Planet Earth needs you! How well do you know the ecological issues covered on this website? It's time to find out if you are an eco-master or an eco-novice. We won't pass on your name, it's just used on the certificate at the end.
Questions and Answers
1.
Particles in an aerosol are typically what size in diameter?
A.
1-1000 nanometers
B.
1-1000 micrometers
C.
1-1000 millimeters
D.
1-1000 centimeters
Correct Answer A. 1-1000 nanometers
Explanation Particles are typically 1-1000 nanometers in diameter. One billion nanometers fit into one centimeter!
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2.
What percentage of aerosols in the atmosphere are generated by human activity?
A.
90%
B.
60%
C.
20%
D.
10%
Correct Answer D. 10%
Explanation It's 'only' 10%. Most aerosols released into the atmosphere are naturally generated from sources like volcanic activity and forest fires.
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3.
Aerosols typically spend how many days in the Earth's atmosphere?
A.
1-3
B.
4-7
C.
8-10
D.
11+
Correct Answer B. 4-7
Explanation The typical time is 4-7 days although some aerosols can remain in the atmosphere for years.
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4.
Air pollution can be caused by:
A.
Liquids
B.
Solids
C.
Gases
D.
All of these
Correct Answer D. All of these
Explanation Air pollution can be caused by liquids, solids and gases.
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5.
The chemical symbol for ammonia is NH3?
A.
True
B.
False
Correct Answer A. True
6.
The chemical symbol for carbon monoxide is CO2?
A.
True
B.
False
Correct Answer B. False
Explanation CO2 is the symbol for carbon dioxide.
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7.
What percentage of a modern car can be recycled?
A.
60%
B.
65%
C.
70%
D.
75%
Correct Answer D. 75%
Explanation It's 75% and the proportion is slowly rising all the time as manufacturers strive for sustainable solutions.
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8.
What percentage of the global population live in a polluted air environment?
A.
Approximately 90%
B.
Approximately 75%
C.
Approximately 60%
D.
Approximately 45%
Correct Answer A. Approximately 90%
Explanation Current estimates put the figure at around 92% - it's a staggering proportion of us who live in a polluted air environment.
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9.
The industrial revolution has been credited with the onset of many of the Earth's current environmental issues. When did this revolution occur?
A.
1700-1730
B.
1730-1760
C.
1760-1820
D.
1820-1860
Correct Answer C. 1760-1820
Explanation The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in the period from about 1760 to sometime around 1820. This transition notably included going from hand production methods to machines and saw the start of rapid fossil fuel use.
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10.
Outdoor air pollution causes more deaths per annum than indoor air pollution?
A.
True
B.
False
Correct Answer B. False
Explanation Surprisingly, indoor air pollution causes more deaths.
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11.
Pollutant particles have many serious health effects but which sized particles present the most risk to the human body?
A.
Smaller particles (less than 2.5 micrometers)
B.
Larger particles (greater than 2.5 micrometers)
Correct Answer A. Smaller particles (less than 2.5 micrometers)
Explanation Particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers pose the most serious risk since they can bypass many of the bodies immune responses and pass deep down into the lungs.
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12.
In 2012, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that most premature deaths from outdoor air pollution were attributable to:
A.
Lung cancer
B.
Heart disease and stroke
C.
Lower respiratory infections
D.
Something else
Correct Answer B. Heart disease and stroke
Explanation The WHO report stated that some 72% of premature deaths were associated with ischaemic heart disease and strokes.
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13.
Current atmospheric carbon levels have risen since the industrial revolution - back then, carbon levels were around 280 parts per million (ppm). What is the current approximate ppm figure?
A.
310
B.
410
C.
510
D.
610
Correct Answer B. 410
14.
Since 1970, the total count of organisms on Earth has decreased by what approximate percentage?
A.
40%
B.
45%
C.
50%
D.
60%
Correct Answer C. 50%
Explanation Earth has lost half of its wildlife in the past 40 years, says WWF.
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15.
The current decline in species and organisms is being likened to a mass extinction event. How many previous mass extinction events do scientists think the Earth has known?
