Ch24 : Computing and the Environmental Impact of Technology

Multiple Choice

What ethical concerns regarding computer systems will you explore in this unit?

• Data Privacy

• User Consent

• Software Licensing

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

What are the learning objectives related to the environmental impact of technology?

• Explain how the manufacture, use and disposal of computing technology damages the environment

• Describe efforts being made to reduce the environmental damage caused by computing technology

• Give some examples of how computing technology is helping to protect the environment

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of e-waste?

• Discarded electronic equipment

• Renewable resources

• Natural materials

• Hardware only

Multiple Choice

What are some of the non-renewable natural resources used in the manufacture of computer products?

• Sand

• Water

• Wood

• Air

Multiple Choice

Which one is NOT a way in which schools can help to reduce the environmental impact of the

computers they use

• adjust settings on monitors

• change power down settings

• leave computers on standby

• remove unwanted data and applications

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an environmental impact of computer systems?

• Increased paper usage

• E-waste

• Higher water consumption

• Increased air travel

Multiple Choice

What is the role of semiconductors in computing technology?

• They are used to store data

• They conduct electricity under certain conditions

• They are a type of renewable energy

• They are used for cooling systems

Multiple Choice

What are the potential health effects of exposure to hazardous materials used in computing technology?

• Physical damage

• Neurological damage

• Both physical and neurological damage

• No health effects

Multiple Choice

This can cause serious harm to a computer.

• Electrostatic discharge

• Radio waves

• Sunlight

• Having a lot of browser tabs open

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive?

• To promote the use of hazardous materials

• To restrict the use of certain materials in computing technology

• To encourage manufacturers to use more raw materials

• To eliminate recycling targets

Multiple Choice

Which of the following materials is used in the manufacture of rechargeable batteries?

• Lead

• Mercury

• Cadmium

• Hexavalent chromium

Multiple Choice

What factors determine the actual energy usage of computing devices?

• The number of devices

• The type of software used

• The age of the devices

• The brand of the devices

Multiple Select

A school wants to reduce the energy consumption of the Computing department.

Pupils are already encouraged to put the computers into standby mode when not in

use.

Choose two other methods to reduce the energy consumption of the computers.

• adjust settings on monitors

• reduce clock speed

• uninstall unused applications

• decrease amount of RAM

Multiple Choice

Why are data centres considered major energy users?

• A. They only operate during the night

• B. They require electricity to power and cool computer equipment

• C. They mainly rely on manual labour

• D. They only store small amounts of data

Multiple Choice

Small data centres run by private organisations and government departments are generally more energy efficient than large data centres operated by cloud providers.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Why was a large Facebook data centre built in northern Sweden?

• A. To be closer to users in Asia

• B. Because electricity is more expensive there

• C. Due to access to renewable hydroelectric power and a cold climate

• D. To reduce internet speed delays

Multiple Choice

What is the significance of energy efficiency measures in reducing the carbon footprint of data centres?

• They increase energy consumption

• They have no impact on carbon footprint

• They help in utilizing renewable energy

• They are only relevant for large data centres

Multiple Choice

Imagine you are planning to make your household more eco-friendly. Which of the following actions can contribute to reducing your household's carbon footprint?

• Decreasing water consumption by fixing leaks and using water-saving fixtures

• Minimizing electricity usage by switching to LED bulbs and energy-efficient appliances

• Reducing meat consumption and opting for plant-based proteins

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

What is a common method to reduce one's carbon footprint?

• Increasing the use of air conditioning

• Traveling more by airplane

• Using energy-efficient appliances

• Eating more processed foods

Multiple Choice

What does the carbon footprint of an international conference refer to?

• The amount of forest land required to absorb carbon dioxide emissions generated by the conference

• The total emissions of carbon dioxide from the conference, including travel, energy use, and materials

• The weight of carbon in all the paper and materials used during the conference

• The size of carbon particles emitted into the atmosphere as a result of the conference

Multiple Choice

What are the consequences of e-waste disposal on the environment and public health?

• Increased pollution

• Improved recycling methods

• Economic growth

• Health benefits

Multiple Choice

What is one reason some people oppose plastic bag bans?

