Environmental Science ENV 101
Graded Midterm Exam –– (2026)
Actual Questions & Answers) 100%
Guarantee Pass
1. Which book warned about the dangers of pesticides to wildlife and humans?
Answer: Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
Rationale: This book is credited with launching the modern environmental
movement by exposing the harmful effects of DDT and other pesticides.
2. What ethical view holds that the environment has direct moral rights?
Answer: Ecocentrism
Rationale: Ecocentrism assigns intrinsic value to all living things and ecosystems, not
just human interests.
3. What branch of philosophy deals with questions of right and wrong in
environmental issues?
Answer: Ethics
Rationale: Ethics provides the moral framework for evaluating human actions toward
nature.
4. What are the remains of ancient plants and animals that are used as fuel?
Answer: Fossil fuels
Rationale: Coal, oil, and natural gas formed from organic matter over millions of
years under heat and pressure.
5. What is the basic building block of all matter?
Answer: Atom
Rationale: Atoms combine to form molecules, which make up all physical
substances.
, 6. What does the first law of thermodynamics state?
Answer: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted.
Rationale: This is the law of energy conservation, meaning total energy in a closed
system remains constant.
7. What type of energy is contained in moving objects like running water?
Answer: Kinetic energy
Rationale: Kinetic energy is energy of motion, as opposed to stored (potential)
energy.
8. What is an open system?
Answer: A system that exchanges both matter and energy with its surroundings.
Rationale: Most ecosystems are open because they receive sunlight and exchange
gases and nutrients.
9. What does the second law of thermodynamics state?
Answer: Every energy conversion loses some energy as heat, increasing entropy.
Rationale: This explains why no energy transfer is 100% efficient, such as in food
chains.
10. What type of solar system uses machines to move trapped heat?
Answer: Active solar system
Rationale: Active systems use pumps or fans, while passive systems rely on design
alone.
11. What does the "triple bottom line" refer to?
Answer: Environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
Rationale: It measures success beyond profit, including planet and people.
12. What is environmental science?
Answer: The interdisciplinary study of how humans interact with the environment.
Rationale: It combines biology, chemistry, geology, and social sciences to solve
environmental problems.
Graded Midterm Exam –– (2026)
Actual Questions & Answers) 100%
Guarantee Pass
1. Which book warned about the dangers of pesticides to wildlife and humans?
Answer: Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
Rationale: This book is credited with launching the modern environmental
movement by exposing the harmful effects of DDT and other pesticides.
2. What ethical view holds that the environment has direct moral rights?
Answer: Ecocentrism
Rationale: Ecocentrism assigns intrinsic value to all living things and ecosystems, not
just human interests.
3. What branch of philosophy deals with questions of right and wrong in
environmental issues?
Answer: Ethics
Rationale: Ethics provides the moral framework for evaluating human actions toward
nature.
4. What are the remains of ancient plants and animals that are used as fuel?
Answer: Fossil fuels
Rationale: Coal, oil, and natural gas formed from organic matter over millions of
years under heat and pressure.
5. What is the basic building block of all matter?
Answer: Atom
Rationale: Atoms combine to form molecules, which make up all physical
substances.
, 6. What does the first law of thermodynamics state?
Answer: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted.
Rationale: This is the law of energy conservation, meaning total energy in a closed
system remains constant.
7. What type of energy is contained in moving objects like running water?
Answer: Kinetic energy
Rationale: Kinetic energy is energy of motion, as opposed to stored (potential)
energy.
8. What is an open system?
Answer: A system that exchanges both matter and energy with its surroundings.
Rationale: Most ecosystems are open because they receive sunlight and exchange
gases and nutrients.
9. What does the second law of thermodynamics state?
Answer: Every energy conversion loses some energy as heat, increasing entropy.
Rationale: This explains why no energy transfer is 100% efficient, such as in food
chains.
10. What type of solar system uses machines to move trapped heat?
Answer: Active solar system
Rationale: Active systems use pumps or fans, while passive systems rely on design
alone.
11. What does the "triple bottom line" refer to?
Answer: Environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
Rationale: It measures success beyond profit, including planet and people.
12. What is environmental science?
Answer: The interdisciplinary study of how humans interact with the environment.
Rationale: It combines biology, chemistry, geology, and social sciences to solve
environmental problems.
