Question 1

-Since the year 2000,which of the following appears to have grown less popular as a method of dealing with municipal solid waste?
A)Composting
B)Waste incineration
C)Recycling
D)Landfilling

Accepted Answer

Waste incineration has become less popular due to environmental concerns, such as air pollution and the release of toxic substances, leading to a preference for more sustainable waste management practices.

Question 2

What do wastewater treatment facilities primarily depend upon for the breakdown of organic materials in wastewater?
A)Large amounts of antibiotics and disinfecting chemicals
B)Lots of chlorine bleach
C)The neutralizing effects of high levels of oxygen
D)Microorganisms

Accepted Answer

Wastewater treatment facilities primarily depend on microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, for the breakdown of organic materials in wastewater. These microorganisms break down organic matter through biological processes in treatment plants, such as the activated sludge process or anaerobic digestion. The other options listed are not effective or appropriate methods for wastewater treatment.

Question 3

Waste incinerators ___________.
A)extend the life of landfills by decreasing waste volume
B)increase the volume of MSW that must be buried in landfills
C)are able to eliminate the disposal of municipal solid wastes MSW)
D)ultimately increase the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity

Accepted Answer

Waste incinerators can greatly decrease the volume of solid waste that needs to be buried in landfills, therefore extending their lifespan. However, they do not eliminate the disposal of MSW entirely and may also emit pollutants into the air. They may also require fossil fuels to operate, but not necessarily to generate electricity.

Question 4

A septic system is___________ .
A)an early version of a wastewater treatment plant
B)a rural method of handling sewage
C)a badly polluted waterway
D)part of the secondary treatment at a wastewater treatment plant

Accepted Answer

A septic system is a method of handling sewage typically used in rural areas that relies on a tank and drainfield to treat and dispose of wastewater. It is not an early version of a wastewater treatment plant, a badly polluted waterway, or part of the secondary treatment at a wastewater treatment plant.

Question 5

Over 25% of all U.S.municipal solid waste consists of __________.
A)yard trimmings
B)plastics and metals
C)paper
D)wastes that would be classified as hazardous

Accepted Answer

Paper products make up over 25% of municipal solid waste in the U.S., making it one of the largest components of such waste.

Question 6

Yucca Mountain is best known as ________.
A)the location of a leaky nuclear power plant that will cost billions of dollars to clean up
B)a potential site for long-term,high-level,nuclear waste storage in the United States,rejected because of political and safety concerns
C)the site of a lake that received illegal dumping of nuclear waste in the 1960s
D)a military base that has accumulated low-level and high-level nuclear waste for many decades

Accepted Answer

Yucca Mountain is a potential site for long-term, high-level, nuclear waste storage in the United States. However, political and safety concerns have led to its rejection as a site for nuclear waste storage.	None of the other options accurately describe Yucca Mountain.

Question 7

Compared to municipal solid waste in 1960,today's municipal solid waste is much__________ .
A)more likely to contain coal ash
B)less likely to be buried in a sanitary landfill
C)less likely to be recycled
D)less likely to be dumped into an open pit

Accepted Answer

Today's municipal solid waste is less likely to be dumped into an open pit due to increased awareness and regulations regarding environmental protection.

Question 8

Instead of purchasing a cheap new car every 5 years and trading in the old one,a person buys a new,well-built car every 15 years,repairs it as needed,and then trades it in for a new one.This approach saves the person money,reduces the overall impact on the environment,and illustrates the value of___________ .
A)recycling
B)source reduction
C)composting
D)a life-cycle analysis

Accepted Answer

The approach of buying a well-built car, repairing it as needed, and then trading it in for a new one demonstrates the value of a life-cycle analysis. This approach takes into account the entire life cycle of the car, from production to disposal, and aims to minimize the overall impact on the environment while saving money in the long run. Recycling, source reduction, and composting are all important sustainability practices, but they are not directly related to this specific approach to car ownership.

Question 9

At a wastewater treatment plant,the primary purpose of secondary treatment is to __________ .
A)remove the large solids
B)remove toxic chemicals such as pesticides and heavy metals
C)remove the organic matter remaining in the wastewater
D)remove bacteria and other pathogenic organisms

Accepted Answer

Secondary treatment is designed to remove the remaining organic matter from the wastewater. This is typically done through biological processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters. While secondary treatment may also remove some bacteria and other pathogens, its primary purpose is not to do so, as this is typically handled by earlier stages of the treatment process. Removing large solids, toxic chemicals, and other contaminants is typically the responsibility of pre-treatment processes or tertiary treatment processes.

Question 10

A home located about 500 feet from an abandoned landfill explodes in a giant ball of flames.This is a mystery,as the home only uses electricity for cooking and heating.Most likely,this disaster was caused by __________ .
A)corrosives that leached from the landfill into the home and degraded the home's electrical wires
B)methane that seeped from the landfill along horizontal cracks and into the home
C)gasoline or other flammable substances that leached from the landfill into the home
D)groundwater contamination from the landfill into the home

Accepted Answer

Methane is a common byproduct of decomposing organic materials in landfills. If methane is able to seep through cracks in the soil and into a nearby home, it can ignite and cause an explosion. The fact that the home only uses electricity for cooking and heating rules out options A, C, and D as possible causes.

Question 11

The Superfund,which provides federal funds for the cleanup of heavily contaminated hazardous waste sites,was established by what federal law passed in 1980?
A)The Comprehensive Environmental Response,Compensation,and Liability Act
B)The Superfund Management and Liability Act
C)The Hazardous Waste Management Act
D)The Superfund Authority and Management Act

Accepted Answer

The Superfund was established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) enacted in 1980.

