered.

d. Many science and non-science fields of study, such as economics and politics, are included.

3. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a section of federally-owned land in Alaska. What activities

would not normally be allowed in this area? Select two.

a. Hiking and camping

b. Commercial logging

c. Drilling for oil

d. Recreational unting and fishing with a permit

4. One of the three major environmental problems is resource depletion. Which is a major contributing

factor to this problem?

a. Developing countries have a much higher rate of resource consumption than others.

b. Developed countries have a much higher rate of resource consumption than others.

c. The human population overall is too small.

d. Each country uses approximately the same amount of resources.

5. Trees are considered ________________ resources because they will eventually regrow, given enough

time.

a. Renewable

b. Nonrenewable

c. Inexhaustible

d. Recyclable

6. An example of an inexhaustible resource would be:

a. Sunlight

b. Coal

c. Iron ore

d. Soil

7. Which of these words is analogous (similar in meaning) to pollution?

a. Degradation.

b. Improvement.

c. Replenishment.

d. Decomposition.

8. Pollution that is ______ will break down over time. A good example would be __________________.

a. Biodegradable / A styrofoam box.

b. Biodegradable / Grass clippings.

c. Persistant / An aluminum can.

d. Persistant / Pesticide chemicals

9. Which of these events during the modern environmentalism era was the result of a town constructed on

a chemical waste dumpsite, and raised awareness of the problem of hazardous waste disposal?

a. Love Canal

b. Nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands

c. The Donora fluoride smog

d. The burning of the Cuyahoga River

Match the law on the right with the description or event that led to its passage on the left.

10. Sets rules for the disposal of hazardous

waste.

11. Restrictions pollution into the atmosphere.

12. Restricts pollution into rivers, lakes,

oceans, and ponds.

13. The near-extinction of the whooping crane

helped lead to the passage of this law.

14. Establishes testing protocols for municipal

tap water.

a. Safe Drinking Water Act

b. Clean Water Act

c. Clean Air Act

d. Resource Conservation and

Recovery Act

e. Endangered Species Act

15. Which government agency is responsible for enforcing laws such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water

Act?

a. The FDA

b. The IRS

c. The EPA

d. The NFS

16. What exactly does biodiversity measure within an ecosystem?

a. The number of different species within an ecosystem.

b. The number of different animals within an ecosystem.

c. The total population of every living organism within an ecosystem.

d. The total population of a single species within an ecosystem.