Environmental Science Exam 1 UPDATED
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. The word "environment" comes from a French word that means having to do with
A. Life
B. Nature
C. Wildlife
D. Home
E. Surroundings - CORRECT ANSWER- E
2. Environmental science is a __________.
A. Narrowly defined set of physical, life and social sciences
B. Theoretical approach in interpreting the environment
C. Way to see the world in scientific terms
D. Systematic approach in learning about the environment
E. Special set of problem-solving skills - CORRECT ANSWER- D
3. Most environmental problems result from
A. Political differences
B. Complex, interrelated problems
C. Technological development problems
D. Global warming
E. Urban degradation - CORRECT ANSWER- B
4. The fundamental basis of environmental science as a discipline is the
A. History of the use of natural resources
B. Diversity of life on Earth
C. Human impact on the Earth
D. Pollution on the Earth
,E. Future use of natural resources - CORRECT ANSWER- C
5. In explaining your choice of an environmental science major in college to your roommate,
you would probably emphasize the fact that environmental science is a(n)
A. Applied interdisciplinary field with an emphasis on solving problems
B. Well-established field that has been in existence for a long time
C. Theoretical discipline that will help solve the problems created by human impact
D. Relatively new field that will identify remedies to environmental issues
E. Theoretical field with an emphasis on scientific understanding - CORRECT ANSWER- A
6. In the fourth century B.C., the philosopher Plato wrote of the erosion and deforestation that
_________ Greece.
A. Would one day plague
B. Were caused by the excessive population in
C. Were prevalent in countries outside of
D. Had been a problem that was now resolved in
E. Had stripped the fine soils and forests of - CORRECT ANSWER- E
7. Most of the early scientific studies of environmental damage were done by
A. Colonial administrators who were often trained scientists
B. Native Peoples of North America
C. European peasant farmers who understood the connection between deforestation and local
climate change
D. Industrial leaders of the nineteenth century who were worried about the degradation
caused by factories
E. Scientists in Europe worried about deforestation and erosion in their countries -
CORRECT ANSWER- A
8. The history of conservation and environmentalism is
A. Based in the Industrial Revolution
B. Largely unrecorded
C. A relatively new movement
,D. Based in the 1970s environmental movement
E. Traceable well back into human history - CORRECT ANSWER- E
9. Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean is a model for balancing nature and human needs
because in the eighteenth century a French governor
A. Declared the island a nature sanctuary
B. Ordered sensitive areas such as steep slopes to be preserved in forests
C. Bought the island as a private sanctuary for the government of France
D. Supported an extensive environmental education campaign
E. Enforced strict punishment for people who damaged any natural resources - CORRECT
ANSWER- B
10. Pragmatic conservationists, including Gifford Pinchot and Theodore Roosevelt, supported
forest conservation in order to protect
A. Wildlife habitats in forested areas
B. Untouched, unvisited wilderness areas
C. Jobs and homes for people
D. The scenic beauty found in natural areas
E. Resources such as natural habitats for future generations - CORRECT ANSWER- C
11. Utilitarian conservationists tend to believe that resources should be saved because they
are important
A. As a home for wildlife
B. In the conservation of aesthetic values
C. To our understanding of the biosphere
D. For a strong economic system
E. And used by all living things - CORRECT ANSWER- D
12. Biocentric preservationists, first led by John Muir, advocate saving natural areas for their
A. Aesthetic and spiritual values and wildlife habitat
B. Hunting and fishing value
C. Wood and mineral resources for the future
, D. Tourism and recreation potential
E. Economic value in cleaning the air and preventing soil erosion - CORRECT ANSWER- A
13. Biocentric preservation is a philosophy that supports the belief that
A. The biosphere is a central resource for humans
B. Humans must manage resources for maximum productivity
C. Preservation of wildlife is needed for human survival
D. All living things have a fundamental right to exist and pursue their own interests
E. All living things have value for humans - CORRECT ANSWER- D
14. The National Park Service reflects a ________ approach while the Forest Service reflects
a ________ approach.
A. Biocentric preservationist; pragmatic utilitarian conservationist
B. Global environmentalist; cornucopian
C. Pragmatic resource conservationist; moral and aesthetic preservationist
D. Cornucopian; global environmentalist
E. Pragmatic utilitarian conservation; biocentric preservation - CORRECT ANSWER- A
15. Environmentalism stemming from the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring
differed from earlier North American conservation perspectives by
A. Focusing on human population growth
B. Placing more emphasis on pollution problems
C. Emphasizing international problems
D. Encouraging energy efficiency
E. Emphasizing the value of natural resources - CORRECT ANSWER- B
16. Modern environmentalism, in part led by David Brower and Barry Commoner is
becoming well established in the United States. One of the main reasons for this is probably
the ___________ in the modern movement.
