APES Unit 4 Review

Which soil horizon is best developed in areas with dense vegetation, such as forests and grasslands, since the horizon consists of decomposing leaves and other plant material?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Which soil horizon is the least weathered horizon and contains rock that is starting to break down into soil?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Based on the diagram, which of the following identifies a characteristic of the atmosphere between the stratopause and the tropopause?

• Cloud formation occurs in the stratosphere.

• The warmest air is found in the mesosphere.

• The ozone layer is in the stratosphere.

• The troposphere is the closest layer to the sun.

Which of the following best describes a transform boundary?

• An area where two tectonic plates move away from each other

• An area where two tectonic plates slide past one another

• An area where two or more tectonic plates collide

• An area where two or more tectonic plates fuse together at a suture zone

The table shows volcano and earthquake data for four countries that are approximately equal in size. Based on the data in the table, which of the countries is most likely located at a subduction zone between an oceanic tectonic plate and a continental tectonic plate?

• Country A

• Country B

• Country C

• Country D

At this site a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, which occurred at a nearby subduction zone, triggered one of the largest nuclear reactor disasters in history.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Students want to determine the impact of soil erosion from the development of new housing. They plan to measure the density of a species of algae growing along the bottom of a river that flows through their town. The town is built in a heavily forested area, but a large area of trees along the river was recently clear-cut to allow for the construction of a new housing development, which has caused exposed soil to wash into the river. The river flows north to south through the town and is still forested both up- and downstream of the town.

Which of the following would be the best control sample for the study?

• A sample of water collected just downstream of the southern forest

• A sample of water collected just downstream of the housing development

• A sample of water collected just downstream of the northern forest

• A sample of distilled water

Students want to determine the impact of soil erosion from the development of new housing. They plan to measure the density of a species of algae growing along the bottom of a river that flows through their town. The town is built in a heavily forested area, but a large area of trees along the river was recently clear-cut to allow for the construction of a new housing development, which has caused exposed soil to wash into the river. The river flows north to south through the town and is still forested both up- and downstream of the town.

Which of the following is the dependent variable in the study?

• The tract of land that was clear-cut for the housing development

• A tract of land in a heavily forested area outside of town

• The density of a species of algae growing along the bottom of the river

• The flow rate of the river from north to south

Students want to determine the impact of soil erosion from the development of new housing. They plan to measure the density of a species of algae growing along the bottom of a river that flows through their town. The town is built in a heavily forested area, but a large area of trees along the river was recently clear-cut to allow for the construction of a new housing development, which has caused exposed soil to wash into the river. The river flows north to south through the town and is still forested both up- and downstream of the town.

Which of the following explains the variable that would be the best for students to measure to determine the direct impact of soil erosion caused by the construction project on the river?

• Water temperature, because a decrease in shading in the area would indicate an increase in soil erosion.

• Nutrient levels, because a decrease in nitrogen and phosphorus would indicate an increase in soil erosion.

• The pH level, because an increase in pH would indicate an increase in soil erosion.

• Turbidity, because a decrease in water clarity would indicate an increase in soil erosion.

A student group is involved in a restoration study of a nearby disturbed area. They decide to collect six soil samples and analyze them for carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). Two of the samples are found to be very high in C and N, but the other four samples are low in both. The students also notice that the color of the two soil samples that are high in C and N is very dark. Which of the following is the most likely explanation of the data?

• Two of the samples were collected from an A horizon, and the others were collected from a B horizon.

• Two of the samples had more sand and gravel than the other four.

• Four of the samples were collected from an area that had been restored previously and now has thick vegetation.

• Four of the samples were collected from an area that had been mulched.