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Environmental Science: A Global Concern, 7/e

William P. Cunningham, University of Minnesota
Mary Ann Cunningham, Vassar College
Barbara Woodworth Saigo, St. Cloud State University

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Practice Quizzing


1	The disease causing the greatest number of deaths worldwide is
		A)	malaria.
		B)	cardiovascular disease.
		C)	cancer.
		D)	AIDS.


2	Among the communicable diseases _______ causes the most deaths each year.
		A)	infectious lung disease such as tuberculosis
		B)	AIDS
		C)	measles
		D)	tetanus


3	Death from infectious disease can effectively be reduced by
		A)	improved nutrition.
		B)	improved sanitation.
		C)	expanded use of inexpensive vaccines.
		D)	all of the above.


4	Diseases new to humans in the last several decades include
		A)	pneumonia.
		B)	pertussis.
		C)	Marbury fever.
		D)	all of the above.


5	Vaccination has eradicated ______ from the world.
		A)	tuberculosis
		B)	small pox
		C)	Marbury fever
		D)	lethal forms of measles.


6	Factors contributing to the appearance and spread of disease include
		A)	a much higher density of humans on earth.
		B)	human expansion into new areas exposing us to exotic pathogens for the first time.
		C)	rapid and extensive modern travel.
		D)	all of the above.


7	Many disease-causing agents have become immune to modern drugs and pesticides because
		A)	a handful of organisms with natural immunity have had a greater chance of surviving and passing on the genes for resistance to future generations than others.
		B)	indiscriminant use of drugs and pesticides has accelerated natural selection for resistant strains of pathogens.
		C)	pathogens have learned how to cope with the chemicals that formerly were lethal to them.
		D)	two of the above.


8	Effective measures that can help a person stay healthy include
		A)	washing hands often.
		B)	eating plenty of carefully washed fresh fruits and vegetables daily.
		C)	cooking foods at temperatures that will kill pathogens.
		D)	all of the above.


9	The chemical responsible for more problems in embryonic development than any other is
		A)	benzene.
		B)	thalidomide.
		C)	alcohol.
		D)	DDT.


10	Chemical substances that modify genetic blueprints (DNA) are called
		A)	neurotoxins.
		B)	teratogens.
		C)	mutagens.
		D)	antigens.


11	Cases of breast and testicular cancer have recently
		A)	dropped significantly.
		B)	remained about the same.
		C)	increased slightly.
		D)	increased significantly.


12	Foods associated with increased incidence of cancer include
		A)	highly processed foods.
		B)	fat.
		C)	smoke-cured, high nitrate meats.
		D)	all of the above.


13	Being overweight correlates with increased risks for
		A)	diabetes.
		B)	heart disease.
		C)	possible cancer.
		D)	all of the above.


14	The leading cause of death for women in the U.S. is
		A)	diabetes.
		B)	smoking.
		C)	breast cancer.
		D)	AIDS.


15	National health and diet goals include
		A)	eating lots of grains, fruits, and vegetables.
		B)	eating a variety of foods.
		C)	engaging in physical activity.
		D)	all of the above.


16	Some chemicals are much more dangerous when in the presence of certain other chemicals. This is referred to as a/an ______ effect.
		A)	antagonistic
		B)	additive
		C)	synergistic
		D)	bio-accumulative


17	Factors that can influence the degree of toxicity of a given chemical include
		A)	time of day of exposure.
		B)	the solubility of the substance.
		C)	duration and frequency of exposure.
		D)	all of the above.


18	In contrast to acute effects, chronic effects
		A)	are generally lethal.
		B)	can result from exposure to a sublethal dose.
		C)	produce an immediate health crisis.
		D)	are described by all of the above.


19	Our perception of the degree of risk associated with exposure to substances is influenced by
		A)	our social or economic interests.
		B)	our understanding of probability (or lack thereof).
		C)	the nature of news coverage by the media.
		D)	all of the above.


20	_______ pose(s) the lowest risk to human welfare of those listed.
		A)	Habitat destruction
		B)	Loss of biological diversity through species extinction
		C)	Global climate change
		D)	Oil spills


21	Health is defined as the absence of disease or disability.
		A)	True
		B)	False


22	Thanks to modern medicines and vaccines, worldwide, infectious disease is no longer a significant cause of death.
		A)	True
		B)	False


23	Some infectious diseases can be stopped by creation of edible vaccines produced by genetically engineered crop plants.
		A)	True
		B)	False


24	The Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) is an index of the years lost to premature mortality as well as disability.
		A)	True
		B)	False


25	Crowded conditions are a contributory factor in three of the four most devastating diseases worldwide.
		A)	True
		B)	False


26	Synthetic chemicals are toxic while naturally occurring substances are not.
		A)	True
		B)	False


27	Toxins that are water soluble move around the environment much more easily than those not soluble in water.
		A)	True
		B)	False


28	An acute toxic effect is one resulting from continuous exposure to a sub-lethal concentration.
		A)	True
		B)	False

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