NATURAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY
EVSS001 FUNDAMENTALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Pre-Final Exam
NAME: ___________________________________ DATE: ___________ SCORE: ________
General Instructions: This test aims to measure your learning on the topics: human health and toxicology,
population change and issues, energy resources, and natural resources. Strictly, no erasures.
Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question. Write the
letter in UPPERCASE on the blank provided.
___1. Which of the following action(s) may unintentionally contribute to outbreaks of infectious disease?
a)
global travel
b)
social factors
c)
disruption of natural environments
d)
crowding of people in cities
e)
all of these
___2. The body mass index (BMI) is used to determine the health status of your weight for a person
of your height. Imagine you have a BMI of 35.7. Doctors would diagnose you as:
a)
Malnourished
b)
Underweight
c)
healthy weight
d)
Overweight
e)
Obese
___3. Acute toxicity:
a)
is only caused by synthetic chemicals
b)
is poorly understood by toxicologists
c)
may mimic symptoms of chronic diseases
d)
produces an effect within a short period of a single exposure
e)
always results in death
___4. Two indicators of human health in a given country are:
a)
BMI and life expectancy
b)
mortality rate and BMI
c)
emerging diseases vs. reemerging diseases
d)
health care and mortality rate
e)
infant mortality and life expectancy
___5. Emerging diseases are:
a)
infectious diseases that were not previously found in humans and typically
jump from an animal host to humans
b)
infectious diseases that existed in the past but for a variety of reasons are
increasing in incidence
c)
infectious diseases that were previously found in humans and typically jump
from a human host to animals
d)
non-infectious diseases that have transformed into infectious diseases
e)
hidden diseases that are finally being detected through technology
___6. A dose
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

that is represented as LD50 is a dose that:

is administered to 50% of the population
causes 50% of a population to exhibit whatever response is under study
has a threshold response of 50%
kills half of the population of test animals
has an acceptable risk level of 50%

___7. The buildup of pesticides in an organism's body is termed:

a)
Persistence
b)
Bioaccumulation
c)
biological magnification
d)
biological amplification
e)
the pesticide treadmill
___8. The factors that account for the differences in health and health care between highly
developed and developing nations include all of the following except:
a)
access to immunization services for children
b)
adequate nutrition for normal growth and development
c)
average number of children a mother has
d)
average life expectancy
e)
money available for health care
___9. All of the following are main factors involved in emergence or reemergence of infectious disease except:
a)
a growing population of elderly people who are more susceptible to infection
b)
urbanization, associated with overcrowding and poor sanitation
c)
the depletion of antibiotics
d)
growth in international travel and commerce
e)
all of these are factors in emergence of infectious disease
___10. DDT was sprayed in a Long Island salt marsh over a period of years for mosquito control. A portion of
the food web is as follows:
Algae -> shrimp-> American eel -> Atlantic needlefish -> ring-billed gull
In which organism would biological magnification be greatest?
a)
Algae
b)
Shrimp
c)
American eel
d)
Atlantic needlefish
e)
ring-billed gull
___11. Which of the following statements about population ecology is true?
a)
Population ecology only deals with declining populations that are in need of
intervention in order to survive.
b)
Population ecology focuses on individuals and their interactions, but not the
abiotic environment.
c)
Population ecology attempts to explain how and why the number of individuals
changes over time.
d)
Population ecology is not important to scientists in applied disciplines, such as
wildlife management.
e)
Population ecology deals with organisms in nature, but cannot be applied to the
study of human populations.
___12. Population density is:
a)
the total number
b)
the total number
c)
the total number
d)
the total number
e)
the total number

of
of
of
of
of

individuals
individuals
individuals
individuals
individuals

of a given species
per unit of area
of a given species per unit of area
of a given species per unit of area at a given time

___13. The maximum number of individuals of a given species that a particular environment
can support for an indefinite period, assuming there are no changes in the environment
is called its:
a)
environmental resistance
b)
intrinsic rate of increase
c)
carrying capacity
d)
Sustainability
e)
Demography

