EVB Exam 1 study guide questions and
answers with solutions
List contributions that natural sciences vs. social sciences vs. humanities might make to
environmental science - ANSWER Natural Sciences ( ecology, geology, chemistry & engineering)
~ unlock mystery of natural world and understand look at the relationship and impact between
humans and the world
Social sciences ( anthro., psychology and economics)
Humanities ( art, literature and music) ~ both a & c are to understand the ways humans interact,
impacted and/ or impacted by the ecosystems around them.
Explain why environmental science/biology is an important field of study - ANSWER It helps us
understand the natural world and our relationship with it through systematic observation and
experimentation (empirical ) .
List the three root causes that underlie most environmental problems - ANSWER 1)Pollution
2)resources are not always used in the most efficient ways causing over use and consumption
3) Excessive population growth.
If given an environmental resource-use scenario, identify the stakeholders and tradeoffs
involved with alternative decisions - ANSWER Stakeholder ~ different groups of people are
affected by the issue therefore they will prefer different solutions.
, Tradeoffs ~ no single response is likely to present an ultimate solution, and each potential
solution6 may create new problems.
Look at in class water wars activity
Differentiate anthropocentric, ecocentric, and biocentric worldviews - ANSWER Anthropocentric
~ humans lives and interest are most important, other species only valued for human benefit
Biocentric ~ values all, every organism has the right to exist regardless of benefit ( or harm) to
humans. Every organism has intrinsic value
Ecocentric ~ values the ecosystem as a whole. All of the ecosystems organisms and nonliving
processes that occur within the ecosystem. Ex: an earthworm is more important than a bird
because the worm adds more to the environment.
Recall the major stakeholders and key issues involved with the "ACF Water Wars" - ANSWER The
stakeholders in this situation are: the oysters, endangered species, boaters and businesses.
The ACF basin runs through several different states, the issue was trying to decide how the
states could determine how much water each of them could use.
Winners in this situation if the water flow is increased through the dams: power plants- more
water is going through the dams, oysters- due to more water flow, and farmers win.
Losers in this situation if they increase water flow through the dams: home owners on the lake-
due to the water levels being lower, boaters that do anything on the lake, and recreational
activities.
Discriminate questions that can from questions that cannot be answered by scientific
investigation - ANSWER look at study guide
answers with solutions
List contributions that natural sciences vs. social sciences vs. humanities might make to
environmental science - ANSWER Natural Sciences ( ecology, geology, chemistry & engineering)
~ unlock mystery of natural world and understand look at the relationship and impact between
humans and the world
Social sciences ( anthro., psychology and economics)
Humanities ( art, literature and music) ~ both a & c are to understand the ways humans interact,
impacted and/ or impacted by the ecosystems around them.
Explain why environmental science/biology is an important field of study - ANSWER It helps us
understand the natural world and our relationship with it through systematic observation and
experimentation (empirical ) .
List the three root causes that underlie most environmental problems - ANSWER 1)Pollution
2)resources are not always used in the most efficient ways causing over use and consumption
3) Excessive population growth.
If given an environmental resource-use scenario, identify the stakeholders and tradeoffs
involved with alternative decisions - ANSWER Stakeholder ~ different groups of people are
affected by the issue therefore they will prefer different solutions.
, Tradeoffs ~ no single response is likely to present an ultimate solution, and each potential
solution6 may create new problems.
Look at in class water wars activity
Differentiate anthropocentric, ecocentric, and biocentric worldviews - ANSWER Anthropocentric
~ humans lives and interest are most important, other species only valued for human benefit
Biocentric ~ values all, every organism has the right to exist regardless of benefit ( or harm) to
humans. Every organism has intrinsic value
Ecocentric ~ values the ecosystem as a whole. All of the ecosystems organisms and nonliving
processes that occur within the ecosystem. Ex: an earthworm is more important than a bird
because the worm adds more to the environment.
Recall the major stakeholders and key issues involved with the "ACF Water Wars" - ANSWER The
stakeholders in this situation are: the oysters, endangered species, boaters and businesses.
The ACF basin runs through several different states, the issue was trying to decide how the
states could determine how much water each of them could use.
Winners in this situation if the water flow is increased through the dams: power plants- more
water is going through the dams, oysters- due to more water flow, and farmers win.
Losers in this situation if they increase water flow through the dams: home owners on the lake-
due to the water levels being lower, boaters that do anything on the lake, and recreational
activities.
Discriminate questions that can from questions that cannot be answered by scientific
investigation - ANSWER look at study guide
