Science test
Part A: Environmentalists & Philosophies
- Write a short description describing each of the environmentalists in the chart below. Include what they were most known for.
| Environmentalist | Description |
|---|---|
| Aldo Leopold | Focused on Land Ethic and respecting the natural ecosystems. He didn’t always feel this way, it took seeing the “green fire” die in a wolf’s eyes to change his perspective. |
| Garret Hardin | Introduced the idea of “The Tragedy of the Commons”. Stated that unlimited access to a shared resource will lead to the quick destruction of that resource. Everyone loses in the end. |
| John Muir | Focused on preservation. Especially in Yosemite National Park. He spent his entire life promoting the preservation of land all over the world. |
| Gifford Pinchot | Focused on conservation! Thought that people could use resources if they needed them but it should be done in a way that will keep resources from depleting completely and save them for the future generations. |
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- Describe the difference between conservation and preservation. Be specific!
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Conservation: using resources in a way that doesn’t ruin them entirely and allows for future generations to use them.
Preservation: Leaving natural resources alone. No human activity allowed.
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- Match the person with the phrase or word that best relates to them.
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___B___ Muir a. Conservation
___C___ Leopold b. Preservation
___A___ Pinchot c. Land ethic and “The Green Fire”
___D___ Hardin d. Tragedy of the commons
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Part B: History of Environmentalism & Environmental Issues
- Describe how hunter-gatherers had an effect on the environment.
They over hunted animals by gathering them into pits to kill hundreds at once. They cut down forests to allow for easier views while hunting.
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- Describe the agricultural revolution. Why did this way of life allow for the population to grow?
Time period when humans were able to settle down and grow/raise their own food. This produced much more food than having to hunt/gather food so the population grew a lot!
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- Describe the industrial revolution. How did this era have an effect on the environment?
Shift from using animals/water as energy sources to using fossil fuels. Many new inventions were discovered that made life even easier. Examples: Steam engines, factories, etc.
This time period had the biggest impact on the environment. There were no regulations in place during the beginning of this time period so air pollution became a problem.
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- What are some ways that the environment is affected in the modern world?
Through human actions such as deforestation, pollution, use of non-natural resources like plastic, etc.
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- Describe an ecological footprint. What does this calculation tell us?
The impact of a person/community on the environment, expressed as the amount of land needed to accommodate their natural resource use.
- How is a carbon footprint different from an ecological footprint?
A carbon footprint calculates the impact of your activities on the amount of carbon dioxide produced through the burning of fossil fuels.
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Part C: Environmental Values
- Match the following values with their descriptions.
___i____ Aesthetic a. Understanding the natural world.
___e____ Ethical/Moral b. The maintenance of human health.
___h____ Economic c. Human leisure activities.
___d____ Environmental d. The protection of natural resources.
___f____ Educational e. What is right vs. what is wrong.
___b____ Health f. The accumulation and sharing of knowledge.
___c____ Recreational g. Maintenance of human communities/values/traditions.
___g____ Social/Cultural h. The gain or loss of money or jobs.
___a____ Scientific i. What is beautiful or pleasing.
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Part D: Environmental Decision Making
- Why do you have to use the decision making model when making decisions about the environment?
Environmental decisions are TOUGH!!!! You have to think about all angles and consider all consequences before a decision is made.
- List the steps of the environmental decision making model.
1. ____Gather Information_______
2. ____Consider Values_________
3. ____Explore Consequences___
4. ____Make a decision________
- Describe why it is important to consider all of the values (short and long term) before making a decision.
This will allow for people to fully consider all of the consequences of a decision. It takes into account what will happen immediately after the decision is made, as well as, what will happen in 10-20 years from when the decision is made. This type of thinking allows for someone to gather all of the information they need before making an important decision and can help to ensure that the best decision is made for all stakeholders involved.