Quiz

Age Group: 10+

Question 1: What is sustainability?

A Avoiding climate change
B Improving people's quality of life
C Balancing demands of profit, people and planet

Answer: C. There is not one definition of the word 'sustainability', but most people agree it is about reaching a balance between people, the economy(profit) and the environment (planet). It is also about ensuring everyone benefits equally from the world's resources, which is currently not the case.

Question 2: What is meant when we say that globally we are living 'beyond our means'?

A The planet cannot sustain current levels of consumption
B We are all spending too much money
C We are thinking too much about the future

Answer: A. When individuals live beyond their means it means they do not have enough money to 'sustain' the way they live. When we apply the concept of living beyond our means to the environment, it means we are using up the world's resources and they will run out.

Question 3: Why are the poorest people the most vulnerable when there is damage caused to the environment, like deforestation?

A They rely most directly on natural resources, and live in areas more affected by environmental damage.
B Much more damage is caused to the environment in poorer countries.
C There are more people living in developing countries, putting more pressure on the environment.

Answer: A. The world's poorest people suffer more from damage to the environment because they rely on natural resources like forests for fuel, medicines and shelter. They also live in more vulnerable areas, that are more likely to be affected by floods and landslides caused by deforestation.

Question 4: Which of these is NOT a renewable source of energy?

A Sun
B Wind
C Oil

Answer: C. Oil is a fossil fuel, and will eventually be used up. Fossil fuels were made millions of years ago from decomposed plants that were compressed underground. Renewable sources of energy can keep being used and cause much less harm to the environment.

Question 5: What is the advantage of natural gas over other fossil fuels?
A It is cheaper
B It creates fewer greenhouse emissions
C It is easier to produce

Answer: B. Although natural gas is still a fossil fuel, it creates fewer greenhouse gases than coal or oil when it is burned.

Question 6: In the July 2005 summit of the G8 in Scotland, what did the world leaders do about combating climate change?

A They made very little progress
B They now have in place a strategy to reverse climate change
C They didn't even talk about it

Answer: A. The subject of climate change was high on the agenda, but no plan was made to reduce emissions that all countries could agreed to. The G8 leaders only agreed that 'in principal' emissions would have to come down in the future.

Question 7: Which of these is NOT a result of climate change?

A An increase in the amount of crops produced
B Rising sea levels
C Extreme weather events like storms, floods, and hurricanes

Answer: A. The yields of crops will actually decrease as a result of climate change, because many areas will become hotter and drier. The effects of climate change will be catastrophic, including more disease and even extinctions of species.

Question 8: What is an ecosystem?

A An environmental campaign group
B A system for reducing people's impact on the environment
C Living organisms and their physical surroundings

Answer: C. The word 'ecosystem' refers to living creatures and the natural surroundings where they live. Pollution can upset ecosystems by causing contamination and interfering with the way nature works.

Question 9: What has been responsible for the declining numbers of fish in the oceans over the past few decades?

A Europeans starting to eat more fish rather than meat
B Improvements to fishing technology
C Sea pollution causing fish populations to die

Answer: B. Improved fishing technology has made it much easier to catch vast numbers of fish. A lack of regulation on how many fish are caught has meant that many places are dangerously over-fished, threatening world fish populations.

Question 10: What is a slum?

A The part of a city where crime is greatest
B Housing next to a very dirty river or a sewer
C A place to live that lacks structure, sanitation, and a secure right to live there

Answer: C. People in slums are usually living there because they have no option, and cannot afford a better house. They are often evicted from their homes by the authorities, because they do not have the right to live on that land.