Today’s students are more environmentally aware than ever before. Why not earn college credit for your environmental know-how? The DSST Environment and Humanity exam will measure what you know about ecological concepts and the impact of human actions on the environment. If you pass the exam, your college may award three semester hours of lower-level credit to your transcript.
DSST is a prior learning assessment program. This means that it measures what you already know, to help you earn college credit for that knowledge so you can move on to the courses you really need. Thousands of colleges and universities nationwide accept DSST exams for credit, and DSST is approved by the American Council for Education (ACE). However, you should check with your own college or university requirements before registering for any DSST exam.
The DSST Environment and Humanity exam covers these topics:
- Ecological Concepts
- Environmental Impacts
- Environmental Management and Conservation
- Political Processes and the Future.
If you plan to take the DSST Environment and Humanity exam you might be tempted to avoid studying. But you wouldn’t want to fail the exam just because you forgot to review the concepts of biodiversity and stability, or biogeochemical cycling! A careful review of the material can make the difference between passing (and earning college credit) and failing.
One of the best ways to study for the DSST Environment and Humanity exam is to check out a DSST study guide, which provides a detailed exam outline, sample questions, and helpful references.
DSST Environment and Humanity Practice Questions
1. The Neolithic period, during which humans began to transition from hunting and gathering to farming, began during which time frame?
A. 100,000-200,000 years ago
B. 50,000-100,000 years ago
C. 25,000-50,000 years ago
D. 5,000-25,000 years ago
2. The Mesopotamian civilization represented a significant development in human history because
A. it marked the first instance of settled agriculture.
B. the Mesopotamians developed the Code of Hammurabi.
C. the Mesopotamians were the first to use iron tools.
D. it was the first urban society.
3. Which of the following statements correctly describes a difference between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere?
A. The asthenosphere is comprised of atmospheric gas, while the lithosphere is composed of liquids and solids.
B. The asthenosphere is hotter and more fluid than the lithosphere.
C. The lithosphere is hotter and has a different chemical composition than the asthenosphere.
D. Heat is transferred through conduction in the asthenosphere, while it is transferred through convection in the lithosphere.
4. Which of the following factors directly contributes to soil erosion?
A. Air pollution from cars and factories
B. Use of pesticides
C. Deforestation and overgrazing
D. Water pollution caused by excess sedimentation
5. The main manmade cause of “dead zones” in portions of oceans and lakes that normally host abundant aquatic life is:
A. Evaporation.
B. Invasive species.
C. Use of chemical fertilizers.
D. Global warming.
6. The increasing popularity of American fast food restaurant chains in other countries is an example of
A. acculturation.
B. culture loss.
C. cultural diffusion.
D. assimilation.
7. Which one of the following types of societies is likely to have the largest percentage of its population engaged in food production?
A. A horticultural society that uses the barter system
B. A horticultural society that has developed a rudimentary market economy
C. A pastoral society
D. A foraging society
8. Which of the following is the most accurate description of the relationship between agriculture and industry in the 19th century?
A. With industrial and technological advances, farming was left behind in favor of industrial work.
B. With more urban workers needing food, farming became more important than industrial work.
C. Specialization and mechanization were applied more to agriculture at this time than to industry.
D. The development of both agriculture and industry was helped by technological innovations.
9. For what purpose can stormwater collected in cisterns and other tanks be used?
A. As drinking water
B. To replace water in landscape irrigation
C. As water for taking baths and showers
D. For cooking purposes
10. The U.S. government seeks to reduce unemployment in part to prevent individuals from suffering hardship. How is unemployment also most likely to affect the economy?
A. By causing inflation
B. By leading to lost productivity
C. By increasing aggregate demand
D. By increasing aggregate supply
DSST Environment and Humanity Practice Questions Answer Key