Sustainability Literacy Survey 2021

The following survey is meant to test you on your knowledge of environmental topics. This survey is being administered to UConn students and the aggregate data will be used to improve environmental education on campus. After answering the quick 39 questions on the survey, you will have a chance to win one of 2 Amazon gift cards!

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* 1. What is your class standing?

Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

Fifth Year +

Graduate Student

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* 2. What is your gender?

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* 3. What is your race/ethnicity? Please check all that apply.

White or Caucasian

Black or African American

Hispanic or Latino

Asian or Asian American

Native American or Alaska Native

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

North African / Middle Easterner

Prefer not to say

Other (please specify)

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* 4. Where do you currently live?

On-campus

Off-Campus in Connecticut

Off-Campus not in Connecticut but in the US

Off-Campus outside of the US

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* 5. Majors(s)

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* 6. Minor(s)

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* 7. Do you consider yourself an environmental champion on campus?

Yes

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* 8. Which of the following best reflects the UN World Commission on Environment and Development’s definition of “sustainable development”?

Creating a government welfare system that ensures universal access to education, healthcare, and social services

Setting aside resources for preservation, never to be used

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Building a neighborhood that is both socio-demographically and economically diverse

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* 9. What is single stream recycling?

A recycling system in which all recyclable items (i.e. paper, plastic, glass, aluminum) are placed into the same bin and picked up by the collection truck together

A system where items are processed at a recycling facility via streams of water

A waste system in which all recyclables and trash items are placed in the same bin and picked up by the collection truck together

A recycling system in which all recyclable items are separated into different containers and picked up separately by material type in order to prevent contamination

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* 10. According to the waste management hierarchy, in what order should someone approach waste minimization efforts to maximize positive environmental outcomes?

reduce>reuse>recycle>waste to energy>landfill

reduce>reuse>recycle>landfill>waste-to-energy

waste to energy>recycle>reduce>reuse>landfill

reuse>recycle>reduce>landfill>waste-to-energy

all equally important

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* 11. What is an invasive species?

a) a predator species that largely hunts prey in an area far from its den

b) a non-native species to an ecosystem whose introduction causes or is likely to cause environmental harm

c) any species that migrates seasonally across great distances

d) b and c

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* 12. All life is connected, but not all relationships are beneficial. What is an example of a mutualistic symbiotic relationship between two organisms?

The oxpecker bird feeds off of ticks living on the skin of zebras that are dangerous for the zebras

Humans raise cattle for beef production and eat delicious hamburgers as a result

A tick feeding off the blood of a deer

People walking across grass to get to a concert

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* 13. What is the primary threat to wildlife in the US?

Disease

Habitat loss (degradation, fragmentation, or destruction)

Illegal trapping and poaching

Predation by domestic animals, like dogs and cats

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* 14. Which of the following are ecosystem services provided by a wetland?

a) Water purification

b) Flood protection

c) Farming

d) Wildlife Habitat

e) a and d

f) a, b and d

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* 15. The largest source of water pollution in the US is:

Factories discharging toxins into nearby waterways

Municipal wastewater treatment plants discharging treated water, and during heavy storm events, releasing untreated sewage, into streams and rivers

Stormwater runoff from yards, paved lots, city streets, and farm fields, into surface water bodies

Landfill leachate, containing harmful chemicals, contaminating drinking water wells

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* 16. Which of the following are considered components of biodiversity?

a) Genetic variation within a species (differences in DNA from one individual to another)

b) Species diversity (how many species exist in a specific area)

c) Nongenetic variation within a species (differences from one individual to another caused by the environment)

d) a and b

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* 17. Which of the following is an example of sustainable forest management?

Clear cutting forests for farming

Never harvesting more than what the forest produces in new growth

Producing lumber for nearby communities

Hiring local foresters to cut trees

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* 18. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary human-made contributor to global warming. But there are many other heat-trapping gases. Which one of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?

Water vapor, H2O

Nitrogen oxides, NOx

Oxygen, O2

Methane CH4

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* 19. Which fuel, when combusted, has highest carbon intensity, causing the most emissions (per unit fuel) of greenhouse gases?