___14. A scientist who first sounded the alarm about the growth of the human population and
the ability of the earth to handle a large population of humans was:
a)
Charles Darwin
b)
Paul Ehrlich
c)
Thomas Malthus
d)
Rachel Carson
e)
James Lovelock
___15. The movement of individuals out of a population is:
a)
natural increase
b)
Emigration
c)
Immigration
d)
Dispersal
e)
carrying capacity
___16. Humans exhibit:
a)
Type I survivorship
b)
Type II survivorship
c)
Type III survivorship
d)
Type I survivorship in early life and type II in mid-life
e)
Type IV survivorship
___17. In Type
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
___18. Which
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

II survivorship:
the probability of survival decreases with age
the probability of survival increases with age
the probability of survival doesn't change with age
the male dies more frequently than females
the female dies more frequently than males
of the following is true for Type III survivorship?
the probability of survival decreases with age
the probability of survival increases with age
it is characteristic of redwood trees
it is characteristic of humans
it is characteristic of adult gulls

___19. All of the following are examples of a density-independent factor affecting population
growth except:
a)
Fire
b)
Blizzard
c)
Hurricane
d)
food availability
e)
all of these are density-independent factors
___20. Which of the following scenarios is (are) likely to lead to the creation of a metapopulation? The type
of organism is listed first, followed by the change to its habitat.
a)
forest bird species; large sections of a forest are cleared to construct residential subdivisions
b)
grassland small mammal species; large areas of grassland are cleared and plowed for
agriculture
c)
river fish species; an industrial chemical spill causes a massive fish kill on the river
d)
both forest bird species; large sections of a forest are cleared to construct residential
subdivisions and grassland small mammal species; large areas of grassland are cleared and
plowed for agriculture
e)
all scenarios could lead to metapopulations

___21. According to the National Research Council, the relationship between economic development and
population growth is:
a)
rapid growth increases in a population supports economic development
b)
as economic development strengthens, the population growth potential weakens
c)
economic development would profit from slower population growth
d)
economic development would suffer from slower population growth
e)
economic development and population growth are unrelated
___22. Family
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

planning services affect total fertility rate, because where family planning services are available:
men and women are able to limit family size
safeguards are in place for individual health rights
the quality of life for children are improved
total fertility rates decrease
all of these

___23. Increasing education results in a decrease in total fertility, primarily by:

a)
accelerating marriage age
b)
delaying the age at which women have their first child
c)
decreasing access to contraceptives
d)
leading to a greater understanding of traditional and religious beliefs
e)
decreasing the economic standing of childless individuals
___24. Family
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

planning services:
are generally more available in developing countries than in developed countries
have resulted in about 70% of married women using contraceptives
provide information on reproductive physiology and contraceptive methods
force people to limit family size
always encourage pregnant, poor women to have an abortion

__25. Which of the following makes it impossible to determine the carrying capacity for humans?
a)
quality of life and quantity of people are intertwined in this issue
b)
fertility rates differ between highly developed and developing countries
c)
contraceptives are not used uniformly on a global basis
d)
the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic has yet to be determined
e)
government policies on population growth vary dramatically between countries
__26. Which of the following statements about per capita resource use is not true?
a)
In highly developed countries, per capita resource use is high.
b)
In developing countries, per capita resource use is high.
c)
Many people in more affluent nations exploit resources in order to meet their desires.
d)
In highly developed countries, resource demands exceed the requirements for survival.
e)
The resources that are essential to an individual's survival are small.
__27. Which of the following statements about the relationship between economics and population
growth is true?
a)
Population growth has no effect on economic development.
b)
Economic development does not affect population growth.
c)
If a country's standard of living is to increase, then its population growth must decrease
to almost zero.
d)
Economic growth in developing countries would profit from slower population growth.
e)
The debt burden in developing countries is not affecting economic development.
__28. Each person who scales back unnecessary consumption lessens the effects of population growth.
The way of life that involves wanting and spending less is:
a)
intentional complexity
b)
Parsimony
c)
dedicated spending
d)
voluntary simplicity
e)
unrestricted expenditure

