The World Without Us
Summer Reading Guide:
How to use this Guide: A Summer Reading can be very daunting and challenging for anyone not used to
reading large quantities of information over a summer period. Also, as a Science Summer Reading, you
are not trying to read the book for literary analysis, but instead you are looking for scientific information
and data. Below, each Chapter of the book has been broken down and questions have been formed.
You need to be able to answer the questions before you enter the AP Environmental Science Classroom.
There is no written assignment that is due when you come back to school from the summer (though it
would be helpful for you to write down the answers to the questions), but there will be a test over the
information in this packet and from the book.
Prelude:
The Monkey Koan
1. Who are the Zapara?
2. Explain how the mass production of the automobile changed the lives of the Zaparan Men
and Women in the Amazon Rainforest.
3. What is UNESCO? (Look this up on the internet)
4. What is the overlying theme or question that the book asks?
Chapter 1:
A Lingering Scent of Eden
1. What does the term Puszcza mean?
2. Describe the aspects of an Old-Growth Forest Found in this chapter.
Chapter 2:
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6.
Chapter 3:
Unbuilding our Home
By the end of this chapter, be able to explain the opening quote by Architect Chris Riddle.
Explain how water will destroy your house.
How many years can your house last without humans occupying them?
What happens to pools when humans disappear?
What, according to the book, will still be “relatively unchanged” over time?
Explain how different climates can affect the destruction of our homes?
The City without Us
1. What is the Manhatta Project?
2. According to the book, what is the most vulnerable spot of a major city like Manhattan and
why?
3. How much water must be pumped away from the subway systems in New York?
4. According to Peter Briffa, how long would it take for the subway systems to fill with water?
5. Describe what the Chinese ailanthus tree will do to the streets of New Tork.
6. What will happen to landmarks, such as the Botanical Gardens, Brooklyn Bridge, Central
Park and the Statue of Liberty, if humans disappeared?
Chapter 4:
The World Just Before Us
1. After reading Chapter 4, using the information gained from the chapter, answer the
question found on page 42, under Ice Eden.
Chapter 5:
The Lost Menagerie
1. What prehistoric animal did Thomas Jefferson unearth?
2. What common characteristic did most ancient animals have?
3. Describe some of the theories found in this chapter about the extinction of ancient animals.
Chapter 6:
The African Paradox
1. Explain how the megafauna and humans in Africa evolved together.
2. What would happen to Africa if Humans disappeared.
Chapter 7:
What Falls Apart
1. Why does the Author give importance to the City of Cyprus?
Chapter 8:
What Lasts
1. According to Dr. Sozen, what does the success of concrete depend on?
2. Because of the physical and chemical properties of Tuff, what lies beneath the area of
Cappadocia?
Chapter 9:
Polymers Are Forever
1. What are nurdles?
2. What is happening to the largest, most conspicuous pieces of plastic, and are they
biodegrading?
3. What was the startling discovery found in the carcasses in fulmars washed ashore on the
North Sea Coastlines?
4. Is biodegradable plastic truly biodegradable?
5. What type of product is purposefully washing plastic beads down the drain?
6. How many different type of plastics can you find in this chapter?
7. What constitutes the bulk of most landfills?
8. What is biggest misconception about paper trash?
9. What is the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre? What is found there?
10. According to book, how many nurdles are manufactured annually?
11. What are PCBs, and how are they used?
12. What is the Long-Term Prognosis for Plastic?
Chapter 10:
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Chapter 11:
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Chapter 12:
The Petro Patch
What happens to Mosquitoes if Humans disappears?
What does vulcanization do to natural rubber?
What are the fate of Tires if Humans disappears?
What will happen to the cities of Houston, Galveston, and Texas City if Humans disappear?
What endangered bird calls Texas City its home?
What will happen to the Houston Ship Channel?
The World Without Farms
Who is the father of the fertilizer industry?
What are some of the key chemicals in von Liebig’s fertilizer?
What is held at Rothamsted Research Facility?
What are PAHs and Dioxins? How are they lethal?
What is another name for Dioxins?
What are GMO’s?
What is Round up?
The Fate of Ancient and Modern Wonders of the World
1. What will happen to the following structures if Humans disappeared?
a. The Chunnel
b. Khufu Pyramid
c. The Great Wall of China
d. Mount Rushmore
2. What does the author equate the Panama Canal to and what is the fate of the canal?
Chapter 13:
The World Without War
1. What are some of the dangers associated with the DMZ?
2. What is the fate of the DMZ if humans were to disappear
Chapter 14:
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4.
Chapter 15:
Wings without Us
List some of the bird species that have become extinct due to humans.
Describe how Americans killed off the passenger pidgeon.
What are some manmade structures listed in the book that kill off birds?
What will happen to domesticated cars if humans disappear?
Hot Legacy
1. According to this chapter, how many nuclear power plants exist?
2. Describe how UV light created the ozone layer.
3. What are CFC’s , what is their use, and how is it bad for the environment?
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7.
Chapter 16:
What is the WIPP?
Where is the biggest U.S. Nuclear Reactor located?
What do we do with used fuel rods?
Describe what will happen to the nuclear power plants if humans were to disappear.
Our Geologic Record
1. What will happen if the permafrost melts?
2. What is the demand for Coal?
3. What is the fastest way to extract coal?
4. According to this chapter, what led to the downfall of the Mayan Civilization?
Chapter 17:
Where do we go from here?
1. If humans were to disappear, what would be the only organism to actually suffer?
2. What are some of the super viruses that have the ability to wipe out human civilization?
3. What is VHEMT and what is its motto?
Chapter 18:
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Chapter 19:
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Coda:
Art Beyond Us
What are noble metals?
What is virtually indestructible, unless you smash them?
What is found in the two Pioneer spacecrafts?
What are found on the golden disks?
The Sea Cradle
What will happen to the deep oceans and coral reefs if humans cease to exist?
Our Earth, Our Souls
1. According this chapter, worldwide, what is the rate of growth of the human population?