Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) Topic 1 Foundations Practice Test

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• What term describes a place within a system where matter or energy is held, also called a sink?
• Which metric expresses human demand on Earth's ecosystems as the area of productive land and sea required to sustain consumption?
• Which economic system is aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources through reuse, sharing, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing and recycling?
• Which is an example of qualitative data in an ESS field study?
• Which term describes practices that support long-term economic growth without negatively impacting social, environmental, and cultural aspects of the community?
• The frozen parts of Earth's surface, including ice sheets, glaciers, and sea ice, are known as the what?
• Which measure refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions, expressed as CO2 equivalents, attributable to an individual, event, organization, or product?
• Which term is most closely associated with the total monetary value of a nation's production, used to compare development levels between more and less developed regions?
• Which two broad impacts of population growth and consumption patterns on ESS foundations are most accurate?
• Which pair of human activities are the primary drivers of increased atmospheric CO2?
• In a soil nitrification rate study, what is the purpose of including a substrate-free control?
• What best distinguishes weather from climate in ESS terms?
• What are the ecological consequences of nutrient loading (nitrogen, phosphorus) in freshwater systems?
• Which statements about carbon cycle sinks and sources are correct?
• What term describes a system that exchanges only energy with its surroundings, not matter?
• Which of the following is an example of a regional-scale environmental process?
• Why is it important to measure both energy flow and material cycles in environmental systems and societies, and how can they interact?
• Which concept proposes a self-regulating planet-wide system formed by interactions of life with its surroundings?
• What is a sustainable yield and how does it relate to renewable resource management?
• Which system aims to restore ecosystems and human well-being through sustainable practices?
• Which system directly targets equitable access to resources and aims to reduce wealth gaps?
• Which metric captures the total volume of freshwater used to produce the goods and services consumed by a person or organization?
• Which statement best describes an ecological footprint?
• Explain the concept of externalities in environmental science and give examples of positive and negative externalities.
• Which statement correctly defines net primary productivity (NPP) and its relation to gross primary productivity (GPP)?
• What term describes practices that support the long-term well-being of individuals and communities?
• If a region’s population and consumption exceed the Earth’s biocapacity, which outcome is most likely?
• Which sphere includes all of Earth's water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and groundwater?
• Which term refers to ideas or beliefs accepted as true without proof or evidence?
• The part of Earth where life exists, including all ecosystems and living organisms, is the what?
• Which consequence is directly linked to increased atmospheric CO2 from burning fossil fuels?
• Which is an example of a system with high resilience?
• Which term describes a formal agreement between countries to address global environmental issues?
• Which term describes a set of beliefs that guides how society relates to the environment, including ethical and ecological considerations?
• Which of the following is an open system?
• Which ecosystem service category includes nutrient cycling and biodiversity maintenance?
• In a model, what determines whether matter crosses the system boundary?
• Which term describes a viewpoint that emphasizes technological solutions to environmental problems?
• If NPP decreases while GPP remains constant, what happens to NPP?
• In energy pyramids, how are grazing efficiency and ecological (trophic) efficiency defined, and what are typical values?
• In a system diagram, what do stores, flows, and feedbacks represent?
• Which viewpoint places humans at the center of existence?
• Which term describes scientific research performed by nonprofessional scientists, often organized online by volunteers?
• Which of the following is a store in an environmental system diagram?
• Which example best represents an isolated system?
• Which term is a reason or set of reasons given to support an idea, action, or theory?
• What term describes a state where system inputs and outputs are balanced, keeping internal conditions constant?
• Which statement best distinguishes correlation from causation in environmental systems, and how can causation be tested?
• Describe a simple field experiment design to measure a soil nutrient cycle, such as nitrification rate, including controls.
• Which economic system works to restore and regenerate natural and human resources rather than deplete and destroy them?
• Which term refers to a social and political movement focused on protecting the natural world from harm caused by human activities?
• Which term describes development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs?
• Which term denotes the capacity of a system to endure and recover from disturbances while maintaining core functions?
• What approach helps infer causation when controlled experiments are not feasible?
• Which term refers to the layer of gases surrounding Earth?
• Which term describes the environment portion that humans modify or create for use?
• Which term refers to characteristics of a system that arise from the interactions of its parts but are not predictable from the properties of the individual parts?
• Which term identifies the solid components of Earth such as rocks, soil, and mountains?
• Which term describes the way an individual views and understands a situation based on their personal experiences and knowledge?
• What is buffering capacity and how does it influence ecosystem stability?
