Study Questions for Bio 101
Human Impact and Global Concerns
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Name and describe four different kinds of air pollution.
Explain the greenhouse effect, what causes it, and how it is altering the biosphere.
Why is ozone destruction a problem, and what causes this destruction?
Describe why land is deforested and explain the environmental problems that result.
Define “desertification”, what causes it, and why this is an environmental problem.
Describe the present situation with landfills and the handling of garbage, and
problems resulting from landfills.
7. Describe environmental problems that have resulted from evaporation of water from
agricultural land.
8. Describe how the use of long-lived chemicals and metals causes environmental
problems.
9. Explain how and why sewage is treated before being released into the environment.
10. Name the principles sources of energy used in the world today and the future outlook
for these resources.
11. Describe some alternate energy resources and the feasibility of these resources.
12. Describe how biodiversity is decreasing in the biosphere and name some factors that
are contributing to this.
13. Name some problems that result from biodiversity loss.
14. Define the term “aesthetic resource” and its importance to you as an individual.
Argue whether such a resource is worth protecting or not.
15. List at least 5-6 specific, tangible ways in which you can reduce your impact on the
biosphere as an individual.
16. Explain the meaning of “eating lower on the food chain”.
17. Explain the meaning of “sustainable practices”.
18. Explain the importance of the ordering of words in the phrase “reduce, reuse,
recycle”.
19. Describe the aspects of the natural world that are most important to you.
20. Name and describe the problems or inhibitions you personally have in changing to a
lower impact lifestyle.
21. Name one way in which you might alter your lifestyle as a result of taking this class.