Name: _____________________________________________ Date: ______________ Period: _________
Chapter 1: Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability
Vocabulary:
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Environmental science
Ecology
Environmentalism
Organism
Species
Ecosystem
Sustainability
Natural capital
Natural resources
Natural services
Solar capital
Natural capital degradation
Nutrient cycling
Natural income
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Gross domestic product (GDP)
Per capita GDP
Per capita GDP PPP
Developed countries
Developing countries
Resource
Conservation
Renewable resource
Nonrenewable resource
Perpetual resource
Sustainable yield
Environmental degradation
Recycling
Reuse
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Ecological footprint
Per capita ecological footprint
Point sources
Nonpoint sources
Biodegradable pollutant
Nondegradable pollutants
Poverty
Social capital
Planetary management
Stewardship
Environmental wisdom
worldview
Objectives:
1. What is exponential growth? Draw a simple exponential graph.
2. Describe two environmentally beneficial and two environmentally harmful forms of exponential growth.
3. Why is living in an exponential age a cause for concern for everyone living on the planet?
4. Describe the ultimate goal of an environmentally sustainable society.
5. What is the difference between economic growth and economic development?
6. Distinguish between developed countries and developing countries and describe their key characteristics.
7. What is environmentally sustainable economic development?
8. Distinguish among a renewable resource, nonrenewable resource, and perpetual resource and give an example of
each.
9. Define and give three examples of environmental degradation.
10. What is the tragedy of the commons?
11. Distinguish between recycling and reuse and give an example of each.
12. Compare the total and per capita ecological footprints of the United States and China.
13. Describe three major cultural changes that have occurred since humans arrived on the earth. Why has each change led
to more environmental degradation?
14. Distinguish between point source and nonpoint source pollution.
15. In what ways do poverty and affluence affect the environment?
16. Distinguish among the planetary management, stewardship, and environmental wisdom worldviews.
17. What are the basic beliefs of your environmental worldview?
18. Discuss the lessons we can learn from the environmental transformation of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
19. Explain why individuals matter in dealing with the environmental problems we face.
20. List three ways in which you can make your lifestyle more environmentally sustainable.