Apes Free Response Questions

APES Free Response Questions

Directions: Answer the following FRQs as thoroughly and specifically as time permits. Where explanation or discussion is required, support your answers with relevant information and/or specific examples. Please be sure to address all parts of the question. The suggested tome to complete all parts of this FRQ is about 20 minutes.

FRQ 1 - Intro (Unit 1)

Chapter 1: Developed Countries have steadily become the largest consumers of resources and at the same time have been wasting more resources than they actually need. This has led to an imbalance of resource utilization among the countries of the world. The poor countries under-consume while the prosperous over-consume. This has led to a growing condition known as affluenza.

1. Define what is meant by affluenza.
2. How can affluenza be implicated in having a negative effect on the environment?
3. How can affluenza be implicated in having a positive effect on the environment?
4. What would happen if the other countries of the world developed to have the same high level of consumption as the U.S.?

FRQ 2 - Scientific Method (Unit 1)

Chapter 2: To help us develop sustainability, scientists work hard to find answers to today’s problems and issues. To be credible, scientists must follow a series of steps during their investigations, a process known as the scientific method.

1. Why is it socially important that scientists be seen as credible sources of information?
2. Define the scientific method.

1.        Explain the steps utilized in “good science” methodology.

ii.                 Explain the two steps of reasoning used by scientists.

1. Explain what is meant by a paradigm shift with respect to scientific thinking.

1. Explain the difference between a scientific hypothesis, scientific theory, and scientific law.

FRQ 3 – Sustainable Cities  (Unit 1)

Chapter 22b: Recently a “breaking” news item appeared in bold, flashing letters at the City of West Marshall website. The news item described the unanimous vote of the City Council to approve a new 10-story parking garage on a city-owned land in Downtown. The item went on to say that the city will give he land to the developer for free along with other tax incentives because the parking garage will help revitalize Downtown by encouraging more area residents to visit the City Center.

1. Give THREE reasons why sustainable living should be a worthy goal for any urban community.
2. Describe THREE strategies that can be used to make many existing cities more livable
3. Give TWO examples of American states, cities, or communities that have implemented one or more of the sustainable urban development strategies, and describe what was actually done.

FRQ 4 - Worldviews (Unit 1)

Chapter 25: Recently, a controversy erupted over the efforts of the state of Maryland to rid the Chesapeake Bay area of a large and growing population of non-native swan. The swan was said to be of European origin. The report did not say how or when the swan arrived in the area. However, it was clear that they have adapted very well. Their population has increased greatly, and they are said to be putting pressure on the local ecosystem, which is the reason the state embarked on the program to rid the area of the swan. The chosen elimination approach involves inducing successive reproductive failure in the birds by coating their eggs with cooking oil. The oil ensures that the eggs can’t breath, which ensures that they will not hatch. While everyone agrees that the elimination approach is very humane, not everyone is happy with the elimination program itself. Most environmental organizations in the area are very supportive of the state on this issue. However, one organization is very upset with the program. Their spokesperson claims that its analysis of the state’s data showed that the swan has adapted very well to the area, and that the bird has shown no significant impact on the local ecosystem.

1. Describe TWO environmental worldviews that could be the basis for those environmentalists who supported the state on the issue.
2. Explain TWO other worldviews that cold be the basis of the opponents’ position.
3. Explain why is it possible for the two analysts to arrive at very different conclusions even though they were logically examining the same data set.

FRQ 5 – Poverty Effects  (Unit 1)

Chapter 23: Recently, there was a short feature story in one of the national newspapers about the country of Akoka. The article discussed the recent democratic elections in the country and about how the poor and the homeless turned out in large numbers to vote, especially in the shanty-towns that surround New City, the nation’s capital. The story went on to say that one of the biggest problems of Akoka is unemployment and mass poverty. According to the newspaper, the United Nation’s Development Program (UNDP) office in New City is concerned that democracy may not take hold in Akoka without a sustained effort to deal with its twin problems of poverty and unemployment.

1. Give TWO reasons why poverty is a major economic, social, or political problem, and TWO reasons why it is an environmental problem.
2. Describe THREE strategies that can be used to deal with poverty on a worldwide scale.
3. Explain TWO reasons why free trade has not succeeded in helping poor countries alleviate mass poverty.
4. Why is it in the best interests of developed nations to care about poverty in the developing world?

FRQ 6 – Earth Processes (Unit 2)

Chapter 14a: The Earth is made up of many dynamic internal and external processes. These processes of renewal and destruction have shaped our Earth since its beginning. Natural geologic processes such as earthquakes and volcanoes can cause mass destruction to the human population.

1. Identify and describe a type of chemical and physical weathering process that helps shape the planet.
2. i. Discuss what type of tectonic activity could lead to the formation of an earthquake.

ii. What is the difference in amplitude measured between two earthquakes of 7.0 and 4.0 on the Richter Scale.

iii. Identify TWO environmental or economic impacts earthquakes can have.

1. What geologic activity most likely occurred to form the Mariana’s Trench?
2. Discuss how tsunamis form and what natural barriers in the ecosystem help protect humans living in coastal areas.

FRQ 7 - Minerals (Unit 2)