GEM 114 - MAN & HIS ENVIRONMENT
Comprehensive Study Guide with Questions and
Answers
SECTION A
1. Define the term environment. Environment refers to the sum total of all surroundings of a
living organism, including natural forces and factors, which provide conditions for development
and growth as well as danger and damage. It includes both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic)
components that influence each other.
2. What is the cultural environment? Cultural environment encompasses the human-made
aspects of our surroundings including language, knowledge, beliefs, customs, arts, morals, law,
and any other capabilities and habits acquired by humans as members of society. It represents
the shared patterns of behaviors and interactions that are learned through socialization.
3. Name the three components of the inorganic environment. a. Lithosphere (the solid
earth/land) b. Hydrosphere (water bodies) c. Atmosphere (air/gaseous layer)
4. The organic environment in which all living things are found is called... Biosphere
5. The term biota refers to... Biota refers to all living organisms (plants, animals, fungi,
bacteria, etc.) in a particular area or region at a given time.
6. In an ecosystem, the biotic components are: (a) Producers (plants and photosynthetic
organisms) (b) Consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores) (c) Decomposers (bacteria,
fungi)
7. A biome can be identified by its... A biome can be identified by its characteristic vegetation
type, climate patterns, and geographical location.
8. Two biomes that can be found in Nigeria are: (a) Tropical rainforest (b) Savanna (or
Guinea savanna/Sudan savanna)
9. The mangrove swamp forest forms a belt along the coast of Nigeria from... The
mangrove swamp forest forms a belt along the coast of Nigeria from Lagos in the west to
Calabar in the east, covering the Niger Delta region.
10. The freshwater swamp forest occurs beyond the range of the... Mangrove swamp
forests (or tidal influence)
11. Meteoroids that reach our atmosphere are called... Meteors
12. Any meteor that reaches the earth surface is called a... Meteorite
13. The ozonosphere is found in the...... layer of the atmosphere. Stratosphere
14. The most important use of the atmosphere to man is... Providing oxygen for
respiration/breathing
15. The atmosphere is important in the following five ways: a. Provides gases necessary for
respiration (oxygen) b. Protects earth from harmful solar radiation c. Regulates earth's
temperature through greenhouse effect d. Facilitates water cycle through evaporation and
precipitation e. Distributes moisture and heat around the globe
16. Ozone is a molecule of three atoms of... Oxygen
17. The ozone layer in the stratosphere is responsible for removing... Harmful ultraviolet
(UV) radiation from the sun
18. A) Define the term ecosystems. An ecosystem is a biological community of interacting
organisms and their physical environment functioning together as a unit. It includes both biotic
and abiotic components linked through nutrient cycles and energy flows.
B) Give two examples of an ecosystem: a) Pond ecosystem b) Forest ecosystem
19. The idea that population cannot grow indefinitely is captured by the law of... Carrying
capacity (or limiting factors)
20. The maximum population that an ecosystem can support is known as... Carrying
capacity
21. Name and state the country of occurrence of any major natural disaster that occurred
in the world in 2012. Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, Japan (March 2011, effects
continued into 2012) OR Hurricane Sandy, United States (October 2012) OR Typhoon Bopha,
Philippines (December 2012)
22. Four states with severe cases of gully erosion in Nigeria: a. Anambra b. Enugu c. Abia
d. Imo
23. The environment serves as the sink for waste, what is waste? Waste refers to any
material, substance, or byproduct that is no longer needed or useful and is discarded after
primary use. These are materials that become useless, unwanted or discarded after people
have used them.
24. Draw a well labelled section of the earth's crust. [A diagram would show layers including:
topsoil, subsoil, weathered rock, bedrock, with appropriate labels]
25. The effects of the utilization of natural resources for energy include: a. Environmental
pollution b. Depletion of non-renewable resources c. Climate change d. Habitat destruction and
biodiversity loss
26. The republic of China lost the bid to host the 2008 Olympics because of...
Environmental concerns, particularly air pollution issues in Beijing
27. Hazardous wastes refer to... Hazardous wastes refer to discarded materials that are
potentially harmful to human health or the environment due to their toxicity, reactivity, ignitability,
or corrosivity. They require special handling, treatment, and disposal methods.
