16) Which of the following is an obstacle encountered in environmental research?

a) setting up adequate experimental controls for field studies

b) developing laboratory experiments of sufficient complexity

c) developing theory and models for complex systems

d) timeframes of ecological processes

e) all of the above are obstacles encountered in environmental studies

17) It is difficult to anticipate all the consequences of environmental decision-making. For example, when the insecticide DDT was introduced to control mosquito populations, an unintended consequence was:

a) a super-strain of bacteria that was resistant to DDT

b) a rise in malaria cases caused by mosquitoes

c) the brown pelican converting to vegetarianism

d) birds ingesting contaminated insects, and then producing eggshells so thin that the unhatched birds died

e) political leaders endorsing alternative habitat for mosquitoes

18) Measurement uncertainties and other errors that occur in experiments are called:

a) human errors

b) systematic errors

c) experimental errors

d) statistical errors

e) precision errors

19) Identify an alternative to direct experimentation in environmental science:

a) analysis of historical records

b) observations of modern catastrophes

c) environmental monitoring

d) analysis of fossil records

e) all of the above can be used as alternatives to direct experimentation

20) __________ is a search for understanding of the natural world, whereas __________ is the

application of scientific knowledge in an attempt to benefit human beings.

a) theory; logic

b) technology; science

c) science; technology

d) pseudoscience; frontier science

e) value; faith