Environmental science test practice

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environment

Everything around us, including living and nonliving parts and

their interactions.

environmental science

Interdisciplinary study of interactions between the natural world

and humans. It draws from biology, chemistry, geology,

economics, politics, ethics, and more.

environmentalism

A movement that promotes action and policy to protect the

environment from harmful human impacts. It is not the same as

scientific evidence.

system

An interconnected whole. Changing one part can affect other

parts. Examples include a food web and the water cycle.

positive feedback

Amplifies a change, making its effect larger or stronger.

negative feedback

Counteracts a change and helps restore balance or stability.

geosphere

rocks, soil, minerals, crust, mantle, and core

Hydrosphere

saltwater, freshwater, groundwater, water vapor, and ice

Atmosphere

gases, mostly nitrogen and oxygen; also greenhouse gases and

ozone

Biosphere

all living organisms and the environments where they live

Natural resource

A material from nature that people use or need, such as water,

soil, sunlight, coal, trees, and clean air.

Renewable

Replenishes relatively quickly: sunlight, wind, waves, plants,

water, and animals.

Nonrenewable

Forms so slowly that it does not replenish on a human time scale:

coal, oil, and natural gas.

Sustainability

Using shared resources responsibly so they remain available in

the future.

Population growth

Human population reached about 1 billion in 1804 and is now

more than 8 billion.

Agricultural Revolution

About 10,000 years ago, farming and domestication increased

food supply and helped support larger populations.

Industrial Revolution

Beginning in the 1700s and 1800s, urbanization and fossil-fuel use

accelerated resource consumption and environmental impacts.

Ecological footprint

Measures resources used and waste produced by an individual or

population. Human impacts can be reduced.

Anthropocentric

humans and human well-being have the highest value

biocentric

humans and human well-being have the highest value

Biocentric

all living things have value

Ecocentric

whole ecosystems, both living and nonliving, have value

Economics

study of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and resources

Supply + demand

availability and use influence price

Ecosystem services

benefits from nature, including use, educational, and aesthetic

value

Environmental professionals

manage resources, reduce impacts, and protect environmental

health

Decision lenses

science, ethics, economics, and effects on communities

Government

creates rules, limits pollutants, and may punish violations

Businesses

can reduce pollution and adopt environmentally friendly practices

NGOs

advocate for policy change, such as Greenpeace or Conservation

International

United Nations

193 member states discuss global issues; action may be global,

national, state/local, or community-based