ENV 101 - Introduction to Environmental Studies - fall 2000
Study Guide -- Final Exam
The test is scheduled for Monday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m. Bring a #2 pencil.
The test will consist of multiple-choice, short-answer, and essay questions.
If you have questions about the subject matter covered on this exam, see the pertinent instructors.
The first part of the test (100
points) will cover material presented since the last exam.
The second part (50 points) will be comprehensive, covering
concepts from the whole semester.
I. First Part of the Exam
......A. Dr. Hasting's portion of the exam:
Format: A major part of the final exam will be on material covered in the last two weeks' of lecture. This section of the test will consist of a combination of multiple-choice, true-false, and essay questions. It will cover material presented in lecture and in videos, some of which is reinforced by several Web sites that were emphasized in class (see the Links section of Hastings' ENV 101 Web page http://www.chsbs.cmich.edu/charles_hastings/Courses/ENV101.htm). Two handouts that were distributed provide a basic outline for much of what was covered in class, but these are intended only as supplements to your own notes.
Review of Section I. Introduction: Anthropological Perspectives on Environmental Issues.
- Think of examples of how culturally defined values influence our attitudes and actions toward the environment. What is ecological anthropology, and what main points did Julian Steward emphasize on culturally determined adaptive strategies to the natural environment?
Review of Section II. Environmental Issues in the Past.
- How might environmental issues have impacted the ancient Mesopotamian and Maya civilizations? Regarding Late Pleistocene extinctions, what sorts of animals became extinct, and when? What environmental factors might account for these extinctions? What evidence is there that Paleo-Indians were a factor?
- When did humans first expand their range into the North American Arctic, including coastal Greenland? Describe the basic steps in the westward expansion of the Norse (Vikings) as far as Newfoundland (Vinland), including their colonization of southwest Greenland. Contrast the basic ways of life of the Inuit and the Norse on Greenland, and their flexibility in the face of environmental change. What evidence is there for climatic change, and for the Norse failure to make necessary adjustments? Why didn't the Norse learn from the Inuit? What eventually happened to them?
Review of Section III. 1st-World Impact on 3rd-World Environments.
- Give some examples of how social trends, business dealings, and policy decisions in the US and Europe can have a huge impact on the natural environments of Third-World countries.
- Regarding the vicuņa: what kind of animal is it, what is its natural habitat, and why do people value it? How have attitudes and policies toward this animal changed over the centuries, and with what effect? Why is the vicuņa now recovering from near extinction?
- Regarding maca: what is it, and where is it grown? How has it been used over the centuries, and what is the current Western craze for this plant? How does increased maca farming impact the local environment, and what are the long-term risks in recent boosts in production?
- Regarding coca: Where is it grown? How has it been traditionally used for the past several thousands of years? What are the environmental consequences of high Western demands for the narcotic cocaine, and for US-sponsored efforts to eradicate coca farming?
Review of Section IV. Conflicts over Energy.
- Describe the basic conflicts of interest between the Cree First Nation and Hydro-Quebec. Where are the disputed areas? What interests and claims to the Cree have toward these areas, and why does Hydro-Quebec feel justified in expanding hydroelectric projects into this part of northern Quebec? What happened in the James Bay I Project on the La Grande River, and how did this affect the local Cree? How did the Cree mobilize resistance to the proposed James Bay II Project on the Great Whale River, and with what result? What has happened in the past six months regarding Cree and Hydro-Quebec negotiations? How is the US involved in this problem? How should modern society try to reconcile these differences?
ALSO: make sure you can describe the major issues of the Community Forum (Mentaba County's Rag Bond project) and the facts that shape the arguments on both sides of the issue.
II. Study Questions for the Comprehensive Part of the Exam
The test will include 4 or 5 short essay questions (worth a total of 50 points) for the comprehensive part.
These exact questions may not be on the test, but if you understand and can answer these, you will be prepared. If you have questions about any of these, see the appropriate instructor.
......Dr. Gillingham's Study Questions
1. What is a biome? Diagram a climograph, and using 2 or 3 biomes, explain how it is used.
2. Compare and contrast the terms population, community, and ecosystem. How do each of these change over time?
3. What is meant by the biological species concept? How is BIODIVERSITY used as an indicator of community quality?
4. What is NATURAL SELECTION and how does it work?
5. Define ECOLOGY, and relate it to the terms in # 2.
......Dr. Matty's Study Questions
1. What is meant by the term “QUALITY” of mineral and energy resources? How (and why) is the quality of a mineral or energy resource related to the amount of pollution associated with extraction, processing, and use of that resource?
2. What are the 4 main categories of water pollutants defined in class? List an example of a source for each type of pollutant (where it comes from). Describe how pollutants in each category degrade water quality.
3. Describe one way in which each of the following may lead to water pollution: a) mining of mineral resources, b) use of fossil-fuel resources, c) disposal of wastes.
......Dr. Shively''s Study
Questions
1. You will be asked to write a brief yet complete essay linking patterns of urban sprawl and second home development in Michigan to air pollution and air quality. Be sure that you review the material on transportation and urban development in Chapter 26, and the material concerning smog formation and ozone in Chapter 18 and this web link to Air Pollution notes: http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/shive1dd/courses/geo120/airpollution.html
2. You will be asked to write a brief yet complete essay linking patterns of population growth and spatial distribution with water resources availability, both now and in the future, specifically addressing the situation for MDCs, LDCs, and both humid and arid regions. Relevant material to review includes: Chapters 11 and 13, and the website listed below. http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/shive1dd/courses/geo120/populationprint.html
......Dr. Kurtz's Study Questions
1. Public lands policy: know basic features of conservation (multiple use), preservation, uncontrolled exploitation. What does each of these perspectives say about how we manage public lands?
2. Distinguish between the environmental policy compliance mechanisms found in command and control, incentives and use of market strategies.
3. Distinguish between concepts of economic sustainability, ecological sustainability. Arguments of jobs vs. environmental protection.