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ENV 101 Exam 5
Ch 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 & Articles 28-33
118
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate 3
11/18/2012
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Term
Heap-leach extraction removes gold from ore by
 Definition
Spraying cyanide on a pile of ore gravel
Term
In the diagram, the mantle is labeled
 Definition
C
Outer most circle
Term
In the diagram, the semisolid part of the Earth is labeled
 Definition
D
Middle Circle
Term
In the diagram, the densest part of the Earth is labeled
 Definition
E
The center
Term
Which of the following statements regarding tectonics is true?
 Definition
. When oceanic plates collide with continental plates, the continent usually rides up over the seafloor
Term
Subduction is the process of a tectonic plate
 Definition
Sliding alongside another plate
Term
The "ring of fire" is the source of more earthquakes and volcanic activity than any other place on earth.
What causes the ring of fire?
 Definition
The subduction of Pacific plates under continental plates
Term
A mineral is composed of
 Definition
Inorganic elements
Term
The basic material of rocks is a cohesive group of
 Definition
One or more minerals
Term
Rock formed from magma extruded to the surface through volcanic vents is classified as
 Definition
Igneous
Term
Water, wind and glaciers are examples of forces that cause
 Definition
Sedimentation
Term
The physical breakdown of a rock into smaller pieces is called
 Definition
Mechanical weathering
Term
Metamorphic rocks are produced when rocks are
 Definition
Recrystallized by heat and pressure
Term
Under the 1872 U.S. General Mining Law, mining companies are required to pay what percentage of their profits in taxes?
 Definition
2 percent
Term
According to the 1872 General Mining Law, miners can stake claim anywhere on public land, but must pay __________ per acre to take the minerals they find.
 Definition
Less than US $5.00
Term
Reclamation of strip-mined land is difficult chiefly because
 Definition
Topsoil is mixed up and buried so topsoil must take time to develop again for plants to grow
Term
Smelting ore, as in Ducktown, Tennessee, releases toxic chemicals in the form of
 Definition
A. Gases, from baked ore
B. Liquids, from leaching processes
C. Dust, from grinding ore gravel
D. Solids, in the form of toxic waste
E. All of these are correct
Term
It takes _______________ energy to recycle waste aluminum (e.g., beverage cans) compared to the energy of extracting new aluminum from bauxite.
 Definition
About one-twentieth as much
Term
On average, it takes ______________ energy to produce steel from scrap metal compared to the energy of producing steel from raw ore.
 Definition
About one-twentieth as much
Term
In terms of mineral resources, recycling is ________ as raw materials become more _______ and ________ are more plentiful.
 Definition
Slowly increasing; scarce; wastes
Term
______________ can lead to mass wasting.
 Definition
A. Clearcutting on steep slopes
B. Building on the flood plain
C. Building flood walls for flood control
D. The overuse of our natural resources
E. All of these are practices that can lead to mass wasting
Term
Placer mining involves washing metals, minerals and the gemstones from streambeds with a water cannon.
 Definition
True
Term
Climate is a description of ________ weather conditions
 Definition
Long-term, regional
Term
The two main gases making up the lower atmosphere are
 Definition
Helium and hydrogen
Term
Aerosols are
 Definition
Tiny particles and droplets suspended in the air
Term
The "ozone hole" that causes concern among scientists and the public is an ozone depletion in the
 Definition
Stratosphere
Term
Much of the ultraviolet light from the sun is absorbed by _______ as it passes through the atmosphere.
 Definition
Ozone
Term
Albedo is a term describing the Earth's
 Definition
. Reflection of solar radiation
Term
Which of the following would have the highest albedo?
 Definition
A snowfield
Term
The greenhouse effect in the atmosphere occurs because
 Definition
All of these are correct
(A. Clouds reflect sunlight back into space
B. Oceans absorb heat and then release it slowly at night
C. Stratospheric ozone absorbs UV radiation
D. CO2, water vapor, methanol and other gases absorb infrared radiation)
Term
The phenomenon causing the greenhouse effect is that ________ in the lower atmosphere selectively absorbs reradiated ________ radiation.
 Definition
Carbon dioxide, methane and other gases; infrared (heat)
Term
Why don't storms over land have as much energy as storms over oceans?
 Definition
Convection currents are intensified by the latent energy of condensation
Term
Milankovitch cycles involve the periodic ___________ and could be responsible for ________ weather changes.
 Definition
Wobbling of the earth's axis and orbital shifts; cyclic
Term
When El Ni–o occurs every three to five years, a mass of warm Pacific water that is usually pushed westward by trade winds
 Definition
Surges back eastward toward South America
Term
Proponents of climate change say that given what we know about the probability of the greenhouse effect the best thing to do is
 Definition
Focus on the development of technological advances to help decrease the effects of climate change
Term
Most of the excessive carbon dioxide that is expected to cause global warming is generated by green plants.
 Definition
False
Term
Since biodiversity is usually higher in warmer, milder climates, biodiversity will probably be increased with global warming.