A.
7
B.
6
C.
5
D.
4
Correct Answer C. 5
Explanation The current decline is being referred to as the 6th mass extinction.
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16.
What percentage of endangered animals are endangered because of man?
A.
96%
B.
97%
C.
98%
D.
99%
Correct Answer D. 99%
Explanation So says the Encyclopedia Britannica.
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17.
Extinction rates are currently estimated to be around 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than the 'background' extinction rate. How many species per year die out according to background rates?
A.
3
B.
4
C.
5
D.
10
Correct Answer C. 5
Explanation The background rate accounts for 5 species extinctions per year - by definition this means that current species extinction rates fall around the 5,000 - 50,000 per annum mark.
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18.
What percentage of the total number of species that have ever lived on Earth are currently alive?
A.
10%
B.
1%
C.
0.5%
D.
0.1%
Correct Answer D. 0.1%
Explanation 99.9% of all species that have ever lived are now extinct.
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19.
The illegal wildlife trade is big business. What is the current estimated annual value of this trade?
A.
£1 billion
B.
£10 billion
C.
£15 billion
D.
£20 billion
Correct Answer C. £15 billion
Explanation According to the WWF, the illegal wildlife trade is the fourth largest illegal trade behind drugs, people smuggling and counterfeiting.
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20.
Put the following species extinction risk classifications in the correct order starting with least 'at risk' and ending with highest risk status:Endangered (EN) Faces a high risk of extinction in the near future.Near Threatened (NT) May be considered threatened in the near future.Vulnerable (VU) Faces a high risk of endangerment in the medium term.Extinct (EX)Least Concern (LC) No immediate threat to species' survival.Critically Endangered (CR) Faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future.Extinct in the Wild (EW) Captive individuals survive, but there is no free-living, natural population.
A.
LC, NT, VU, EN, CR, EW, EX
B.
LC, NT, EN, VU, CR, EW, EX
C.
NT, LC, VU, EN, EW, CR, EX
D.
NT, LC, VU, EN, CR, EW, EX
Correct Answer A. LC, NT, VU, EN, CR, EW, EX
Explanation The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organisation that compiles data on endangered animals and places them into different threat categories. Well done if you got this one right - it's a toughie!
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21.
What percentage of the land's surface is covered by forest?
A.
15
B.
20
C.
25
D.
30
Correct Answer D. 30
Explanation According to NASA, it is 30%.
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22.
How many acres are being lost per year through deforestation?
A.
18 million
B.
20 million
C.
28 million
D.
30 million
Correct Answer A. 18 million
Explanation Based on data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.
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23.
What percentage of forest fires are thought to be started by humans?
A.
60%
B.
70%
C.
80%
D.
90%
Correct Answer D. 90%
24.
What percentage of the Amazon rain forest has been lost since 1970?
A.
10%
B.
20%
C.
30%
D.
40%
Correct Answer B. 20%
25.
Agriculture is the biggest cause of deforestation. What percentage of deforestation is caused by this?
A.
60%
B.
70%
C.
80%
D.
90%
Correct Answer C. 80%
Explanation According to the United Nations, 48% is caused by subsistence farming and 32% from commercial agriculture making 80% in total.
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26.
What is the biggest cause of deforestation in the Amazon?
A.
Soya plantations
B.
Commercial logging
C.
Cattle ranching
D.
Mineral extraction
Correct Answer C. Cattle ranching
Explanation Up to 80% of deforested land in the Amazon is now used for pasture. The cattle industry has ballooned since the 1970's, giving Brazil the largest commercial cattle herd in the world.
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27.
Deforestation is said to account for what percentage of greenhouse gas emissions?
A.
5%
B.
15%
C.
25%
D.
35%
Correct Answer B. 15%
28.
Forests are a significant store of carbon. How many tons a year are said to be stored in the world's forests?
A.
210 thousand tons
B.
210 million tons
C.
210 billion tons
D.
None of the above
Correct Answer C. 210 billion tons
29.
