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Name

Humans in the Biosphere


Multiple Choice
Write the letter that best answers the question or completes the statement on the line
provided.
_____ 1. A developer wants to build a new housing development in or around a large city.
Which of the following plans would be LEAST harmful to the environment?
a. Clearing a forested area outside of the city to build houses.
b. Building apartments at the site of an abandoned factory in the city.
c. Building a neighborhood in a meadow at the edge of the city.
d. Filling a wetland area and building oceanfront condominiums.
_____ 2. Using resources in way that does not cause long-term environmental harm is
called
a. sustainable development.
b. monoculture.
c. biological magnification.
d. subsistence hunting.
_____ 3. The 1930s Dust Bowl in the Great Plains was caused by
a. deforestation.
b. contour plowing.
c. using renewable resources.
d. poor farming practices.
_____ 4. Which of the following is NOT considered a sustainable-development strategy
for
management of Earths resources?
a. contour plowing
b. desertification
c. crop rotation
d. selective harvesting of trees
_____ 5. An example of sustainable resource use is the use of predators and parasites to
a. harm natural resources.
b. pollinate plants.
c. control pest insects.
d. eat unwanted plants.
_____ 6. One property that makes DDT hazardous over the long run is that DDT is
a. an insecticide.
c. subject to biological magnification.
b. a perfect pesticide.
d. deadly to herbivores.
_____ 7. The sulfur and nitrogen compounds in smog combine with water to form
a. ozone.
c. acid rain.
b. ammonia.
d. chlorofluorocarbons.

_____ 8. Raising cattle and farming rice contribute to air pollution by


a. releasing sulfur compounds that form acid rain.
b. producing particulates into the air.
c. producing smog which reacts to form dangerous ozone gas.
d. releasing the greenhouse gas methane into the atmosphere.
_____ 9. How are species diversity and genetic diversity different?
a. Species diversity is evaluated only in ecosystems, while genetic diversity is
evaluated in the entire biosphere.
b. Species diversity measures the number of species in the biosphere, while
genetic diversity measures the variety of genes in the biosphere, including
genetic variation within species.
c. Species diversity measures the number of individuals of a species, while
genetic diversity measures the total variety of species.
d. Conservation biology is concerned with species diversity, but not with genetic
diversity.
_____ 10. A major factor that negatively affects biodiversity is
a. biological magnification.
c. contour plowing.
b. habitat fragmentation.
d. nonrenewable resources.
_____ 11. The hot spot strategy seeks to protect species in danger of extinction due to
a. captive breeding programs.
c. human activity.
b. expanding national parks.
d. biological magnification.
_____ 12. Protecting an entire ecosystem ensures that
a. captive breeding programs will succeed.
b. existing parks and reserves will expand.
c. governments will set aside land.
d. interactions among many species will be preserved.
_____ 13. One measure of the human impact on the biosphere is called
a. biological magnification.
c. an ecological hot spot.
b. biodiversity.
d. an ecological footprint.
_____ 14. Imported plants and animals in Hawaii have
a. caused native species to die out.
b. increased the native bird species.
c. improved soil fertility.
d. increased crop yields.
_____ 15. Success at solving an environmental problem is more likely when researchers
follow the basic principles of ecology because
a. ecological solutions to problems are usually very easy to implement and can
be done quickly.
b. most people in the world are more interested in saving the environment than
in their own comfort and convenience.
c. ecology uses scientific research to identify the cause of the problem and the
best practices to solve the problem.

d. ecologists are very good at influencing government officials into changing


laws to improve the environment.
Completion
Complete each statement on the line provided.
16. The practice of ________________________ is beneficial because it increases food
production, but is also detrimental to the environment because it requires clearing a
lot of land and using a lot of fertilizer and fossil fuels.
17. Hydropower uses the energy of flowing water to produce electric energy. Because
water in rivers flows continually, hydropower is a ________________________ resource.
18. When cleaning up water pollution in a large lake or river, it is important to clean up
the entire ________________________.
19. A location that has 170 species of birds likely has greater ________________________
than a location that has 100 species of birds.
20. Rabbits were introduced into Australia in 1859. The rabbits had no natural predators
and began to crowd the native animals out of their habitats. When this happened the
rabbits became a(n) ________________________ species.

Short Answer
In complete sentences, write the answers to the questions on the lines provided.
21. How does industrial growth affect the biosphere?
______________________________________________________________________________________
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22. What are the goals of sustainable development?
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23. What is soil erosion?
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24. Explain how human society benefits from biodiversity.
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25. How is hunting a threat to biodiversity?
______________________________________________________________________________________
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Essay
Write the answer to each question in the space provided.
26. How can we ensure the sustainable development of water resources? How is water
conservation consistent with the principles of sustainable development?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

27. Discuss the importance of biodiversity to the field of medicine. Give an example of a
medicine derived from a plant.
______________________________________________________________________________________
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28. What is the difference between captive breeding programs and ecosystem
preservation in terms of conservation biology? Describe how conservation groups are
working to protect biodiversity.
______________________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

29. What is included in the calculation of a persons ecological footprint?


______________________________________________________________________________________
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30. Discuss the health effects of damage to the ozone layer and the steps being taken
to help deal with the problem.
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

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