Chapter 11—Sustainability Issues
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Up until the twentieth century, how did people generally think of the environment?
a.
As a beautiful natural resource that needed to be protected from actions that harmed its
beauty
b.
As nature, including wildlife, trees, oceans, rivers, and mountains
c.
In terms of how natural resources could be harnessed to meet the need for food, shelter,
and recreation
d.
As resources that should be used in unlimited quantities to satisfy the need for shelter,
food, and transportation
e.
As a resource that dictates how people should live their lives
2. Which of the following best defines the natural environment from a business perspective?
a.
The physical world, including all biological entities, as well as the interaction between
nature and individuals, organizations, and business strategies
b.
The physical world including all biological and geological entities
c.
Plants, animals, human beings, oceans and other waterways, land, and the atmosphere
d.
Any entity or combination of entities that has an impact on the way that organizations
conduct their business
e.
Any resource that is found in limited quantities and requires protection through national or
state regulation
3. In what decade did environmental concerns start to become a focus of governments around the globe
in the form of environmental protection laws?
a.
1910s
b.
1930s
c.
1950s
d.
1970s
e.
1990s
4. Increasing amounts of carbon dioxide and methane in the earth’s atmosphere can result in which
negative environmental impact?
a.
Acid rain
b.
Air pollution
c.
Greenhouse melting
d.
Kyoto gases
e.
Global warming
5. What is the Kyoto Protocol?
a.
Specific international standards that every nation must comply with in regards to emission
of gases
b.
Standards that every nation must comply with in regards to the emission of pollutants into
streams and drinking water supplies
c.
A controversial treaty proposed among industrialized nations to slow global warming
d.
A United States law that regulates the emission of harmful gases into the atmosphere
without a permit
e.
An alliance of scientists worldwide working to prove the harmful effects certain gases can
have on the environment
6. Which of the following best describes the relationship between drinking water quality and water
pollution?
a.
Water from surface reservoirs and water from underground aquifers can both be harmed
by water pollution.
b.
Water pollution most likely affects the quality of drinking water from surface reservoirs
such as rivers and lakes since these are the primary sources of our drinking water supplies.
c.
Very few drinking water systems in the United States are in violation of federal safety
standards, as these water pollution problems are found only in less industrialized
countries.
d.
Water pollution is generally less of a factor in industrialized areas, because most industries
carefully clean potentially harmful discharges in order to protect drinking water quality.
e.
Although water pollution usually affects the fish, animals, and plants living in and near the
bodies of water, it rarely impacts the quality of the drinking water directly.
7. Which of the following is not a major environmental issue affecting land?
a.
Land pollution
b.
Greenhouse effect
c.
Urban sprawl
d.
Deforestation
e.
Waste management
8. What argument lies at the heart of environmental battles over endangered species habitats throughout
the world?
a.
Most people realize that the loss of any one species will not threaten the entire ecosystem
or create a decline in biodiversity.
b.
Global research indicates that declining numbers of plant species have little impact on the
overall ecosystem.
c.
People argue that human beings are more important than any one species of plant or
animal.
d.
There is a significant burden incurred by complying with endangered species laws, and the
laws do little to protect the species anyway.
e.
People argue that there are few benefits received from biodiversity, and no regulation is
needed to protect endangered species.
9. What is the main problem associated with genetically modified plants and genetic engineering of
animal cells?
a.
They are too expensive to be practical.
b.
The long-term effects cannot be predicted.
c.
They are almost impossible to create and produce.
d.
They do not seem to improve the short-term outcome.
e.
They fail to increase the yield of crops.
10. What is the most influential regulatory agency concerning environmental issues in the United States?
a.
FIFRA
b.
FTC
c.
Earth Day Council
d.
EPA
e.
NAAQS
11. What is the main legislation to regulate atmospheric emissions?
a.
Environmental Protection Act
b.
Pure Atmosphere Act
c.
Clean Air Act
d.
Pollution Prevention Act
e.
NAAQS
12. What is the main purpose of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act?
a.
Control the use of pesticides through federal regulation
b.
Require all pesticides to be registered with the federal government
c.
Ensure that all pesticides are 100 percent safe for the environment
d.
Through federal control, limit who can sell harmful chemicals
e.
Place the distribution, sale, and use of pesticides under federal control
13. What does the Clean Water Act make illegal?
a.
Failing to implement innovative water treatment plans in manufacturing sites
b.
Dumping chemicals into rivers, lakes, and other waterways that may affect drinking water
quality
c.
Discharging any water that has not been thoroughly refined through a purification process
d.
Discharging a pollutant from a point source into navigable waters without a permit
e.
Using water within a factory that does not pass the safety standards set by the federal
government
14. Specific development, pricing, promotion, and distribution of products that do less harm to the
environment are known as
a.
green marketing.
b.
earth friendly.
c.
eco-labeling.
d.
environmental designing.
e.
nonpolluting promoting.
15. Which of the following is not one of the goals that companies should strive for in working to protect
and preserve the environment?
a.
Companies should rethink the concept of a product.
b.
Businesses should seek ways to make their commitment to the environment profitable.
c.
Companies should minimize the costs of complying with laws by taking shortcuts.
d.
Companies should strive to eliminate the concept of waste.
e.
The price of products should reflect their true costs.
16. What type of product is a television?
a.
Consumable
b.
Durable
c.
Recyclable
d.
Unsalable
e.
Disposable
17. What is socially responsible buying?
a.
Buying that attempts to take into account the public consequences of organizational
buying or bring about positive social change through organizational buying behavior
b.
When consumers take factors such as the percentage of recycled material included in a
product and its packaging into account when making purchase decisions
c.
Organizational buying policies that mandate the purchase of materials that are approved as
environmentally friendly regardless of the costs involved
d.
When an organization uses more than its share of greenhouse gas emissions and purchases
credits from other companies who have already surpassed their target level
e.
Maintaining strict standards about suppliers’ commitment to social issues
18. What is the real difficulty in conducting a risk analysis?
a.
Identifying the environmental issues that might be related to any one type of company or
product
b.
Identifying which stakeholder groups have concerns about various environmental issues
c.
Measuring the costs and benefits of environmental decisions, especially in the eyes of
interested stakeholders
d.
Conducting government or industry research as part of the response to environmental
concerns
e.
Determining the specific environmental factors that could impact a business decision
19. What must high-commitment organizations strive to do with respect to environmental issues and
the organization’s stakeholders?
a.
Constantly keep all of their stakeholders satisfied
b.
Prioritize claims by refusing to evaluate ones that are potentially insignificant
c.
Avoid much negotiation in order to maintain a proper balance of power
d.
Evaluate the latest information and maintain consistent communication with all
stakeholders
e.
Remember that all stakeholders are equal and treat them as such regarding environmental
issues
20. What is ISO 14000?
a.
National environmental standards that promote a cleaner and safer environment for all
Americans
b.
A comprehensive set of environmental standards that encourage a cleaner, safer, and
healthier world
c.
The required standard for reporting information about environmental performance to
stakeholders
d.
A standardized auditing process that evaluates a company’s environmental performance
e.
International regulatory body that is responsible for punishing companies who are not in
compliance with global environmental standards
ESSAY
21. What are the negative effects caused by air pollution?
22. What factors have contributed to increased concerns about the available quantities of water?
23. What is urban sprawl, and what negative environmental impacts have resulted because of it?
24. What are three of the duties of the Environmental Protection Agency?
25. Why have some endangered species been purposely harmed by landowners?
26. How should a company address stakeholder concerns about environmental issues?