What percentage of global biodiversity is said to hail for the world's rain forests?
A.
60%
B.
70%
C.
80%
D.
90%
Correct Answer C. 80%
30.
What percentage of global arable land has been lost since 1960?
A.
One third
B.
One quarter
C.
One fifth
D.
One sixth
Correct Answer A. One third
31.
Since 1900, the average global temperature has risen by how many degrees Celsius?
A.
0.8 c
B.
1.0 c
C.
1.1 c
D.
2 c
Correct Answer C. 1.1 c
32.
The last ice age ended approximately how many years ago?
A.
6,000
B.
9,000
C.
11,000
D.
20,000
Correct Answer C. 11,000
33.
What is the percentage of certainty that experts place on human activity being the cause of global warming?
A.
77%
B.
87%
C.
97%
D.
67%
Correct Answer C. 97%
Explanation NASA quotes a confidence value in excess of 95%, the Bill Nye National Geographic video puts the number at 97%.
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34.
Which of the following gases are NOT considered a major greenhouse gas contributor?Oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour, nitrous oxide,
A.
Oxygen
B.
Methane
C.
Water vapour
D.
Nitrous oxide
Correct Answer A. Oxygen
Explanation For those that selected water vapour, surprisingly, it is the most abundant greenhouse gas.
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35.
What percentage of the world's oxygen is provided by oceans?
A.
30%
B.
40%
C.
70%
D.
60%
Correct Answer C. 70%
Explanation According to National Geographic, around 70% is produced by marine organisms.
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36.
What percentage of all the water on Earth is considered freshwater?
A.
25%
B.
10%
C.
3%
D.
1%
Correct Answer C. 3%
37.
What percentage of all freshwater is groundwater?
A.
3%
B.
23%
C.
13%
D.
30%
Correct Answer D. 30%
Explanation Freshwater is roughly 69% attributable to glaciers and ice caps, 30% groundwater and 1% surface water.
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38.
What percentage of global food production is reliant on groundwater?
A.
10%
B.
20%
C.
40%
D.
50%
Correct Answer C. 40%
39.
What percentage of the world's population rely on groundwater for drinking water?
A.
25%
B.
50%
C.
75%
D.
40%
Correct Answer B. 50%
40.
Groundwater extraction has been increasing year-on-year. Since 1960, by what percentage has extraction activity increased?
A.
30%
B.
300%
C.
500%
D.
1000%
Correct Answer A. 30%
41.
What percentage of the world's population relies on groundwater for drinking water?
A.
5%
B.
50%
C.
70%
D.
25%
Correct Answer B. 50%
42.
What percentage of the world's population live in areas with threats to water security?
A.
50%
B.
80%
C.
25%
D.
60%
Correct Answer B. 80%
Explanation According to a 2010 Nature report, the figure is 80%.
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43.
Experts predict a human global population of around how many billion by 2050?
A.
8
B.
9
C.
10
D.
11
Correct Answer B. 9
44.
The current global population is around how many billion?
A.
6.5
B.
7
C.
7.5
D.
8
Correct Answer C. 7.5
45.
The global population grows by around how many million every year?
A.
20 million
B.
200 million
C.
22 million
D.
75 million
Correct Answer D. 75 million
46.
Half the people in the world today are below the age of 30?
A.
True
B.
False
Correct Answer A. True
47.
Since 1960, the amount of arable land per head of global population has fallen by how much?
A.
One third
B.
One half
C.
Two thirds
D.
Three quarters
Correct Answer C. Two thirds
48.
Globally, how many billions of tons of fertile soil are lost each year?
A.
12
B.
24
C.
36
D.
48
Correct Answer C. 36
49.
What percentage of global arable land is thought to be badly degraded?
A.
14%
B.
40%
C.
50%
D.
24%
Correct Answer B. 40%
Explanation According to The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report which gathered data between 2001-2005.
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50.
Eutrophication is primarily caused by which chemical?
A.
Oxygen
B.
Carbon
C.
Nitrogen
D.
Methane
Correct Answer C. Nitrogen
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