EVR 2001 USF Actual set with Questions
and correct/verified Answers
What information made Rachel Carson concerned about chemical pollution? - ANSWER-Birds dying
because of the DDT poisoning. Spraying of DDT
What is the paradox of human population and well-being? - ANSWER-- it is declining and flawed- Food
population, a crucial ecosystem service that has been enhanced, outweighs the effects of declines in
other ecosystem services- There is a time lag between ecosystem decline and human and well-being; the
worst is yet to come
Cite four global trends that indicate that the health of planet Earth is suffering. - ANSWER-- Pollination-
Water purification- Natural Hazard Regulations- Erosions Regulations
Define environment, and describe the general development and successes of modern environmentalism.
- ANSWER-natural world, human societies, and the human built world; domesticate landscapes and
ecosystems, converting them into food producing
What are the concepts behind each of the three unifying themes—sound science, sustainability, and
stewardship? - ANSWER-- Vital ideas that can move societies toward a sustainable future
Explain the role of assumptions, observation, experimentation, and theory formation in the operation of
scientific research and thinking. - ANSWER-- Assumption: to give our understanding of the scientific
reasearch- observation: to see what has become of the experiment- experimentation: to test the theory
given to you- theory information: your ideas of what had happened to the experiment of your specific
theory
Define sustainability and sustainable development. What is a sustainable society? - ANSWER--
sustainability: able to keep up on it's own- sustainable development: a development that can work on it's
own and still have positive effects- sustainable society: a society that can manage to do things on their
own and have positive effects
List five transitions that are necessary for a future sustainable civilization. - ANSWER-- increasing
intensity, speed, extent, and impact of connectedness
What are the concerns of the environmental justice movement? - ANSWER-- environmental racism
Cite some of the recent developments in the movement toward sustainability. - ANSWER-- increasing
goods and services
Distinguish between the biotic community and the abiotic environmental factors of an ecosystem -
ANSWER-Biotic community is the grouping of plants, animals, and microbes. Abiotic factors are the
humidity, the climate, salinity, or type of soil.
Define and compare the terms species, population, and ecosystem. - ANSWER-Species: different kinds of
plants, animals, and microbes in the community.Population: a certain number of individuals that make
up the interbreeding, reproducing group.Association: plant community with a definite composition,
uniform habitat characteristics, and uniform plant growth.Ecosystem: a dynamic complex of plant,
, animal, and microorganism communities and the nonliving environment interacting as a functional unit
within an explicit space.
Compared with an ecosystem, what are an ecotone, a landscape, a biome, and a biosphere? - ANSWER-
Landscape: a group of interacting ecosystems.Biomes: Similar ecosystems or landscapes grouped
together Biosphere: all the ecosystems
How do the terms organic and inorganic relate to the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem? -
ANSWER-Organic refers to all those materials that make up the bodies of living organisms. The key
feature of organic materials and molecules is that they are constructed in large part from bonded carbon
and hydrogen atoms. Inorganic materials are materials and chemicals in air, water, rocks, and minerals.
What are the six key elements in living organisms? - ANSWER-carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen,
phosphorus, and sulfur, abbreviated as CHNOPS
What features distinguish between organic and inorganic molecules? - ANSWER-Organic molecules
contain carbon and hydrogen, tend to be larger, have covalent bonds, and are non-electrolytes. Inorganic
molecules consist of any substance that can't be classified as organic.
Define matter and energy, and demonstrate how they are related. - ANSWER-Matter is anything that
occupies space and has mass and energy is the ability to move matter.
Give four examples of potential energy. In each case, how can the potential energy be converted into
kinetic energy? - ANSWER-water being held by a dam is potential energy - it's converted into kinetic
energy when the dam is opened and the water falls
State the two energy laws. How do they relate to entropy? - ANSWER-The first law of thermodynamics
states that energy can be transferred and transformed, but cannot be created or destroyed. The second
law says that every energy transfer or transformation increases the entropy of the universe.
What is the chemical equation for photosynthesis? Examine the origin and destination of each molecule
referred to in the equation. Do the same for cellular respiration. - ANSWER-Photosynthesis: 6 CO2 + 12
H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O. Carbon dioxide plus water plus sunlight gives glucose plus oxygen.
Water originates from soil, streams, and so forth in the hydrological cycle. The oxygen that is released is
used in combustion and in respiration. Cell respiration: C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O -> 6 CO2 + 12 H2O.
Oxygen plus glucose gives carbon dioxide plus water plus energy. The oxygen and glucose originate from
photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is used in pants by photosynthesis. Water is used in plants and animals
and by plants in photosynthesis and energy is used by the organism whose cells are undergoing
respiration.