• All water on Earth's surface, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater, is part of which global sphere?
• Which framework envisions products being kept in use and materials recovered at end-of-life?
• Which term describes a scenario where the same external conditions allow a system to settle in more than one stable configuration?
• Why do open ecosystems export entropy, and what is the consequence for the system?
• Which term describes a person who takes action to promote environmental protection and awareness? Examples include Greta Thunberg, Al Gore, and Wangari Maathai.
• What is the term for the method of studying environmental interactions by considering all components and their relationships?
• Which of the following is NOT a major store in the terrestrial water cycle?
• Which term describes ideas or opinions held with confidence but not always based on factual evidence?
• Which term denotes knowledge gained through systematic observation, measurement, and experimentation?
• Which term describes a comprehensive philosophy or conception of the world and human life?
• What term describes the movement of matter or energy between components of a system?
• Why is distinguishing climate from weather important in ESS?
• In aquatic ecosystems, which factors most often govern productivity?
• How can pollution affect multiple cycles and ecosystem services? Provide a representative consequence.
• Which economic framework aims to minimize waste by reusing and recycling materials?
• In an energy budget diagram for a pond ecosystem, which terms describe the major input, outputs, stores, and flows?
• Which statement correctly describes gas-phase exchanges in cycles and the sedimentary nature of phosphorus?
• What is the typical energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels?
• Describe nutrient spiraling in streams and rivers and how it affects ecosystem productivity.
• What is the immediate product of nitrogen fixation described in ESS terms?
• Which process moves carbon from the atmosphere into living organisms?
• Which of the following is an example of negative feedback in climate regulation?
• Which term describes a catastrophic event causing significant damage to the natural environment, often due to human activity?
• Which statement best describes provisioning service examples in ecosystems?
• What is the term for the total monetary value of all goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period?
• Changes in the form or state of matter or energy within a system, such as evaporation and condensation, are called...
• What information does a system diagram convey about environmental systems, and what are its main limitations?
• What term describes principles or standards considered important or desirable by an individual or society?
• Which term describes an economic approach focused on closing resource loops so products and materials are kept in use?
• What term describes a simplified representation of a complex system used for prediction or understanding?
• Which term best describes a development that integrates environmental, social, and economic considerations?
• Which term is used to describe the everyday accepted behaviors within a culture?
• Which framework defines safe operating limits for human activities with respect to Earth's biophysical subsystems or processes?
• Which economic system prioritizes restoring and regenerating rather than depleting natural and human resources?
• Which term describes the ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs?
• Which framework sets safe operating boundaries for human activity in relation to planetary processes like climate, biodiversity, and biogeochemical cycles?
• Which term describes a viewpoint that places humans at the center of existence?
• Which economic system seeks to allocate wealth more fairly among people?
• Which term describes an overall formal agreement among nations to address environmental issues?
• Which term describes a research instrument for measuring what people think about issues?
• Which activities disrupt the nitrogen cycle?
• Which concept refers to scientific research conducted by amateur or nonprofessional scientists, often via crowdsourcing and distributed computing?
• What is a limitation of using models to study ESS systems?
• Which term denotes a place within a system where matter or energy is stored, often called a sink?
• What is a model in ESS?
• Which term describes a long-term, abrupt, and persistent change in the structure and function of a system?
• Which economic system is based on private enterprise and consumer choice and uses price signals to guide production?
• What does thermodynamics imply about energy in ecosystems?
• A system that exchanges both matter and energy with its surroundings is called what?
• In ESS terms, sustainability means meeting present needs without compromising future; balancing which three dimensions?
• Which statement correctly defines carrying capacity and biocapacity and their relation to sustainability?
• Which concept refers to characteristics that arise from interactions among parts and are not predictable from the parts in isolation?
• Which process counteracts a change by moving in the opposite direction, stabilizing the system?
• Which term describes energy, matter, or information entering a system from its surroundings?
• Which of the following best describes a biogeochemical cycle, and which cycles include gaseous phases?
• Which term describes a group of interacting parts or interdependent components forming a complex whole, including inputs, outputs, and storages?
• Which scenario illustrates a positive feedback loop in climate systems?
• What term refers to practices that ensure the long-term well-being of the natural world and its resources?
• Which statements best describe primary and secondary productivity and their limiting factors?
• Which term expresses the idea that living organisms interact with inorganic surroundings to form a self-regulating planetary system?
• What is one effect of deforestation on the water cycle and carbon cycle?
