Earth Day and Climate Change Quiz

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  What U.S. environmental disaster was the catalyst for the creation of Earth Day?

  • A.
    The Cuyahoga River (OH) fire
  • B.
    Santa Barbara (CA) oil spill
  • C.
    Three Mile Island (PA) nuclear accident 
  • D.
    Love Canal (NY) toxic waste site
• 2.
  What book published in 1962 helped launch the modern environmental movement and inspire the first Earth Day?

  • A.
    The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
  • B.
    Population Bomb by Paul Ehrlich
  • C.
    Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
  • D.
    A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
• 3.
  What federal environmental legislation was passed after the first Earth Day in the United States?

  • A.
    Endangered Species Act
  • B.
    Clean Air Act of 1970
  • C.
    Clean Water Act
  • D.
    Creation of the Environmental Protection Agency
  • E.
    All of above
• 4.
  More than ____ people participate in Earth Day celebrations around the globe every year.

  • A.
    1 million
  • B.
    10 million
  • C.
    100 million
  • D.
    1 billion
• 5.
  Which best describes how the greenhouse effect works? Heat from the sun reaches the Earth, and . . .

  • A.
    greenhouse gases reflect the sun's energy, causing it to warm the Earth.
  • B.
    greenhouse gases directly warm oceans and cause extreme weather.
  • C.
    greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere block more of the heat trying to leave the earth, causing the surface to warm.
  • D.
    oceans absorb greenhouse gases, which cause the Earth's temperature to rise.
• 6.
  In what year did the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declare greenhouse gases a threat to public health?

  • A.
    1972
  • B.
    1985
  • C.
    2009
  • D.
    2015
• 7.
  On average, how much carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere every day globally?

  • A.
    42 million tons
  • B.
    76 million tons
  • C.
    103 million tons
  • D.
    125 million tons
• 8.
  As average global temperatures rise, . . .

  • A.
     average precipitation increases
  • B.
     average precipitation decreases
  • C.
     average precipitation is unchanged
• 9.
  Which sector in the United States is the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions?

  • A.
    Electricity production
  • B.
    Transportation
  • C.
    Heating and cooling buildings
  • D.
    Manufacturing and agriculture

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  Correct answer: Santa Barbara oil spill

  Resulting in an 800-square-mile oil slick off the coast of California, the Santa Barbara oil spill in early 1969 was the largest oil spill in the United States waters up to that time. Public opinion supported action on environmental issues after seeing images of polluted beaches and oil-covered marine life.
• 2.
  Correct answer: Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

  Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson began supporting environmental initiatives around the time Silent Spring was published in 1962, though it wasn't until 1969 that he came up with the idea for Earth Day inspired by the grass-roots antiwar "teach-ins."
• 3.
  Correct answer: all of the above

  The environmental movement gathered steam during the early 1970s, resulting in a wave of groundbreaking legislation. In addition to the above, the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act were also passed at this time.
• 4.
  Correct answer: 1 billion

  According to Earth Day Network, the nonprofit organization that oversees Earth Day's events and celebrations, about 1 billion people participate in Earth Day each year. Earth Day is recognized as the largest secular observance in the world.
• 5.
  Correct answer: 2009

  EPA announced in 2009 that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare of the American people after examining scientific research and evidence, and reviewing public comments regarding greenhouse gas emissions.
• 6.
  Correct answer: Greenhouse gases absorb the sun's energy, slowing or preventing heat from escaping into space.

  The greenhouse effect is the way in which heat is trapped close to the surface of the Earth by “greenhouse gases,” including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides and water vapor. These heat-trapping gases can be thought of as a blanket wrapped around the Earth, which keeps it toastier than it would be without them.
• 7.
  Correct answer: 70 million tons

  About 70 million tons of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere every day.
• 8.
  Correct answer: Average precipitation increases

  As temperatures rise and the air becomes warmer, more moisture evaporates from land and water into the atmosphere. More moisture in the air generally means more rain and snow (called precipitation) and more heavy downpours.
• 9.
  Correct answer: Transportation

  The transportation sector generates the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation primarily come from burning fossil fuels for our cars, trucks, ships, trains, and air planes.