Climate Change Practice Test

Charleston, South Carolina has hot summers and cool winters. On a crazy Spring day, it SNOWED!! Which best describes this crazy day in terms of weather and climate?

• The climate was different from the normal weather for the area.

• Weather and climate were different from the normal properties for the area.

• The weather was different from the normal climate for the area.

• Climate and weather were changing into a new set of normal properties for the area.

Over a few decades residents have noticed that Spring seems to be arriving earlier each year. This observation is most likely based on

• a series of climate observations indicating a possible change in weather.

• a series of climate observations indicating a possible change in climate.

• using weather instead of climate to describe conditions in a small area.

• using climate instead of weather to describe conditions in a small area.

Methane and nitrous oxide both trap more heat than the same amount of carbon dioxide. Why should humans still try to reduce carbon dioxide emissions?

• The other gases circulate more freely through the atmosphere.

• Humans generate significantly more carbon dioxide than other gases.

• Atmospheric reactions convert large quantities of other gases into carbon dioxide.

• Carbon dioxide is responsible for increasing the ozone hole over Antarctica.

If coal consumption continues to increase rapidly, what impact will it most likely have on the environment?

• decreased rates of deforestation

• decreased atmospheric temperatures

• increased amounts of radioactive waste

• increased levels of greenhouse gas emissions

An increase in greenhouse gases may contribute to an increase in the occurrence of hurricanes. Which is the most likely assumption used in making this prediction?

• Acid rain will cause a decrease in oceanic surface temperatures.

• Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide will cause increased ocean surface temperatures.

• Any measurable increase in ocean surface temperatures must be caused by human activities.

• Saturation of nitrogen in the atmosphere will cause a wide range of ocean surface temperatures.

Scientists determined that atmospheric carbon dioxide and the average atmospheric temperature are increasing at similar rates. What can be concluded from this information?

• The increase in average temperature directly resulted in an increase of carbon dioxide emissions.

• The increase in average temperature directly resulted in a decrease of carbon dioxide emissions.

• The increase in carbon dioxide emissions directly resulted in an increase of average temperature.

• The increase in carbon dioxide emissions directly resulted in a decrease of average temperature.

As Earth gets warmer, what are the most likely effects on Earth's ice mass cover and global temperature?

• Earth's ice mass cover would increase, raising Earth's temperature.

• Earth's ice mass cover would increase, lowering Earth's temperature.

• Earth's ice mass cover would decrease, raising Earth's temperature.

• Earth's ice mass coverwould decrease, lowering Earth's temperature.

The graph shows us that

• The earth temperature is always increasing

• The earth's temperature has steadily increased since 1900

• The earth's temperature is steadily rising since the 1960s

• The earth's temperature decreased during the 19th and 20th centuries

Why does global warming cause sea levels to rise? [Choose 1 to 4 options.]

• Warm ocean waters expand more.

• Seismic activity in the ocean increases in warmer temperatures.

• Glacial ice is melted and this adds water to the oceans.

• The Earth's core expands in warm temperatures, elevating the ocean floor.

What is the definition of weather?

• The condition of the air/atmosphere around the Earth

• The pattern of weather over time

• Rain and Snow

• When water falls from the sky