Oil

Coal

Natural gas

Biofuels

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* 20. What does the term “greenhouse gas effect” mean?

An increase in backyard gardening

The degradation and predicted total loss of the ozone layer as a result of increased levels of carbon dioxide

The releasing of particulate-filled fossil fuel emissions into the air

The trapping of the sun’s radiation in the atmosphere by gases, raising atmospheric temperature

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* 21. According to climate scientists, what is the maximum global temperature rise allowable in order to prevent catastrophic climate change from occurring?

1.0 degrees Celsius

2.0 degrees Celsius

3.0 degrees Celsius

4.0 degrees Celsius

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* 22. What are some of the ways that scientists collect data regarding climate?

a) Remote sensing from space with satellites

b) Ground based measurements of surface temperature/carbon dioxide concentration/sea level

c) By collecting “proxy data” from tree rings/ice cores/historical records

d) b and c

e) All of the above

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* 23. Which of the following are some of the current and predicted effects of climate change?

a) An increase in global conflict over resources

b) An increase in extreme weather events

c) Shifts in vector-borne disease ranges

d) a and b

e) b and c

f) All of the above

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* 24. According to the Global Footprint Network, if everyone on Earth consumed the same amount of resources as the average American, how many planets would be required to support the world population?

1/2

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* 25. Through inefficient harvesting practices, transportation, and spoilage, what percentage of food is wasted in the US?

10%

20%

40%

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* 26. Why is buying locally sourced products from small businesses more sustainable than buying items imported from far away?

a) Less energy and emissions are used to transport the items

b) Supporting small businesses helps local economies flourish

c) Local businesses are more likely to source the components of their products from local and/or more sustainable sources

d) a and c

e) All of the above

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* 27. What is the greatest concern associated with the global decline of bee populations?

Bees serve as a major food source for many developing countries

Bees are essential as pollinators for the cultivation of crops worldwide

Honeybees have symbiotic relationships with many bird species and bird populations will drop drastically in response to their decline

Beehives help trees develop immunity to diseases, without bees, certain tree species would be much more susceptible to disease

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* 28. Which of the following foods is the most carbon-intensive to produce (per kilogram)?

Chicken

Asparagus

Corn

Beef

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* 29. What is the name of the primary federal agency that oversees US environmental regulation?

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Department of Health, Environment, and Safety (DHES)

National Environmental Agency (NEA)

Federal Pollution Control Agency (FPCA)

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* 30. What does Connecticut's DEEP stand for?

Department of Energy and Economic Promotion

Department of Environment and Energetic Processes

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Department of Environment and Ecological Protection

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* 31. What is the focus of corporate social responsibility (CSR) today?

a) Maximize a company’s benefits to society

b) Minimize a company’s risks and costs to society

c) Philanthropic support of organizations and activities that are doing good in the community

d) a and b

e) a, b, and c

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* 32. What is a Climate Action Plan?

a) A pledge stating an institution’s commitment to promoting sustainability

b) A petition that calls for sustainability to be considered in purchasing decisions

c) A framework for guiding an institution towards carbon neutrality through the reduction and mitigation of its carbon footprint

d) a and c

e) a and b

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* 33. Which of the following is an example of a circular economy in practice?

UConn is replacing the carpet in the Gant building. UConn sends the old carpet tiles back to the company to be broken down and remanufactured into new carpet.

A mechanical engineer designs a car tire with reduced friction in order to increase fuel efficiency.

The video game industry has a tendency to hire and fire workers frequently, so that workers end up cycling in and out of any given company.

Coffee beans are grown in Ethiopia, sent to Europe to be roasted, sent to America to be packaged, and then sent back to their original destination to be sold back to residents of Ethiopia.

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* 34. What is a food desert (/food apartheid)?

Urban or rural areas without ready access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food.

An arid region unsuitable for farming

Food that has been deemed unacceptable for human consumption

A delicious treat served at the end of a meal

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* 35. What is environmental justice?

The concept that the environment deserves justice for the destruction that humans have caused to it

The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of their identity with respect to environmental decision-making.