28. The global population reached one billion in 1804. In 1927 it passed 2 billion. Sixty
years later in 1987, the population has passed 5 billion. Twelve years later in 1999, it was
estimated to have reached 6 billion.
29. The global population increase is the cause of such environment problems as: a)
Deforestation b) Loss of biodiversity c) Water scarcity d) Increased pollution e) Climate change
30. Food shortages and famines are exacerbated by the following environmental
problems: a) Desertification and soil degradation b) Climate change and unpredictable weather
patterns
31. The major mineral(s) in the crust is/are... Silicates (silicon and oxygen compounds)
32. The core is composed mainly of two minerals: (a) Iron (b) Nickel
33. A mineral is... A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical
composition and an ordered atomic arrangement, formed by geological processes.
34. The most common rock-forming minerals are the... Silicates (including quartz, feldspar,
mica, and hornblende)
35. The uses of minerals include: a) Construction materials b) Energy production c)
Manufacturing of goods d) Agriculture (fertilizers) e) Electronics and technology
36. A good agricultural soil is comprised of: (a) Sand (b) Silt (c) Clay (d) Organic
matter/humus (e) Nutrients
37. The impact of mining on the environment include: a) Land degradation b) Water
pollution c) Air pollution d) Loss of biodiversity e) Soil contamination
38. The impact of urbanization on the environment include: a) Increased pollution (air,
water, noise) b) Loss of natural habitats c) Increased waste generation d) Urban heat island
effect e) Increased resource consumption
39. The impact of agriculture on the environment include: a) Soil erosion and degradation
b) Water pollution from fertilizers and pesticides c) Deforestation for agricultural land d) Loss of
biodiversity
40. The impact of industrialization on the environment include: a) Air pollution b) Water
pollution c) Generation of hazardous waste d) Increased resource consumption
41. The atmosphere is made up of the following three main constituents: (a) Nitrogen
(78%) (b) Oxygen (21%) (c) Argon (0.9%)
42. The composition of the dry atmosphere is... 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon,
0.04% carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of other gases.
43. Minor component of the atmospheric gases include: Water vapor, carbon dioxide,
methane, ozone, and other trace gases.
44. The densest layer of the atmosphere is the... Troposphere
45. The most turbulent part of the atmosphere is the... Troposphere
46. The part of the atmosphere where weather phenomenon occurs is... Troposphere
47. The introduction into air of any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies
the natural characteristics of air is termed... Air pollution
48. The earth is internally made up of three layers namely: (a) Crust (b) Mantle (c) Core
49. Any plant or animal from a foreign land is known as an... Exotic or alien species
50. The formation of ozone in the atmosphere is represented by the chemical equation:
O₂ + O → O₃ (Oxygen molecule + oxygen atom → ozone)
51. The complex system in which interactions between the different components of the
environment occur is known as... Ecosystem
52. The ability of the atmosphere to absorb long-wave radiation and convert it to heat is
known as... Greenhouse effect
53. The three environmental concepts which explains how humans have related to their
environment through time are: a) Planetary management (anthropocentric view) b)
Stewardship (Earth-wisdom view) c) Environmental wisdom (ecocentric view)
54. The point from where seismic waves causing earthquakes originates is known as...
Epicenter (or focus/hypocenter)
55. The processes that may precede an earthquake are called... Precursors or foreshocks
56. The magnitude of an earthquake wave is measured on a scale known as... Richter
scale (or moment magnitude scale)
SECTION B
57. Exponential growth is the process in which... A quantity increases at a constantly
accelerating rate proportional to the current amount, resulting in a J-shaped growth curve.
