APES MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2026
Which action best illustrates the concept of the Tragedy of the commons? - ANS Depleting an
aquifer through irrigation by regional farmers.
A home uses 100-watt light bulbs for five hours per day. Approximately how many kilowatt
hours of electrical energy are consumed in one year by using the light bulbs? - ANS 1,825
The combustion of one gallon of automobile fuel produces a about five pounds of carbon (CO2).
Two autos are making a trip of 600 miles. The first auto gets 20 miles per gallon, and the second
gets 30 miles per gallon. Approximately how much less carbon (CO2) will be produced by the
second auto on this trip? - ANS 50 lbs
All of these consequences result from excessive usage of cars as transportation EXCEPT -
ANS Increased sense of community due to personal independence.
On average, which transportation method is the most environmentally friendly? - ANS A
commuter train that runs on electricity.
What strategies are governments, manufacturers,and individuals currently using to reduce
household water use? - ANS I, II, and III
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
, The chart above compares the daily water use per person to the price of water in selected
countries. What conclusion can you correctly draw using only the data in the chart? -
ANS High water use is generally correlated with lower water prices.
Surface mining has all of these harmful effects EXCEPT - ANS Surface miners may develop
respiratory illnesses such as black lung disease
Which issue is NOT uniformly addressed in current US mining laws? - ANS Harmful effects on
air, land, and water are to be minimized
Which statement best describes why electronics waste (e-waste) is often shipped to other
countries for disposal or recycling? - ANS There are less stringent regulations on e-waste
disposal in other countries
The legislation that imposes a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries to generate funds
to pay for the cleanup of hazardous substances is the - ANS Superfund Act (CERCLA)
All of these standards are required to manage hazardous waste EXCEPT - ANS Compacting
and burying hazardous waste in designated landfills
Which advantages result from using incineration over a landfill to dispose of municipal solid
waste? - ANS I. Minimizing waste volume
III. Generating usable heat energy
Leachate contamination of groundwater is a serious problem associated with sanitary landfills.
How does leachate contamination happen? - ANS Rainfall through the landfill draws toxic
substances into the soil and groundwater.
Which economic disadvantage results from recycling? - ANS Most recycling processes require
expensive energy inputs
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2026
Which action best illustrates the concept of the Tragedy of the commons? - ANS Depleting an
aquifer through irrigation by regional farmers.
A home uses 100-watt light bulbs for five hours per day. Approximately how many kilowatt
hours of electrical energy are consumed in one year by using the light bulbs? - ANS 1,825
The combustion of one gallon of automobile fuel produces a about five pounds of carbon (CO2).
Two autos are making a trip of 600 miles. The first auto gets 20 miles per gallon, and the second
gets 30 miles per gallon. Approximately how much less carbon (CO2) will be produced by the
second auto on this trip? - ANS 50 lbs
All of these consequences result from excessive usage of cars as transportation EXCEPT -
ANS Increased sense of community due to personal independence.
On average, which transportation method is the most environmentally friendly? - ANS A
commuter train that runs on electricity.
What strategies are governments, manufacturers,and individuals currently using to reduce
household water use? - ANS I, II, and III
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
, The chart above compares the daily water use per person to the price of water in selected
countries. What conclusion can you correctly draw using only the data in the chart? -
ANS High water use is generally correlated with lower water prices.
Surface mining has all of these harmful effects EXCEPT - ANS Surface miners may develop
respiratory illnesses such as black lung disease
Which issue is NOT uniformly addressed in current US mining laws? - ANS Harmful effects on
air, land, and water are to be minimized
Which statement best describes why electronics waste (e-waste) is often shipped to other
countries for disposal or recycling? - ANS There are less stringent regulations on e-waste
disposal in other countries
The legislation that imposes a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries to generate funds
to pay for the cleanup of hazardous substances is the - ANS Superfund Act (CERCLA)
All of these standards are required to manage hazardous waste EXCEPT - ANS Compacting
and burying hazardous waste in designated landfills
Which advantages result from using incineration over a landfill to dispose of municipal solid
waste? - ANS I. Minimizing waste volume
III. Generating usable heat energy
Leachate contamination of groundwater is a serious problem associated with sanitary landfills.
How does leachate contamination happen? - ANS Rainfall through the landfill draws toxic
substances into the soil and groundwater.
Which economic disadvantage results from recycling? - ANS Most recycling processes require
expensive energy inputs
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
