APES Unit 5 Exam Review Exam Questions and
Answers
What circumstance can result in a Tragedy of the Commons? - -One resource must be
scarce
-What is one example of Tragedy of the Commons? - -air pollution (CO2 emissions from
exhaust pipe burning fossil fuels) from traffic congestion in urban areas
-How are commons protected? - -private property rights; government regulation;
development of a collective action arrangement
-What is clearcutting? - -Clearcutting is a cheap method of harvesting trees that involves
removing all or almost all of the trees within an area
-What are two environmental problems associated with clearcutting? - -destroying buffer
zones and habitat destruction
-What was the Green Revolution? - -a large increase in crop production in developing
countries achieved by the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and high-yield crop varieties.
-What are four innovations that lead to the Green Revolution? - -Genetically modified
organisms, irrigation, synthetic fertilizers, use of machines
-What is tilling? - -turning up soil; leads to more runoff and erosion
-Why do people use the slash and burn method? - -it is a cheap way to create a nutrient
rich layer and clear out land
-How does the slash and burn method impact the environment? - -it releases CO2 into the
atmosphere which is a green house gas that will eventually lead to heating the earth
-Are inorganic or organic compounds more likely to run off? - -inorganic (synthetic)
-What is drip irrigation? - -small pipes slowly drip water just above ground; saves water
-What is flood irrigation? - -the entire field is flooded with water; can water log soil
-What is furrow irrigation? - -a trench that is flooded with water; easy and inexpensive
-What is spray irrigation? - -large sprinklers that get water from groundwater; expensive
-Which irrigation method is the most efficient? - -drip irrigation because it uses the least
amount of water
Answers
What circumstance can result in a Tragedy of the Commons? - -One resource must be
scarce
-What is one example of Tragedy of the Commons? - -air pollution (CO2 emissions from
exhaust pipe burning fossil fuels) from traffic congestion in urban areas
-How are commons protected? - -private property rights; government regulation;
development of a collective action arrangement
-What is clearcutting? - -Clearcutting is a cheap method of harvesting trees that involves
removing all or almost all of the trees within an area
-What are two environmental problems associated with clearcutting? - -destroying buffer
zones and habitat destruction
-What was the Green Revolution? - -a large increase in crop production in developing
countries achieved by the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and high-yield crop varieties.
-What are four innovations that lead to the Green Revolution? - -Genetically modified
organisms, irrigation, synthetic fertilizers, use of machines
-What is tilling? - -turning up soil; leads to more runoff and erosion
-Why do people use the slash and burn method? - -it is a cheap way to create a nutrient
rich layer and clear out land
-How does the slash and burn method impact the environment? - -it releases CO2 into the
atmosphere which is a green house gas that will eventually lead to heating the earth
-Are inorganic or organic compounds more likely to run off? - -inorganic (synthetic)
-What is drip irrigation? - -small pipes slowly drip water just above ground; saves water
-What is flood irrigation? - -the entire field is flooded with water; can water log soil
-What is furrow irrigation? - -a trench that is flooded with water; easy and inexpensive
-What is spray irrigation? - -large sprinklers that get water from groundwater; expensive
-Which irrigation method is the most efficient? - -drip irrigation because it uses the least
amount of water
