Environmental Science — Environment Studies MCQs

Correct Answer: Ecology

Ecology is the study of the interaction between organisms and their environment.

Correct Answer: Green plants

Producers in an ecosystem are green plants, which make food by photosynthesis.

Correct Answer: Herbivores

Consumers that eat only plants are called herbivores.

Correct Answer: Bacteria & fungi

Decomposers are mainly bacteria and fungi, which break down dead organic matter.

Correct Answer: Upright

The pyramid of energy is always upright, because energy is lost at each trophic level.

Correct Answer: Oxygen

Oxygen is the gas essential for respiration in most organisms.

Correct Answer: Greenhouse gas emission

The main cause of global warming is greenhouse gas emission from human activity.

Correct Answer: Nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide has the highest global warming potential among the gases listed.

Correct Answer: Troposphere

The troposphere, the lowest atmospheric layer, contains maximum water vapour.

Correct Answer: Greenhouse effect

The trapping of heat by the atmosphere is called the greenhouse effect.

Correct Answer: Decibel

Noise pollution is measured in decibels.

Correct Answer: Vehicular emissions

Vehicular emissions are the main source of urban air pollution.

Correct Answer: All of these

Acid rain damages aquatic life, forests and buildings alike, so all of these.

Correct Answer: 5 June

World Environment Day is observed on 5 June each year (22 April is Earth Day).

Correct Answer: Ozone protection

The Vienna Convention (1985) provides the framework for ozone protection.

Correct Answer: Conference of Parties

COP stands for Conference of the Parties, the decision-making body of the UNFCCC.

Correct Answer: Control emissions

Carbon trading aims to control emissions by capping total emissions and allowing permit trading.

Correct Answer: Indus Delta

The Indus Delta, about 472,800 hectares, is Pakistan's largest Ramsar site.

Correct Answer: 1992

Pakistan signed the UNFCCC in June 1992 (ratified 1994).

Correct Answer: Soil conservation

Sustainable agriculture focuses on soil conservation and long-term soil health.

Correct Answer: Insufficient freshwater

Water scarcity refers to insufficient freshwater to meet demand.

Correct Answer: Over-extraction

Over-extraction of groundwater, mainly for irrigation, is the main cause of groundwater depletion.

Correct Answer: Pollutants

Wastewater treatment reduces pollutants in water before it is discharged or reused.

Correct Answer: Physical process

Primary treatment of sewage is a physical process: screening and sedimentation remove solids.

Correct Answer: Recycling organic waste

Composting is a method of recycling organic waste into nutrient-rich compost.

Correct Answer: Toxic metals

E-waste mainly contains toxic metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium.

Correct Answer: Organic waste

Organic waste is the major component of municipal solid waste in most cities.

Correct Answer: Waste-to-energy

Converting waste into energy is called waste-to-energy.

Correct Answer: Medical waste

Medical waste is hazardous waste: it can carry infections and toxic chemicals.

Correct Answer: Hospitals

Biomedical waste is generated from hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Correct Answer: Brundtland Commission

Sustainable development was defined by the Brundtland Commission (1987).

Correct Answer: Adjusting to climate impacts

Climate adaptation means adjusting to climate impacts, as opposed to reducing emissions.

Correct Answer: Reduce GHG emissions

Climate mitigation aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Correct Answer: Greenhouse gas emissions

A carbon footprint measures the greenhouse gas emissions caused by an activity or product.

Correct Answer: Kyoto Protocol

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) operates under the Kyoto Protocol.

Correct Answer: Marine life

Plastic pollution mainly affects marine life, through ingestion and entanglement.

Correct Answer: 5 mm

Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm.

Correct Answer: Carbon storage system

A carbon sink is a carbon storage system, such as a forest or ocean, that absorbs more carbon than it releases.

Correct Answer: Carbon sinks

Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.

Correct Answer: Poor communities

Climate change mostly affects poor communities, which have the fewest resources to adapt.

Correct Answer: Habitat destruction

Habitat destruction is the major cause of biodiversity loss worldwide.

Correct Answer: At risk of extinction

Endangered species are those at risk of extinction.

Correct Answer: Conservation status of species

The IUCN Red List shows the conservation status of species.

Correct Answer: Natural habitat conservation

In-situ conservation means conserving species in their natural habitat.

Correct Answer: Zoos

Ex-situ conservation includes zoos, where species are conserved outside their natural habitat.

Correct Answer: Promote sustainable use

Biosphere reserves aim to promote sustainable use alongside conservation.

Correct Answer: Environmental impact

An ecological footprint indicates the environmental impact of a person or population.

Correct Answer: Conservation & reuse

Sustainable water management includes conservation and reuse of water.

Correct Answer: Safe disposal

The main objective of waste management is safe disposal of waste without harming health or the environment.

Correct Answer: Before project approval

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is conducted before project approval, to predict its effects.