Environmental Quiz

1. Environmental Quiz Most recent update July 1, 2014

2. The population of the world in 1950 was 2.6 billion. The world population is currently about: • 3.4 billion • 7.2 billion • 9.3 billion • 11.5 billion

3. The population of the world in 1950 was 2.6 billion. The world population is currently about: • 3.4 billion • 7.2 billion • 9.3 billion • 11.5 billion

4. World Population 1850-2050 Projection Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Programs Center, 2014.

5. The population of the world is currently increasing at a rate of about 8,900 people per: • month • week • day • hour

6. The population of the world is currently increasing at a rate of about 8,900 people per: • month • week • day • hour

7. Rate of Population Increase - 2014 Time UnitPopulation Increase Year 77,570,553 Month 6,464,213 Week 1,491,741 Day 212,522 Hour 8,855 Minute 148 Second 2.5 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Division, 2014.

8. The estimated world population in the year 2050 is about: • 3.4 billion • 6.8 billion • 9.4 billion • 11.5 billion

9. The estimated world population in the year 2050 is about: • 3.4 billion • 6.8 billion • 9.4 billion • 11.5 billion

10. World Population 1850-2050(Medium Projection of Growth Assumed After 2000) Billions Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Programs Center, 2013.

11. The population of the United States in 1960 was 181 million. The U.S. population is currently about: • 220 million • 319 million • 420 million • 511 million

12. The population of the United States in 1960 was 181 million. The U.S. population is currently about: • 220 million • 319 million • 420 million • 511 million

13. The medium (most likely) estimate of the U.S. population in the year 2060 is:a. 220 million b. 319 million c. 420 million d. 511 million

14. The medium (most likely) estimate of the U.S. population in the year 2060 is:a. 220 million b. 319 million c. 420 million d. 511 million

15. Growth of U.S. Population, 1776- 2100 Projection History Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division (2013)

16. China’s current population (mid-year 2014) is 1.36 billion. Assuming a continuation of the current U.S. population growth rate of 0.72% annually, how many years would it take for the U.S. population to become equal to the current population of China? • 50 • 100 • 200 • 400 • 1,000

17. China’s current population (mid-year 2014) is 1.36 billion. Assuming a continuation of the current U.S. population growth rate of 0.72% annually, how many years would it take for the U.S. population to become equal to the current population of China? • 50 • 100 • 200 • 400 • 1,000

18. If the U.S. population were to continue its current rate of growth (0.72% annually) for the next 400 years, the population would increase to over 5.1 billion. (The current world population is 7.2 billion).

19. If the current rate of growth were to continue for the next 1,000 years, this seemingly negligible growth rate would result in a U.S. population of over 326 billion (45x the current world population).

20. True (T) or False (F):Consumption of mineral resources globally has increased sharply over the past 30 years.

21. True (T)or False (F):Consumption of mineral resources globally has increased sharply over the past 30 years.

22. True (T) or False (F):The world’s most economically developed countries consume a far larger share of the world’s industrial raw materials than their collective share of world population.

23. True (T) or False (F):The world’s most economically developed countries consume a far larger share of the world’s industrial raw materials than their collective share of world population.

24. Percent of Global Consumption of Selected Materials by Developed Nations* Note that the portion of critical materials consumed by developed nations is decreasing as developing nations make economic gains. Percent of world population, 2010 (10.7%) * Developed nations included in consumption statistics are the United States, Canada, EU-15 nations, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and S. Korea.

25. True (T) or False (F):The United States is a net exporter of most raw materials used by industry today.

26. True (T) or False (F):The United States is a net exporter of most raw materials used by industry today.

27. Due in part to domestic environmental concerns, the U.S. is a net importerof most categories of raw materials used to support our economy and lifestyle. • Most metals • Portland and masonry cement • Petroleum (the basis for plastics) • Wood and wood products

28. Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2013, and by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/ Material% ImportedPrincipal Foreign Sources (2009-12) Niobium 100 Brazil, Canada Manganese 100 S. Africa, Gabon, Australia, Georgia Graphite 100 China, Mexico, Canada, Brazil Strontium 100 Mexico, Germany, China Arsenic (trioxide) 100 Morocco, China, Belgium Bauxite/Alumina 100 Jamaica, Brazil, Guinea, Australia Fluorspar 100 Mexico, China, S. Africa, Mongolia Yttrium 100 China, Japan, Austria, France Indium 100 China, Canada, Belgium, Japan Thallium 100 Germany, Russia Thorium 100 India, France Asbestos 100 Canada, Brazil Quartz (crystal) 100 China, Japan, Russia

29. Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2013, and by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/ Material% ImportedPrincipal Foreign Sources (2009-12) Rare earth metals 100China, France, Estonia, Japan Rubidium 100Canada Cesium 100Canada Tantalum 100Mexico, Germany, China Mica (natural) 100 China, Brazil, Belgium, India Scandium 100 China Vanadium 100Canada, Czech Rep., S. Korea, Austria Gallium 99 Germany, UK, China, Canada Gemstones 99 Israel, India, Belgium, S. Africa Bismuth 91 China, Belgium, UK Iodine 91 Chile, Japan Diamond (dust, grit) 88 China, Ireland, S. Korea, Romania Antimony 85 China, Mexico, Belgium, Bolivia

30. Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2013, and by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/ Material% ImportedPrincipal Foreign Sources (2009-12) Germanium 85 China, Belgium, Russia, Germany Potash 82 Canada, Russia, Israel, Chile Lithium 80+ Argentina, Chile, China Rhenium80 Chile, Poland, Germany Stone (dimension) 80 Brazil, China, Italy, Turkey Platinum Group 79 Germany, S. Africa, UK, Canada Titanium concentrates 79 S. Africa, Australia, Canada, Mozambique Cobalt 76 China, Norway, Russia, Finland Garnet (industrial) 76 Australia, India, China Barium (Barite) 75 China, India, Morocco Zinc 74 Canada, Mexico, Peru Tin73 Peru, Bolivia, Indonesia, Malaysia Silicon carbide 72 China, S. Africa, Netherlands, Romania

31. Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2013, and by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/ Material% ImportedPrincipal Foreign Sources (2009-12) Peat 66 Canada Palladium 60 Russia, S. Africa, UK, Norway Silver 58 Mexico, Canada, Poland, Peru Chromium 50 S. Africa, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mexico Nickel 48 Canada, Russia, Australia, Norway Magnesium Cpds 47 China, Brazil, Canada, Australia Titanium (sponge) 45 Kazakhstan, Japan, China, Russia Tungsten 41 China, Bolivia, Germany, Portugal Silicon 42 Russia, Brazil, Canada, S. Africa Copper 36 Chile, Canada, Peru, Mexico Mica(scrap/flake) 36 Canada, China, India, Finland Nitrogen (fixed) 36 Trinidad/Tobago, Russia, Canada, Ukraine Petroleum 35 Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela, Russia, Colombia, Iraq, Kuwait

32. Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2013, and by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/ Material% ImportedPrincipal Foreign Sources (2009-12) Vermiculite 30S. Africa, China, Brazil Aluminum 28 Canada, Russia, China, Mexico Lead 25 Canada, Mexico Magnesium Metal 25Israel, Canada, China Lumber (softwood) 24 Canada, EU, Chile, New Zealand Salt 22 Canada, Chile, Mexico, The Bahamas Perlite 20 Greece Sulfur 18 Canada, Mexico, Venezuela Iron and steel 13 Canada, Mexico, S. Korea, Brazil Talc 12 China, Canada, Pakistan, Japan Beryllium 11 Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Japan Gypsum 9 Canada, Mexico, Spain Iron and steel slag 8 Canada, Japan, Italy, S. Africa

33. Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2013, and by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/ Material% ImportedPrincipal Foreign Sources (2009-12) Cement (Portland/masonry) 7 Canada, S. Korea, China, Mexico Pumice 5 Greece, Iceland, Mexico, Montserrat Phosphate rock 3 Morocco, Peru Diamond (industrial) 3 Botswana, S. Africa, India, Nambia Lime 1 Canada, Mexico Stone (crushed) 1 Canada, Mexico, The Bahamas a/ U.S. Geological Survey. 2014. Mineral Commodity Summaries - 2013. b/ Principal foreign sources arranged by most important supplier to the left, next most important to the right of that, and so on. c/ Petroleum data from U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration 2014 (July). d/ Data for construction lumber from RISI, Random Lengths, 2013, 2014.

34. True (T) or False (F):The raw material that is used in the greatest quantity in the U.S. today, and which accounts for almost one-third (by weight) of the total raw materials used annually is steel.

35. True (T) or False (F):The raw material that is used in the greatest quantity in the U.S. today, and which accounts for almost one-third (by weight) of the total raw materials used annually is steel.

36. Annual U.S. Consumption of Various Raw Materials, 2011 Million Metric tonsMillion m3 Roundwood* 145 341 Forest products (wood only) 128 300 Cement 72 23 Steel 90 12 Plastics 47.5 53 Aluminum 3.6 1.3 * Roundwood is the volume of all wood harvested. More wood is consumed every year in the United States than all metals and all plastics combined. Source: Data for wood from UNECE (2013); for cement, steel, and aluminum from the U.S. Geological Survey (2013); and for plastics from the American Plastics Council (2012).

37. True (T) or False (F):Energy consumption per capita (per person) in the United States is twice that of the European Union.

38. True (T)or False (F):Energy consumption per capita (per person) in the United States is twice that of the European Union.

39. Per Capita Energy Consumption in the U.S. and the E.U. Countries, 2008

40. China’s emissions of carbon dioxide in 2012 were greater than those of any other nation, and 90% greater than those of the United States. In that same year China’s per capita emissions of carbon dioxide were:a. 35% greater than the U.S. b. 15% greater than the U.S. c. About the same as in the U.S. d. Less than one-half those of the U.S. e. Less than one-third those of the U.S.

41. China’s emissions of carbon dioxide in 2012 were greater than those of any other nation, and 90% greater than those of the United States. In that same year China’s per capita emissions of carbon dioxide were:a. 35% greater than the U.S. b. 15% greater than the U.S. c. About the same as in the U.S.d. Less than one-half those of the U.S. e. Less than one-third those of the U.S.

42. True (T) or False (F):Globally, the area of forests is declining, mostly due to human activity.

43. True (T) or False (F):Globally, the area of forests is declining, mostly due to human activity. Conversion of forest to non-forest uses totals about 13 million acres annually, primarily in the tropical regions.

44. 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.

45. 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.

46. The area covered by forests in the U.S. today is approximately ____ of the forested area that existed in 1600. • 73 percent • 50 percent • 33 percent • 17 percent

47. The area covered by forests in the U.S. today is approximately ____ of the forested area that existed in 1600. • 73 percent • 50 percent • 33 percent • 17 percent

48. Forests now cover 73% of the land area in the U.S. that they did at the time of European settlement 1600 2013 Forest - 766 million acres Forest - 1,100 million acres Source: USDA - Forest Service

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

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