Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) Degree Practice Exam

What term describes the resources needed by a population to meet its needs?

1. Carrying capacity

2. Ecological footprint

3. Environmental capacity

4. Aggregate resource allocation

The correct answer is: Ecological footprint

The term that accurately describes the resources needed by a population to meet its needs is "ecological footprint." This concept measures the demand placed on the Earth's ecosystems by human activities and represents the amount of land and water required to produce the resources consumed and to absorb the waste generated by that population. The ecological footprint takes into account various factors, such as food production, energy consumption, and the waste generated, and provides insight into the sustainability of human lifestyles and the overall health of the environment. This term encapsulates the broader relationship between a population and its resource consumption, illustrating how those needs impact the ecosystem. In contrast, carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely without being degraded. Environmental capacity often refers to the ability of an environment to provide resources and absorb waste but doesn't capture the direct relationship between a population's resource needs and the ecological impact. Aggregate resource allocation might pertain more to the distribution and organization of resources within a system rather than the specific needs of a population in a sustainable context.