Performance Benchmark N.8.B.1

Students understand that consequences of technologies can cause resource depletion and environmental degradation, but technology can also increase resource availability, mitigate environmental degradation, and make new resources economical. E/S

Sample Test Questions

1st Item Specification: Identify examples and explain costs and benefits of a given technological advance.

Depth of Knowledge Level 1

  1. Which of following is a benefit of a technological advance?

A.Urban sprawl

B.Air pollution

C.Fuel efficient cars

D.Global warming

  1. If there was a technological advance that allowed society to obtain oil from the ground faster and more efficiently, a negative impact to society would be that

A.only wealthy people could get the extra oil.

B.demand for oil would decrease while supply increased.

C.there would be too much oil for society to handle.

D.oil would be used faster than nature could replace it.

Depth of Knowledge Level 2

  1. Use the chart to answer the question below.

Cost / Benefit
Increase in Cost / Create Less Pollution
Increase in Repair Costs / Are More Fuel Efficient

Which of the following technological advances could be the reason for the cost/benefit chart above?

A.Genetically modified food

B.Computers and the internet

C.Hybrid (gas/electric) cars

D.High capacity airplanes

  1. Which of the following is a cost associated with the advances of modern health practices?
  1. Improved hygiene and water treatment practices.
  2. Development of vaccines to prevent disease.
  3. Decrease of infant and childhood death rates.
  4. Increase in the growth of the human population.

2nd Item Specification: Recognize and identify examples of the effect of technologies on use of resources.

Depth of Knowledge Level 1

  1. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of the use of synthetic grass?

A.Gardeners use less gas when taking care of it.

B.It can be put in areas where grass cannot grow.

C.Real grass filters rainwater and it does not.

D.It requires less water to maintain it.

  1. What would be a positive effect of a technological advance that allows fishing companies to get larger amounts of fish in shorter amounts of time?

A.There will be more fish available for world consumption.

B.The fish population would decline at a faster rate.

C.There will be larger fishing boats in the waters.

D.Smaller fishermen would have less fish to catch.

Depth of Knowledge Level 2

  1. Use the graph below to answer the following question.

The Role of Renewable Energy Consumption in the Nation’s Energy Supply, 2007

(Source: Energy Information Administration, Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and

Alternative FuelsEnergy Information Administration/Renewable Energy

Consumption and Electricity Preliminary Statistics 2007

In the United States, 93% of the energy supply comes from nonrenewable resources. As the supply of nonrenewable resources decreases and the demand for energy increases, how will the graph MOST LIKELY change as technology to use renewable resources advances?

  1. The graph will remain the same due to high energy demand.
  2. The consumption of renewable energy sources will increase.
  3. The consumption of nonrenewable energy sources will increase.
  4. The graph will include a new energy source not discovered yet.
  1. The graph below shows the number of fish caught and the fish population in one area over time.

Which technological advance most likely caused the graph above?

A.Large companies started using electric fishing boats.

B.Technology allowed fishing boats to catch more fish in a short time.

C.Genetic engineering changed the fish so that they lived longer.

D.The internet made it possible for more people to visit the area.

3rd Item Specification: Describe the development of major technological advances and explain the changing balance of cost and benefits.

Depth of Knowledge Level 1

  1. Computers caused a large decline in paper usage when the internet made newspapers and magazines available online. How is the internet causing a cost to the environment?

A.More paper products are being used to ship items directly to people ordering at home.

B.The internet has changed what paper is made of which is harming the environment.

C.People do not have to send letters on paper anymore they can just email it.

D.The internet has made logging easier so more trees are being cut down.

  1. Which of the following is the best benefit-cost relationship associated with converting from fossil fuels to renewable energy resources?

A.Decrease in air pollution, Increase in cost.

B.Limit urban sprawl, Increase in cost.

C.Less disruption of natural watersheds, Decrease in cost.

D.Reduce the demand for oil, Decrease in cost.

  1. Which of the following technological advances does NOT provide a positive impact on the environment?
  1. Ability to build energy efficient homes.
  2. Capacity to produce large quantities of food.
  3. Reuse of recycled materials in new products.
  4. Development of lower emission vehicles.

Depth of Knowledge Level 2

  1. Many coastal communities have a lack of fresh drinking water. Desalinization plants would allow communities to produce fresh drinking water from the sea/salt water. The problem is that the plants cost a lot of money, use a lot of energy, cause an increase in CO2 emissions, and create a byproduct that could be hazardous if dumped back in the ocean.

Water availabilityCost of productionWater availability Funding available

Graph 1 Graph 2 Graph 3 Graph 4

Which of the graphs show a scenario where the benefits would outweigh the costs of desalinization?

A.Graph 1

B.Graph 2

C.Graph 3

D.Graph 4

  1. In the past, diseases were confined to geographic regions and pandemics were rare. What is the primary method that diseases are spread to the general population in other countries?
  1. Birds transport the diseases as they migrate for the winter.
  2. Travelers board planes and transport the diseases to their destinations.
  3. Military personnel exchange diseases with other soldiers during battles.
  4. Infected meat is sold to other countries and carries the disease.

4th Item Specification: Explain when and why society utilizes technology even though it can have a negative effect.

Depth of Knowledge Level 1

  1. Plastic materials fill up our landfills and do not decompose quickly. Plastic is made from the non-renewable resource petroleum. What would NOT be a reason society would still choose to use plastics?

A.Plastics are cheaper than other options such as wood or paper.

B.Society does not care about the negative effects of plastic.

C.Society can recycle and reuse plastic to reduce the waste.

D.Many items that society uses daily are made with plastic.

  1. Which of the following is a NEGATIVE impact caused by mining for resources? The mining industry
  1. contributes to the economy and provides employment.
  2. practices reclamation procedures when a mine closes.
  3. uses leaching techniques that cause heavy metals to enter the water supply.
  4. provides the raw materials needed to make the items used daily by society.

Depth of Knowledge Level 2

  1. Several people were asked to rate 2 different technologies that accomplished the same goal. The results are shown below.

Which technology would society most likely choose to use and why?

  1. Technology 1 because it is less harmful to the environment and resources.
  2. Technology 1 because it is more useful and made life easier.
  3. Technology 2 because it was more harmful to the environment.
  4. Technology 2 because it made life a little easier.
  1. The basic design of a nuclear power plant uses uranium to heat water in order to produce energy. Why are nuclear power plant considered a form of clean energy?
  1. The uranium does not produce emissions that affect air quality.
  2. The spent fuel from the reactors is harmless and can be easily disposed.
  3. The nuclear power plants are more efficient than coal-burning power plants.
  4. The uranium used in the nuclear reactors is a renewable resource.

Performance Benchmark N.8.B.1

Students understand that consequences of technologies can cause resource depletion and environmental degradation, but technology can also increase resource availability, mitigate environmental degradation, and make new resources economical. E/S

Answers to Sample Test Questions

  1. C, DOK Level 1
  2. D, DOK Level 1
  3. C, DOK Level 2
  4. D, DOK Level 2
  5. C, DOK Level 1
  6. A, DOK Level 1
  7. B, DOK Level 2
  8. B, DOK Level 2
  9. A, DOK Level 1
  10. A, DOK Level 1
  11. B, DOK Level 1
  12. C, DOK Level 2
  13. B, DOK Level 2
  14. B, DOK Level 1
  15. C, DOK Level 1
  16. C, DOK Level 2
  17. A, DOK Level 2