 Definition
False
Term
What does the acronym ENSO stand for? Describe the weather patterns in the U.S. as a result of ENSO
 Definition
El Nino/Southern Oscillation

The Northern jet stream (which is normally over Canada splits and is drawn over the US this pulls warm moist air from the pacific and Gulf of Mexico inland, bringing intense storms and heavy rains from CA across the Midwestern states.
Term
What is the Kyoto Protocol? Discuss the role of the U.S. government, the role of big business in the U.S. and the role of individual citizens in meeting the standards set by the Kyoto.
 Definition
Called for a 5% reduction in carbon emissions.

See Pages 337-338 for details
Term
Primary pollutants are those that are
 Definition
Released directly in dangerous forms
Term
Secondary pollutants
 Definition
Become dangerous after reacting in the atmosphere
Term
Fugitive emissions are produced by
 Definition
Strip mining, rock crushing and other dust-producing activities
Term
Criteria pollutants are those that
 Definition
Contribute the most to air quality degradation
Term
The brown haze in smog is caused by
 Definition
NO2
Term
An aerosol is
 Definition
Any liquid droplet or solid particle suspended in air
Term
The most dangerous airborne particulates are those
 Definition
Small enough to be drawn into the lungs
Term
Anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are
 Definition
Increasing at the rate of about 0.5 percent per year
Term
Many fish contain high levels of _____________ and should either not be eaten or their consumption should be limited.
 Definition
Mercury
Term
Which of the following statements is true?
 Definition
Most carbon monoxide produced in the United States comes from internal combustion engines (cars)
Term
Ozone is produced by
 Definition
Photochemical oxidation
Term
Aesthetic degradation is a term that describes
 Definition
Noises, odors and light pollution
Term
Radon in houses comes from
 Definition
Radioactive decay in the Earth below a house
Term
Native peoples living in the Canadian Arctic have some of the highest recorded PCB concentrations in their bodies because of
 Definition
Long-range transport of airborne pollutants
Term
___________ ozone is harmful, damaging plants and human health while ozone at the _________ level screens out mutagenic ultraviolet radiation.
 Definition
Tropospheric; stratosphere
Term
Pollutants such as chlorofluorocarbons deplete atmospheric ozone
 Definition
When chlorine-containing molecules are oxidized at the expense of O3
Term
The most common human health response to air pollution is
 Definition
Inflammatory responses in sensitive tissues
Term
Which of the following is the best example of synergistic effects?
 Definition
The prevalence of cancer among smokers exposed to asbestos fibers
Term
Worldwide, air pollution control efforts are least advanced or least successful in
 Definition
Major cities of developing countries
Term
Norilsk, Russia has been notable in recent years for its
 Definition
Widespread and terrible pollution conditions
Term
Human-produced pollutants are different from natural particulates and gases because they are almost always chemically more dangerous
 Definition
False
Term
Synergistic effects occur when there is more damage of exposure when two factors are together
 Definition
True
Term
Which of the following is not a factor in determining how much or how little precipitation a region receives?
 Definition
All of these are important factors
Term
Transpiration is the way plants
 Definition
Return large amounts of water to the atmosphere
Term
Evaporation is
 Definition
Liquid water turning to vapor well below boiling temperature
Term
The rainiest or snowiest zone on the mountain in the diagram would be in the area marked
 Definition
From A to B
Term
Air moving in the direction indicated in the diagram will become dryer as it moves from
 Definition
B to D
Term
Residence time of water in oceans is a measure of the
 Definition
Average amount of time a water molecule spends in the ocean
Term
The hydrologic compartment that contains the greatest amount of fresh water is
 Definition
Ice and snow
Term
Water enters groundwater by
 Definition
Infiltration
Term
The place where aquifers are most likely to be contaminated is at
 Definition
Recharge zones
Term
The amount of water in aquifers in the United States is
 Definition
Over thirty times greater than all surface water in the United States
Term
The largest river in the world is the
 Definition
Amazon
Term
Which of the following factors is the most important factor in determining whether a country is "water rich" or "water poor"?
 Definition
Renewable water supplies
Term
The United States has a drought cycle that brings dry periods about every ____ years.
 Definition
30
Term
Technically speaking, when water is consumed it
 Definition
Is no longer available for other purposes
Term
Human water withdrawals have been increasing at about ___________ rate as worldwide population growth.
 Definition
Twice the
Term
In general, water use worldwide is dominated by
 Definition
Agricultural use
Term
The activity that uses the greatest share of U.S. household water is
 Definition
Flushing the toilet
Term
On the graph of domestic water use per person, each letter represents a country. Which of the following is most likely?
 Definition
A is the United States; B is China
Term
One of the major reasons for the removal of dams in the United States is
 Definition
To restore fish populations
Term
The Ogallala Aquifer supplies water to ___________ and once held more water than all of the surface water __________.
 Definition
The central Plains states; in the world
Term
Withdrawal of groundwater often causes subsidence, a situation where
 Definition
Porous rocks settle and ground level falls
Term
A method of increasing water supplies that has been successful, but expensive is
 Definition
Desalination
Term
Many experts think that in the future, water conflicts will be a major cause of international conflict. Currently, however, there are no international conflicts over water.
