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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is the geothermal plant located that Kolbert visits in Up in the Air: Chapter 1?

2. Which Dr. Suess book does Kolbert compare biological interventions?

3. What does Mark Tizard want the general population to know about genetic modification?

4. What is a suppression drive?

5. Fifteen million tons of carbon dioxide were released by humans in 1776, while today that number is closer to what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is an outlaw gene? Why is it important to this book?

2. How are geothermal plants clean?

3. What is Climeworks?

4. How do cane toads become a problem in Australia?

5. What are the pros and cons of a powerful gene drive?

6. What is usually use to kill rodents? What are the problems associated with this?

7. What are some of the ways that Kolbert mentions Australians deal with cane toads? What might be the pros and cons?

8. What are a couple of the responses when asked about man’s roll and fixing or protecting the environment in into the wild Chapter 3?

9. What are negative emissions? Why might they be important?

10. What is a suppression drive?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Kolbert starts off Up in the Air Chapter 1 by mentioning a subscription she paid for that claimed, for a fee, they would scrub the buyer’s carbon emissions from the atmosphere. Would you have paid for such a service? Why or why not? Do you believe others, besides Kolbert, would pay for this service? Why or why not? What might this reveal about the majority of people?

Essay Topic 2

Kolbert says that clear signs of the Anthropocene age are increased radioactivity and rodents. In what ways does that show the influence of humans on the natural world? How has the world been negatively affected by this influence? How might this human influence also be considered a natural occurrence as it has been happening since mankind was first created? How might this support the idea that there is no absolutely natural world and that the world is full of genetically modified beings?

Essay Topic 3

According to Kolbert, many of today's solutions are less than par when dealing with major environmental issues. Do you agree with her? Why or why not? Are there better solutions out there? If so, what might they be? How might better solutions for the environment impact mankind?

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