__29. The social construct that results in women not having the same rights, opportunities or
privileges as men is:
a)
gender impartiality
b)
gender inequality
c)
masculinity dominance
d)
feminine discrimination
e)
bi-sexual equivalence
__30. The single most important factor affecting high total fertility rates may be:
a)
limited access to family planning services
b)
the low status of women in many societies
c)
the economic status of large families
d)
Tradition
e)
religious values
__31. A major reason that global energy consumption is increasing is that:
a)
energy prices keep falling
b)
developing countries are using more energy as they improve their standard of living
c)
the world's population growth is slowing
d)
global energy reserves are increasing
e)
farmers in developing countries depend on the energy of animals for plowing and other work
__32. All of these factors are important in the discovery of oil and natural gas deposits except:
a)
detection of structural traps
b)
association with salt domes
c)
association with remains of ancient forests
d)
location of the right rock layer
e)
identification of core samples containing microfossils
__33. An unstable isotope of hydrogen is:
a)
Tritium
b)
Deuterium
c)
Sodium
d)
Lead
e)
Uranium
__34. Fission
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

of U-235:
results in the release of electrons, which collide with other U-235 atoms creating a chain reaction
releases a great amount of heat, which is used to transform steam into water
must be controlled in order to be used for the production of electricity
in power plants may get out of control generating a bomb-like nuclear explosion
is controlled by the careful placement of the reactor core within the turbine

__35. Which of the following is not a disadvantage to using biomass as a source of energy?
a)
deforestation
b)
air pollution
c)
depletion of minerals in the soil
d)
increased possibility of erosion
e)
it is a non-renewable source of energy
__36. Photovoltaic cells:
a)
have become more economical to produce and use over the past 25 years
b)
are the most efficient means of converting solar energy to electricity
c)
are currently only used in urban areas of highly developed countries
d)
have only been adapted for use in small appliances
e)
generate electricity with minimal pollution, but unfortunately, require expensive maintenance

__37. A flood
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

plain has the potential to flood. Why is this a problem?

floods are caused by drought cycles in the weather
floods are unnatural events caused by human activity
flood damage is permanent, causing major changes in the course of the bordering river channel
flood damage is extremely costly due to homes and businesses being built on the flood plain
when flood waters recede, the flood plain is left infertile for growing crops

__38. Excessive removal of groundwater can result in:

a)
rising water tables
b)
sinkhole formation
c)
groundwater desalinization
d)
increased discharge to streams
__39. All of the following are successful motivators for consumers to conserve water except:
a)
water rationing
b)
increased water prices
c)
all of these are true
d)
effective education
__40. All of the following represent ways in which individuals can reduce water consumption except:
a)
using a dishwasher
b)
washing many small loads of laundry
c)
installing low-flow showerheads
d)
installing low-flush toilets
e)
turning the faucet off while brushing teeth
__41. Crop rotation and strip cropping alternate crops such as corn and wheat. The difference is:
a)
in strip cropping, the crops are alternated by size; in crop rotation, the crops are
alternated by color
b)
in strip cropping, one crop is exposed and the other covered; in crop rotation, dual
crops form concentric circles
c)
in strip cropping, one crop transforms into the other by genetic seed manipulation; in
crop rotation, each crop is alternated according to the type of pollinator required
d)
in strip cropping, the crops are alternated by row; in crop rotation, the crops are
alternated by years
e)
there is no difference; crop rotation is another word for strip cropping
__42. Commercial inorganic fertilizers:
a)
are soluble and provide nutrients that are immediately available for plants
b)
rarely leach into groundwater or surface water
c)
improve the water-holding capacity of the soil
d)
can amplify microorganisms that cause plant disease
e)
require less energy to produce than organic fertilizer
__43. The difference between compost and mulch is:
a)
compost is mixed into soil to improve fertility; mulch is placed on soil's surface to control
weeds and retain moisture
b)
compost is made of inorganic materials; mulch is made of organic materials
c)
compost is used in landfills, individual property owners use mulch
d)
composting is an expensive commercial process; mulching is a do-it-yourself endeavor
e)
there is no difference; mulch and compost are synonyms
__44. Salinization of agricultural soils is most often associated with:
a)
crop rotation
b)
deforestation
c)
irrigation
d)
nutrient depletion
e)
terracing

