,TESTBANK FOR Essential Environment The Science
Behind the Stories, 7th edition Withgott
Notes
1- The file is chapter after chapter.
2- We have shown you few pages sample.
3- The file contains all Appendix and Excel sheet
if it exists.
4- We have all what you need, we make update
at every time. There are many new editions
waiting you.
5- If you think you purchased the wrong file You
can contact us at every time, we can replace it
with true one.
Our email:
,Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta)
Chapter 1 Science and Sustainability: An Introduction to Environmental Science
1.1 Multiple Choice Questions
Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
1) How many citizens of Mexico does it take to equal the ecological footprint of the average
citizen of the United States?
A) They are essentially equal.
B) It takes just over two Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S.
citizen.
C) It takes just over three Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S.
citizen.
D) It takes just over eight Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S.
citizen.
E) It takes about 12 Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S.
citizen.
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
1
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
,2) If everyone on the planet had an ecological footprint the size of the average citizen of the
United States, then ________.
A) we would have 50% more food to go around
B) we would be able to provide for everyone without much difficulty by using the 50% of the
land currently not being used for agriculture
C) we would need at least two more planet Earths to feed and support everyone
D) we could support 50% more people on our planet
E) about 50% of the people would starve
Answer: C
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
3) The U.S. average footprint is about ________ times larger than the average world footprint.
A) 2
B) 2.5
C) 3
D) 5
E) 6.7
Answer: C
Diff: 3
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
4) The average footprint per person has increased from 2.2 to 2.6 since 2008, and the footprints
of many developing nations, such as India and China, have also increased. This means that
________.
A) our collective lifestyle is even more unsustainable than before
B) our collective lifestyle is slightly more sustainable than before
C) the ability of the planet to sustain human beings has increased
D) some nations no longer have a measurable footprint
E) the populations of both India and China have decreased since 2008
Answer: A
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
2
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
,5) Geothermal energy, wind, and solar radiation are all examples of ________.
A) nonrenewable natural resources
B) inexhaustible renewable natural resources
C) biotic environmental factors
D) exhaustible renewable natural resources
E) biodegradable materials
Answer: B
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.2
6) Nonrenewable natural resources include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) coal.
B) crude oil.
C) minerals.
D) wind.
E) natural gas.
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.2
7) Ecosystem services ________.
A) contribute to keeping ecosystems productive
B) are not necessary to sustainable systems
C) are economically valuable services provided by natural systems
D) are valuable to natural systems but not to human-created systems
E) are required to rebalance natural systems that we have disturbed
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.2
8) Today (2024), there are about ________.
A) 5.35 billion people on Earth, the same as for the past 6 years
B) 9 billion people on Earth
C) 10 billion people on Earth
D) 8 billion people on Earth
E) 2% fewer people on Earth than in 2010
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.3
3
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
,9) Global population is projected to be nearly ________ in 2050.
A) 7 billion
B) 8 billion
C) 9 billion
D) 10 billion
E) 11 billion
Answer: D
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.3
10) To determine your specific impacts on the environment, you can ________.
A) measure local air pollution and its impacts on your health
B) calculate the biodiversity of your local community
C) determine your current water pollution impact
D) calculate your ecological footprint
E) measure the volume and type of all the wastes you contribute to the municipal waste stream
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.4
11) By studying ancient civilizations, such as the Greek and Roman empires and the Angkor
civilization of Southeast Asia, historians have concluded that these civilizations declined partly
because of ________.
A) sustainable practices
B) overabundance of resources
C) floods
D) environmental degradation due to unsustainable use of resources
E) fires
Answer: D
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.3
12) Solutions to environmental problems ________.
A) can be implemented only by scientists
B) must be designed with sustainable goals
C) must be on a local scale
D) must be short term
E) are best designed and discussed in the political arena
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.10a
4
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
,13) Imagine a scenario where a small island nation, heavily reliant on tourism for its economy,
faces a dilemma. The government wants to promote economic growth by attracting more
tourists, but environmentalists argue that increased tourism will exacerbate resource
consumption and ecological degradation. The government must balance economic development
with environmental sustainability. In the given situation, which concept could the government
use to evaluate the environmental impact of increasing tourism?