58. The environmental issues we face are interconnected and growing exponentially.
Enumerate these issues into six groups: (a) Population growth (b) Resource depletion (c)
Pollution (d) Climate change (e) Biodiversity loss (f) Land degradation
59. Differentiate between ecology and ecologist as used in environmental science?
Ecology is the scientific study of the relationships between organisms and their environment,
while an ecologist is a scientist who specializes in studying these relationships.
60. What is the difference between environmental scientists and environmentalists?
Environmental scientists study the environment through scientific methods and research, while
environmentalists advocate for the protection and preservation of the environment through
activism and policy changes.
61. What is the difference between conservation biologists and conservationists?
Conservation biologists are scientists who study biodiversity and species preservation using
scientific methods, while conservationists are individuals who practice or advocate for the
protection and preservation of natural resources and the environment.
62. Compare and contrast between preservationists and restorationists as players in the
environmental drama. Preservationists advocate for protecting natural areas from human use
and interference, maintaining them in their pristine state, while restorationists focus on repairing
and rehabilitating damaged ecosystems to return them to a natural or near-natural state.
63. Our existence, lifestyle and economies depend completely on the sun and earth, a
blue and white island in the black void of space.
64. To the economist capital is wealth used to sustain a business and to generate more
wealth. By analogy how do you think of the energy from the sun and planet's air, water,
soil, wildlife, minerals, and the purification and recycling process? They can be considered
natural capital - the planet's stock of natural resources that supports life, provides raw materials,
and offers ecosystem services that sustain human economies and wellbeing.
65. Solar energy is defined broadly to include direct sunlight and indirect forms: (a) Wind
energy (b) Hydropower (c) Biomass energy
66. What is an environmentally sustainable society? An environmentally sustainable society
is one that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs, by living within the carrying capacity of supporting
ecosystems.
67. Living sustainability means... Living in a way that maintains ecological balance by using
resources at rates that do not exceed the capacity of the Earth to replace them, while ensuring
social and economic equity for current and future generations.
68. "Don't kill the goose that lays the golden egg" means? Don't destroy valuable natural
resources and ecosystem services for short-term gain, as they provide long-term benefits and
prosperity.
69. "The living planet" reported that between 1970 and 1999 the world lost about
one-third of its natural capital because of a combination of exponential growth in
population and in the use of the earth's natural resources. What was the report's
argument of the contrasting resource users to this report? (a) Developed countries
consume disproportionately more resources per capita (b) Developing countries face increasing
pressure on resources due to population growth
70. What is "the rule of 70" as implied in exponential growth in population and economic
development? The rule of 70 is a calculation to determine how long it will take for a value to
double at a given growth rate. Divide 70 by the annual percentage growth rate to get the
approximate doubling time in years.
71. What are the factors influencing the growth of the earth's human population over the
last 100 years? (i) Increased food production (ii) Improved medical care and public health (iii)
Better sanitation (iv) Access to clean water (v) Control of disease vectors
72. What are the ecological and social consequences of the rapid human population
increases from 6.1 billion to 8 billion between 2000 and 2028 and perhaps to 9 billion by
2054? Ecological: Increased resource consumption, habitat destruction, pollution, biodiversity
loss Social: Food and water scarcity, increased urbanization, poverty, resource conflicts
73. An increase in a country's capacity to provide goods and services for peoples' final
use is termed... Economic growth
74. Economic growth of any nation is usually measured by the increase in several
indicators including: (i) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (ii) Gross National Product (GNP) (iii)
Per capita income
75. Economic development is the improvement of living standards by increasing
prosperity and quality of life.
76. The United Nations classifies the world's countries as economically developed or
developing based primarily on their degree of industrialization and their human
development index.
77. The market value in current dollars of all goods and services produced within and
outside a country by the country's businesses during a year is known as the country's...
