Chapter 4
Nature, Human action and the
Environment
04.01 The interaction between the Old World
and the New World, originating with the voyages
of Columbus, is known as:
1. deep ecology
2. Columbian Exchange
3. virgin soil epidemics
4. Paleolithic period
5. transcendentalism
04.01 The interaction between the Old World and the
New World, originating with the voyages of Columbus, is
known as:
1. deep ecology
2. Columbian Exchange
3. virgin soil epidemics
4. Paleolithic period
5. transcendentalism
Explanation: Beginning with the voyages of Columbus,
plants, animals, and diseases from the Old World began
entering the New World, and vice-versa.
04.02 In which of these regions would you find
the greatest number of nuclear power plants?
1. Europe
2. Russia
3. China
4. South Asia
5. Australia
04.02 In which of these regions would you find the
greatest number of nuclear power plants?
1. Europe
2. Russia
3. China
4. South Asia
5. Australia
04.03 In which of these regions is the
dependence on wood, dung, and charcoal fuels
greatest?
1. South America
2. Russia
3. China
4. Africa
5. Australia
04.03 In which of these regions is the dependence on
wood, dung, and charcoal fuels greatest?
1. South America
2. Russia
3. China
4. Africa
5. Australia
04.04 One of the best examples of the Western
incorporation of Native American conceptions of
nature into ecological approaches in nineteenth
century America was the book Walden written
by:
1. Carl Sauer
2. Rachel Carson
3. Henry David Thoreau
4. Gifford Pinchot
5. Theodore Roosevelt
04.04 One of the best examples of the Western
incorporation of Native American conceptions of nature
into ecological approaches in nineteenth century
America was the book Walden written by:
1. Carl Sauer
2. Rachel Carson
3. Henry David Thoreau
4. Gifford Pinchot
5. Theodore Roosevelt
Explanation: Thoreau’s Walden, based on a two-year
residence in a cabin near Concord, Massachusetts, was
a significant alternative to the “man-over-nature”
philosophy of his time.
04.05 The degradation of land cover and
damage to the soil and water in grasslands and
arid and semi-arid lands is known as:
1. virgin soil epidemic
2. demographic collapse
3. deforestation
4. desertification
5. siltation
04.05 The degradation of land cover and
damage to the soil and water in grasslands and
arid and semi-arid lands is known as:
1. virgin soil epidemic
2. demographic collapse
3. deforestation
4. desertification
5. siltation
Explanation: Grasslands and arid and semi-arid
lands can become more desert-like and
ecologically unproductive when they are
degraded.
04.06 Which of these regions is currently facing
problems of acid deposition?
1. eastern North America
2. North Africa
3. Siberia
4. Australia
5. southern South America
04.06 Which of these regions is currently facing
problems of acid deposition?
1. eastern North America
2. North Africa
3. Siberia
4. Australia
5. southern South America
04.07 The introduction of exotic plants and
animals into new ecosystems is known as:
1. demographic collapse
2. ecological imperialism
3. siltation
4. virgin soil epidemic
5. deep ecology
04.07 The introduction of exotic plants and
animals into new ecosystems is known as:
1. demographic collapse
2. ecological imperialism
3. siltation
4. virgin soil epidemic
5. deep ecology
Explanation: The introduction of new species
often overwhelms the new environment, leading
to a decline in the less-hardy indigenous
species.
04.08 Archeological evidence suggests that the
first humans originated on the continent of:
1. North America
2. South America
3. Africa
4. Asia
5. Australia
04.08 Archeological evidence suggests that the first humans
originated on the continent of:
1. North America
2. South America
3. Africa
4. Asia
5. Australia
Explanation: The first humans are thought to have originated in the
grasslands of East Africa.
04.09 Today, the largest proportion (35%) of the
world’s energy consumption comes from what
kind of fuel?
1. coal
2. oil
3. hydropower
4. nuclear power
5. biomass
04.09 Today, the largest proportion (35%) of the
world’s energy consumption comes from what
kind of fuel?
1. coal
2. oil
3. hydropower
4. nuclear power
5. biomass
Explanation: Today oil is the single most
significant source of energy, mostly consumed in
the developed world.
04.10 Which of these countries has refused to
sign the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, an international
agreement designed to reduce global emissions
of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases?
1. China
2. Russia
3. France
4. South Africa
5. United States
04.10 Which of these countries has refused to sign the
1997 Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement
designed to reduce global emissions of carbon dioxide
and other greenhouse gases?
1. China
2. Russia
3. France
4. South Africa
5. United States
Explanation: Under President George W. Bush, the
United States has refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol
because of a fear that the agreement would harm
American businesses.
04.11 Which of these countries has the highest
per capita emissions of carbon dioxide gas?
1. China
2. Russia
3. France
4. South Africa
5. United States
04.11 Which of these countries has the highest per
capita emissions of carbon dioxide gas?
1. China
2. Russia
3. France
4. South Africa
5. United States
04.12 Which of these items is not indigenous to
the Americas?
1. tobacco
2. corn
3. wheat
4. tomatoes
5. potatoes
04.12 Which of these items is not indigenous to
the Americas?
1. tobacco
2. corn
3. wheat
4. tomatoes
5. potatoes
Explanation: Wheat was introduced to the
Americas by Europeans, after the Columbian
voyages. The other items are all indigenous to
the Americas, and were unknown in Europe prior
to the Columbian voyages.