A) ecological footprint
B) greenhouse gas emissions
C) biodiversity index
D) energy efficiency rating
E) water consumption per capita
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.9
14) What does the term "overshoot" refer to in the context of resource consumption?
A) reducing waste through recycling initiatives
B) achieving sustainable resource management practices
C) balancing economic growth with environmental conservation
D) using renewable resources faster than they are replenished
E) promoting green technologies for energy production
Answer: D
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.9
15) How do the ecological footprints of residents from industrialized nations compare to those
from industrializing nations?
A) Residents of industrialized nations have smaller ecological footprints.
B) Residents of industrialized nations have larger ecological footprints.
C) Ecological footprints are similar across both types of nations.
D) Residents of industrialized nations have no ecological footprints.
E) Residents of industrialized nations have more sustainable lifestyles.
Answer: B
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.9
5
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
,16) Which of the following best describes the practice of environmental science?
A) highly specialized and focused
B) integrative and interdisciplinary
C) abstract and theoretical
D) theoretical and controversial
E) elitist and unnecessary
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.2 The Nature of Environmental Science
Learning Outcome: 1.1
17) Academic environmental programs that emphasize the social sciences are often called
________ programs.
A) resource studies
B) ecological science
C) environmental science
D) environmental studies
E) wildlife management
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.2 The Nature of Environmental Science
Learning Outcome: 1.1
18) Scientific inquiry is based on ________.
A) an expanding knowledge based on observation, questioning, testing and discovery
B) facts that can be proven true without experimental manipulation
C) the production of technological advances
D) designing experiments that have never been done before
E) making huge leaps of knowledge with scientific insights
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
19) The scientific process and scientific knowledge are based on ________.
A) observation alone
B) a systematic process of learning about and testing our understanding of the world
C) the fact that all hypotheses can be proven true
D) quantitative data alone
E) guesses based on personal feelings about the subject under inquiry
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
6
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
,20) Sachiko and Fred are having a discussion about the scientific method. Sachiko makes the
comment that every time she sees people carrying open umbrellas, she also sees several minor
car accidents. This is a(n) ________.
A) hypothesis
B) theory about umbrellas
C) theory about car accidents
D) scientific study
E) observation
Answer: E
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
21) A hypothesis is ________.
A) a prediction about something that has not yet been observed
B) a testable proposition that explains an observed phenomenon or answers a question
C) an instrument that is used to examine environmental conditions
D) the design of an experiment that can be used in scientific inquiry
E) a proven scientific fact
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
22) An experiment ________.
A) is an activity designed to test the validity of a hypothesis
B) often involves manipulating as many variables as possible
C) does not need to be repeated if well designed
D) involves only collection of quantitative data
E) is designed to generate new scientific hypothesis
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
23) A pharmaceutical company wishes to study a possible new headache medicine. They are
doing human trials with 1000 volunteers and need to ________.
A) have 10 volunteers in the control group
B) put all women in the control group and all men in the experimental group
C) divide the groups by level of health
D) give both control and experimental groups the same amount of the new medication
E) randomly assign each person to either the treatment group or control group
Answer: E
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
7
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
, 24) In a controlled experiment, ________.
A) the researcher has several hypotheses, one of which will be proven correct
B) the researcher knows the outcome before beginning the experiment
C) the researcher controls for the effects of all variables except one
D) the experimental organisms have all been used before and given good results
E) you need only a single experimental organism, which is tested again and again
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
25) Quantitative data ________.
A) are data that are expressed as numbers and can be tested using statistics
B) fall into categories, such as male/female, school of attendance, what dorm you live in,
whether you have pets, etc.
C) have variables that may not have been properly manipulated
D) cannot be used to support or disprove hypotheses
E) cannot be replicated
Answer: A
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
26) In a manipulative experiment, ________.
A) researchers manipulate the independent variable
B) researchers manipulate as many variables as possible
C) replication of the experiment is not necessary
D) researchers manipulate the dependent variable
E) the peer review process is bypassed
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
8
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
Behind the Stories, 7th edition Withgott
Notes
1- The file is chapter after chapter.
2- We have shown you few pages sample.
