Earth and Environmental Science Final Exam

Some parts of North Carolina can be classified as temperate rainforests. Where and why do these rainforests exist?

• in large peat swamps where wetlands are related to higher rainfall totals

• in the mountains where high elevations regularly cause higher rainfall totals

• along the beaches where tropical systems regularly cause high rainfall totals

• in the floodplains of rivers where additional groundwater is related to higher rainfall totals

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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.

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What does the removal of a top predator do to an ecosystem?

• It has no effect on the ecosystem.

• It benefits all other organisms in the ecosystem.

• It allows other species to affect the ecosystem significantly.

• It stabilizes the population of all other organisms in an ecosystem.

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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.

Which best describes the function of a keystone species in an ecosystem?

• It is the top predator in an ecosystem.

• It provides all of the energy for its ecosystem.

• It is the most abundant species in an ecosystem.

• It stabilizes the population of other species in the ecosystem.

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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.

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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.

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The diagram shows one way electricity can be created.

• coal energy

• solar energy

• wind energy

• geothermal energy

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

• wind

• nuclear

• clean coal

• corn ethanol

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Why is solar power generally considered a renewable form of energy?

• It does not deplete the Sun.

• It does not require digging in the ground.

• It can be used in both heating and cooling.

• It can be received from the Sun at no financial cost.