ES Chapter 1 Questions
1. Draw a graph similar to the one in figure 1-1.
Instead of using human population use a
common object you have in your home.
Calculate how many of those things you would
have if you started with one and it doubled each
year you have been alive.
2. Explain how Environmental Science is more
inclusive and a more holistic approach to the
problems we face as a society (how could just
looking at the living things in a problem prevent
you from determining how to fix it?).
3. Define natural capital. What natural capital do
we have here in Murrieta that we can use to
support our needs? What natural capital do we
import that is not here?
4. In order for Murrieta to be an environmentally
sustainable society, what changes to our life
styles would have to be made? Think specifically
about the natural capital we import in question 3.
5. Knowing that 2.6 people are born every second
and that 53% of the world is living on less than 2
dollars a day is overwhelming. What makes us
different in Murrieta from those who live in
Calcutta India and are destined to life on less
than 2 dollars a day? Can steps be taken to lift
those living on less than 2 dollars a day out of
the extreme poverty they are in? What are some
ways to accomplish this?
6. Name two industries that you can think of that
are environmentally harmful that are in
developing countries. Are these industries
producing products that are only used in the
countries where they are produced? Are we
importing some of these products to be used here
in America? What should we do about this?
7. Describe in your own words the rule of 70.
8. Describe the difference between perpetual,
renewable, and nonrenewable resources. Name
two resources in each category.
9. Think about the resources you use to support you
and your life style. Make a table with three
columns and title each column with one of the
three types of resources. List as many resources
as you can that you use in each category. Include
food, clothes, fuel, entertainment, etc.
10. Give an example of the “tragedy of the
commons” that you have personally witnessed.
11. If you were to reduce your ecological
footprint by 39% what would your life look like
compared to the way it is currently? List 4 of
most obvious ways you could reduce your
ecological footprint. What would have to happen
for you to do this? Is cost a consideration?
12. What does economically depleted mean?
Give an example of something that you use daily
that could be economically depleted. How much
of a change in costs would need to happen for
you to use an alternative?
13. Compare and Contrast point source
pollution with non-point source pollution.
14. Why is pollution prevention so difficult to
implement? Why do we convince ourselves that
the danger is not as bad as “some claim”?
15. If one of the major problems is pollution,
what is something we can do to reduce, prevent
or recycle the pollution?
16. What are the four factors that cause
premature death? The last sentence states that we
can fix these problems if we have the political
and ethical will. This hints at our national
governments role. Is there something you can
do?
17. Define Afluenza and what you can do in
your own life to work against it.
18. What leads people to clean up their
immediate environment while degrading the
environment in distant locales?
19. Is it a fair comparison to look at the resource
use of an American verse a poor person in a
developing country? What significant differences
are there in health, nutrition, life expectancy, and
education?
20. Look at the different eras of US
environmental history. Can you predict what era
countries like India and China are in?
21.
What is a free natural service?
22. List your own reasons for protecting the
environment
23. What area of the four basic components are
you following best? Worst? Why?
24. Why was Chattanooga, Tennessee featured
in the book?
25. Give some details about Chattanooga’s
progress.