Environmental Science Quiz

In the very distant past, most people

• lived in small groups.

• lived in permanent settlements.

• did not gather plants.

• did not hunt animals.

Imported plants in Hawaii have

• crowded out many native species.

• reduced the native bird species.

• introduced diseases.

• depleted natural resources.

Land is a resource that provides

• space for cities and suburbs.

• raw materials for industry.

• soil for growing crops.

• all of the above.

An old-growth forest is

• a renewable resource.

• a nonrenewable resource.

• a microclimate.

• poor in biodiversity.

The wearing away of surface soil by water and wind is known as

• deforestation.

• desertification.

• overgrazing.

• soil erosion.

Farmers can reduce soil erosion by

• increasing irrigation.

• contour plowing.

• grazing cattle on the land.

• plowing up roots.

Using renewable resources while ensuring that they are not depleted is a practice called

• sustainable development.

• monoculture.

• biological magnification.

• subsistence hunting.

Biodiversity is important to human society because it

• is a natural resource.

• provides food and goods.

• provides medicines.

• all of the choices

The sum total of the genetically based variety of living organisms in the biosphere is called

• species diversity.

• biodiversity.

• sustainable use.

• conservation biology.

An endangered species is

• a diseased animal.

• a dangerous predator.

• a group of organisms near extinction.

• all organisms at the top of a food chain.