Environmental Science Chapter 1 Quiz
34 Questions
100 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What did Garrett Hardin say is the main difficulty in solving environmental problems?

Conflict between short-term interest and long-term interest.

What distinguishes a developing country from a developed country?

Many people involved in agriculture.

What is the root of most environmental problems in developed countries?

The excessive use of natural resources.

What is an ecological footprint?

<p>The impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does sustainability mean?

<p>The ability to keep in existence or maintain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is ecology?

<p>The study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is physics?

<p>The study of matter and energy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the law of supply and demand?

<p>A law of economics that states that as the demand for a good or service increases, the value of the good or service increases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Earth is unable to dispose of waste or take on new supplies because it is considered a __________________________.

<p>closed system</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is pollution?

<p>An undesirable change in the natural environment caused by the introduction of substances that are harmful to living organisms or by excessive wastes, heat, noise, or radiation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is chemistry?

<p>The study of chemicals in the environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is agriculture?

<p>The raising of crops and livestock for food or for other products that are useful to humans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an ecological footprint?

<p>A calculation that shows the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a natural resource?

<p>Any natural material that is used by humans, such as water, petroleum, minerals, forests, and animals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are social sciences?

<p>The study of human populations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is earth science?

<p>The study of Earth's non-living systems and the planet as a whole.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which organization has classified countries as developing or developed?

<p>United Nations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

List two developed countries.

<p>United States</p> Signup and view all the answers

Developed countries often have...

<p>Higher incomes and slower population growth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Developing countries often have...

<p>Lower incomes and faster population growth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of economy does a developed country have?

<p>Diverse economy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of government does a developing country have?

<p>Agricultural economy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do social support systems of developed countries differ from those of developing countries?

<p>They support developed countries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are some renewable resources?

<p>Paper, popsicle stick, soil.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are some non-renewable resources?

<p>Coin, cotton, straw.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are some activities of hunter-gatherers that changed the environment?

<p>Over hunting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did populations concentrate in smaller areas during the agricultural revolution?

<p>Because they changed places and increased pressure on the environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Farms are to hunting and gathering as...

<p>Fish hatcheries = Fishing</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are resources like air and water at risk?

<p>Because of pollution from factories and trucks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What five types of science are relevant to environmental studies?

<p>Social, physics, chemistry, biology, earth science.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is the world's loss of biodiversity a concern?

<p>Humans depend on other organisms for food and oxygen.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the types of pollution?

<p>Biodegradable and non-degradable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are three factors used to compare developed and developing countries?

<p>Life expectancy, population growth rate, energy use.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What factor affects environmental problems and the number of choices a society can make?

<p>Unequal distribution of wealth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Environmental Science Key Concepts

  • Garrett Hardin identified the primary challenge in solving environmental issues as the conflict between short-term interests and long-term environmental health.
  • Developed countries are characterized by a smaller percentage of the population involved in agriculture compared to developing countries.
  • Most environmental issues in developed nations stem from excessive consumption of natural resources.

Ecological Concepts

  • Ecological Footprint: Measures the environmental impact of individuals or communities, quantified by the land required to support their natural resource use.
  • Sustainability: Refers to maintaining ecosystem health over time, ensuring resources are available for future generations.
  • Ecology: The scientific study of interactions among living organisms and their environments.

Scientific Disciplines

  • Physics: Focuses on the principles governing matter and energy interactions.
  • Chemistry: Examines chemicals and their interactions within the environment.
  • Earth Science: Studies non-living systems of the Earth and the planet in its entirety.
  • Social Sciences: Investigates human population dynamics and societal factors.

Economic and Resource Concepts

  • Law of Supply and Demand: Economic principle stating that higher demand leads to increased value of goods and services.
  • The Earth is viewed as a closed system, meaning it cannot efficiently dispose of waste nor adopt new resources.
  • Natural Resource: Materials from the environment used by humans, including water, minerals, and forests.

Country Classifications

  • The United Nations categorizes nations as either developing or developed based on economic and social metrics.
  • Examples of developed countries include the United States and Japan, which typically exhibit higher incomes and slower population growth.
  • Developing countries are marked by lower incomes and faster population growth rates.

Environmental Impact and Challenges

  • Pollution is defined as harmful changes to the environment due to waste, chemicals, noise, or radiation.
  • Hunter-gatherers historically altered their environments negatively through overhunting practices.
  • Agricultural communities arose as populations concentrated in smaller areas during the agricultural revolution, placing greater pressure on natural resources.

Resource Sustainability

  • Renewable resources include materials like paper, soil, and organic products, while non-renewable resources encompass finite materials like coins and fossil fuels.
  • Factors leading to the depletion of resources such as air and water include pollution from industrial activities.

Biodiversity and Environmental Metrics

  • The global decline in biodiversity poses risks to human survival, as we rely on various organisms for essential resources like food and oxygen.
  • Pollution is categorized into biodegradable and non-degradable types, impacting ecosystems differently.

Societal Factors and Environmental Choices

  • Key metrics to compare developed and developing nations involve life expectancy, population growth rates, and energy utilization.
  • The unequal distribution of wealth significantly influences environmental issues and the spectrum of societal choices available.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

Description

Test your knowledge on key concepts from Chapter 1 of Environmental Science. This quiz includes important terms and definitions related to environmental problems and the differences between developed and developing countries. Challenge yourself and see how well you understand the fundamental issues in environmental science.

More Like This

Environmental Science Overview
74 questions

Environmental Science Overview

BeneficialThermodynamics avatar
BeneficialThermodynamics
Environmental Science Glossary R - Y
67 questions
Environmental Science Chapter 6
55 questions
Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Browser