env day quiz

Environment Day Quiz

This species of bird native to North America was considered to have been one of the most numerous birds on earth. Intensive shooting and the destruction of the birds’natural breeding ground brought about a sudden fall in their numbers. The last of this species on earth died in a zoo in Circinnati in 1914. Name this bird. The passenger pigeon The Bald eagle The Egret The Falcon

Which is the first state to implement the path-breaking proposal that environment should be included as a separate subject in schools? Delhi Maharashtra Kerala Tamil Nadu

Which is the first state to implement the path-breaking proposal that environment should be included as a separate subject in schools? Delhi

Maharashtra Kerala Tamil Nadu

Name the gas released from landfills, decaying organic matter under shallow water in marshes and bogs, flooded paddy fields, by ruminant animals & termites, and by the burning of biomass. A molecule of this gas has 21 times more global warming potential than a molecule of CO2. Sulphur dioxide Methane Ammonia Nitrous Oxide

In the world’s worst nuclear accident in 1986, 31 people died, 129 others suffered acute radiation and many thousands are expected to die prematurely as a result of exposure to radiation released from the stricken plant. Name the site of this mishap.

Three Mile Island, USA Chernobyl, erstwhile Soviet Union Bhopal, India Windscale, UK

Name the metal contained in broken fluorescent bulbs, tube lights and dead batteries which gets transported with common municipal solid waste and can be easily swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin and can cause damage to the kidneys and nervous system. Copper Cadmium Mercury Arsenic

The Geysers, a large steam reservoir north of San Francisco, USA, is the world's largest source of Coal Geothermal power Hydropower Natural gas

The Wildlife Week is celebrated from

2-8 October 1-7 June 16-22 April 14-20 January

Cataract blinds at least 120 million people globally every year. What is its main cause?

Heredity Ultraviolet radiation Unbalanced diet Gasoline fumes

The following pollutant is not contained in the vehicular exhaust emissions: Lead Ammonia Carbon monoxide Particulate matter

Diesel exhaust is the main source of three highly toxic pollutants that have a widespread impact on the urban air quality and human health. Name them SPM,Sulphur dioxide and Nitrogen oxides (NOx) Suspended particulate matter(SPM), benzene Sulphur dioxide,Ammonia,Benzene Lead, NOx,CO2

Bhopal gas tragedy struck in the year 1984 due to the leakage of the following gas: methyl-iso-cyanate nitrous oxide methane carbon monoxide

SPM stands for

Suspended Particulate Matter Standard Particles Material Suspended Particles Material None of the above

What is car–pooling?

an interesting computer game intensive washing of your father’s car you and your friends sharing a ride to a movie none of the above

Health problems related to air pollution include:

coughing asthma bronchitis all of these

A device is fitted to motor vehicles to chemically reduce some gases produced by internal combustion engines like NOx, CO, and HC into less harmful products. Name this device. Catalytic converter 2-stroke engines Carburetor Tail pipe

Water pollution has become a major problem in the world today. It has an adverse affect on both the environment and health. What are the main sources of water pollution in India? Municipal sewage Bathing Industrial discharge Botha and c

The GAP (Ganga Action Plan) – a project to clean up the polluted waters of the Ganga -plans to intercept and divert municipal sewage falling into the river from 25 large urban conglomerates in thee states. Name them. UP, Haryana and Punjab UP, Bihar and West Bengal Himachal Pradesh, UP, and Haryana Orissa , Bihar and West Benga

Of the following indications of the health of a water body, which is the most widely accepted means of measuring how polluting an effuent is? COD (chemical oxygen demand) BOD (biological oxygen demand) Chloroform content

Which sector is the single-largest consumer of fresh water in India? Industry Power Domestic Agriculture

Materials of biological origin which are commonly used to maintain and improve soil fertility are: green manure biofertilizers bioinsecticides botha and b

Over the last 100 years global sea level has risen by about

20 -25cm 10 – 12.5 cm Both the above None of thes

Which sector is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in India?

