Environmental Science Unit 1

What is the best definition of remote sensing?

• collecting data without physical contact with the object being observed

• using technological equipment to gather data about the world

• gathering environmental data without using human beings

• analyzing data through the use of computer software

Which statement is true about remote sensing?

• It can only be performed by scientists.

• It always requires special training.

• It is at least as old as the telescope.

• It was invented in the 1960s.

Hector used a conversion table to make calculations in a study of ocean evaporation relative to illuminance (light intensity). What was the table for?

• to convert English measurements into metric ones

• to find locations for his study

• to convert scientific terms such as evaporation and illuminance

• to work out details such as what equipment to use

Which environmental lesson can you derive from the ecocide hypothesis for what happened to Easter Island?

• The introduction of nonnative species has environmental consequences.

• The overexploitation of resources has serious environmental consequences.

• Scientists do not necessarily agree on the interpretation of data.

• Climate changes have environmental consequences for all inhabitants of an environment.

Which was the most immediate action taken after publication of Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring?

• President Kennedy ordered a panel of scientists to appraise the DDT hazard.

• The chemical industry took the lead in restricting the sale and use of DDT.

• President Kennedy banned DDT over the objections of experts.

• DDT was banned in the United States by the Department of Agriculture.

What was the function of the Tigris River in Mesopotamian irrigation?

• It was the source of the irrigation water.

• It was the drain for irrigation water.

• It was the determining factor in the water table level.

• It supplied silt to the nearby farmland.

A scientist makes a graph showing population growth rates for the future of 10 countries. Which is a necessary source of error in his graph?

• No one can predict future trends accurately.

• The countries he chose may not be the best for his purpose.

• Population growth differs from one country to another.

• Scientists often disagree with one another.

What conclusion from the study of Mesopotamia can be used in irrigation practices today?

• Continuous irrigation is a good thing.

• Irrigation should not be used in hot climates.

• Farming should not be done in hot climates.

• Irrigation methods with the least impact on the water table may be beneficial.

If environmental scientists want to publish a paper on an experiment for an audience of fellow specialists, where do they do so?

• media interview

• journal article

• newspaper story

• public hearing on issues

Which of the following is the best testable hypothesis, correctly written?

• My puppy likes dry dog food better than moist food.

• When my puppy wakes up, he is hungry.

• If the earth moves out of its orbit, life will not survive.

• If grass gets fertilized, it grows faster.