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Quizzes > Science > Earth & Space Science

How Eco-Savvy Are You? Take the Sustainability Quiz

Ready for an environmental quiz challenge? Dive in and test your sustainable living knowledge!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art style globe leaves and icons for sustainable living quiz and eco tips on coral background.

The Sustainability Quiz helps you see how your daily choices affect the planet and shows simple steps to improve. Finish in minutes and get a score with quick tips you can use today. For extra practice, try our eco-friendly practice quiz and explore more questions on the environment .

What does the term "carbon footprint" refer to?
The emissions produced solely by burning fossil fuels
The number of trees an individual plants in a year
The total water usage associated with daily activities
The total greenhouse gas emissions produced by an individual, organization, or product
A carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gas emissions, including CO? and other gases, associated with the activities of an individual, organization, or product. It accounts for all sources of emissions, not just fossil fuel burning. Reducing your carbon footprint involves actions like using renewable energy and minimizing waste. For more details, visit .
Which of the following is a renewable energy source?
Coal
Solar power
Oil
Natural gas
Renewable energy sources, like solar power, come from naturally replenished resources that do not run out. Unlike coal or oil, solar energy harnesses sunlight to generate electricity. Using solar panels reduces reliance on fossil fuels and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more at .
What is the first step in the "3 R's" waste hierarchy?
Reduce
Reuse
Refuse
Recycle
The waste hierarchy prioritizes reducing consumption before reusing or recycling items. 'Reduce' aims to minimize the amount of waste generated in the first place. This step has the greatest environmental impact because it avoids the need for resource extraction and processing. More information is available at .
What household material can be recycled most easily in curbside recycling?
Pizza boxes with grease
Aluminum cans
Plastic shopping bags
Styrofoam
Aluminum cans are widely accepted in curbside recycling programs and can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality. Recycling aluminum saves up to 95% of the energy required to produce new aluminum from raw materials. Other items like Styrofoam and greasy pizza boxes often contaminate the stream and are less commonly accepted. For guidelines, see .
Which gas is primarily responsible for trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere?
Argon (Ar)
Carbon dioxide (CO?)
Nitrogen (N?)
Oxygen (O?)
Carbon dioxide is a key greenhouse gas that traps heat radiating from Earth's surface, contributing to the greenhouse effect. While other gases like methane also play a role, CO? is the most abundant and long-lived in the atmosphere. Reducing CO? emissions is critical to mitigating climate change. More information at .
What does composting primarily produce?
Rich soil amendment
Plastic mulch
Biohazard waste
Methane gas for fuel
Composting breaks down organic materials like food scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich soil amendments. This process helps recycle nutrients back into the soil, improving structure and fertility. Proper composting also reduces methane emissions from landfills. Learn more at .
Which of these actions reduces water usage in daily life?
Washing small loads of laundry frequently
Installing a low-flow showerhead
Watering lawn at midday
Running the tap while brushing teeth
Low-flow showerheads restrict water flow without sacrificing water pressure, cutting household water use significantly. Other choices like running taps or washing many small laundry loads increase water consumption. Proper watering times and efficient appliances help conserve water. For tips, see .
Which symbol indicates that packaging is recyclable?
A green leaf icon
A bar code
A serial number
Three chasing arrows forming a triangle
The Mobius loop, three chasing arrows forming a triangle, is the universal recycling symbol. It indicates that a product or its packaging can be collected, processed, and remade into new items. However, local guidelines vary, so always check your municipality's rules. Read more at .
What practice in agriculture helps prevent soil erosion by planting crops in a curved pattern along contours?
Monocropping
Contour plowing
Slash-and-burn farming
Deep tillage
Contour plowing involves plowing furrows along the natural contours of hillsides, which slows water runoff and reduces soil erosion. This sustainable practice conserves topsoil and moisture. In contrast, methods like slash-and-burn or monocropping can degrade soil health over time. Learn more at .
Which certification indicates ethical and sustainable coffee production?
Rainwater Alliance
Marine Stewardship Council
Fairtrade
USDA Organic
Fairtrade certification ensures farmers receive fair prices and labor conditions while promoting sustainable farming practices. Although USDA Organic focuses on agricultural inputs, it does not guarantee economic fairness. Marine Stewardship Council is for seafood, not coffee. For details, see .
What is the main goal of LEED certification for buildings?
Guarantee earthquake resistance
Ensure historical preservation
Improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact
Maximize square footage for occupants
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification recognizes buildings designed for energy savings, water efficiency, and reduced CO? emissions. It covers site selection, materials, and indoor environmental quality. While safety and preservation are important, LEED focuses on sustainability metrics. More at .
Which technology captures CO? emissions directly at industrial sources before they reach the atmosphere?
Anaerobic digestion
Hydraulic fracturing
Carbon capture and storage (CCS)
Electrolysis
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) captures CO? from power plants or factories and stores it underground to prevent atmospheric release. Electrolysis splits water molecules, anaerobic digestion breaks down organic matter, and fracking extracts gas. CCS is key for reducing industrial emissions. Read more at .
Which diet choice typically has the lowest environmental impact?
Keto diet with red meat focus
Vegan diet
Standard Western diet
High-protein meat-based diet
