Geoscience Exam Review

What is this advancement in oil drilling called that has substantially reduced the environmental impact of drilling?

• Vertical Drilling

• Deep Well Drilling

• Horizontal Drilling

• Non-Directional Drilling

Answer explanation

horizontal drilling is correct. Horizontal drilling is directional drilling of non-vertical wells, allows more oil to be extracted over a large area from a single point.

. Which petroleum product is used as a road surfacing material?

• Synthetic Fabric

• Motor Oil

• Asphalt

• Plastic

Answer explanation

Crude oil is separated into more basic components through a process called fractional distillation. One of the components that result is asphalt. The physical and chemical properties of this material make is useful as a paving material.

Solar Energy is a renewable resource and is available at all times and does not need to be stored.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Though solar energy is a renewable, clean source of energy, it is not available at all times and needs to be stored. This is an economic factor that could prevent the maximum exploitation of this resource.

Foresters recently noticed an apparent drop in the squirrel population in a near-by oak-hickory forest. The squirrels eat acorns produced on the oak trees; hawks eat squirrels. The foresters are not sure what is causing the decline in the squirrel population but they are concerned that both the squirrel and hawk populations will disappear. How could they best find an answer to their question?

• Track the hawks and their movments

• Conduct a long term population study

• Watch acorn and oak tree production

• Use a computer simulation model of the potential forest populations

Answer explanation

Use a computer simulation model of the potential forest populations. Foresters could run hypothetical situations to predict the cause of the decline and also find possible solutions to the problem.

In a costal forest there is a build up of acid sulfides in the soil and an increase in shoreline erosion. How would this impact the costal forest?

• Stabilize food web

• Increase aquatic species

• increase sedimentation and hatcheries.

• Affect inshore breeding and decline aquatic species.

Answer explanation

Both acidification of the soil and shoreline erosion would be considered habitat destruction. As a result, Inshore breeding areas would be affected and aquatic species would decline.

In the search for viable renewable resources, hydro-electricity power is an option. This includes the use of dams. What is one problem related to dams?

• Not enough electricity

• Disrupts local ecosystem

• Not enough rivers

• Produce more pollution than other energy sources

Answer explanation

Building a dam will disrupt the local ecosystem. The level of water on either side of the dam will change and that will impact all life forms.

Select the true statement.

• Reserves of fossil fuels are increasing

• Worldwide demand for fossil fuels is decreasing

• Worldwide demand for fossil fuels is increasing

• Worldwide oil production will increase as oil reserves decrease

Answer explanation

While the Earth processes that form fossil fuels are still at work today, human use of existing supplies far outweighs the rate of production of new resources. As the human population continues to grow, demand for fossil fuels continues to rise.

What are Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)?

• A dog

• A Cat

• A sold chemical

• A green house gas

Answer explanation

Chlorofluorocarbons are exceptionally strong greenhouse gases and are also responsible for the destruction of stratospheric ozone.

Chloroflurocabons are manmade chemicals found in...

• cleaning agents,

• aerosol cans

• Foam Packaging

• Sedimentation

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), found as a layer in the stratosphere, absorb and filter out harmful ultraviolet radiation before it reaches Earth’s surface. Which atmospheric gas is destroyed by CFCs?

• Carbon Dioxide

• Oxygen

• Silicone

• Ozone

Answer explanation

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) destroy ozone molecules through chemical reactions which ultimately produce oxygen (O₂) molecules rather than ozone (O₃) molecules. Scientists have verified a worldwide thinning of the ozone layer, increasing the amount of ultraviolet radiation which ultimately reaches Earth.