Transport Domestic Agricultural Electric power generatio

Which landmark global conference was the FIRST major step towards a global agreement on greenhouse gas emissions reduction and the first to recognize the atmosphere as a natural resource? The Vienna Convention in 1985 The Montreal Protocol in 1987 The 'Earth Summit' in Rio in 1992

CFCs (chloro-fluoro-carbons) are greenhouse gases that have caused a rise of 0.3 ºC in the global temperatures in the past century. Name the CFC that is used in refrigerators. Carbon dioxide Freon Methane Ammonia

The massive hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctica was first discovered in

1976 1985 1960

India would phase out the production and consumption of the controlled ODS (ozone-depleting substances) within the time frame and limits specified in the

Vienna Convention Basel Convention Montreal Protocol Agenda 21

By 2100 AD, global temperature is expected to rise by about 2 °C and consequently, the sea level by about 50 cm from the present level. How is a rise in temperature expected to increase the level of the sea? By expanding ocean water By melting mountain glaciers By causing ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland to melt and slide into the oceans All of the abov

Hydro power, which is derived from water is one of the earliest sources of energy in the country. The first mini hydel plant was set up in 1897 at the following place. Shimla Dehra Doon Kulu Darjeeling

Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy source with worldwide wind power installed capacity reaching about 14 000 MW. At the end of March 2000, India had 1080-MW capacity wind farms. Name the state that leads in this sector. Maharashtra Punjab Andhra Pradesh Tamilnadu

Proper disposal of hazardous toxic waste is essential as exposure to it can cause serious problems to the health. Which is potentially the safest means of disposing of the most toxic wastes: organic solvents, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and oil-base compounds (including PCBs and dioxins)?: Municipal incineration Industrial high temperature incineration Landfills None of the above

India generates about 4.3 million tonnes of hazardous wastes every year. Direct exposure to two chemicals in hazardous waste can cause death. Name them. Mercury and arsenic Cyanide and sulphur Sulphur and arsenic Mercury and cyanide

The municipal solid waste generated in India is about 40% organic matter. Composting is the best method of disposal of organic solid waste. Where was the country’s first aerobic composting plant set up in 1992? Delhi Mumbai Calcutta Chennai

Municipal waste is disposed in the open dumps, landfills, sanitary landfills, and is also burnt in large furnaces. This method is known as Incineration Blast furnace Waste furnace None of the a

Landfills are the sites for the disposal of solid waste. While building a landfill it is very essential to take one of the following factors into consideration. Below the groundwater level Above the groundwater level In a groundwater source None of the above

The population of the world is currently about:

• 3.4 billion• 6.6 billion • 8.7 billion• 9.2 billion• 11.5 billion

World Population 1850-2007

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

818

50

1860

1870

1880

1890

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

Year

Billions

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Programs Center, 2007.

The population of the world is currently increasing at a rate of about 8,836 people per:

• month• week • day• hour• minute• second

Rate of Population Increase - 2007

Time Unit Population Increase

Year 77,401,492

Month 6,450,124

Week 1,484,413

Day 212,059

Hour 8,836

Minute 147

Second 2.5

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Division, 2007.

The estimated world population in the year 2050 is about:

• 3.4 billion• 6.2 billion • 8.7 billion• 9.4 billion• 11.5 billion

World Population 1850-2050(Medium Projection of Growth Assumed After 2000)

0123456789

10

1850

1870

1890

1910

1930

1950

1970

1990

2010

2030

2050

Year

Billions

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Programs Center, 2007.

True (T) or False (F):

Consumption of mineral resources globally has increased

sharply in recent years.

The number one cause of tropical deforestation worldwide is:

• commercial logging.• wildfire. • clearing of lands for

agricultural use.• gathering of firewood.• building of roads and cities.

The number one cause of tropical deforestation worldwide is:

• commercial logging.• wildfire. • clearing of lands for

agricultural use.• gathering of firewood.• building of roads and cities.

Various estimates indicate that 60 to 85% of tropical deforestation today is due to permanent and shifting agriculture.

The area covered by forests in the India. today is approximately ____ of the forested area that existed in 1600.

• 68 percent• 50 percent• 33 percent• 25 percent• 17 percent

The area covered by forests in the U.S. today is approximately ____ of the forested area that existed in 1600.

• 68 percent• 50 percent• 33 percent• 25 percent• 17 percent

Which country is the most generous?

A) AmericaB) CanadaC) LuxembourgD) Denmark

Which country is the most generous?

A) AmericaB) CanadaC) Luxembourg

D) Denmark

The most generous country is Luxembourg.

$314 per person is donated to other countries.

The second most generous country is Norway, where $305 is donated per head.

Which is the world’s most popular religion?

A) BuddismB) Islam (Muslim)C) HinduismD) Christianity

2. Which is the world’s most popular religion?

A) BuddismB) Islam (Muslim)C) HinduismD) Christianity

Christianity is the most popular at 33%.

The next most popular religion is Islam (18.3%), followed by Hinduism (13.5%).

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world.

