CONS 127 Midterm Exam – Week 1 (2024
Practice Version)
University of British Columbia | Original Study
Resource | Graded A+ Level
Instructions
Total Questions : 50
Format : Multiple-choice (1 pt each) + short-answer reasoning
Time : 90 minutes recommended
Topics : Foundations of conservation, sustainability, biodiversity, ethics,
policy, and applied ecology.
Section A – Foundations of Conservation (1-20)
1. The discipline of conservation science seeks primarily to:
A. Maximize human use of natural resources.
B. Maintain biodiversity and ecosystem function while meeting human needs.
C. Eliminate human presence from wild areas.
D. Focus only on endangered species.
Answer: B | Rationale: Integrates ecology, economics, and ethics to balance use
& protection.
2. Biodiversity includes variation at which three levels?
Answer: Genetic, species, and ecosystem.
3. Which of the following best defines an ecosystem?
A. A collection of species in one area
B. The community of organisms and their physical environment interacting as
, a system
Answer: B
4. The term anthropocene refers to:
Answer: The current epoch in which human activity is the dominant
influence on Earth’s systems.
5. The majority of recent extinctions are attributed to:
Answer: Habitat loss and fragmentation.
6. The “precautionary principle” advises that:
Answer: If an action may cause harm, lack of full scientific certainty should
not delay prevention measures.
7. Conservation ethics differ from preservation ethics because conservation:
Answer: Allows sustainable use of resources rather than complete exclusion
of human activity.
8. Aldo Leopold’s land ethic stresses:
Answer: Humans are members of a community of life and must respect the
land as an organism.
9. In situ conservation example → national parks.
Ex situ example → botanical gardens or seed banks.
10. The “Tragedy of the Commons” demonstrates:
Answer: Individually rational use of shared resources can collectively cause
depletion.
Practice Version)
University of British Columbia | Original Study
Resource | Graded A+ Level
Instructions
Total Questions : 50
Format : Multiple-choice (1 pt each) + short-answer reasoning
Time : 90 minutes recommended
Topics : Foundations of conservation, sustainability, biodiversity, ethics,
policy, and applied ecology.
Section A – Foundations of Conservation (1-20)
1. The discipline of conservation science seeks primarily to:
A. Maximize human use of natural resources.
B. Maintain biodiversity and ecosystem function while meeting human needs.
C. Eliminate human presence from wild areas.
D. Focus only on endangered species.
Answer: B | Rationale: Integrates ecology, economics, and ethics to balance use
& protection.
2. Biodiversity includes variation at which three levels?
Answer: Genetic, species, and ecosystem.
3. Which of the following best defines an ecosystem?
A. A collection of species in one area
B. The community of organisms and their physical environment interacting as
, a system
Answer: B
4. The term anthropocene refers to:
Answer: The current epoch in which human activity is the dominant
influence on Earth’s systems.
5. The majority of recent extinctions are attributed to:
Answer: Habitat loss and fragmentation.
6. The “precautionary principle” advises that:
Answer: If an action may cause harm, lack of full scientific certainty should
not delay prevention measures.
7. Conservation ethics differ from preservation ethics because conservation:
Answer: Allows sustainable use of resources rather than complete exclusion
of human activity.
8. Aldo Leopold’s land ethic stresses:
Answer: Humans are members of a community of life and must respect the
land as an organism.
9. In situ conservation example → national parks.
Ex situ example → botanical gardens or seed banks.
10. The “Tragedy of the Commons” demonstrates:
Answer: Individually rational use of shared resources can collectively cause
depletion.