Studies show that vegan diets produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions and require less land and water than diets high in animal products. Meat production, especially beef and lamb, has a much larger footprint. While other diets vary, a plant-based diet generally has the lowest environmental impact. For research, see .
Which material is known for being biodegradable over a relatively short time without industrial processes?
Paper
Styrofoam
Metal cans
Polyethylene plastic
Paper naturally breaks down in weeks to months under proper conditions, making it a highly biodegradable material. Plastics like polyethylene and Styrofoam persist for decades or centuries. Metal cans are recyclable but not biodegradable. For details, visit .
What is the purpose of a circular economy?
Maximize single-use product consumption
Eliminate recycling entirely
Promote linear take-make-waste chains
Keep resources in use as long as possible
A circular economy designs products and systems to reuse, repair, remanufacture, and recycle materials, minimizing waste and resource extraction. This contrasts with the traditional linear model of take-make-waste. By keeping materials in circulation, it supports sustainability and economic resilience. Learn more at .
Which pollutant is a major contributor to acid rain?
Methane (CH?)
Sulfur dioxide (SO?)
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Ozone (O?)
Sulfur dioxide released from burning fossil fuels reacts with water vapor in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid, falling back as acid rain. Nitrogen oxides also contribute, but SO? is the primary driver. Acid rain can damage ecosystems, structures, and human health. More at .
What is the primary benefit of green roofs in urban areas?
Reduce urban heat island effect and manage stormwater
Generate large amounts of solar energy
Increase indoor humidity levels
Serve as a foundation for wind turbines
Green roofs are covered with vegetation that absorbs heat, lowering surrounding temperatures and mitigating the urban heat island effect. They also retain rainwater, reducing runoff and strain on stormwater systems. While they can improve insulation, they are not designed primarily for energy generation like solar panels. Read more at .
In sustainable forestry, what does the "FSC" certification stand for?
Forest Stewardship Council
Fisheries and Sustainability Council
Forestry Standards Committee
Forest Sustainability Code
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international nonprofit that sets standards for responsible forest management. FSC certification ensures products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. It is widely recognized on wood and paper products. For details, visit .
Which sustainable fishing practice helps maintain healthy fish populations?
Using fine-mesh nets to catch juvenile fish
Bottom trawling indiscriminately
Fishing in marine protected areas
Catch limits based on scientific assessments
Catch limits set by scientists help ensure that fish stocks are harvested at sustainable levels and have time to reproduce. Using fine-mesh nets and bottom trawling can decimate juvenile populations and damage habitats. Fishing in MPAs is often restricted or banned to protect ecosystems. Learn more at .
What is a key characteristic of cradle-to-cradle design?
Maximizing single-use disposable items
Prioritizing lowest upfront manufacturing cost
Products designed for continuous recycling or safe composting
Design focused solely on aesthetic appeal
Cradle-to-cradle design envisions products that, at end of life, become nutrients for new products or safely return to the environment. It emphasizes material health, recyclability, and renewable energy use. This contrasts with linear cradle-to-grave models that generate waste. For more, see .
What does "carbon offsetting" involve?
Funding projects that reduce or capture greenhouse gases to compensate for emissions
Planting non-native ornamental plants
Increasing fossil fuel consumption to balance budgets
Directly capturing CO? from tailpipes of vehicles
Carbon offsetting allows individuals or organizations to invest in projects like reforestation or renewable energy that reduce or capture emissions equivalent to their own. It doesn't directly remove emissions at source but balances them out. Genuine offset programs are verified by third parties. Read more at .
Which international agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels?
The Paris Agreement
The Geneva Convention
The Montreal Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol
The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, sets a global goal to hold warming well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. The Kyoto Protocol focused on binding targets for developed countries but did not include all major emitters. The Montreal Protocol addresses ozone-depleting substances. More at .
What is the main advantage of using LED lighting over incandescent bulbs?
Lower initial purchase cost
Use of mercury for better brightness
Greater heat output to warm rooms
Higher energy efficiency and longer lifespan
LED bulbs use up to 80% less energy and last 15 - 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. They also emit very little heat, reducing cooling costs. Although LEDs cost more upfront, their efficiency leads to significant savings over time. For technical details, see .
What is the "Planetary Boundaries" framework?
An economic model for resource extraction rates
A set of national environmental regulations
A scientific approach defining safe operating limits for key Earth system processes
A treaty for marine conservation only
The Planetary Boundaries framework identifies nine critical Earth system processes (like climate change and biosphere integrity) with thresholds that should not be crossed to avoid catastrophic environmental change. It guides global sustainability efforts by quantifying safe operating spaces. This concept was introduced by the Stockholm Resilience Centre. Read more at .
Which of the following best describes a Paris Agreement Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)?
A legally binding enforcement mechanism with financial penalties
A country's self-defined targets and plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
An international fund for climate adaptation projects
A mandatory carbon tax imposed by the UN
NDCs are voluntary commitments where each country outlines its own emissions reduction targets and policies under the Paris Agreement. They are not legally binding with penalties but rely on transparency and global peer pressure for compliance. NDCs are updated every five years to increase ambition. Learn more at .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Key Sustainability Concepts -

