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Name:_______________________________        Date:__________________

Post-test Questions for "Every Breath You Take"

Circle the BEST answer for each of the following questions:

1. The majority of harm that is associated with air pollution comes from its effects
on the _____.

A. brain
B. heart
C. kidneys
D. lungs
E. liver

2. Which of the following best describes the relationship between energy efficient
buildings and indoor air pollution?

A. the more energy-efficient a building is, the less indoor air pollution it has
B. the less energy-efficient a building is, the more indoor air pollution it has
C. as energy-efficiency increases, indoor air pollution also increases
D. as energy-efficiency increases, indoor air pollution will decrease
E. there is no relationship between energy efficiency and indoor air pollution

3. This December, you are visiting an aunt who lives in East Texas in the house
in which your great grandmother used to live. You notice the house is quite warm,
despite the cold, dry weather outside. You see that she has several old gas
heaters burning brightly throughout the house, providing lots of heat. After
spending a few hours there, your eyes become irritated and you begin to wheeze.
What is possibly causing your reaction?

A. formaldehyde
B. mold
C. combustion products
D. ozone
E. carbon monoxide

4. Your school built a new library to replace the original one, built in 1947. It is a
model of energy efficiency, using 1/3 of the energy of the original. As you are
reading one of your favorite science books in the library, you develop a headache
and become very nauseated. Which of the following is the best explanation for
your symptoms?

A. mold from the particle board and air-conditioning ducts
B. use of space heaters during construction
C. ozone from the air-conditioning ducts
D. formaldehyde from the insulation and carpeting
E. bacterial build-up from lack of use of the new facility

5. Which of the following statements concerning outdoor air pollutants is correct?

A. all outdoor air pollutants are chemicals
B. outdoor air pollutants worsen asthma and emphysema
C. most dust masks are not helpful with outdoor air pollutants
D. outdoor air pollutants only occur in cities; there are none found in agricultural settings
E. there are no risks of contracting serious medical conditions from outdoor pollutants

6. Uncle Ned, who has been a corn farmer all his life, has been diagnosed with liver
cancer. Which of the following outdoor air pollutants may have contributed to
the development of Uncle Ned's cancer?

A. carbon monoxide
B. aflatoxin
C. ozone
D. nitrogen dioxide
E. sulfur monoxide

7. You are volunteering with a county fire department. You are called to help
with a large forest fire in the Piney Woods. One firefighter returns from the field
complaining of a headache. She appears to be confused and drowsy. As she
takes some water from you, you notice that her hands are shaking. Which of the
following could be contributing to the firefighter's problems?

A. aflatoxin
B. benzene
C. particulate matter
D. ozone
E. formaldehyde

8. One winter, you get an email from your cousin, who lives in a large city on the
East Coast. He says that the weather has been cold and the old furnace in the
building has gone out twice this month. He relates that his little sister has been
having difficulty paying attention in school. He says that she is becoming very
clumsy and thinks she needs glasses, as she is always squinting at the television.
You express your concern that she may have long-term exposure to _____.

A. carbon monoxide
B. aflatoxin
C. ozone
D. burning styrene
E. benzene

9. Which of the following is not commonly found in arts-and-crafts supplies?

A. lead
B. mercury
C. asbestos
D. carbon monoxide
E. cadmium

10. One major problem associated with the asbestos found in some arts-and-crafts
supplies is _____.

A. inhalation may cause scarring of the lungs
B. ingestion may cause nerve damage
C. contact may cause liver cancer
D. ingestion or contact may cause kidney failure
E. ingestion or inhalation may cause headache, nausea, and vomiting

11. The biggest risk of exposure to environmental toxins for adolescents in the
work place is through _____.

A. ingestion
B. inhalation
C. contact
D. inadequate bathroom facilities
E. long (10+) hour work shifts

12. Specific information about the risks of toxicity of certain chemicals in the
workplace can be found _____.

A. on material safety data sheets (MSDS)
B. on the label only (LBL)
C. through repeated exposure to the compound (RExp)
D. on toxicity assessment reports (TAR)
E. on risk management surveys (RMS)