Earth Science NCFE Review

 In North Carolina, most of the mature Piedmont forests are dominated by deciduous trees, while most mature coastal upland forests are dominated by evergreen conifers. What factor contributes to this difference? 

• Rainfall in coastal areas is twice as high as in the Piedmont.
  
•  Rainfall in coastal areas is of much lower pH than rainfall in the Piedmont.
  
•   Most soils in coastal areas are clay-rich and of low permeability, favoring the deep root systems typical of coniferous trees.
•   Most soils in coastal areas are sand-rich and of high permeability, favoring the deep root systems typical of coniferous trees. 

 Which best defines biodiversity? 

• Biodiversity is the total amount of biomass on Earth.
  
•  Biodiversity is the total number of living organisms on Earth.
  
•  Biodiversity is the total variability of living organisms on Earth.
  
•  Biodiversity is the total number of animals and plant species on Earth. 

 The photo shows an area with a heavy growth of kudzu, an introduced vine species commonly found in North Carolina. 
Based on the evidence shown in the photo, what is the effect of kudzu on the habitat shown?

• The kudzu is overcrowding the native plant species.
  
• The kudzu is providing habitat for many other species of plants.
  
•  The kudzu is a slow-growing vine that has beneficial effects for native plants.
  
•   The kudzu was introduced with a good understanding of North Carolina ecology. 

 Menhaden is a species of plankton-eating fish that has gone through cycles of overfishing. What is a probable short-term consequence of menhaden overfishing to the local ecosystem? 

• Plankton populations decrease in size.
  
• Menhaden populations increase in size.
  
•  Competitor populations decrease in size.
  
•  Menhaden predator populations decrease in size. 

he diagram shows one way electricity can be created.
Which renewable energy source is used to create this electricity? 

•  coal energy
  
• solar energy
  
• wind energy
•   geothermal energy 

 Which energy source has the lowest long–term environmental impact? 

•  wind
  
•  nuclear
  
•  clean coal
  
•  corn ethanol 

 Many farm operations are embracing the local-food movement by only purchasing livestock feed and fertilizers that originate within a 100-mile radius and only distributing their products within a 400-mile radius.
What impact could widespread adoption of the local-food movement have on the environment?

•  loss of genetic diversity due to cross-pollination
•  less available groundwater as a result of irrigation
• cleaner air as a result of decreased transportation needs
•   nutrient-depleted soils as a result of growing local varieties

According to one source, approximately 70% of the world’s freshwater is currently used by agricultural industries. What problem is at the root of this stress on the world’s freshwater sources? 

• exponential human population growth
•  lack of funding for aquaculture programs
  
•   development of genetically modified crops
•   increasing numbers of pathogens in aquatic ecosystems 

 The graph below shows a population of a group of organisms present in an ecosystem vs. the number of generations
What is the carrying capacity for this hypothetical population of organisms? 

•  between 101 and 200 organisms
  
• between 201 and 300 organisms
  
•   between 301 and 400 organisms
  
•  between 401 and 500 organisms 

 According to Kepler’s Third Law, which is the shape of every planet’s orbit around the Sun? 

•  circular
  
• elliptical
  
•   oval
  
•  spherical