Preliminary Exam (Environmental Science)

What is the primary focus of ecology?

• Studying human impact on the environment

• Studying interactions among living organisms and their environment

• Analyzing the geological history of Earth

• Investigating the properties of minerals

Which of the following is considered a biotic component of an ecosystem?

• Soil

• Water

• Plants

• Temperature

Which of the following is an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?

• Deer population

• Sunlight

• Trees

• Grasshoppers

Is temperature typically considered a resource or a condition in an ecosystem?

• Resource

• Condition

• Both A and B

• None of the above

What does ecosystem structure refer to?

• The physical arrangement of organisms in an ecosystem

• The genetic diversity of species in an ecosystem

• The total biomass of an ecosystem

• The population growth rate of organisms in an ecosystem

Which of the following is not a biogeochemical cycle?

• Carbon cycle

• Rock cycle

• Water cycle

• Nitrogen cycle

How do humans impact the carbon cycle?

• By reducing greenhouse gas emissions

• By deforestation and burning fossil fuels

• By promoting carbon sequestration

• By conserving natural habitats

Which of the following is a key component of the nitrogen cycle?

• Photosynthesis

• Denitrification

• Transpiration

• Cellular respiration

What is the main consequence of human activities on the water cycle?

• Increased precipitation

• Decreased evaporation

• Altered water quality and availability

• More intense hurricanes

Which biogeochemical cycle is responsible for oxygen production through photosynthesis?

• Oxygen cycle

• Carbon cycle

• Nitrogen cycle

• Water cycle