Seattle Times Climate Challenge quiz

1. Which of these ideas have scientists suggested to combat global warming?

   Giant artificial “trees” to filter carbon dioxide out of the air
   A “solar shade” created by a trillion flying saucers that lower Earth's temperature
   A scheme that mimics a volcano by spewing light-reflecting sulfates high in the sky
   All of the above

2. How much does it cost to keep a typical personal computer running around the clock?

   $10 a year
   $30 a year
   $60 a year
   $100 a year

3. True or False: Dozens of island and coastal countries are so concerned with rising sea levels that they have formed an alliance.

   True
   False

4. China has managed a century of economic development in little more than a generation, but it has come with a cost. How many of its cities rank among the world's 20 most polluted?

   4
   10
   13
   16

5. In February, Seattle-based Imperium Renewables announced an agreement with Natural Selection Farms of Sunnyside, Yakima County, to buy enough canola oil to produce 1 million gallons of biodiesel. How much less carbon dioxide does biodiesel emit compared to petroleum diesel?

   40 percent less CO2
   60 percent less CO2
   78 percent less CO2
   89 percent less CO2

6. If sea levels rise 2 feet, how much land in Washington could wind up under water?

   20 square miles
   50 square miles
   100 square miles
   300 square miles

7. In 2006, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to list the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. What did Kempthorne point to as the reason why polar bears are in jeopardy?

   Over-hunting
   Disease
   Changes in Arctic climate
   Development

8. How often should you check the air pressure in your tires?

   Every few days
   Once a week
   Every few weeks
   Once every six months

9. Although climate fluctuations have not had large effects on California agriculture so far, which two crops have been impacted negatively?

   Oranges and walnuts
   Avocados and cotton
   Lettuce and carrots
   Grapes and lemons

10. By 2050, what percentage plant and animal species in North America are likely to be "committed to extinction" because of climate changes, according to U.N. estimates?

    2 to 7 percent
    7 to 15 percent
    15 to 37 percent
    40 to 66 percent