 Definition
True
Term
Charging a higher proportion of real costs rather than subsidies has led to water conservation.
 Definition
True
Term
Which of the following would not help to improve water quality?
 Definition
Changing your car oil on the driveway rather than in the grass
Term
_________ sources of water pollution are relatively easy to monitor and regulate while _____________ sources of water pollution are difficult to monitor and clean up.
 Definition
Point; nonpoint
Term
The discharge from a nonpoint source of pollution is
 Definition
Highly seasonal in quantity
Term
____________ is to point source of water pollution as _____________ is to nonpoint source of water pollution.
 Definition
Power plant effluent; golf course runoff
Term
The water pollutant that most commonly threatens human health is
 Definition
Pathogenic organisms
Term
On the graph of clean drinking water per person, each letter represents a country. Which of the following is most likely?
 Definition
A is the United States; B is India
Term
When natural waters are overloaded with plant nutrients, such as nitrate and phosphate ions, they become
 Definition
Eutrophic
Term
Cultural eutrophication results from
 Definition
Human activity
Term
Tertiary treatment of sewage produces water that is typically used for
 Definition
Dumping into freshwater systems
Term
Dioxins, pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls are all types of
 Definition
Toxic organic compounds
Term
Best practical technology (BPT) is legally required for all
 Definition
Point source polluters
Term
In 1998, a change in the approach to water quality was initiated by _________ with an emphasis on _________.
 Definition
The EPA; watershed management
Term
Feedlots are a major cause of _________ in water.
 Definition
All of these are correct (viruses, coliform bacteria, nitrates, phosphates)
Term
__________ should never be allowed down a drain when a septic tank and drain field system is being used for
sewage disposal.
 Definition
Chlorine and antimicrobial cleansers
Term
As revealed in “Global Energy,” the two greatest consumers of energy in the world are the United States and:
 Definition
Canada
Term
As reported in “Global Energy,” 50 years ago, Western utilities were preoccupied with the:
 Definition
annual double-digit growth of electricity demand
Term
As states in “Global Energy,” by 1974 the U.S. fuel efficiency for car fleets was lower than during the mid-1930’s
 Definition
true
Term
As claimed in “Seven Myths about Alternative Energy,” when it comes to promoting alternative energy, the world should:
 Definition
try to achieve the biggest emissions reductions for the least money in the shortest time
Term
According to “Seven Myths about Alternative Energy,” major problems with the concept of “renewable fuels” include all of the following except:
 Definition
it is impossible to grow fuel crops in most types of soil
Term
As noted in “Seven Myths about Alternative Energy,” second-generation” biofuels, such as those derived from switchgrass, are promising new development for controlling global warming.
 Definition
false
Term
As reported in “Half a Tank,” the world’s people will know oil production has passed its peak when:
 Definition
prices rise and production does not increase
Term
As stated in “Half a Tank,” Robert Hirsch’s report on oil production:
 Definition
notes that economic effects will be less severe if people prepare for the post-peak in advance
Term
As noted in “Half a Tank,” United States oil production has not yet reached its peak
 Definition
false
Term
As profiled in “It’s Still the One,” Cushing, Oklahoma, is a significant player in the new global oil industry because
 Definition
its oil is the benchmark against which other oils are priced.
Term
As explained in “It’s Still the One,” one of the most problematic aspects of the new age of oil for consumers is the:
 Definition
volatility of the oil market that is reflected in prices at the gas station.
Term
According to “It’s Still the One,” state-owned oil companies and governments now control more than 80 percent of the world’s oil reserves:
 Definition
True
Term
According to “Gas Costs Squeeze Daily Life,” an example of “demand elasticity” is:
 Definition
reducing expenditures in order to keep driving the same amount as fuel costs rise.
Term
As reported in “Do Global Attitudes and Behaviors Support Sustainable Development?” a 2002 survey of the United States found that Americans strongly agree that humans:
 Definition
have moral duties and obligations to nature.
Term
As noted in “Do Global Attitudes and Behaviors Support Sustainable Development?” the only nations in which a significant proportion of respondents said that their governments were doing too much to help the poor were:
 Definition
the Philippines and the United States.
Term
As explained in “Do Global Attitudes and Behaviors Support Sustainable Development?” survey results indicate that more people globally prefer an egalitarian society, where the gap between rich and poor is small, regardless of achievement, to a competitive society, where wealth is distributed according to one’s achievement.
 Definition
False
Term
The author of “The Ethics of Respect for Nature” writes of “adopting a certain ultimate moral attitude toward the natural world,” an attitude he calls:
 Definition
respect for nature
Term
As discussed in “The Ethics of Respect for Nature” the idea that every human being is understood to be worthy of moral consideration, with intrinsic value placed on the autonomy and well-being of each, was expressed by a philosopher as conceiving of persons as ends in themselves; the philosopher was:
 Definition
Kant
Term
The author of “The Ethics of Respect for Nature” postulates that the idea of a being having a good of its own is not coextensive with sentience of the capacity for feeling pain.
 Definition
True
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