A. Emphasis on technological remedies
B. Interconnected nature of our global village
C. Combination of activism and research
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. The word "environment" comes from a French word that means having to do with
A. Life
B. Nature
C. Wildlife
D. Home
E. Surroundings - CORRECT ANSWER- E
2. Environmental science is a __________.
A. Narrowly defined set of physical, life and social sciences
B. Theoretical approach in interpreting the environment
C. Way to see the world in scientific terms
D. Systematic approach in learning about the environment
E. Special set of problem-solving skills - CORRECT ANSWER- D
3. Most environmental problems result from
A. Political differences
B. Complex, interrelated problems
C. Technological development problems
D. Global warming
E. Urban degradation - CORRECT ANSWER- B
4. The fundamental basis of environmental science as a discipline is the
A. History of the use of natural resources
B. Diversity of life on Earth
C. Human impact on the Earth
D. Pollution on the Earth
,E. Future use of natural resources - CORRECT ANSWER- C
5. In explaining your choice of an environmental science major in college to your roommate,
you would probably emphasize the fact that environmental science is a(n)
A. Applied interdisciplinary field with an emphasis on solving problems
B. Well-established field that has been in existence for a long time
C. Theoretical discipline that will help solve the problems created by human impact
D. Relatively new field that will identify remedies to environmental issues
E. Theoretical field with an emphasis on scientific understanding - CORRECT ANSWER- A
6. In the fourth century B.C., the philosopher Plato wrote of the erosion and deforestation that
_________ Greece.
A. Would one day plague
B. Were caused by the excessive population in
C. Were prevalent in countries outside of
D. Had been a problem that was now resolved in
E. Had stripped the fine soils and forests of - CORRECT ANSWER- E
7. Most of the early scientific studies of environmental damage were done by
A. Colonial administrators who were often trained scientists
B. Native Peoples of North America
C. European peasant farmers who understood the connection between deforestation and local
climate change
D. Industrial leaders of the nineteenth century who were worried about the degradation
caused by factories
E. Scientists in Europe worried about deforestation and erosion in their countries -
CORRECT ANSWER- A
8. The history of conservation and environmentalism is
A. Based in the Industrial Revolution
B. Largely unrecorded
C. A relatively new movement
,D. Based in the 1970s environmental movement
E. Traceable well back into human history - CORRECT ANSWER- E
9. Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean is a model for balancing nature and human needs
because in the eighteenth century a French governor
A. Declared the island a nature sanctuary
B. Ordered sensitive areas such as steep slopes to be preserved in forests
C. Bought the island as a private sanctuary for the government of France
D. Supported an extensive environmental education campaign
E. Enforced strict punishment for people who damaged any natural resources - CORRECT
ANSWER- B
10. Pragmatic conservationists, including Gifford Pinchot and Theodore Roosevelt, supported
forest conservation in order to protect
A. Wildlife habitats in forested areas
B. Untouched, unvisited wilderness areas
C. Jobs and homes for people
D. The scenic beauty found in natural areas
E. Resources such as natural habitats for future generations - CORRECT ANSWER- C
11. Utilitarian conservationists tend to believe that resources should be saved because they
are important
A. As a home for wildlife
B. In the conservation of aesthetic values
C. To our understanding of the biosphere
D. For a strong economic system
E. And used by all living things - CORRECT ANSWER- D
12. Biocentric preservationists, first led by John Muir, advocate saving natural areas for their
A. Aesthetic and spiritual values and wildlife habitat
B. Hunting and fishing value
C. Wood and mineral resources for the future
, D. Tourism and recreation potential
E. Economic value in cleaning the air and preventing soil erosion - CORRECT ANSWER- A
13. Biocentric preservation is a philosophy that supports the belief that
A. The biosphere is a central resource for humans
B. Humans must manage resources for maximum productivity
C. Preservation of wildlife is needed for human survival
D. All living things have a fundamental right to exist and pursue their own interests
E. All living things have value for humans - CORRECT ANSWER- D
14. The National Park Service reflects a ________ approach while the Forest Service reflects
a ________ approach.
A. Biocentric preservationist; pragmatic utilitarian conservationist
B. Global environmentalist; cornucopian
C. Pragmatic resource conservationist; moral and aesthetic preservationist
D. Cornucopian; global environmentalist
E. Pragmatic utilitarian conservation; biocentric preservation - CORRECT ANSWER- A
15. Environmentalism stemming from the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring
differed from earlier North American conservation perspectives by
A. Focusing on human population growth
B. Placing more emphasis on pollution problems
C. Emphasizing international problems
D. Encouraging energy efficiency
E. Emphasizing the value of natural resources - CORRECT ANSWER- B
16. Modern environmentalism, in part led by David Brower and Barry Commoner is
becoming well established in the United States. One of the main reasons for this is probably
the ___________ in the modern movement.
A. Emphasis on technological remedies
B. Interconnected nature of our global village
C. Combination of activism and research
