Human Population Growth Questions and Answers

1 — Human Population Growth Determine the amount of natural resources required for each person to live. In the United States, the standard of living requires about five hectares per person. If every person on Earth required five hectares to live, we would need __________ to sustain the current population. a.) two Earths b.) three Earths c.) four Earths d.) five Earths The standard of living in the United States requires five hectares per person, which is equivalent to a little more than __________. a.) nine football fields b.) five football fields c.) three football fields d.) seven football fields Developing nations’ standard of living requires __________________, which is a little less than one football field. a.) 5 hectares/person b.) 100 hectares/person c.) 10 hectares/person d.) 0.5 hectares/person 2 — Agriculture Practices: Plant Sources Identify key aspects of plant sources related to agriculture practices. Which of the following is essential for food production? a.) Level of nutrients in the soil b.) Food supply c.) Genetically-modified organisms d.) Chemical fertilizers 1 Which of the following would be considered a subsistence crop? a.) Tea b.) Cotton c.) Potatoes d.) Coffee Which three subsistence crops supply over 50% of human caloric needs worldwide? a.) Wheat, corn and rice b.) Barley, rice and corn c.) Rice, potatoes and wheat d.) Corn, rice and potatoes 3 — Agriculture Practices: Meat Sources Recognize the important characteristics of meat sources related to agriculture practices. Which of the following statements about meat as a food source for humans is true? a.) More than 25 large animal species have been domesticated for meat. b.) Domesticated livestock is not an important food source for humans. c.) About half of the grain grown in the United States is used for animal feed. d.) 76% of all meat is consumed in developed countries. Which of the following statements about meat as a food source for humans is FALSE? a.) Examples of domesticated meat sources include cattle, pigs and chickens. b.) Most meat is consumed in developed countries. c.) U.S. citizens eat almost 30 times as much meat as Indian citizens eat. d.) Of the grain grown in the United States, 10% is used to feed animals. Which of the following statements about meat as a food source for humans is true? a.) The majority of the world population eats domesticated livestock. b.) U.S. citizens eat about 200 kg of meat per person each year. c.) It takes 16 pounds of grain to produce one pound of meat. d.) Fish farming is not considered to be a part of agriculture. 2 4 — World Nutrition: Factors Differentiate between the types of factors that affect world nutrition. War and costs that interfere and prevent the distribution of food are examples of __________ factors. a.) environmental b.) industrial c.) technological d.) political __________ factors, such as costs, help explain why many malnourished and undernourished people live in parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America. a.) Economic b.) Industrial c.) Environmental d.) Technological Food availability and nutrition can be directly impacted by __________ factors such as drought and flooding. a.) economic b.) political c.) environmental d.) intellectual 5 — World Nutrition: Causes Determine the main causes of famine. Famine can be due to demand exceeding supply but is most often it is due to ____________. a.) biotic issues b.) GMO issues c.) distribution issues d.) arable issues 3 Of the following, which factor directly contributes to famine? a.) Fertilizer use b.) Mechanization of farming c.) Genetically modified crops d.) Extended drought Which of the following factors do NOT contribute to famine, or insufficient food supply in a specific area? a.) Religious practices b.) Geographic barriers c.) Floods or fires d.) Resource hoarding 6 — Agriculture Impacts: Agroecosystems Compare characteristics of agroecosystems to natural ecosystems. Agriculture has changed natural environments and ecosystems and created agroecosystems. Which of the following is a characteristic of a natural ecosystem? a.) Requires synthetic fertilizers b.) Seeks to control a limited number of species c.) Reduces nutrients in the soil d.) Promotes biodiversity Agriculture has changed natural environments and ecosystems and created agroecosystems. Which of the following is a characteristic of an agroecosystem? a.) Promotes ecological succession b.) Allows a progression of multiple species c.) Increases soil nutrients d.) Promotes monoculture 4 Agriculture has changed natural environments and ecosystems and created agroecosystems. Which of the following is a characteristic of an agroecosystem? a.) Degrades water quality b.) Allows multiple species to exist c.) Maintains soil quality d.) Promotes ecological succession 7 — Agriculture Impacts: Agricultural Practices Differentiate between the types of