• Which metric describes the capacity of ecosystems to provide resources and absorb waste, the available biophysical productivity?
• Which measure adjusts economic growth by accounting for environmental costs of activities?
• Which of the following best identifies a store in an environmental system model?
• What is the primary goal of sustainable yield in renewable resource management?
• Which economic system focuses on restoring and regenerating resources and human capital over time?
• Which process amplifies a change and can lead to instability?
• Which method studies complex sets of interactions by considering all components and their relationships?
• In predator-prey dynamics, a rise in predators reduces prey numbers, which then reduces predator numbers, exemplifying which type of feedback?
• Which statement best describes ecosystem services and provides examples for provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services?
• Why is the phosphorus cycle considered slow and lacking a gaseous phase?
• Which description best characterizes a dynamic steady state in an environmental system?
• Which concept refers to different conditions under which a system can remain stable despite the same external conditions?
• In environmental systems terminology, which term refers to the part of Earth that supports life?
• Why does scale matter in environmental processes?
• Which term refers to the set of 17 global goals established by the United Nations to address social and environmental challenges?
• For a single ecological pool with inputs, outputs, and internal sources/sinks, what is the standard expression for the change in storage over time?
• What term denotes a threshold at which a small change can trigger a large, often irreversible shift?
• Which example represents negative feedback in ESS?
• Baseflow is the portion of streamflow sustained by groundwater; how does depletion affect rivers and land?
• How can groundwater depletion affect surface water systems and land stability?
• What is the commonly cited range for ecological (trophic) efficiency in energy transfer between adjacent trophic levels?
• Which economic model seeks to balance essential human needs with planetary boundaries?
• Which is an example of quantitative data in an ESS field study?
• Energy, matter or information entering a system from the external surroundings is called what?
• Which economic framework envisions meeting the needs of all people without exceeding the planet's ecological limits?
• Which statement correctly contrasts renewable and nonrenewable resources?
• Which concept describes a process whose response amplifies the initial change, potentially leading to dramatic climate effects?
• A system that exchanges only energy, not matter, with its surroundings is called what?
• Which feature makes the phosphorus cycle slower than carbon and nitrogen cycles?
• Which term describes a broad, all-encompassing view of life and the world?
• Which concept describes a system's ability to absorb disturbances and maintain its basic structure and function?
• Which economic system is primarily driven by private property and market decisions, often contrasted with resource regeneration and equity aims?
• Which term describes the capacity of ecosystems to produce biological materials used by people and to absorb waste?
• Which process describes changes in the form or state of matter or energy within a system, such as evaporation?
• What does entropy measure in environmental systems and how does it relate to energy quality?
• What is albedo, and how can land-use changes influence albedo and climate feedbacks?
• Movement of matter or energy from one location to another within a system without changing form is called what?
• Define biomagnification and discuss its relevance to ESS topics.
• What is a system boundary and why can changing it alter conclusions?
• Energy, matter or information leaving a system and entering the external surroundings is known as what?
• What statement best describes a system in environmental science and the role of boundaries in modeling?
• Which term refers to a framework of beliefs and principles that guide an individual's or society's relationship with nature, with examples like anthropocentric or ecocentric?
• Which term refers to a framework of beliefs guiding how humans relate to nature, including ecocentric and anthropocentric viewpoints?
• Which economic system aims to distribute wealth and resources more equitably among all members of society?
• Which term describes practices that support the long-term well-being of individuals and communities?
• Which concept is defined as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in the development and enforcement of environmental laws and policies?
• Which term describes the drastic reduction or loss of an ecosystem's defining features and functions?
• Which term describes a large, abrupt, and persistent shift in a system's structure and function?
• Which economic system promotes continual use of resources through strategies like sharing, repair, refurbishment and recycling?
• In the nitrogen cycle, which process converts organic nitrogen to inorganic ammonium?
• What is scale mismatch in environmental data, and what are its implications for interpreting results?
• Which term is a research tool used to gather information about people's opinions and priorities on specific issues?
• Which economic system emphasizes making wealth and resources more evenly available to everyone in society?
• Which term refers to a person who campaigns for environmental protection?
• Which term refers to accepted behaviors and expectations within a specific society or culture?
• Which viewpoint recognizes the intrinsic value of all living things, not just humans?
• Which statement best distinguishes energy flow from material cycles in ecosystems?
• Which set of 17 goals established by the United Nations aims to address various social and environmental challenges by 2030?
• What is a tipping point in an ecological system and what is a classic example?