A legal term that refers to the rights of companies when protecting themselves against environmental lawsuits

Equal environmental protection for forests, ocean, rural and urban areas

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* 36. Over the past 3 decades, what has happened to the difference between the wealth of the richest and poorest Americans?

The gap between rich and poor has increased slightly

The gap between rich and poor has stayed about the same

The gap between rich and poor has been reduced

The gap between rich and poor has risen to the greatest margin it has been in over a century

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* 37. Which of the following is an example of environmental justice?

Government officials choose to save money by switching their poorer residents to a water treatment plant that is not properly treating its water, then try to cover up their decision.

A CT town establishes a sustainability committee for residents to join. There are no people of color on the committee, despite good intentions by the founders and a significant population of people of color in town.

The ownership and management of the fish stock in a region is returned to the indigenous community of the region. The indigenous leadership creates a sustainable fisheries management plan with input from the local government, local fishing businesses, and other stakeholders.

Multi-national corporations build factories in developing countries where environmental and human rights laws are less stringent

Sustainability Literacy Survey 2021

Question Title

* 1. What is your class standing?

Question Title

* 2. What is your gender?

Question Title

* 3. What is your race/ethnicity? Please check all that apply.

Question Title

* 4. Where do you currently live?

Question Title

* 5. Majors(s)

Question Title

* 6. Minor(s)

Question Title

* 7. Do you consider yourself an environmental champion on campus?

Question Title

* 8. Which of the following best reflects the UN World Commission on Environment and Development’s definition of “sustainable development”?

Question Title

* 9. What is single stream recycling?

Question Title

* 10. According to the waste management hierarchy, in what order should someone approach waste minimization efforts to maximize positive environmental outcomes?

Question Title

* 11. What is an invasive species?

Question Title

* 12. All life is connected, but not all relationships are beneficial. What is an example of a mutualistic symbiotic relationship between two organisms?

Question Title

* 13. What is the primary threat to wildlife in the US?

Question Title

* 14. Which of the following are ecosystem services provided by a wetland?

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* 15. The largest source of water pollution in the US is:

Question Title

* 16. Which of the following are considered components of biodiversity?

Question Title

* 17. Which of the following is an example of sustainable forest management?

Question Title

* 18. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary human-made contributor to global warming. But there are many other heat-trapping gases. Which one of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?

Question Title

* 19. Which fuel, when combusted, has highest carbon intensity, causing the most emissions (per unit fuel) of greenhouse gases?

Question Title

* 20. What does the term “greenhouse gas effect” mean?

Question Title

* 21. According to climate scientists, what is the maximum global temperature rise allowable in order to prevent catastrophic climate change from occurring?

Question Title

* 22. What are some of the ways that scientists collect data regarding climate?

Question Title

* 23. Which of the following are some of the current and predicted effects of climate change?

Question Title

* 24. According to the Global Footprint Network, if everyone on Earth consumed the same amount of resources as the average American, how many planets would be required to support the world population?

Question Title

* 25. Through inefficient harvesting practices, transportation, and spoilage, what percentage of food is wasted in the US?

Question Title

* 26. Why is buying locally sourced products from small businesses more sustainable than buying items imported from far away?

Question Title

* 27. What is the greatest concern associated with the global decline of bee populations?

Question Title

* 28. Which of the following foods is the most carbon-intensive to produce (per kilogram)?

Question Title

* 29. What is the name of the primary federal agency that oversees US environmental regulation?

Question Title

* 30. What does Connecticut's DEEP stand for?

Question Title

* 31. What is the focus of corporate social responsibility (CSR) today?

Question Title

* 32. What is a Climate Action Plan?

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* 33. Which of the following is an example of a circular economy in practice?

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* 34. What is a food desert (/food apartheid)?

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* 35. What is environmental justice?

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* 36. Over the past 3 decades, what has happened to the difference between the wealth of the richest and poorest Americans?

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* 37. Which of the following is an example of environmental justice?

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* 38. Please share any further thoughts about the survey if you have any.

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* 39. Please provide your email address if you wish to be included in the drawing for the Amazon Gift Card