Sophia - Environmental Science - Unit 1 Milestone 1

Which of the following describes an effect of an environmental issue experienced at the global level? • Particulate matter from a coal factory is causing health problems for workers. • Formaldehyde in the new office carpeting is causing a severe allergic reaction. • Consumers experience dizziness and nausea from pollutants in the water supply. • The consumption of fossil fuels contributes to air pollution and rising CO2 levels. CONCEPT Time, Scale, and Impact 2 Which of the following correctly defines an ecosystem? • Living organisms interacting with nonliving components in a specific area • The number and abundance of species living in a certain area • A relationship between humans and nature in which resources can be used indefinitely • Services that humanity benefits from, including water purification and soil formation CONCEPT Biodiversity Sustainability 3 Plant and animal life faced many challenges when moving from water to land. Select the FALSE statement about this transition. • Organisms had to adapt in order to reproduce on land. • Plant and animal life suffered from a lack of consistent sunlight on land. • Organisms tended to dry out upon moving to land. • Plant and animal life experienced increased effects of gravity on land. CONCEPT Early Life 4 Which of the following is the best example of how a government agency can apply environmental science? • Purchase only free-range, organic chicken • Study the decline in honeybee populations around the world • Provide mosquito netting for malaria-stricken areas • Regulate air emissions from a coal factory CONCEPT Applying Environmental Science 5 Select the true statement about human population growth. • Plague and famine caused a decrease in population between 1 AD and 1350. • In 2012, there were 7.5 billion people on Earth. • Global population has been relatively high throughout history. • The world population doubled in the 40 years between 1959 and 1999. CONCEPT Human Arrival and Expansion 6 “All organisms share biological requirements for survival and well-being, and all should be respected equally.” The quotation represents a(n) __________ environmental ethical position. • anthropocentric • biocentric • ecocentric • ethnocentric CONCEPT Ethics and Stewardship 7 Choose the statement that is most likely made by an environmentalist rather than by an environmental scientist. • Coal-powered plants emit 40% of the United States’ total carbon dioxide and 50% of its particle pollution. • Lessening our dependence on fossil fuels is the most important environmental issue facing the world today. • Some renewable energy sources capture their energy from natural processes, such as wind, flowing water and the sun. • The burning of fossil fuels causes more environmental damage than using renewable energy sources. CONCEPT Environmentalism 8 Select the item below that is biotic. • Water • Bacteria • Dirt • Air CONCEPT Environmental Science 9 Choose the statement below that is NOT true about early Earth's atmosphere. • Conditions were favorable for forming chemical bonds. • There was no free oxygen. • The ozone layer was quite thick. • Both ammonia and methane were present. CONCEPT Earth's Formation 10 Choose the statement about human population growth that is NOT correct. • Innovation and technology may play a role in lessening the impact of future population growth. • If population growth continues at its present rate, there will be 8.9 billion people on Earth by 2050. • Approximately 72 million people are added to the planet each year. • There are two possible scenarios for future population growth. CONCEPT The Impact of Population Growth 11 According to the one-year calendar model based on the Big Bang theory, the solar system formed in __________. • January • August • September • December CONCEPT Earth's Formation 12 “Threats of an epidemic haunt citizens as the number of unvaccinated children continue to grow. People are frightened of the implications and angry that a few have placed so many at risk.” Choose the most likely source for this quotation. • A scientist, because the language is non-technical so that others will understand • A scientific journal, because it has been peer-reviewed and verified • The media, because the language is controversial and sensationalistic • A politician, because the statements are general and may be biased CONCEPT Scientific Literacy 13 Sherman notices the leaves of one tree in his yard begin to change color much earlier than the surrounding trees. He wonders what causes this. Sherman calls a local nursery to ask some questions. If Sherman follows the steps of the scientific method, his next action would be to __________. • reach a conclusion • analyze data • form a hypothesis • conduct an experiment