Gross National Product (GNP)
78. The market value in current dollars of all goods and services produced within a
country during a year is termed the country's... Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
79. The market value in current dollars of all goods and services produced in the world
each year is known as... Gross World Product (GWP)
80. The United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and all the countries of
Europe are often classified as... Developed countries
81. The developed countries are highly industrialized and have high average per capita
GNPs.
82. The developed countries, with 1.2 billion people (20% of the world's population in
2000), (a)have 80% of the world's wealth and income, (b)use about 88% of the world's
natural resources, and (c)generate about 75% of its pollution and waste.
83. Africa, Latin America and Asia have 4.9 billion people (80% of the world's population
in 2000) and are classified as developing Nations.
84. More than 95% of the projected increase in the world's population is expected to take
place in developing countries where one million people are added every 5 days.
85. The primary reason for the rapid population growth in developing countries is the...
High birth rates coupled with decreasing death rates due to improved healthcare while still
maintaining traditional family structures and limited family planning.
86. Environmentally sustainable economic development (a) encourages forms of
economic growth that meet the basic needs of the current generations of human and
other species without features that prevent future generations and species from meeting
their basic needs and (b) discourages environmentally harmful practices.
87. Since the 1980s, the gap between the per capital GNP of the rich, middle income,
poor, and acutely poor has widened. This difference in wealth between nations is known
as... Economic inequality or income disparity
88. The broad process of global social, economic, and environmental change that leads
to an increasingly integrated world is popularly referred to as... Globalization
89. Environmental necessity is anything an organism needs for normal maintenance,
growth and reproduction? Examples are habitat, food, water and shelter.
90. A resource is anything obtained from the environment to meet human needs and
wants. Examples include food, water, shelter, manufactured goods, transportation,
communication and recreation.
91. On a short human time scale, the material resources at our disposal can be classified
into: a) Perpetual resources b) Renewable resources c) Nonrenewable resources
92. Solar energy can be continually renewed. It is expected to last at least 6 billion years
as the sun completed its life cycle. Solar energy is therefore called a perpetual resource.
93. A renewable resource can be replenished fairly rapidly (hours to several decades)
through natural processes as long as it is not used up faster than it is replaced.
94. Renewable resources are also known as flow resources because they pass through
plants, economics and other systems.
95. Renewable resources can be depleted or degraded. The highest rate at which a
renewable resource can be used indefinitely without reducing its available supply is
called... Sustainable yield
96. When a resource's natural replacement rate is exceeded by exploitation, the available
supply begins to shrink. This process is known as environmental... Degradation
97. Environmental depredation can change usable renewable resources into
nonrenewable or unusable resources. A major cause of environmental degradation of
renewable resource is a phenomenon known as the tragedy of the commons.
98. Resources that exist in a fixed quality or stock in the earth's crust are called...
Nonrenewable resources
99. Environmental problems and their root causes are connected to one another by the
three-factor model. The three factors are: a) Population size b) Resource consumption per
person c) Environmental impact per unit of resource used (technology)
100. Poor parents in a developing country would need 30 – 200 children to have the same
lifetime resource consumption as one or two children in a typical developed country's
family.
101. Some forms of technology increase environmental impact by raising the T factor in
the three factors model while others lower the environmental impact by decreasing the T
factor in the equation. What is the T factor? The T factor is the environmental impact per unit
of resource used, representing how technology and consumption patterns affect environmental
degradation.
102. What is a win big or lose strategy? A win big or lose strategy is a high-risk approach that
aims for maximum benefits but also risks major losses if things go wrong, with little middle
ground.
103. The precautionary approach taken to avert uncertainty is a win big or win-win good
strategy.
104. When technological optimist are right in their planetary management worldview,
things will get better and better, and this is known as... Cornucopian perspective
105. When technological optimists are wrong in their view, we are heading for logical and
economical disaster and this is known as... Environmental catastrophe
106. Technological skeptics assume that: a) Technology cannot solve all environmental
problems b) Ecological systems have limits that cannot be overcome by technology c)
Precautionary principle should guide environmental decisions
107. When gambling with the earth's life support system for human and other species, a
win-win or win pretty good strategy is better than a win big or lose big strategy.