3. Which is the world’s most popular language?

A) SpanishB) EnglishC) Chinese MandarinD) Hindi

Which is the world’s most popular language?

A) SpanishB) EnglishC) Chinese Mandarin

D) Hindi

The world’s most popular language is Chinese Mandarin, spoken by 14.37% of the world’s population.

The second ,most popular is Hindi (6.02%), followed by English (5.61%),and close behind - Spanish (5.59%)

4. Which country has the highest birth-rate?

A) IndiaB) UgandaC) ChinaD) Niger

Which country has the highest birth-rate?

A) IndiaB) UgandaC) ChinaD) Niger

Niger has the highest birth-rate with 48 babies born per 1000 people every year.

Uganda is second at 47 babies.

India ranks at no. 91 with 22 babies.

Britain ranks at 189 in the world with 10.8 babies

How many people are victims of landmines every year?

A) 200B) 2,000C) 20,000D) 200,000

How many people are victims of landmines every year?

A) 200B) 2,000C) 20,000

D) 200,000

Ninety countries in the world are affected by landmines.

20,000 people are killed or maimed by landmines every year.

What percentage of the world’s people live in extreme poverty (on less than 50p a day)?

A) 2%B) 9%C) 15%D) 20%

20% of the world’s population live on less than 20p a day, but this is falling. In 1990 the figure was 28%.

The number of people living in poverty is falling most rapidly in Asia. In Africa the figure remains constant.

By how many millions of hectares are the world’s forests decreasing every year?

A) 1 millionB) 3 millionC) 5 millionD) 7 million

The world’s forests are decreasing by 7.3 million hectares every year, even taking into account re-planting. That is an area the size of the countries Sierra Leone or Panama.

This figure has fallen from 8.9 million between 1990 – 2000.

Throughout the world what percentage of girls attend Primary School?

A) 100%B) 80%C) 60%D) 50%

Throughout the world what percentage of girls attend Primary School?

A) 100%B) 80%

C) 60%D) 50%

80% of girls receive Primary education. 1 in 5 girls receive no education at all.

1 in 6 boys does not receive any basic education. These are mostly boys who live in rural areas.

How many African children are orphaned (have no living parents to care for them)?

A) 1 millionB) 3 ½ millionC) 5 ¼ millionD) 12 million

12 million African children are orphans.

Many of their parents have died in civil wars, but most have been struck down by Aids.

38.6 million people worldwide are currently living with HIV/Aids.

What percentage of parliamentary seats worldwide are currently held by women?

A) 50%B) 31%C) 17%D) 11%

What percentage of parliamentary seats worldwide are currently held by women?

A) 50%B) 31%C) 17%

D) 11%

17% of parliamentary seats worldwide are currently held by women.

Rwanda comes the closest to having equality between men and women. Women won 49% of the seats in the 2003 election.

• Lead• Ammonia

• Carbon Monoxide• Particular Matter

AIR POLLUTION

Ammonia

The following pollutant is not contained exhaust emissions:

AIR POLLUTIONDiesel is the main source of three highly toxic pollutants that have a widespread impact on the urban air quality and human

health. Name them

• SPM, Sulphur dioxide and Nitrogen oxides (NOx)• Lead, NOx, CO2

• Suspended particulate matter (SPM), benzene• Sulphur dioxide, Ammonia, Benzene

Suspended particulate matter (SPM), benzene

WATER POLLUTION

Water as become a major problem in the world today. It has an adverse affect on both the environment and health. What are the main sources of water pollution in India?

• Municipal sewage• Bathing• Industrial discharge• All of the above• A and c

A and c

WATER POLLUTION

What minerals are found in the run-off from agriculture land and treated and untreated sewage effluents, which are highly responsible for eutrophication of water bodies?

• Nitrogen and phosphorus• Phosphorus and carbon• Potassium and arsenic• Iron and manganese

Nitrogen and phosphorus

WATER POLLUTION

Aquaculture is the controlled cultivation and harvesting of freshwater or marine aquatic species of plants and animals. Name an area along the Indian coast, where aquaculture and prawn culture activities are a major source of coastal pollution as well as a threat to the endangered sea turtles.

• East Coast, especially Orissa• Maharashtra• Kerala• All of the above

East Coast, especially Orissa

WATER POLLUTION

Of the following indication of the health of the health of water body, which is the most widely accepted means of measuring how polluting an effluent is?

