Waste Quiz

A refrigerator uses electricity to create a cold place to store food. What negative impact does refrigerator use have on the environment?

• The electricity need to keep food cold can be expensive.

• If the electricity goes out, the food will spoil and make you sick.

• Storing food longer reduces grocery store trips and gasoline use.

• Old refrigerators contain chemicals and take up space in landfills.

Which activity is most likely to add pollutants to the environment?

• watering a garden

• pulling weeds from a lawn

• installing a wooden fence

• burning leaves

A company has been allowed to dump untreated waste into a river for years. Which consequence is the least damaging to the environment?

• Nitrogen waste causes abnormal growth of organisms.

• Bacteria in the waste use much of the oxygen in the water.

• The rocks along the bank of the river become slimy.

• Phosphates cause extreme algae growth that kills other organisms.

A remotely controlled robotic arm is used in the cleanup of contaminated areas. Which of the following best describes why robotics rather than humans are used for this task?

• to prevent site investigation by OSHA

• to minimize expense of safety equipment

• to avoid human exposure to hazardous waste

• to limit human exposure to poor weather conditions

In 2004, Maryland recycled more than 35% of all of the waste the state produced.

Which of these benefits does recycling provide to Maryland?

• fewer wild animals

• decreased farm crops

• less trash sent to landfills

• decreased use of electricity

Animal wastes contain bacteria that make organisms sick. These wastes are often washed into water supplies by storms.

How might a pet owner prevent these bacteria from polluting water supplies?

• Brush the pet daily to remove bacteria.

• Feed pets food that produces less waste.

• Bag the pet waste and throw it in the trash.

• Wash the pet with shampoo to kill the bacteria.

Old, worn-out rubber tires are called scrap tires.

Which way of disposing of scrap tires is best for the environment?

• burning the tires

• dumping the tires in a lake

• burying the tires in a landfill

• taking the tires to a recycling center

How does an inadequately designed landfill impact the hydrosphere?

• Toxic waste seeps into groundwater.

• Toxic waste causes mutations in living organisms.

• Toxic waste releases gases into the atmosphere.

• Toxic waste seeps into the asthenosphere.

Scientists are researching the use of natural products in technologies.

Which of these is a justifiable reason supporting this research?

• Using natural substances makes stronger products.

• Using natural substances reduces the cost of manufacturing.

• Using natural substances replaces the need for renewable energy sources.

• Using natural substances reduces the amount of waste that cannot decompose in landfills.

A cotton rag and a banana peel require about 6 months to decompose in a landfill. An aluminum can and a plastic bottle require up to 500 years to decompose in a landfill. What causes this difference in decomposition times?

• Sunlight rapidly breaks down aluminum cans and plastic bottles.

• Rainfall causes cotton rags and banana peels to dissolve more slowly.

• Microorganisms slow down the decomposition of cotton rags and banana peels.

• Aluminum cans and plastic bottles are not easily broken down by microorganisms.