Humans' Impact on Earth: Mastery Test

In the suburbs, per capita consumption of fossil fuels is very high. What is the most likely effect of this?

• An increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

• An increase in oxygen in the air

• An increase in phosphates in groundwater

• A decrease in nitrates in the soil

Scientists predict that the human population will continue to increase. Which two events will likely happen as a result?

• More fossil fuels will be used for cars.

• More water will flow into watersheds.

• More oxygen will form in the atmosphere.

• More trees will be cleared from land.

Scientists predict that the human population will continue to increase. Which two events are likely to occur as a result?

• Air pollution will increase due to increased use of fossil fuels.

• The amount of water released into streams and rivers will increase.

• More people will move to the cities, increasing the amount of natural space.

• The amount of natural space will decrease as suburban areas increase.

A scientist wants to monitor the amount of acid precipitation falling into a watershed. Which tool would be the best for the scientist to use?

• Bioindicators

• Satellite images

• pH meter

• Dissolved oxygen sensor

Which policy would most likely decrease a city's gasoline use?

• A. Building new bike paths in the city

• B. Widening roads throughout the city

• C. Expanding the city into nearby areas

• D. Raising the price of riding the city bus

Which two policies would most likely decrease a city's gasoline use?

• Removing sidewalks along city streets

• Limiting the city's growth outward

• Lowering the cost of riding the city bus

• Increasing space for parking cars

Humans need gasoline for transportation, but burning gasoline releases many pollutants. City governments can set policies to decrease the amount of gasoline their citizens use. Which two policies would be most likely to decrease a city's gasoline use?

• Building a mass transit system

• Lowering the cost of gasoline

• Limiting the use of streetlights

• Creating pedestrian-only areas

Which tool would be best for monitoring how land use changes over time?

• Turbidity charts

• pH meters

• Satellite images

• Bioindicators

Which change can remote sensing best help detect over time?

• How the amount of forest in an area decreases

• How the turbidity of the water in a lake increases

• How the dissolved oxygen levels in the ocean steadily decrease

• How the pH of a river rapidly increases