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Essential Environment The Science Behind the Stories, 7th edition Jay H Withgott
Matthew Laposata
Chapter 1-18
Chapter 1 Science and Sustainability: An Introduction to Environmental Science
1.1 Multiple Choice Questions
Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
1) How many citizens of Mexico does it take to equal the ecological
footprint of the average citizen of the United States?
A) They are essentially equal.
B) It takes just over two Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the
average
U.S. citizen.
C) It takes just over three Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of
the average
U.S. citizen.
D) It takes just over eight Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of
the average
1
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Education, Inc.
, U.S. citizen.
E) It takes about 12 Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the
average U.S. citizen.
2
Copyright © 2025 Pearson
Education, Inc.
,Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
2) If everyone on the planet had an ecological footprint the size of the
average citizen of the United States, then .
A) we would have 50% more food to go around
B) we would be able to provide for everyone without much difficulty by using
the 50% of the land currently not being used for agriculture
C) we would need at least two more planet Earths to feed and support everyone
D) we could support 50% more people on our planet
E) about 50% of the people would
starve Answer: C
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
3) The U.S. average footprint is about times larger than the
average world footprint.
A) 2
B) 2.5
C) 3
D) 5
E) 6.7
Answer: C
Diff: 3
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
4) The average footprint per person has increased from 2.2 to 2.6 since
2008, and the footprints of many developing nations, such as India and
China, have also increased. This means that .
A) our collective lifestyle is even more unsustainable than before
B) our collective lifestyle is slightly more sustainable than before
C) the ability of the planet to sustain human beings has increased
D) some nations no longer have a measurable footprint
E) the populations of both India and China have decreased
since 2008 Answer: A
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
5) Geothermal energy, wind, and solar radiation are all examples of .
A) nonrenewable natural resources
B) inexhaustible renewable natural resources
3
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Education, Inc.
, C) biotic environmental factors
D) exhaustible renewable natural resources
E) biodegradable
materials Answer: B
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.2
6) Nonrenewable natural resources include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) coal.
B) crude oil.
C) minerals.
D) wind.
E) natural
gas.
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.2
7) Ecosystem services .
A) contribute to keeping ecosystems productive
B) are not necessary to sustainable systems
C) are economically valuable services provided by natural systems
D) are valuable to natural systems but not to human-created systems
E) are required to rebalance natural systems that we have
disturbed Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.2
8) Today (2024), there are about .
A) 5.35 billion people on Earth, the same as for the past 6 years
B) 9 billion people on Earth
C) 10 billion people on Earth
D) 8 billion people on Earth
E) 2% fewer people on Earth than in
2010 Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.3
9) Global population is projected to be nearly in 2050.
A) 7 billion
B) 8 billion
C) 9 billion
4
Copyright © 2025 Pearson
Education, Inc.
Essential Environment The Science Behind the Stories, 7th edition Jay H Withgott
Matthew Laposata
Chapter 1-18
Chapter 1 Science and Sustainability: An Introduction to Environmental Science
1.1 Multiple Choice Questions
Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
1) How many citizens of Mexico does it take to equal the ecological
footprint of the average citizen of the United States?
A) They are essentially equal.
B) It takes just over two Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the
average
U.S. citizen.
C) It takes just over three Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of
the average
U.S. citizen.
D) It takes just over eight Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of
the average
1
Copyright © 2025 Pearson
Education, Inc.
, U.S. citizen.
E) It takes about 12 Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the
average U.S. citizen.
2
Copyright © 2025 Pearson
Education, Inc.
,Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
2) If everyone on the planet had an ecological footprint the size of the
average citizen of the United States, then .
A) we would have 50% more food to go around
B) we would be able to provide for everyone without much difficulty by using
the 50% of the land currently not being used for agriculture
C) we would need at least two more planet Earths to feed and support everyone
D) we could support 50% more people on our planet
E) about 50% of the people would
starve Answer: C
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
3) The U.S. average footprint is about times larger than the
average world footprint.
A) 2
B) 2.5
C) 3
D) 5
E) 6.7
Answer: C
Diff: 3
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
4) The average footprint per person has increased from 2.2 to 2.6 since
2008, and the footprints of many developing nations, such as India and
China, have also increased. This means that .
A) our collective lifestyle is even more unsustainable than before
B) our collective lifestyle is slightly more sustainable than before
C) the ability of the planet to sustain human beings has increased
D) some nations no longer have a measurable footprint
E) the populations of both India and China have decreased
since 2008 Answer: A
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
5) Geothermal energy, wind, and solar radiation are all examples of .
A) nonrenewable natural resources
B) inexhaustible renewable natural resources
3
Copyright © 2025 Pearson
Education, Inc.
, C) biotic environmental factors
D) exhaustible renewable natural resources
E) biodegradable
materials Answer: B
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.2
6) Nonrenewable natural resources include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) coal.
B) crude oil.
C) minerals.
D) wind.
E) natural
gas.
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.2
7) Ecosystem services .
A) contribute to keeping ecosystems productive
B) are not necessary to sustainable systems
C) are economically valuable services provided by natural systems
D) are valuable to natural systems but not to human-created systems
E) are required to rebalance natural systems that we have
disturbed Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.2
8) Today (2024), there are about .
A) 5.35 billion people on Earth, the same as for the past 6 years
B) 9 billion people on Earth
C) 10 billion people on Earth
D) 8 billion people on Earth
E) 2% fewer people on Earth than in
2010 Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.3
9) Global population is projected to be nearly in 2050.
A) 7 billion
B) 8 billion
C) 9 billion
4
Copyright © 2025 Pearson
Education, Inc.
