Test your environmental knowledge with these 10 multiple-choice questions! Choose the best answer for each.
The Quiz
1. On what date is Earth Day celebrated annually?
A) March 21st
B) April 22nd
C) June 5th
D) September 16th
2. Who is widely credited with founding Earth Day in the United States?
A) Rachel Carson
B) Al Gore
C) Gaylord Nelson
D) John Muir
3. What year was the very first Earth Day celebrated?
A) 1950
B) 1970
C) 1982
D) 2000
4. The majority of Earth’s breathable oxygen is produced by:
A) Terrestrial forests (like the Amazon)
B) Coral reefs
C) Phytoplankton in the ocean
D) Flowering plants
5. What percentage of the Earth’s total water is readily available as freshwater for human consumption (not locked in ice caps/glaciers or groundwater)?
A) Less than 1%
B) About 10%
C) About 25%
D) About 50%
6. Which of the following greenhouse gases is the largest contributor to the enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming due to human activity?
A) Methane ($\text{CH}_4$)
B) Nitrous Oxide ($\text{N}_2\text{O}$)
C) Water Vapor ($\text{H}_2\text{O}$)
D) Carbon Dioxide ($\text{CO}_2$)
7. Which of the “Three R’s” of waste management is generally considered the most effective in reducing environmental impact?
A) Recycle
B) Reuse
C) Reduce
D) Repair
8. What is the main cause of the loss of habitat and biodiversity in the Amazon rainforest?
A) Wildfires
B) Logging
C) Agriculture (especially cattle ranching and soy)
D) Mining
9. The ozone layer, which protects life from harmful UV radiation, is located in which layer of the atmosphere?
A) Troposphere
B) Stratosphere
C) Mesosphere
D) Thermosphere
10. What is a “carbon footprint”?
A) A measurement of the amount of carbon in a person’s body.
B) The total amount of greenhouse gases generated by a person, product, or company.
C) The area of forest required to absorb all the carbon a person produces.
D) The mark left by a tire on a black road.