3- The file contains all Appendix and Excel sheet
if it exists.
4- We have all what you need, we make update
at every time. There are many new editions
waiting you.
5- If you think you purchased the wrong file You
can contact us at every time, we can replace it
with true one.
Our email:
,Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e (Withgott/Laposta)
Chapter 1 Science and Sustainability: An Introduction to Environmental Science
1.1 Multiple Choice Questions
Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
1) How many citizens of Mexico does it take to equal the ecological footprint of the average
citizen of the United States?
A) They are essentially equal.
B) It takes just over two Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S.
citizen.
C) It takes just over three Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S.
citizen.
D) It takes just over eight Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S.
citizen.
E) It takes about 12 Mexican citizens to equal the ecological footprint of the average U.S.
citizen.
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
1
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
,2) If everyone on the planet had an ecological footprint the size of the average citizen of the
United States, then ________.
A) we would have 50% more food to go around
B) we would be able to provide for everyone without much difficulty by using the 50% of the
land currently not being used for agriculture
C) we would need at least two more planet Earths to feed and support everyone
D) we could support 50% more people on our planet
E) about 50% of the people would starve
Answer: C
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
3) The U.S. average footprint is about ________ times larger than the average world footprint.
A) 2
B) 2.5
C) 3
D) 5
E) 6.7
Answer: C
Diff: 3
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
4) The average footprint per person has increased from 2.2 to 2.6 since 2008, and the footprints
of many developing nations, such as India and China, have also increased. This means that
________.
A) our collective lifestyle is even more unsustainable than before
B) our collective lifestyle is slightly more sustainable than before
C) the ability of the planet to sustain human beings has increased
D) some nations no longer have a measurable footprint
E) the populations of both India and China have decreased since 2008
Answer: A
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.5 Sustainability And Our Future
Learning Outcome: 1.4
2
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
,5) Geothermal energy, wind, and solar radiation are all examples of ________.
A) nonrenewable natural resources
B) inexhaustible renewable natural resources
C) biotic environmental factors
D) exhaustible renewable natural resources
E) biodegradable materials
Answer: B
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.2
6) Nonrenewable natural resources include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) coal.
B) crude oil.
C) minerals.
D) wind.
E) natural gas.
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.2
7) Ecosystem services ________.
A) contribute to keeping ecosystems productive
B) are not necessary to sustainable systems
C) are economically valuable services provided by natural systems
D) are valuable to natural systems but not to human-created systems
E) are required to rebalance natural systems that we have disturbed
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.2
8) Today (2024), there are about ________.
A) 5.35 billion people on Earth, the same as for the past 6 years
B) 9 billion people on Earth
C) 10 billion people on Earth
D) 8 billion people on Earth
E) 2% fewer people on Earth than in 2010
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.3
3
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
,9) Global population is projected to be nearly ________ in 2050.
A) 7 billion
B) 8 billion
C) 9 billion
D) 10 billion
E) 11 billion
Answer: D
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.3
10) To determine your specific impacts on the environment, you can ________.
A) measure local air pollution and its impacts on your health
B) calculate the biodiversity of your local community
C) determine your current water pollution impact
D) calculate your ecological footprint
E) measure the volume and type of all the wastes you contribute to the municipal waste stream
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.4
11) By studying ancient civilizations, such as the Greek and Roman empires and the Angkor
civilization of Southeast Asia, historians have concluded that these civilizations declined partly
because of ________.
A) sustainable practices
B) overabundance of resources
C) floods
D) environmental degradation due to unsustainable use of resources
E) fires
Answer: D
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.3
12) Solutions to environmental problems ________.
A) can be implemented only by scientists
B) must be designed with sustainable goals
C) must be on a local scale
D) must be short term
E) are best designed and discussed in the political arena
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.10a
4
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
,13) Imagine a scenario where a small island nation, heavily reliant on tourism for its economy,
faces a dilemma. The government wants to promote economic growth by attracting more
tourists, but environmentalists argue that increased tourism will exacerbate resource
consumption and ecological degradation. The government must balance economic development
with environmental sustainability. In the given situation, which concept could the government
use to evaluate the environmental impact of increasing tourism?