• They believe plastic bags are safer for the environment

• They think there are too many rules and regulations already

• They think plastic bags are stronger than reusable bags

Multiple Choice

Why is recycling plastic not the best solution?

• It's too expensive

• It uses too much water

• Not all plastic can be recycled

• It's harmful to animals

Multiple Choice

Why is improperly recycled e-waste dangerous?

• A. It increases internet traffic

• B. It releases toxic substances into soil, water, and air

• C. It slows down computer performance

• D. It reduces metal production

Multiple Choice

Old mobile phones contain valuable metals such as gold, silver, and copper.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Why is dismantling old computer equipment without proper training dangerous?

• A. It damages the devices permanently

• B. It reduces recycling efficiency

• C. It exposes people to hazardous materials and toxic fumes

• D. It increases landfill costs

Multiple Choice

What is the aim of responsible recycling as mentioned in the text?

• To recover valuable metals

• To create e-opportunities

• To dispose of dangerous substances

• To set regulations

Multiple Choice

What does the term “e-opportunity” refer to in the context of e-waste recycling?

• A. A risk caused by electronic waste

• B. A chance to benefit economically from electronic devices

• C. A law controlling electronic waste

• D. A type of hazardous material

Multiple Choice

Why are state-of-the-art recycling plants important in developing countries?

• A. They increase the production of electronic waste

• B. They replace traditional manufacturing factories

• C. They prevent the use of electronic devices

• D. They can turn e-waste into an economic opportunity

Multiple Choice

How can computing technology help with climate change?

• A. By increasing energy consumption

• B. By replacing renewable energy sources

• C. By analysing data and monitoring environmental changes

• D. By stopping natural disasters completely

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the research conducted by the University of Oxford?

• To study climate change

• To establish if global warming is causing flooding

• To analyze sea surface temperatures

• To monitor glacier movements

Multiple Choice

What are the wireless sensor probes used for in relation to glaciers?

• To measure temperature

• To gather information about glaciers

• To analyze sea levels

• To monitor weather patterns

Multiple Choice

What is NASA analyzing to learn more about sea level rise?

• Satellite data

• Weather patterns

• Ocean currents

• Glacier movements

Multiple Choice

How is information from GPS and satellites used in elephant conservation efforts?

• To track their movements

• To monitor their health

• To improve conservation strategies

• To study their diet

Multiple Choice

What technology is used in tsunami early warning systems to detect approaching tsunamis?

• Sensor networks

• Satellite imagery

• Mobile phones

• GPS tracking

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of tsunami early warning systems?

• A. To prevent tsunamis from forming

• B. To detect approaching tsunamis and issue warnings

• C. To study ocean temperatures only

• D. To replace weather forecasting systems

Multiple Choice

What are the main functions of the sensors used in buildings to improve energy efficiency?

• Monitor light levels

• Adjust temperature

• Count people present

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

How do sensors help make buildings more energy efficient?

• A. By increasing electricity production

• B. By monitoring room conditions and enabling automatic adjustments

• C. By replacing human workers

• D. By storing electricity in batteries

Multiple Choice

Solar energy farms use computer-controlled motors to adjust the position of solar panels.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Why are developments in battery storage important for solar energy systems?

• A. They reduce the size of solar panels

• B. They prevent sensors from failing

• C. They allow excess electricity to be stored

• D. They increase sunlight levels

Multiple Choice

What are some ways in which computing technology can help reduce energy consumption in buildings?

• Use of smart meters and sensors

• Raising energy awareness

• Use of GPS tracking

• All of the above

Multiple Select

In a flight booking app, users are asked to enter their departure airport, destination airport, departure date, return date, number of adults and number of children.

Passengers are allocated an available seat. A data structure named seats is used to store whether each seat is available (true) or unavailable (false).

The pseudocode design shows how an available seat is allocated.

Choose two statements which explain why the above design becomes less efficient as more passengers are allocated seats.

• a seat generated is more likely to be allocated already

• The loop will repeat more times

• The loop will repeat fewer times

• a seat generated is less likely to be allocated already

Multiple Choice

What are some of the environmental impacts of computing technology mentioned in the summary?

• High energy consumption

• Use of non-renewable materials

• E-waste disposal

• All of the above

Poll

How confident do you feel about this topic now?

• Very confident
• Somewhat confident
• Not confident