• COD (chemical oxygen demand)• BOD (biological oxygen demand)• Chloroform content• All of the above

BOD (biological oxygen demand)

BIODIVERSITY

An endangered animal, the Elephas maximums is now predominantly found in the protected wildlife

sanctuaries and national parks of Kerala, Karnataka and Orissa. Its common name is

• Black Buck• Asian elephant• Wild buffalo

Asian elephant

BIODIVERSITY

Which of the following species of rhinoceros is said to be the most critically endangered species.

• Indian one-horned rhinos• African black rhino• Sumatran rhino• Javan rhino

Javan rhino

ENERGY

Lead is one of the two most toxic chemicals used in petrol that cause brain damage leukemia. Which is the other?

• Sulphur • Benzene • Nitrogen Oxide • SPM or Suspended Particulate Matter

Sulphur

CLIMATE CHANGE

Over the last 100 years global sea level has risen by about 20-25 cm10-12.5 cm Both the above None of these

10-12.5 cm

These are woody trees and shrubs that normally grow in places where river water mixes with seawater. Mangroves

This animal has a heavy, snowy white colour shell which is sacred to the people of India. The shell is commonly associated with festivals and pujas. Conch

Coastal areas along Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Orissa are mined for certain minerals called __________. These operations increase turbidity of waters and affect the wildlife. Monazite sand

Marine organisms which can form huge colonial structures and can support a wide diversity of marine organisms. Corals

Additional Information: Marine “fish” which have the ability to regenerate from a single arm attached to a portion of the central disk.

Star fish

• Additional information: This is a large marine mammal. Their habit of standing in the waters misled some sailors in olden days to mistake them for mermaids!

• Dugong

• These birds use their beaks upside down and filter-feed on brine shrimp.

• Flamingo

• Additional information: This marine creature is more like a transparent umbrella with tentacles than a fish! This boneless fish is usually found around corals.

• Jelly fish

• Additional information: This marine creature has eight arms. When attacked, it squirts out a liquid into the water and escape through the murky screen. The octopus is a mollusc without a shell.

• Octopus

• Additional information: This is a horse shaped fish and unlike most animals, the male is known to give birth to the young.

• Sea horse

1.World Environment Day was established by

a) OSHA

b) Environment Protection Agency (EPA)

c) United Nations General Assembly

d) United Nations Environment Program

5. How many percent of the planet’s total land area is covered by Forests

a) 10% b) 20% c) 25% d) 30%

8. Which is the most powerful green house gas

a) Carbon dioxide

b) Methane

c) Ozone

d) Water Vapor

13. The average global temperature has risen by how much in the past 100

years?

a) 10° Celsius (18° Fahrenheit)

b)2° Celsius (4° Fahrenheit)

c) 0.6° Celsius (1° Fahrenheit)

14. How long does it take a tin can to break down in a landfill?

A 5 years B 50 years C 100 years

15. Which country has the highest CO2 emissions?

A. United States B. United Kingdom C. India

16. What is the International Treaty aiming to reduce the carbon emissions?

A. Kyoto Protocol

B. Basel Convention

C. Montreal Protocol Treaty

19. Which of the following ISO standard focuses on Green house gas accounting & verification?

A. ISO 14001 B. ISO 14064 C. ISO 9000

20. Turning heating thermostat down, and Air Conditioning up by 1.50C will reduce how much CO2 emissions per year?

A. 1.0 Tons

B. 2.5 Tons

C. 3.5 Tons

Forests now cover 68% of the land area in the U.S. that they did at the time of

European settlement

1600 2002

Forest -1,100 million acres

Forest - 749

million acres

Source: USDA - Forest Service

True (T) or False (F). The geographic area that encompasses the United States today has about the same extent of forest coverage as the same geographic area did in 1907.

Forest Area in the United States 1630-2002

1045

759 760 756 761 744 738 747 749

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1630 1907 1938 1953 1963 1977 1987 1997 2002

Th

ousa

nd

Acr

es

Source: Smith, et al., 2004.

True (T) or False (F). Growing trees capture carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen.

True (T) or False (F). Growing trees capture carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen.

CO2 O2

Carbon

Which of the following statements most accurately describes U.S. forests:

• Forest harvest exceeds growth by 8 percent.

• Forest harvest exceeds growth by 3 percent.

• Forest harvest roughly equals growth.• Forest growth exceeds harvest by 29

percent.• Forest growth exceeds harvest by 67

percent.

Net Growth/Removals Ratios – U.S., 1952-2001

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

1952 1962 1976 1986 1991 1996 2001

Hardwoods

Softwoods

All Species

Source: USDA - Forest Service RPA Assessment, 2000; Smith et al., 2004.