approaches to improve agricultural practices. Which of the following activities corresponds with sustainable agricultural practices? a.) Utilizing natural pesticides and fertilizers b.) Engaging in no-till farming c.) Implementing crop rotation d.) Stimulating the formation of topsoil Which of the following approaches is most likely associated with organic agricultural practices? a.) Practicing no-till farming b.) Planting genetically modified seeds c.) Forming new topsoil d.) Using natural pesticides and fertilizers Which of the following components is paired with regenerative agricultural practices? a.) Using natural ecological services to replenish natural resources b.) Using agricultural resources without degrading them c.) Focusing on maintaining soil quality d.) Focusing on agricultural methods that do not use technology 8 — Fertilizers and Pesticides: Impacts of Fertilizers Identify the positive and negative effects of fertilizers. Which of the following is a consequence of fertilizer runoff into the water supply? a.) An algal bloom contaminates the local water supply. b.) Rainfall stops nitrogen from reaching a waterway. c.) There is a lack of nutrients in the soil. d.) The oxygen levels in the water supply increase. 5 Which of the following is a negative effect of using fertilizers? a.) Farmers need to remove nitrogen from the soil. b.) Monoculture pumps the soil with nutrients. c.) Fish die due to toxins and lack of oxygen in the water. d.) Nitrogen and phosphorus runoff are unable to reach waterways. Which of the following is a benefit of using fertilizers? a.) Fertilizers help build crops that are resistant to bugs that are damaging. b.) Fertilizers produce a well-supplied water system for crops. c.) Fertilizers add nutrients, like nitrogen, to the soil. d.) Fertilizers wipe out undesirable organisms that ruin crops. 9 — Fertilizers and Pesticides: Impacts of Pesticides Determine the impact on the environment from using pesticides. Which of the following statements is a reason for using pesticides on croplands? a.) Pesticides help replace valuable nutrients in the soil. b.) Pesticides help kill pests that carry disease. c.) Pesticides help to increase crop variety. d.) Pesticides help increase a farm's need for labor. Which of the following techniques reduces pesticide use? a.) Planting only one type of crop to reduce the variety of pests. b.) Eliminating natural predators that eat the pests. c.) Rotating crops to disrupt insect cycles. d.) Treating the soil with atrazine to kill the pests. Which of the following is a negative impact on the environment by pesticide use? a.) Constant pesticide use can significantly increase a farm's annual expenses. b.) Pesticides can kill species that are native to the area, thereby reducing biodiversity. c.) Pesticide use can contribute to a significant increase in crop yields. d.) Pesticides kill insects that would otherwise destroy valuable crops. 6 10 — Solid Waste Identify the types of strategies for managing waste. Nathan takes an old refrigerator to the local garbage disposal site. Which waste disposal method is Nathan practicing? a.) Landfill b.) Recycling c.) Ocean dumping d.) Composting Megan uses an old newspaper to wrap her mother’s birthday gift. Which waste disposal method is Megan practicing? a.) Landfill b.) Combustion c.) Reuse d.) Compost Joan grinds tree branches onto mulch and mixes it with manure to feed her rose bushes. Which waste disposal method is Joan practicing? a.) Recycle b.) Landfill c.) Compost d.) Reuse 11 — Hazardous Waste Recognize the characteristics of a hazardous waste. Dry-cleaning chemicals leach into the water supply and are ingested, causing respiratory illness and death. The hazardous waste characteristic of the chemicals in this example is __________. a.) ignitability b.) corrosivity c.) toxicity d.) reactivity 7 Chlorine bleach and ammonia spill and mix together in the aisle of a grocery store, producing a poison gas. The hazardous waste characteristic of the mix in this example is __________. a.) toxicity b.) reactivity c.) corrosivity d.) ignitability Sulfuric acid slowly erodes the metal container holding it and leaks out. The hazardous waste characteristic of the acid in this example is __________. a.) toxicity b.) reactivity c.) corrosivity d.) ignitability 1 — Water Recognize the breakdown of water on Earth. Which of the following statements about water on Earth is true? a.) 3% of Earth’s water is in the oceans. b.) Only about 1% of freshwater is easily available for human use. c.) Approximately 7% of freshwater is found in glaciers. d.) Water covers approximately 90% of the Earth’s surface. 8 Select the pair of pie charts that accurately displays the percentages of seawater and freshwater on Earth AND the percentage of freshwater that is easily accessible. a.) 9 b.) 10 c.) d.) Choose the true statement about water on Earth. a.) A large percentage of the Earth’s freshwater is accessible to humans. b.) Approximately 80% of the water on Earth can be found in oceans. c.) The majority of freshwater is contained in the ocean. d.) Oceans cover about 70% of the Earth’s surface. 