Chapter 1 Review Questions

Question 1

1. When was thinning of the ozone over the Antarctic first verified?

  1. 2010

  2. 1985

  3. 1974

  4. 1960

Question 2

2. Which of the following is part of the environment experienced by humans?

  1. Physical factors

  2. Chemical factors

  3. Cultural factors

  4. All of the above

Question 3

3. Which of the following is essential to any scientific investigation?

  1. Field observations

  2. Experiments

  3. A hypothesis

  4. Modeling

Question 4

4. A theory, as used by scientists, is best described by which one of the following?

  1. An idea that may have no support by research

  2. An explanation for a natural phenomenon, widely supported by research results

  3. A tentative answer to a research question

  4. A proven idea with no uncertainty remaining

Question 5

5. Which one of the following is not a form of research misconduct?

  1. Not ordering sufficient research supplies for a particular experiment

  2. Making up data to yield more interesting research

  3. Copying the work of others and claiming it as your own

  4. Altering the calibration of scientific instruments to produce false positive readings

Question 6

6. When were some of the earliest observations of human environmental impact recorded in writing?

  1. 10,000 years ago

  2. Over 2,000 years ago

  3. In the 1700s

  4. In the 1960s

Question 7

7. What eventually scuttled Benjamin Franklin’s attempts to have the tanneries moved from the center of Philadelphia?

  1. A lack of interest by the majority of Philadelphians living near the tanneries

  2. The installation of pollution-control devices on the tannery discharge pipes

  3. The belief that the odors of the tanneries were a source of good health

  4. Entrenched economic and political interests supporting the tanneries

Question 8

8. What did Rachel Carson advise regarding the use of chemical pesticides?

  1. Total banning of chemical pesticides in the United States

  2. Total banning of chemical pesticides around the world, including in the United States

  3. Caution in the use of chemical pesticides

  4. Greater use of chemical pesticides, particularly for control of significant agricultural pests

Question 9

9. Which of the following is the most inclusive ethical perspective on the environment?

  1. Anthropocentric ethics

  2. Biocentric ethics

  3. Ecocentric ethics

  4. Research ethics

Question 10

10. Which of the following best describes environmental science?

  1. A scientific discipline concerned with controlling pollution

  2. An interdisciplinary field that reaches beyond the natural sciences to address practical environmental problems

  3. The study of the relationships between organisms and the environment

  4. A largely political field concerned mainly with controlling human population growth

Critical Analysis

Question 1

1. Scientists once thought they were on a quest to discover the absolute unchanging rules governing natural phenomena. Increasingly, scientists in every discipline have had to come to terms with the concept of uncertainty, a concept that even Albert Einstein had difficulty accepting. What are some of the implications of the inability of science to eliminate uncertainty entirely, particularly in regard to environmental issues, such as ozone thinning, involving great risks to harm human populations and with significant potential economic consequences following regulation?

Question 2

2. Exploring nature and solving complex problems are often important motivations for scientists choosing a career path. For those successful in obtaining a position in scientific research, what responsibilities come with the privilege of working in this highly competitive field?

Question 3

3. Awareness of human environmental impact was first recorded in ancient China and Greece, and that awareness has only increased over time, with the environment in the news nearly every day. What factors have contributed to the apparent increase in impact on the environment by humans? Do these contributory factors suggest potential ways to reduce environmental harm?

Question 4

4. Figure 1.24 summarizes the components of the ecological footprint. If you were to propose an alternative measure of ecological footprint, what components would you choose? If you conclude that the existing ecological footprint index is the best one, without modification, justify its focus.

Question 5

5. Why does environmental science include so many areas of thought and expertise in its domain? What are the relative roles played by the natural and applied sciences versus the social sciences and humanities in addressing environmental issues? Can we ignore the humanities and social sciences and just get on with the solving of environmental problems with the tools of the natural and applied sciences?