When net forest growth divided by removals = 1.0, timber inventories are

neither expanding or declining.

Growth/Removals Ratios – U.S., 1952-2001

Year Softwoods Hardwoods Total

1952 1.00 1.50 1.171962 1.25 1.65 1.551970 1.23 2.01 1.481976 1.25 2.25 1.541986 1.19 1.92 1.421991 1.15 1.75 1.331996 1.33 1.71 1.472001 1.33 1.71 1.472006 1.51 1.95 1.67*

Source: Smith, et al., 2004; * Preliminary from 2006 FIA.


As originally established, it was never intended that the National Forests of the U.S. would be periodically harvested to

obtain timber that would be used in meeting the nation’s need for wood.

True (T) or False (F). At current rates of deforestation, forty (40) percent of current forests in the U.S. will be lost by the middle of the next century.

True (T) or False (F). At current rates of deforestation, forty (40) percent of current forests in the U.S. will be lost by the middle of the next century.

In fact, the area covered by forests in the U.S. is increasing.


In the U.S. and globally, more species of plants and animals have been driven to extinction by logging activity than any

other activity of mankind.

There is no evidence that even one plant or animal species has been driven to extinction as a result of

logging activity in the United States.

True (T) or False (F). Under current United States law, forest harvesting is allowed in federally designated wilderness areas.

True (T) or False (F). Under current United States law, forest harvesting is allowed in federally designated wilderness areas.

No harvesting is allowed in wilderness areas

True (T) or False (F). Populations of elk, pronghorn antelope, and wild turkey have declined significantly in the U.S. over the past 60 years.

True (T) or False (F). Populations of elk, pronghorn antelope, and wild turkey have declined significantly in the U.S. over the past 60 years.

In fact, populations of each of these species within the U.S. have increased by at least 800 to 1,000 percent over the past 50 years.

T r e n d s in U .S . E lk P o p u la t io n s 1 9 3 0 - 1 9 9 0

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

T r e n d s in U .S . W i ld T u r k e y P o p u la t io n s 1 9 0 0 - 1 9 9 0

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

T r e n d s in U .S . P r o n g h o r n P o p u la t io n s 1 9 1 0 - 1 9 9 0

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990


Considering the total annual harvest of forests in the United States and the total consumption of wood and fiber products within our country, the U.S. is a net importer of wood

and wood products.

The United States is a Net Importer of Wood and Wood Products

Net U.S. imports of wood and wood products amounted to about 20 percent of total wood consumption and 36 percent of construction lumber consumed in 2006.

When waste paper exports are included in the net import

calculation, the U.S. net import figure for wood and wood

products drops to 2-3 percent.

As a percentage of all the paper used in the United States in 2006 _____ was recovered for reuse.

• 2.9 percent

• 6.5 percent

• 14.7 percent• 29.3 percent• 53.4 percent• 66.1 percent

Recovered paper provided _____ of the U.S. paper industry’s fiber in 2006.

• 2.0 percent

• 6.1 percent

• 12.9 percent• 19.8 percent• 24.3 percent• 36.9 percent

True (T) or False (F). More extensive recycling of paper could reduce harvesting of forests in the U.S. by 60 percent or more.

Were paper recycling in the U.S. to go to the limit of technology worldwide the domestic timber harvest could be

reduced by about 12-13%.

The building material that can be produced with the least impact on the environment is:

• brick• concrete• aluminum• virgin steel• recycled steel• wood• plastic

The manufacture and use of all construction materials results in

environmental impacts. The impacts, differ considerably however.

If, for example, an interior wall of a house is constructed using steel rather than wood studs, the result is a large increase in energy consumption and

emissions to air and water.

Comparative Emissions in Manufacturing Wood vs. Steel-Framed Interior Wall

Emission/Effluent Wood Wall Steel WallCO2 (kg) 305 965CO (g) 2,450 11,800SOX (g) 400 3,700NOX (g) 1,150 1,800Particulates (g) 100 335VOCs (g) 390 1,800Methane (g) 4 45

Source: Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, 1993.

Comparative Effluents in Manufacturing Wood vs. Steel-Framed Interior Wall

Emission/Effluent Wood Wall Steel WallSuspended solids (g) 12,180 495,640Non-ferrous metals (mg) 62 2,532Cyanide (mg) 99 4,051Phenols (mg) 17,715 725,994Ammonia (mg) 1,310 53,665Halogenated organics (mg) 507 20,758Oil and grease (mg) 1,421 58,222Sulphides (mg) 13 507

Source: Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, 1993.

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