Read the Following Scenario and Answer the Question Below

question 46

Multiple Choice

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
Mercury is a heavy metal that occurs naturally in minerals and rocks. Release of mercury from natural sources has been relatively constant over time. However, anthropogenic release of mercury has increased significantly in recent years primarily due to increased fossil fuel mining and combustion. Mercury that is released into the air eventually ends up in soils or surface water. Once in water, microbes convert mercury into methyl mercury, which is absorbed quickly and concentrated in the tissues of predatory fish such as shark and swordfish. Large fish typically concentrate more mercury than small fish. People who eat fish with high methyl mercury concentrations can show tremors, deafness, muscle dysfunction, and attention deficits. Pregnant women and children are especially sensitive to methyl mercuryʹs toxic effects. Learning disabilities and developmental delays are common in children who have been exposed to significant levels of methyl mercury.
-Of the following U.S. agencies, ______________ is primarily responsible for addressing issues regarding mercury pollution.

• A) DOE
• B) USDA
• C) EPA
• D) OSHA
• E) BLM

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Definitions:

Consciousness

The state of being aware of and able to think about one's own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, and experiences.

Dual Processing

The principle that our minds operate on two different levels simultaneously: automatic, unconscious processing and conscious, deliberate processing.

Evolutionary Psychologists

Scientists who study the psychological adaptations of humans to the changing physical and social environment, often focusing on how evolution has shaped the mind and behavior.

Behaviorists

Psychologists who focus on observable behaviors and the ways in which environment determines behavior, excluding mental processes.