A) ecological footprint
B) greenhouse gas emissions
C) biodiversity index
D) energy efficiency rating
E) water consumption per capita
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.9
14) What does the term "overshoot" refer to in the context of resource consumption?
A) reducing waste through recycling initiatives
B) achieving sustainable resource management practices
C) balancing economic growth with environmental conservation
D) using renewable resources faster than they are replenished
E) promoting green technologies for energy production
Answer: D
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.9
15) How do the ecological footprints of residents from industrialized nations compare to those
from industrializing nations?
A) Residents of industrialized nations have smaller ecological footprints.
B) Residents of industrialized nations have larger ecological footprints.
C) Ecological footprints are similar across both types of nations.
D) Residents of industrialized nations have no ecological footprints.
E) Residents of industrialized nations have more sustainable lifestyles.
Answer: B
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.1 Our Island, Earth
Learning Outcome: 1.9
5
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
,16) Which of the following best describes the practice of environmental science?
A) highly specialized and focused
B) integrative and interdisciplinary
C) abstract and theoretical
D) theoretical and controversial
E) elitist and unnecessary
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.2 The Nature of Environmental Science
Learning Outcome: 1.1
17) Academic environmental programs that emphasize the social sciences are often called
________ programs.
A) resource studies
B) ecological science
C) environmental science
D) environmental studies
E) wildlife management
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.2 The Nature of Environmental Science
Learning Outcome: 1.1
18) Scientific inquiry is based on ________.
A) an expanding knowledge based on observation, questioning, testing and discovery
B) facts that can be proven true without experimental manipulation
C) the production of technological advances
D) designing experiments that have never been done before
E) making huge leaps of knowledge with scientific insights
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
19) The scientific process and scientific knowledge are based on ________.
A) observation alone
B) a systematic process of learning about and testing our understanding of the world
C) the fact that all hypotheses can be proven true
D) quantitative data alone
E) guesses based on personal feelings about the subject under inquiry
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
6
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
,20) Sachiko and Fred are having a discussion about the scientific method. Sachiko makes the
comment that every time she sees people carrying open umbrellas, she also sees several minor
car accidents. This is a(n) ________.
A) hypothesis
B) theory about umbrellas
C) theory about car accidents
D) scientific study
E) observation
Answer: E
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
21) A hypothesis is ________.
A) a prediction about something that has not yet been observed
B) a testable proposition that explains an observed phenomenon or answers a question
C) an instrument that is used to examine environmental conditions
D) the design of an experiment that can be used in scientific inquiry
E) a proven scientific fact
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
22) An experiment ________.
A) is an activity designed to test the validity of a hypothesis
B) often involves manipulating as many variables as possible
C) does not need to be repeated if well designed
D) involves only collection of quantitative data
E) is designed to generate new scientific hypothesis
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
23) A pharmaceutical company wishes to study a possible new headache medicine. They are
doing human trials with 1000 volunteers and need to ________.
A) have 10 volunteers in the control group
B) put all women in the control group and all men in the experimental group
C) divide the groups by level of health
D) give both control and experimental groups the same amount of the new medication
E) randomly assign each person to either the treatment group or control group
Answer: E
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
7
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
, 24) In a controlled experiment, ________.
A) the researcher has several hypotheses, one of which will be proven correct
B) the researcher knows the outcome before beginning the experiment
C) the researcher controls for the effects of all variables except one
D) the experimental organisms have all been used before and given good results
E) you need only a single experimental organism, which is tested again and again
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
25) Quantitative data ________.
A) are data that are expressed as numbers and can be tested using statistics
B) fall into categories, such as male/female, school of attendance, what dorm you live in,
whether you have pets, etc.
C) have variables that may not have been properly manipulated
D) cannot be used to support or disprove hypotheses
E) cannot be replicated
Answer: A
Diff: 2
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
26) In a manipulative experiment, ________.
A) researchers manipulate the independent variable
B) researchers manipulate as many variables as possible
C) replication of the experiment is not necessary
D) researchers manipulate the dependent variable
E) the peer review process is bypassed
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Topic/Section: 1.3 The Nature of Science
Learning Outcome: 1.5
8
Copyright © 2025 Pearson Education, Inc.