    Identify and explain the fundamental principles of environmental sustainability featured in our sustainability quiz that underpin eco-friendly practices and green living habits.

  2. Evaluate Your Carbon Footprint -

    Assess daily activities and choices to understand their impact on carbon emissions and pinpoint opportunities to lower your environmental footprint.

  3. Apply Practical Sustainable Living Tips -

    Implement actionable strategies introduced in the quiz to reduce waste, conserve resources, and adopt more eco-conscious habits in everyday life.

  4. Analyze Eco Trivia Across Topics -

    Compare and contrast eco trivia related to water conservation, renewable energy, waste management, and biodiversity from the green living quiz to broaden your environmental knowledge.

  5. Identify Knowledge Gaps -

    Recognize areas of weakness in your eco-knowledge to guide future learning and deepen your understanding of sustainable living principles.

  6. Set Eco-Friendly Goals -

    Use your quiz results to create personalized, achievable sustainability goals and track your progress toward a greener lifestyle.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Carbon Footprint Calculation -

    The carbon footprint is typically calculated by summing emissions across activities using the formula CF = ∑(Activity_i × EmissionFactor_i), as recommended by the EPA. For example, driving 100 km in a car emitting 0.2 kg CO₂/km yields 20 kg CO₂. Use the mnemonic "ACT EARTH" (Activities × EmissionRate = Total Emissions) to recall the basic steps.

  2. Circular Economy & the 5Rs -

    The Ellen MacArthur Foundation defines the circular economy through the 5Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle. This hierarchy helps shift wasteful linear models into closed loops, conserving resources and cutting landfill. Remember the "FIVER" trick to recall the five Rs in order.

  3. Ecosystem Services & Biodiversity -

    The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment classifies ecosystem services into provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural categories. For instance, pollination (a regulating service) underpins food production and global biodiversity. A quick way to remember these is the acronym "PRSC".

  4. Renewable Energy EROI -

    Energy Return on Investment (EROI) compares energy output to energy input; solar PV typically has an EROI of 6 - 10, while wind often exceeds 20 (source: IEA). A higher EROI means a more efficient renewable source and lower lifecycle impacts. Think "ROI" for "Return On Input" to lock in this key metric.

  5. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) -

    ISO 14040 outlines LCA in four phases: goal definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation. Businesses use LCA to quantify environmental hotspots - like CO₂ from production - and guide sustainable design. Use "GIII" (Goal, Inventory, Impact, Interpretation) as a simple LCA checklist.

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