Environmental Quiz

1. Environmental Quiz Most recent update April 1, 2013

2. The population of the world in 1950 was 2.6 billion. The world population is currently about: • 3.4 billion • 7.1 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 • 7.1 billion • 9.3 billion • 11.5 billion

4. World Population 1850-2012 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Programs Center, 2013.

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 - 2013 Time UnitPopulation Increase Year 78,044,135 Month 6,503,678 Week 1,496,740 Day 213,820 Hour 8,880 Minute 148 Second 2.5 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Division, 2013.

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: • 187 million • 220 million • 316 million • 459 million

12. The population of the United States in 1960 was 181 million. The U.S. population is currently about: • 187 million • 220 million • 316 million • 459 million

13. True (T) or False (F):United States population growth is expected to stabilize by 2050 at a slightly higher number than currently.

14. True (T) or False (F):United States population growth is expected to stabilize by 2050 at a slightly higher number than currently.

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

16. True (T) or False (F). The U.S. population is currently growing at an annual rate of 0.9%. If the growth rate were to increase to a sustained rate of 5% annually, the population of the United States would surpass the current population of China by 2050.

17. True (T) or False (F). The U.S. population is currently growing at an annual rate of 0.9%. If the growth rate were to increase to a sustained rate of 5% annually, the population of the United States would surpass the current population of China by 2050. At a 5% growth rate, the U.S. would exceed China’s current population (1.34 billion) by 2043. By 2050 U.S. numbers would total 1.5 x the current population of China.

18. If the U.S. population were to continue its current rate of growth for the next 700 years, the population would increase to over 323 billion! (The current world population is 7.1 billion).

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

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):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.

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. 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.

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

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

26. 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

27. Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2011, and by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/ Material% ImportedPrincipal Foreign Sources (2007-10) Niobium 100 Brazil, Canada, Germany, Russia Manganese 100 S. Africa, Gabon, China, Australia Graphite 100 China, Mexico, Canada, Brazil Strontium 100 Mexico, Germany Bauxite/Alumina 100 Jamaica, Brazil, Guinea, Australia Fluorspar 100 Mexico, China, S. Africa, Mongolia Yttrium 100 China, Japan, France, UK Thallium 100 Russia, Germany, Kazakhstan Rubidium 100 Canada Asbestos 100 Canada, Zimbabwe Quartz (crystal) 100 China, Japan, Russia Thorium 100 France, India, Canada, UK Tantalum 100 China, Germany, Kazakhstan, Australia

28. Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2011, and by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/ Material% ImportedPrincipal Foreign Sources (2007-10) Arsenic (trioxide) 100 Morocco, China, Belgium Indium 100 China, Canada, Belgium, Japan Rare earth metals 100 China, France, Estonia, Japan Cesium 100 Canada Mica (natural) 100 China, Brazil, Belgium, India Iodine 99 Chile, Japan Gallium 99 Germany, Canada, UK, China Gemstones 98 Israel, India, Belgium, S. Africa Germanium 90 China, Belgium, Russia, Germany Bismuth 89 China, Belgium, UK Diamond (dust, grit) 89 China, Ireland, S. Korea, Russia Platinum Group 88 Germany, S. Africa, UK, Canada Antimony 87 China, Mexico, Belgium

29. Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2011, and by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/ Material% ImportedPrincipal Foreign Sources (2007-10) Rhenium 87 Chile, Netherlands, Germany Stone (dimension) 85 Brazil, China, Italy, Turkey Potash 83 Canada, Belarus, Russia Lithium 80+ Argentina, Chile, China Vanadium 80 S. Korea, Canada, Austria, Czech Rep. Barium (Barite) 78 China, India Silicon carbide 76 China, Brazil, Vietnam, Norway Tin 76 Peru, Bolivia, Indonesia, China Cobalt 75China, Norway, Russia, Canada Silver 75 Mexico, Canada, Peru, Chile Zinc 73 Canada, Peru, Mexico, Ireland Titanium (sponge) 69 Kazakhstan, Japan, China, Russia Titanium concentrates 68 S. Africa, Australia, Canada, Mozambique

30. Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2011, and by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/ Material% ImportedPrincipal Foreign Sources (2007-10) Peat 63 Canada Chromium 60 S. Africa, Kazakhstan, Russia, China Palladium 56 Russia, S. Africa, UK, Norway Magnesium Cpds 53 China, Canada, Brazil, Austria Nickel 47 Canada, Russia, Australia, Norway Ferrosilicon 42 China, Russia, Venezuela, Canada Nitrogen (fixed) 41 Trinidad/Tobago, Russia, Canada, Ukraine Petroleum 40 Canada, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Russia, Iraq, Nigeria, Mexico Garnet (industrial) 39 India, Australia, China, Canada Gold 36 Mexico, Canada, Colombia, Peru Tungsten 36 China, Bolivia, Canada, Germany Magnesium Metal 35 Israel, China, Canada

31. Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2011, and by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/ Material% ImportedPrincipal Foreign Sources (2007-10) Copper 35 Chile, Canada, Peru, Mexico Perlite 27 Greece Lumber (softwood) 25 Canada, Chile, Sweden, Germany Sulfur 24 Canada, Mexico, Venezuela Salt 22 Canada, Chile, Mexico, The Bahamas Beryllium 21 Russia, Kazakhstan, Japan Mica (scrap/flake) 20 Canada, China, India Vermiculite 20 China, S. Africa, Australia, Brazil Gypsum 13 Canada, Mexico, Spain Phosphate rock 13 Morocco, Peru Aluminum 13 Canada, Russia, China, Mexico Iron and steel 9 Canada, EU, China, Mexico Cement (Portland/msry) 6 Canada, China, S. Korea, Mexico Pumice 5 Greece, Mexico, Iceland, Montserrat

32. Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2011, and by Major Foreign Sources a/ b/ c/ d/ Material% ImportedPrincipal Foreign Sources (2007-10) Diamond (industrial) 3 Botswana, S. Africa, Russia, Nambia Lime 1 Canada, Mexico Stone (crushed) 1 Canada, Mexico, The Bahamas a/ U.S. Geological Survey. 2013. Mineral Commodity Summaries - 2012. 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 2013 (February). d/ Data for construction lumber from RISI, Random Lengths, 2012, 2013.

33. 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.

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. Annual U.S. Consumption of Various Raw Materials, 2010 Million Metric tonsMillion m3 Roundwood 153 341 Industrial roundwood* 135 300 Cement 71 64 Steel 80 101 Plastics 40.6 35.8 Aluminum 3.5 1.3 * Roundwood is the volume of all wood harvested. Industrial roundwood is the volume of wood used in making forest products; the difference is firewood. Source: Data for wood from UNECE (2012); for cement, steel, and aluminum from the U.S. Geological Survey (2012); and for plastics from the American Plastics Council (2012).

36. In fact, more wood is used in the U.S. every year than allmetals and allplastics combined!

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 are greater than those of any other nation, and 35% greater than those of the United States. In that same year, China’s per capita emissions of carbon dioxide were:

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

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

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

44. 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.

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.

46. 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.

47. The area covered by forests in the U.S. today is approximately ____ of the forested area that existed in 1600. • 72 percent • 50 percent • 33 percent • 17 percent

48. The area covered by forests in the U.S. today is approximately ____ of the forested area that existed in 1600. • 72 percent • 50 percent • 33 percent • 17 percent

49. Forests now cover 72% of the land area in the U.S. that they did at the time of European settlement 1600 2013 Forest - 751 million acres Forest - 1,100 million acres Source: USDA - Forest Service

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.