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1. Unlike other species, humans have what ability to cause drastic changes in the ecosystem?

To develop technology
To increase population growth
To respond to changes in the natural environment
all of the above

2. Which of the following is most important in absorbing the harmful ultraviolet radiation?

Atmosphere
Thermosphere
Hemisphere
Stratosphere

3. What percentage of the Earth's total vegetated surface has been degraded since 1945?

8
11
23
37

4. Which of the following did the World's Scientists' Warning to Humanity (1993) identify as one way to solve environmental problems?

Reduce and eliminate poverty
Spend more money on research and technological innovation
Reduce the use of environmental resources by 35%
Strengthen laws that prevent the importation of ecologically sensitive resources in developed-world nations.

5. In 1991, what was the average consumption of fossil energy (in gigajoules per person) in Canada and the U.S. respectively?

46 and 57
106 and 138
217 and 347
234 and 287

6. Which of the following statements was identified as a sustainability objective by the Canadian federal government in its 1995 A Guide to Green Government?

Sustain our natural capital
Protect the health of Canadians and ecosystems
Meet the international obligations
All of the above

7. Which of the following is NOT a major principle identified by Our Common Future and Agenda 21 on the Earth Summit?

Environmental sustainability
Economic sustainability
Social sustainability
Resource sustainability

8. Which of the following best explains the term "carrying capacity"?

The amount of crops produced in an area relative to the amount of water,
The capability of an ecosystem to support healthy organisms while maintaining its productivity, adaptability, and capability for renewal
The problems associated with an environment if it contains more organisms than it can hold
The ability of an area to produce more organic material as a result of the improved use of technology

9. What was the approximate global population in 1999?

4 billion
5 billion
6 billion
7 billion

10. Which of the following was NOT an objective of the World Conservation Strategy (1980)?

Maintain essential ecological processes
Preserve genetic diversity
Ensure the sustainable utilization of species and ecosystems
Reduce and eliminate poverty

11. One of the key documents produced at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (also known as the Earth Summit) in Rio de Janeiro was:

the Brundtland Report
Agenda 21
Limits to Growth
Great Lakes Charter

12. Since 1990, the global human population has increased by a factor of five, but the consumption of fossil fuel has increased by:

2 times
10 times
15 times
30 times

13. Each day, around the world, almost _____ people die from starvation or related illnesses.

110,000
1,110,000
10,000
1,000

14. The following are all examples of nonrenewable resources:

Fish, forests, oil, coal
Fish, wildlife, natural gas, coal
Coal, oil, natural gas, minerals
Fish, wildlife, trees, herbs

15. To be sustainable, development must:

Recognize that standards of living of some groups of people must take precedence over those of others
Recognize that desired benefits may be achieved only for a short term
Meet social as well as economic objectives
All of the above

16. The "ecological footprint" is a measure of:

The relationship between the lifestyle of humans living in an area and the ability of the local ecosystems to support that life
The density of animal tracks in an area and thus its biodiversity
The area of land excavated during mining and agricultural activities
The rate of change of biodiversity in an area

17. The following activity would act to artificially increase the local carrying capacity of humans in your area:

Imported fruits and vegetables from the tropics to your town
Use local water supplies for crop irrigation
Export surplus livestock from your locale to a needy country
Live off the land in your area

18. In its purest form, the concept of sustainable development:

Is an old idea (since 1980) that has been popularized lately
Emphasizes economic growth with no consideration for social components
Was first produced at the Earth Summit of 1992
Has social and economic aspects but fails to distinguish between growth and improvement

19. Agenda 21, a United Nations document, does NOT use the following as one of its important themes:

The clean world – managing chemicals and waste
The shared world – managing global and regional resources
The equalized world – using force if required to confiscate resources from rich countries to supplement the poorest nations
The just world – promoting sustainable development everywhere

20. The World Scientist’ s Warning of 1993 notes that although it will be expensive to combat our major environmental problems, the following amount of money is spent annually on the preparation and conduct of war, some of which could be redirected:

1 million
1 billion
1 trillion
10 trillion