2 — Water Supply: Groundwater Identify where fresh drinking water is located and how humans can access it. Which of the following statements about groundwater is NOT true? a.) Most humans get their drinking water from rivers, lakes and streams. b.) Humans can prevent biological or chemical contamination of groundwater by lining and sealing wells. c.) The freshwater that humans drink mostly comes from groundwater. 11 d.) Pockets of groundwater are called aquifers. Which of the following statements about groundwater is NOT true? a.) Groundwater provides most of the drinking water consumed by humans. b.) Roads built by humans enable water to soak into the earth. c.) Lining and sealing wells can protect groundwater from biological or chemical contamination. d.) Chemical fertilizer runoff is a common source of groundwater contamination. Which of the following statements about groundwater is NOT true? a.) Humans access groundwater by creating aquifers. b.) Wells are holes dug or drilled to access underground aquifers for drinking water. c.) Water from underground provides most of the fresh drinking water for humans. d.) It is possible for groundwater to recharge through rainfall. 3 — Water Supply: Dams Determine the benefits and impacts of dams. Which of the following is a benefit of dams? a.) Loss of natural flooding cycles b.) Habitat fragmentation c.) Reliable water supply d.) Disruption of fish migrations Which of the following is an argument for the removal of d Which of the following is a reason why dams are built? a.) To improve biodiversity b.) To reinforce natural flow of the river c.) To increase native fish populations d.) To generate power Which of the following is a reason why dams are built? a.) We must restore water flow to improve animal habitat and promote biodiversity. b.) Biodiversity will decrease upon a dam’s removal, but species will soon return. c.) Dam removal will result in an increase in hydroelectric power in the short term. d.) The region’s growing population is placing an increased demand on water supplies. 12 4 — Water Availability Recognize issues related to the availability of water. Which of the following statements is true about water supply and demand? a.) Water use has been growing at five times the rate of population growth. b.) The amount of available clean water is increasing due to technology. c.) Many major aquifers have reduced levels of available water. d.) Agriculture uses 90% of readily available freshwater. Which of the following statements impacts water supply? a.) Technology and industry are using more water. b.) The amount of contaminated water is growing. c.) More households and industries are using freshwater. d.) Increasing population creates greater water consumption. Which of the following is an issue with the sources of water and how we use it? a.) We are experiencing a decline in the waste of water. b.) Water demand is decreasing because of human population growth. c.) There has been an increase in aquifer water levels. d.) The water cycle moves water through the environment, but the water supply is finite. 5 — Water Pollution: Point vs. Non-Point Source Differentiate between point and non-point source water pollution. Which of the following is an example of non-point source water pollution? a.) Wastewater treatment plants b.) Underground storage tanks c.) Septic tanks d.) Pesticide and fertilizer overflow Which of the following is an example of non-point source water pollution? a.) Tanker oil spill in the ocean b.) Waste from a pulp and paper mill c.) Animal waste treatment lagoons d.) Copper, zinc and arsenic runoff from abandoned mines 13 Which of the following is an example of point source water pollution? a.) Ocean and lake dumping of waste b.) Chemicals and heavy metals from mining operations c.) Eroded soil from construction sites d.) Soil erosion from deforestation 6 — Water Pollution: Impacts Identify the negative impacts of water pollution on society and the environment. Which of the following is NOT an impact of water pollution? a.) Disruption of reproductive cycles b.) Deforestation c.) Destruction of ecosystems d.) Diseases and illnesses Which of the following is an impact of water pollution? a.) Air quality is often affected when water is polluted. b.) Water pollution retains natural ecosystems. c.) Water pollution contributes to climate change. d.) Unclean water poses risks to human health. Negative impacts of water pollution include __________. a.) increasing surface temperatures across Earth b.) causing rising sea levels, flooding and droughts c.) killing organisms or otherwise disrupting their life cycles d.) having less contaminated water available 7 — Efforts to Address Water Pollution in the United States Recognize the efforts to address water pollution in the United States. Which of the following statements is true regarding the cleaning up of waterways in the United States? a.) The Refuse Act stated that all water in the U.S. would be fishable and swimmable within 10 years. b.) The federal government sets water quality standards depending on use, such as the public water supply. c.) The Environmental Protection Agency sets water pollution limits on different industries. d.) The Clean Water Act of 1972 allowed only waste approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to be discharged into waterways. 