DREXEL ENVS 101 midterm review Questions with
Correct Answers
What is Environmental Science? Correct Answer-is the systematic study
of our environment and our place in it
what is environmental studies Correct Answer-focuses more on laws,
and policies
What is ecology? Correct Answer-The study of interactions between
organisms and their environment
what are some problems that environmental scientists are facing (8)
Correct Answer-Population, climate, food, Clean water, Energy
resources, Air Quality, Biodiversity loss, Marine resources
How is the world pop. a growing problem? Correct Answer-project a
world population between 8 and 10 billion by 2050.
The impact of that many people on our natural resources and ecological
systems complicates many of the other problems we face.
how is climate becoming a problem? Correct Answer-human activities
such as burning fossil fuels, clearing forests and farmlands, and raising
ruminant animals, have greatly increased concentrations of carbon
dioxide and other "greenhouse gases" which will lead to a temperature
rise.
,how is food becoming a problem? Correct Answer-hunger remains a
chronic problem because food resources are unevenly distributed. At the
same time, soil scientists report that about two-thirds of all agricultural
lands show signs of degradation. At least 60 million people face acute
food shortages due to weather, politics, or war.
how is clean water becoming a problem? Correct Answer-Already at
least 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and twice that
many don't have adequate sanitation. Polluted water contributes to the
death of more than 15 million people every year, most of them children
under age 5.
how is energy resources becoming a problem? Correct Answer-Supplies
of these fuels are diminishing, however, and problems associated with
their acquisition and use—air and water pollution, mining damage,
shipping accidents, and geopolitics—may limit what we do with
remaining reserves.
how is air quality becoming a problem? Correct Answer-the United
Nations estimates, more than 2 billion metric tons of air pollutants (not
including carbon dioxide or wind-blown soil) are released each year. Air
pollution is also a problem far from its source. Mercury, polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), DDT, and other long-lasting pollutants accumulate in
arctic ecosystems and native people after being transported by air
currents from industrial regions thousands of kilometers to the south
how is biodiversity loss becoming a problem? Correct Answer-over the
past century, more than 800 species have disappeared and at least 10,000
species are now considered threatened.
, how is marine resource loss becoming a problem? Correct Answer-most
commercial fisheries around the world are in steep decline (fig. 1.6d8).
According to the World Resources Institute, more than three-quarters of
the 441 fish stocks for which information is available are severely
depleted or in urgent need of better management.
what are some opportunities for environmental scientists (2) Correct
Answer-renewable energy, protection of marine resources
how are scientists working on renewable energy Correct Answer-The
European Union and China are developing wind energy, solar, wave and
tidal energy, and improvements in efficiency to cut reliance on fossil
fuels.
At the Copenhagen climate summit in 2009, the world's wealthiest
countries agreed to aid developing nations in finding alternative energy
technologies.
how are scientists working on protecting marine life Correct Answer-
Improved monitoring of fisheries and networks of marine protected
areas promote species conservation as well as human
development .Marine reserves are being established to protect
reproductive areas in California, Hawaii, New Zealand, Great Britain,
and many other areas, in addition to the Philippines.
What are the steps of the scientific method? Correct Answer-
observation, identify qs, hypothesis, experiment, data, results