Environmental Science Study Guide

Which of the following is an example of a renewable natural resource?

• crude oil

• coal

• wave energy

• copper

Which of the following is an example of a nonrenewable natural resource?

• wind energy

• sunlight

• natural gas

• geothermal energy

Which statement about changes in scientific thought is correct?

• Changes in scientific thought show that the general public can not rely on science

• changes in scientific thought demonstrate a key strength in science: the ability to self-correct and improve

• Scientific thought and interpretations can never change over time

• changes in scientific thought are usually rapid and drastic

Why is environmental science considered an interdisciplinary field?

• It borrows techniques from numerous subjects

• it studies environments from all across the planet

• it is more of a social movement than a scientific study

• it is a new form of science that is still being developed

Which steps are usually near the beginning of a scientific investigation?

• hypothesizing and theorizing

• observing and questioning

• predicting and modeling

• gathering and interpreting data

In an experiment, a scientist adds fertilizer to one pond in order to compare the algae growth to a pond that does not receive fertilizer. The amount of algae that grows would represent a(n)

• model

• dependent variable

• prediction

• independent variable

What is one of the key differences between scientific theories and hypotheses?

• Theories are tested by experiments and observations, but hypotheses are not.

• hypotheses are subject to peer review, but theories are not

• Theories are broader explanations, whereas hypotheses deal with a narrower subject

• Hypotheses can be proven wrong, but theories cannot

An idea must effectively explain a phenomenon, make accurate predictions in a wide range of situations, and have undergone extensive rigorous testing, to be accepted as a scientific

• prediction

• theory

• ethic

• hypothesis

The Sikhote-Alin Mountains, and the Siberian tigers living on them, are separated from other mountain regions in which the tigers could live. The mountains are an example of a(n)

• mass extirpation

• invasive species

• mass extinctions

• habitat fragment

A region that includes tigers, eagles, lizards, fish, rabbits, and many other types of organisms would be described as having a high level of

• taxonomic diversity

• genetic diversity

• ecosystem diversity

• species diversity