SECTION C
108. Whaling can be defined as... The practice or industry of hunting and killing whales for
their oil, meat, or other products.
109. Name any 3 types of Whales: i. Blue whale ii. Humpback whale iii. Sperm whale
110. Whales are mainly hunted for oil and meat.
111. Is Dolphin a part of the whale family? No, dolphins are part of the Delphinidae family,
while whales belong to several different families within the same order (Cetacea).
112. What are endangered species? Endangered species are plants, animals, or other
organisms that are threatened with extinction due to declining population numbers caused by
habitat loss, hunting, disease, or other factors.
113. Name any 5 endangered species in Nigeria: i. Cross River gorilla ii. West African lion iii.
Nigerian-Cameroon chimpanzee iv. Forest elephant v. Drill monkey
114. Is the term, endangered species referred to only animals? No, the term endangered
species refers to any species (plants, animals, fungi, etc.) that is at risk of extinction.
115. The term deforestation can be defined as... The clearing, removal, or destruction of
significant areas of forest, resulting in land that is not reforested but converted to non-forest use.
116. The major causes of deforestation include: a) Agricultural expansion b) Logging and
timber harvesting c) Urbanization and infrastructure development
117. The effects of deforestation include: a) Loss of biodiversity b) Soil erosion and
degradation c) Climate change d) Disruption of water cycles e) Loss of indigenous peoples'
habitat
118. Suggest 2 appropriate ways deforestation can be controlled in the Niger Delta
Region of Nigeria: a) Implementing sustainable forestry practices and strict enforcement of
logging regulations b) Creating protected areas and promoting community-based forest
management
119. What is desertification? Desertification is the process by which fertile land becomes
desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, inappropriate agriculture, or climate
change.
120. What is Drought? Drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a
shortage of water that adversely affects vegetation, animals, and human activities.
121. The major causes of desertification include: a) Climate change and prolonged drought
b) Overgrazing and poor agricultural practices
122. The effects of desertification include: a) Loss of agricultural productivity b) Food
insecurity and famine
123. In what ways can desertification be controlled in Northern Nigeria? a) Implementing
sustainable land management practices b) Afforestation and reforestation programs
124. Give a concise definition of Acid Rain: Acid rain is precipitation with high levels of acidic
components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid, that forms when pollutants like sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere and combine with water.
125. State any three causes of Acid Rain: a) Industrial emissions (especially sulfur dioxide
from power plants) b) Vehicle exhaust emissions (nitrogen oxides) c) Burning of fossil fuels
126. Outline any 3 effects of acid rain: a) Damage to forests and vegetation b) Acidification of
lakes and streams, harming aquatic life c) Deterioration of buildings and monuments
127. What is Ozone Layer Depletion? Ozone layer depletion is the gradual thinning of the
Earth's ozone layer in the upper atmosphere caused by the release of chemical compounds
containing chlorine or bromine, reducing the layer's ability to filter out harmful ultraviolet
radiation.
128. The major causes of Ozone Layer depletion: a) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) b) Halons
and other ozone-depleting substances
129. State 2 major effects of Ozone Layer depletion: a) Increased ultraviolet radiation leading
to higher skin cancer rates b) Damage to crops and marine ecosystems
130. What is global warming? Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth's climate
system observed since the pre-industrial period due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel
burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth's atmosphere.
131. What is climate change? Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and
weather patterns, caused by natural factors and human activities, particularly the burning of
fossil fuels, which leads to more variable and extreme weather conditions.
