Environmental Science Questions

Increased human populations can lead to the depletion of locally available resources within communities. Compared to other communities, which of these locally available resources is MOST likely to be depleted in desert communities?

• mineral

• oxygen

• gasoline

• water

Which method can help reduce the amount of trash in landfills?

• recycling plastic and paper waste products

• adding liners to keep landfills from leaking

• using solar panels for electric lighting at the landfill

• using fuel made from sugar cane to power garbage trucks

Increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may contribute to global warming. Which is an example of one way humans can reduce the carbon dioxide that is added to the atmosphere?

• riding a bicycle instead of driving

• riding in a bus to school instead of walking

• playing with indoor toys instead of outdoor toys

• taking several short car trips instead of one long one

Which energy sources are the LEAST harmful to human and environmental health?

• A. coal and solar

• B. natural gas and wind

• C. solar and wind

• D. wind and coal

Which reason BEST accounts for these changes during the time period?

• The population of the United States changed.

• The consumption of resources in the United States decreased.

• Laws and policies were enacted that limited the output of certain pollutants.

• Corporations and citizens voluntarily reduced the output of certain pollutants.

Which of the following could limit the supply of a renewable resource?

• A recycling aluminum cans

• B cutting down trees in forests

• C mining minerals such as gold

• D conserving freshwater resources

Recycling paper reduces the number of trees cut down for paper production. How does this reduction MOST likely benefit the environment?

• eliminates air pollution

• saves nonrenewable energy

• reduces the amount of oxygen in the air

• keeps the habitats of animals from being destroyed

Some research has shown that the burning of fossil fuels contributes to an effect called global warming, which scientists believe is changing the chemical makeup of Earth's atmosphere. Use of which invention would help lower this effect?

• electric car

• digital camera

• high-speed internet

• battery-powered radio

Based on the diagram, the MOST likely reason for the plastic liner is that it

• A keeps animals out.

• B supports mountain building.

• C keeps groundwater from being polluted.

• D allows for more waste to be collected.

If more people start driving these new cars, what will be the MOST likely result?

• A more brands of cars

• B less road construction

• C more public transportation

• D lower levels of air pollution