__45. Two of the first metals to be used by humans to produce bronze were:
a)
copper and iron
b)
iron and gold
c)
copper and tin
d)
iron and sulfur
e)
gold and silver
__46. A rock that contains a large enough concentration of a particular mineral to profitably
mine and extract it is called a/an:
a)
atom
b)
slag
c)
metal
d)
ore
e)
compound
__47. What is the difference between an ore and a rock?
a)
ores contain a large concentration of a particular mineral; a rock may or may not be an ore
b)
ores contain only metallic minerals; rocks contain only nonmetallic minerals
c)
ores are always profitable to extract; rocks are never profitable to extract
d)
ores are good conductors of heat and electricity; rocks are not good conductors of heat
and electricity
e)
ores are usually formed through hydrothermal processes; rocks are usually formed through
sedimentation
__48. Mineral ________ have been identified and are currently profitable to extract, while mineral
________include ores that are undiscovered or currently unprofitable to extract.
a)
funds; collections
b)
caches; refuges
c)
resources; reserves
d)
reserves ; resources
e)
stores; hoards
__49. Humans depend on other organisms for all of the following requirements except:
a)
carbon dioxide
b)
Food
c)
Shelter
d)
medicines
e)
clothing
__50. Which of the following is not an ecosystem service?
a)
decomposition
b)
seed banks
c)
pollination
d)
maintenance of soil fertility
e)
prevention of soil erosion
__51. Which of the following statements about amphibians is true?
a)
Amphibians are represented by about 500 species of frogs, toads, and salamanders.
b)
Populations of amphibians in a few local areas have declined dramatically in the last few decades.
c)
Amphibians lay their eggs in dry, sandy areas close to a source of water.
d)
Their moist, absorptive skin makes amphibians very susceptible to environmental contaminants.
e)
Scientists increasingly perceive amphibians to be fair-weather species.
__52. The practice of conservation biology uses information about all of the following variables except:
a)
habitat area
b)
connectivity among habitats
c)
accessibility to humans
d)
degree of ecosystem degradation
e)
economic value of biological resources

__53. Which of the following statements is not true about public planning of land use?
a)
Land use decisions are complex because they have multiple effects.
b)
Public planning of land should take all repercussions into account.
c)
Public planning is concerned primarily with immediate effects.
d)
Initial land development spawns additional land development.
e)
all of these are true
__54. All of the following are benefits of coastal wetlands except:
a)
reduced flooding through their ability to hold excess water
b)
improved water quality
c)
reduced impact of ozone depletion
d)
provide habitat for endangered species
e)
produce important commercial products
__55. The natural or human-induced process that decreases the future ability of the land to support crops
or livestock is known as:
a)
Desertification
b)
land degradation
c)
Overgrazing
d)
clear cutting
e)
Undergrazing
__56. Which of the following statements regarding trees and climate change is true?
a)
The oxygen produced by trees helps to moderate climate change.
b)
When trees act as carbon sinks, they accelerate climate change.
c)
There is much more carbon stored in trees than there is in the atmosphere.
d)
The process of photosynthesis removes greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
e)
Trees take greenhouse gases and turn them into CO2, an important compound for
many living organisms.
__57. Which of the following statements about organic food production is true?
a)
Organic farming has allowed U.S. agriculture to become the most efficient and productive in
the world.
b)
It may involve the use of antibiotics and hormones for livestock, as long as no chemicals are
added to crops.
c)
Organic livestock must be fed organic feed.
d)
The soil is fertilized with commercial inorganic fertilizer, with the use of cover crops every
fourth year.
e)
Organic farms must be kept insect-free to allow for the crops to survive without the use of
pesticides.
__58. The long-term solution to the food supply problem is to:
a)
control human population growth
b)
expand organic farming
c)
implement the use of genetically engineered crops and livestock
d)
develop and then utilize genetically diverse varieties of various crops
e)
expand energy-intensive agricultural methods that produce high yields of food
__59. Which of the following is not a long-term solution to world food problems?
a)
overcome cultural barriers to the acceptance of different types of food
b)
increase the sustainable production of food
c)
assist overall economic development
d)
stabilize populations at sustainable levels
e)
increase dependence on energy-intensive, high-yield agricultural methods
__60. Domesticated plants and animals:
a)
are characterized by high genetic diversity
b)
are less likely to succumb to new strains of disease-causing organisms
c)
tend to lose genetic diversity as the farmer selects for more desirable agricultural characteristics
d)
can readily survive in both cultivated and wild (natural) settings
e)
readily adapt to changing environmental conditions
8