What are three basic population growth curves? When might you see them in nature? - ANSWER-critical
number is the minimum number of individuals of a given species that is required to maintain a healthy,
viable population of the specie. (become extinct). carrying capacity is the maximum population of a
given species that an ecosystem can support without being degraded or destroyed in the long run.
density dependance is an attribute of population- balancing factors, such as predation that increase and
decrease in intensity in proportion stability .
and correct/verified Answers
What information made Rachel Carson concerned about chemical pollution? - ANSWER-Birds dying
because of the DDT poisoning. Spraying of DDT
What is the paradox of human population and well-being? - ANSWER-- it is declining and flawed- Food
population, a crucial ecosystem service that has been enhanced, outweighs the effects of declines in
other ecosystem services- There is a time lag between ecosystem decline and human and well-being; the
worst is yet to come
Cite four global trends that indicate that the health of planet Earth is suffering. - ANSWER-- Pollination-
Water purification- Natural Hazard Regulations- Erosions Regulations
Define environment, and describe the general development and successes of modern environmentalism.
- ANSWER-natural world, human societies, and the human built world; domesticate landscapes and
ecosystems, converting them into food producing
What are the concepts behind each of the three unifying themes—sound science, sustainability, and
stewardship? - ANSWER-- Vital ideas that can move societies toward a sustainable future
Explain the role of assumptions, observation, experimentation, and theory formation in the operation of
scientific research and thinking. - ANSWER-- Assumption: to give our understanding of the scientific
reasearch- observation: to see what has become of the experiment- experimentation: to test the theory
given to you- theory information: your ideas of what had happened to the experiment of your specific
theory
Define sustainability and sustainable development. What is a sustainable society? - ANSWER--
sustainability: able to keep up on it's own- sustainable development: a development that can work on it's
own and still have positive effects- sustainable society: a society that can manage to do things on their
own and have positive effects
List five transitions that are necessary for a future sustainable civilization. - ANSWER-- increasing
intensity, speed, extent, and impact of connectedness
What are the concerns of the environmental justice movement? - ANSWER-- environmental racism
Cite some of the recent developments in the movement toward sustainability. - ANSWER-- increasing
goods and services
Distinguish between the biotic community and the abiotic environmental factors of an ecosystem -
ANSWER-Biotic community is the grouping of plants, animals, and microbes. Abiotic factors are the
humidity, the climate, salinity, or type of soil.
Define and compare the terms species, population, and ecosystem. - ANSWER-Species: different kinds of
plants, animals, and microbes in the community.Population: a certain number of individuals that make
up the interbreeding, reproducing group.Association: plant community with a definite composition,
uniform habitat characteristics, and uniform plant growth.Ecosystem: a dynamic complex of plant,
, animal, and microorganism communities and the nonliving environment interacting as a functional unit
within an explicit space.
Compared with an ecosystem, what are an ecotone, a landscape, a biome, and a biosphere? - ANSWER-
Landscape: a group of interacting ecosystems.Biomes: Similar ecosystems or landscapes grouped
together Biosphere: all the ecosystems
How do the terms organic and inorganic relate to the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem? -
ANSWER-Organic refers to all those materials that make up the bodies of living organisms. The key
feature of organic materials and molecules is that they are constructed in large part from bonded carbon
and hydrogen atoms. Inorganic materials are materials and chemicals in air, water, rocks, and minerals.
What are the six key elements in living organisms? - ANSWER-carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen,
phosphorus, and sulfur, abbreviated as CHNOPS
What features distinguish between organic and inorganic molecules? - ANSWER-Organic molecules
contain carbon and hydrogen, tend to be larger, have covalent bonds, and are non-electrolytes. Inorganic
molecules consist of any substance that can't be classified as organic.
Define matter and energy, and demonstrate how they are related. - ANSWER-Matter is anything that
occupies space and has mass and energy is the ability to move matter.
Give four examples of potential energy. In each case, how can the potential energy be converted into
kinetic energy? - ANSWER-water being held by a dam is potential energy - it's converted into kinetic
energy when the dam is opened and the water falls
State the two energy laws. How do they relate to entropy? - ANSWER-The first law of thermodynamics
states that energy can be transferred and transformed, but cannot be created or destroyed. The second
law says that every energy transfer or transformation increases the entropy of the universe.
What is the chemical equation for photosynthesis? Examine the origin and destination of each molecule
referred to in the equation. Do the same for cellular respiration. - ANSWER-Photosynthesis: 6 CO2 + 12
H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O. Carbon dioxide plus water plus sunlight gives glucose plus oxygen.
Water originates from soil, streams, and so forth in the hydrological cycle. The oxygen that is released is
used in combustion and in respiration. Cell respiration: C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O -> 6 CO2 + 12 H2O.
Oxygen plus glucose gives carbon dioxide plus water plus energy. The oxygen and glucose originate from
photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is used in pants by photosynthesis. Water is used in plants and animals
and by plants in photosynthesis and energy is used by the organism whose cells are undergoing
respiration.
What are three basic population growth curves? When might you see them in nature? - ANSWER-critical
number is the minimum number of individuals of a given species that is required to maintain a healthy,
viable population of the specie. (become extinct). carrying capacity is the maximum population of a
given species that an ecosystem can support without being degraded or destroyed in the long run.
density dependance is an attribute of population- balancing factors, such as predation that increase and
decrease in intensity in proportion stability .