Question 12

-From the 1960s to the present,the trend has been that_______ over time.
A)less waste was recovered for recycling
B)less waste was sent to landfills
C)more overall waste was produced
D)less overall waste was produced

Accepted Answer

Over time, consumption and population has increased, therefore leading to more overall waste being produced. Despite efforts to recycle and reduce waste, the overall amount of waste has still increased.

Question 13

Which of the following should not be flushed down the drain or toilet in a home with a septic tank?
A)Vegetable fragments and organic detergents
B)Toilet paper and other paper fragments
C)Condoms and feminine hygiene products
D)Urine and feces

Accepted Answer

Condoms and feminine hygiene products should not be flushed down the drain or toilet in a home with a septic tank as they can clog the system and cause backups. It is important to only flush human waste and toilet paper in order to maintain the proper functioning of the septic system. While vegetable fragments and organic detergents may be biodegradable, it is still recommended to limit their use and dispose of them properly.

Question 14

Wealthy nations generate approximately_________ pounds of waste per person per day.
A)40
B)2)6
C)13.7
D)4)6

Accepted Answer

Wealthy nations generate approximately 4.6 pounds of waste per person per day. This figure reflects the high consumption and production patterns in developed countries, leading to more waste generation compared to less wealthy nations.

Question 15

Latex paint is classified as a hazardous waste because it is ________ .
A)corrosive
B)flammable
C)toxic
D)reactive

Accepted Answer

Latex paint contains various toxic components such as heavy metals, solvents, and preservatives. When disposed of improperly, they can pollute the environment and pose a health risk to humans and wildlife. Therefore, latex paint is classified as a hazardous waste.

Question 16

The disaster of Love Canal in New York in the 1970s illustrated the problem of_________ .
A)unsafe nuclear waste disposal
B)unsafe toxic waste disposal
C)health problems resulting from the processing of electronic wastes
D)lax safety standards at nuclear power plants in the eastern United States

Accepted Answer

Love Canal was a neighborhood in Niagara Falls, New York, where a company called Hooker Chemicals dumped over 21,000 tons of toxic waste. The waste consisted of 200 different chemicals, including dioxin, a highly toxic and carcinogenic chemical. The waste was buried underground and covered with soil. In the 1970s, residents of the neighborhood began to notice serious health problems, including birth defects, cancer, and other illnesses. The disaster of Love Canal showed the dangers of unsafe toxic waste disposal and the need for stricter regulations and oversight in the handling of hazardous materials.

Question 17

All radioactive wastes____________ .
A)release gamma radiation
B)contain atoms that decay
C)are difficult to handle and store safely
D)must be disposed of at Yucca Mountain in Nevada

Accepted Answer

Radioactive wastes contain atoms that decay, which is the fundamental characteristic of radioactivity.

Question 18

To safeguard against groundwater contamination,sanitary landfills are _________.
A)lined with an impermeable liner
B)located on slopes so water runs downhill
C)located on industrial sites where groundwater is not used for drinking or agriculture
D)covered with cement

Accepted Answer

Sanitary landfills are lined with an impermeable liner to prevent leachate (contaminated water) from seeping into the groundwater. The impermeable liner is usually made of clay or synthetic materials.

Question 19

E-waste contains __________.
A)heavy metals
B)compostable organic compounds
C)radioactive materials
D)ignitables

Accepted Answer

E-waste contains heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium which can harm human health and the environment if not properly disposed of.

Question 20

Buying used items at a garage sale is one environmentally friendly approach that represents a form of ____________.
A)composting
B)reuse
C)WTE disposal
D)source reduction

Accepted Answer

Buying used items at a garage sale represents a form of reuse, which is environmentally friendly as it prevents the need for new resources to be consumed in the production of new goods. Composting and WTE disposal are methods of managing organic waste, and source reduction involves reducing the amount of waste generated in the first place, none of which are directly related to buying used items at a garage sale.

Quiz 20: Science Fundamentals

-Since the year 2000,which of the following appears to have grown less popular as a method of dealing with municipal solid waste?

What do wastewater treatment facilities primarily depend upon for the breakdown of organic materials in wastewater?

Waste incinerators ___________.

A septic system is___________ .

Over 25% of all U.S.municipal solid waste consists of __________.

Yucca Mountain is best known as ________.

Compared to municipal solid waste in 1960,today's municipal solid waste is much__________ .

At a wastewater treatment plant,the primary purpose of secondary treatment is to __________ .

A home located about 500 feet from an abandoned landfill explodes in a giant ball of flames.This is a mystery,as the home only uses electricity for cooking and heating.Most likely,this disaster was caused by __________ .

The Superfund,which provides federal funds for the cleanup of heavily contaminated hazardous waste sites,was established by what federal law passed in 1980?

-From the 1960s to the present,the trend has been that_______ over time.

Which of the following should not be flushed down the drain or toilet in a home with a septic tank?

Wealthy nations generate approximately_________ pounds of waste per person per day.

Latex paint is classified as a hazardous waste because it is ________ .

The disaster of Love Canal in New York in the 1970s illustrated the problem of_________ .

All radioactive wastes____________ .

To safeguard against groundwater contamination,sanitary landfills are _________.

E-waste contains __________.

Buying used items at a garage sale is one environmentally friendly approach that represents a form of ____________.