What's Your Ecological Intelligence?
After you've completed the quiz, make sure to scroll down to see the correct answers.
- 1.
You're preparing fish for dinner tonight. Which one of these choices is the least environmentally friendly?
- A.
Catfish
- B.
Farmed Atlantic salmon
- C.
Farmed striped bass
- D.
Pacific cod
Correct Answer
B. Farmed Atlantic salmonExplanation
The next time you're at the supermarket, choose fish that is caught and farmed responsibly and you could help protect marine ecosystems. Farmed Atlantic salmon have been labeled an Eco Worst Choice by the Environmental Defense Fund because salmon farms are a collecting tank for feces and chemicals that pollute waters. Visit the Seafood Selector guide to find more eco-friendly seafood choices.Rate this question:
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- 2.
You can go green and slash your heating and cooling bills by doing all of these except:
- A.
Growing grapevines on trellises
- B.
Adding a bounty of rock to the south side of your yard
- C.
Growing trees in your yard
- D.
Growing shrubs to shade your air conditioning unit
Correct Answer
B. Adding a bounty of rock to the south side of your yardExplanation
Unshaded rock, cement, and asphalt landscaping can radiate heat and raise the temperatures around your house. Instead, plant trees, vines, and shrubs to promote greenery and cut your energy bills. Just three deciduous trees on the south and west sides can have a cooling effect in summer, and a warming effect in winter. Also, evergreen trees on the north side of your house act as windbreakers in the winter and will help to lower your heating bills. Visit the U.S. Department of Energy website to find out more about landscaping for energy-efficiency.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Which of these small changes can go a long way toward preventing air pollution?
- A.
Using water-based paints instead of oil-based paints
- B.
Refueling your car after dark
- C.
Limiting dry cleaning
- D.
All of the above
Correct Answer
D. All of the aboveExplanation
Paints, dry cleaning solvents, and gas, all contain toxic air pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which when released into the air can have hazardous effects on your health and environment. Some ways to reduce air pollution include: choosing water-based paints with lower VOCs, making sure to recycle or reuse any leftover paint (all paint contains hazardous substances and should be handled carefully), and limiting your dry cleaning. Also, refueling after dark helps reduce the chance of VOCs combining with sunlight to create ground-level ozone.Rate this question:
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- 4.
You're planning to barbecue. What is the environmentally best way to grill?
- A.
Indoor stove or oven
- B.
Gas grill in the backyard
- C.
Charcoal, wooden, or electric grill outdoors
- D.
None of the above
Correct Answer
B. Gas grill in the backyardExplanation
Natural gas is the cleanest way to grill and it beats charcoal and wood, which produce nasty soot particles that contaminate the air. Plus, gas grills are more energy-efficient than your electric grill or indoor oven.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Recently, you made the energy-smart move to switch from a desktop to a laptop. What would an Eco Hero do with the old PC?
- A.
Donate it
- B.
Store it safely
- C.
Box it, label clearly, and dispose
Correct Answer
A. Donate itExplanation
A new kind of waste is threatening to clutter our landfills nowadays and it's called E-waste. Computers are made of several toxic elements, like lead, mercury, plastics, and glass, that can be hazardous to the environment. One solution to this problem is to recycle your computer at a local recycling facility. But why recycle when you can donate to a program that can refurbish your computer for someone in need? Find a program you'd like to donate to and help reboot the environment!Rate this question:
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- 6.
Which uses less water, washing a full load of dishes by hand, or in the dishwasher?
- A.
Handwashing
- B.
Dishwasher
Correct Answer
B. DishwasherExplanation
Handwashing dishes can use up to 50 percent more water than a water-saving, energy-efficient dishwasher. However, dishwashers made before 1994 use more water than current models. Look for units with the Energy Star rating.Rate this question:
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- 7.
What type of supermarket bag is more ecofriendly, paper or plastic?
- A.
Paper
- B.
Plastic
- C.
Neither
Correct Answer
C. NeitherExplanation
Manufacturing and disposing of both paper and plastic bags harms the environment. Bring your own reuseable bags instead.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Approximately how much of global electricity output is produced from renewable sources?
- A.
1 percent
- B.
5 percent
- C.
8 percent
- D.
20 percent
Correct Answer
C. 8 percentExplanation
Only about 8 percent of global energy comes from renewable. The remaining 92 percent comes from nonrenewable sources like oil, coal, and natural gas.Rate this question:
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- 9.
About how much money do you save by replacing a single incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light (over the life of the bulb)?
- A.
$1
- B.
$5
- C.
$10
- D.
$30
Correct Answer
D. $30Explanation
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CFLs use 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing a 60-watt incandescent with a 13-watt CFL will save about $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.Rate this question:
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- 10.
True or false? Hybrid cars are slower and less safe than conventional cars.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
Hybrid cars perform on par with or better than conventional cars in driveability and safety testing.Rate this question:
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- 11.
Dropping the thermostat from 70 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit saves you about how much on your heating costs?
- A.
1 percent
- B.
5 percent
- C.
10 percent
- D.
20 percent
Correct Answer
C. 10 percentExplanation
Each degree you drop the thermostat during winter saves about 5 percent on your heating bill. For air conditioning, set the thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.Rate this question:
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Current Version
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Mar 21, 2023Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team -
Jul 23, 2009Quiz Created by
Laurachamberlain