132. What are the effects of global warming? a) Rising sea levels b) Extreme weather events
c) Ecosystem disruption d) Threats to human health and agriculture
133. Suggest any 3 ways by which climate change can be controlled: a) Reducing
greenhouse gas emissions b) Transitioning to renewable energy sources c) Sustainable land
use and forestry practices d) Energy efficiency improvements
134. What is pollution? Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment
that cause adverse changes and degrade the quality of air, water, or soil, potentially causing
harm to living organisms and ecosystems.
135. Name the types of pollution known to you: a) Air pollution b) Water pollution c) Land/soil
pollution
136. What are the 3 basic sinks of pollutants? a) Air b) Water c) Soil/land
137. Give a concise definition of wastes: Wastes are unwanted or unusable materials,
substances, or byproducts that have been discarded after primary use, including solid, liquid, or
gaseous materials.
138. Outline any 3 major sources of air pollution: a) Vehicle emissions b) Industrial
processes c) Burning of fossil fuels
139. Suggest 3 socio-economic control measures for water pollution: a) Implementing
polluter-pays principles b) Creating incentives for clean technology adoption c) Public education
and awareness campaigns
140. Differentiate between hazardous and non-hazardous wastes and domestic wastes:
Hazardous wastes contain properties that make them dangerous or potentially harmful to
human health or the environment (toxic, corrosive, etc.). Non-hazardous wastes do not pose
such immediate dangers. Domestic wastes are those generated from households and typically
include both hazardous and non-hazardous materials.
141. Differentiate between solid wastes and organic wastes: Solid wastes are unwanted
solid materials discarded after use, including both biodegradable and non-biodegradable
materials. Organic wastes specifically refer to biodegradable materials derived from plants or
animals that break down naturally.
142. What is E-waste? E-waste (electronic waste) refers to discarded electrical or electronic
devices and components, including computers, televisions, mobile phones, and other electronic
equipment that has reached the end of its useful life.
143. Outline 3 sources of waste generation in Africa: a) Rapid urbanization b) Increasing
industrialization c) Changing consumption patterns
144. State any 4 good methods of waste management: a) Recycling b) Composting c)
Waste-to-energy conversion d) Sanitary landfilling
145. Gases are emitted, while water is discharged.
146. What are geo-environmental hazards? Geo-environmental hazards are natural or
human-induced phenomena related to geological and environmental processes that pose risks
to human life, property, and the environment.
147. Give 3 examples of geo-environmental hazards: a) Earthquakes b) Landslides c)
Volcanic eruptions
148. What is Erosion? Erosion is the process by which soil and rock are removed from the
Earth's surface by natural processes such as wind or water flow, and transported elsewhere.
149. Soil erosion can be defined as: The removal of topsoil by the natural physical forces of
water and wind, or through agricultural activities such as tillage, accelerated by human activities
that leave the land vulnerable.
150. What are the different types of soil erosion? a) Sheet erosion b) Rill erosion c) Gully
erosion
151. Differentiate between gully erosion and rill erosion: Rill erosion involves the formation
of small, linear channels on the soil surface that can be smoothed out by normal tillage. Gully
erosion is more severe, creating larger and deeper channels that cannot be crossed by farm
machinery or easily removed by regular tillage.
152. Describe briefly, the following whirl-winds: a) Hurricanes: Large, rotating tropical storms
with wind speeds exceeding 74 mph that form over warm ocean waters and can cause
catastrophic damage when they reach land. b) Tornadoes: Violently rotating columns of air that
extend from a thunderstorm to the ground, capable of causing extreme destruction along
relatively narrow paths.
153. What is landslide? A landslide is the movement of rock, earth, or debris down a slope due
to gravity, often triggered by rainfall, earthquakes, or human activities such as deforestation or
excavation.
154. What is an earthquake? An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the Earth caused by
the breaking and shifting of rock beneath the Earth's surface, often resulting from movements
along fault lines.
155. What is a volcanic eruption? A volcanic eruption is the release of molten rock (magma),
ash, and gases from a volcano, occurring when pressure builds up within the Earth's crust,
forcing magma to rise through weaknesses to the surface.