14 Which of the following is a true statement about efforts to address water pollution in the United States? a.) Treatment plants for sewage have eliminated water pollution in rivers. b.) Almost 50% of waterways in the U.S. are now considered clean. c.) The availability of groundwater has increased due to anti-pollution actions. d.) The most polluted water bodies have seen little improvement. How has the United States acted to address water pollution? a.) The government used the Refuse Act to sue industrial companies that were discharging pollutants. b.) The Clean Water Act of 1972 focused on point source pollution. c.) Earth Day was established in 1960 to focus on water pollution. d.) The United States follows international water pollution standards. 8 — Urban Sprawl in the US Identify the causes and consequences of urban sprawl in the United States. Which of the following statements is a common characteristic of urban sprawl in the United States? a.) Abandoned inner cities became a concern starting in the early 2000s. b.) Increased hazardous waste is among the most important results of urban sprawl. c.) Urban sprawl involves the redevelopment of other urban areas. d.) Water and air pollution are notable environmental consequences of urban sprawl. Which of the following is a cause of urban sprawl? a.) One million acres of rural land are lost to urban development every year. b.) Air quality declines drastically as more humans commute to work. c.) The federal government subsidized gasoline and road construction. d.) More species are threatened and biodiversity declines because of habitat fragmentation. Which of the following is an example of a consequence of urban sprawl? a.) The automobile becomes more popular during the early 20th century. b.) Many middle and upper-class families desired to move to the suburbs following World War II. c.) Social equity decreases and poverty is concentrated in urban centers. d.) The federal government implements loans and policies to make suburban homes more affordable. 15 9 — Addressing Urban Sprawl Determine the effective measures to address urban sprawl. State and local governments address urban sprawl through regulations, such as _________, which create parks and community gardens. a.) establishing green zones b.) issuing tax breaks c.) charging impact fees d.) designing zoning requirements Which of the following options is an effective measure to address urban sprawl? a.) Mass transit options are being expanded. b.) Citizens are encouraged to recycle and compost. c.) Parking lots are being built. d.) Private investors are funding new development. Which of the following is an action aimed at dealing with urban sprawl? a.) Placing a boundary that allows suburbs to grow in ever-widening circles around the city b.) Approving green areas or parks to be re-zoned for business or housing c.) Granting tax breaks for new businesses that agree to build on vacant lots within city limits d.) Providing funds to banks to finance private housing developers 10 — Population Growth Solutions Recognize the impacts of human population growth. Which of the following describes the impacts of human population growth? a.) Over 300 people are added to planet Earth per minute. b.) Human overpopulation has decreased demands for energy, water, food and land resources. c.) Human population growth has been due largely to better medical care and technology. d.) Human overpopulation has contributed to a population decline of biological species by two-fifths. 16 Which of the following is an impact from the human population growing? a.) Each year, 100 million people are added to the earth’s population. b.) The overall temperature of the earth’s surface is warming due to air pollution emissions. c.) Nearly 50% of the world's original tree cover has been destroyed. d.) The demand for freshwater is increasing as population growth decreases. Which of the following is an impact of a growing human population? a.) The pressure to feed humans has resulted in a 50% expansion in the world’s forests. b.) Every year, approximately five million hectares of forest are burned or cut down. c.) Advances in farming and technology are decreasing the pressure to feed the existing human population. d.) Approximately 200,000 people are added to the earth each day 17