Ecosphere Quiz

How much do you know about 
your surrounding natural world?

What follows is a self-scoring test on basic environmental perception of place. Scoring is done on the honor system, so if you fudge, cheat, or elude, you also get an idea of where you're at. The quiz is culture bound, favoring people who live in the country over city dwellers, and scores can be adjusted accordingly. Most of the questions, however, are of such a basic nature that undue allowances are not necessary. This test was adapted from the version appearing in CoEvolution, no. 23 (Winter, 1981)

• Trace the water you drink from precipitation to tap.
• How many days until the moon is full (plus or minus a couple of days?)
• Describe the soil around your home
• What were the primary subsistence techniques of the culture(s) that lived in your area before you?
• Name five native edible plants in your bioregion and their season(s) of availability.
• From what direction do winter storms generally come in your region?
• Where does your garbage go?
• How long is the growing season where you live?
• On what day of the year are the shadows the shortest where you live?
• Name five trees in your area. Are any of them native? If you can't name names, describe them.
• Name five resident and any migratory birds in your area.
• What is the land use history by humans in your bioregion during the past century?
• What primary geological event/process influenced the landform where you live?
• What species have become extinct in your area?
• What are the major plant-associations in your area?
• From where you are reading this, point north
• What spring wildflower is consistently among the first to bloom where you live?
• What kind of rocks and minerals are found in your bioregion?
• Were the stars out last night?
• Name some beings (nonhuman), which share your place.
• Do you celebrate the turning of the summer and winter solstice? If so, how do you celebrate?
• How many people live next door to you? What are their names?
• How much gasoline do you use a week, on average?
• What energy costs you the most money? What kind of energy is it?
• What developed and potential energy sources are in your area?
• What plans are there for massive development of energy or mineral resources in your bioregion?
• What is the largest wilderness area in your bioregion?

(This information was taken from: Deep Ecology: Living as if Nature Mattered by Bill Devall and George Sessions, 1985 Gibbs M. Smith, Inc. P22)