Earth Science Review

Carlos lives in a community near Hatty Bay. The Lucile River moves water from the region’s watershed into Hatty Bay. He learns the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a standard for nitrate pollution. The EPA says humans can safely drink water that contains up to 10 milligrams of nitrates for every 1 liter of water. Carlos measures the nitrate concentration of water collected from the Lucile River over one month and displays his data in Figure 1. What was the nitrate concentration on Day 16?

• 3 milligrams of nitrates per liter of water

• 5 milligrams of nitrates per liter of water

• 7 milligrams of nitrates per liter of water

• 9 milligrams of nitrates per liter of water

Carlos lives in a community near Hatty Bay. The Lucile River moves water from the region’s watershed into Hatty Bay. He learns the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a standard for nitrate pollution. The EPA says humans can safely drink water that contains up to 10 milligrams of nitrates for every 1 liter of water. Carlos measures the nitrate concentration of water collected from the Lucile River over one month and displays his data in Figure 1. Was Lucile River water within the safe limit for nitrates on Day 21?

• No, it contained more than 10 milligrams of nitrates per liter of water.

• No, it contained more than 20 milligrams of nitrates per liter of water.

• Yes, it contained less than 10 milligrams of nitrates per liter of water.

• Yes, it contained less than 20 milligrams of nitrates per liter of water.

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Consider all the data shown in Figure 1. Do the data reveal a relationship between nitrate concentration and time?

• No, there are not enough data to show a relationship.

• No, sometimes the concentration increased, and at other times the concentration decreased.

• Yes, the data show that nitrate concentration in the Lucile River gradually decreased over time.

• Yes, the data show that nitrate concentration in the Lucile River gradually increased over time.

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Carlos discovers bacteria produce nitrates naturally in soils, and tree roots prevent soil erosion. He claims cutting down trees caused the Lucile River pollution. What reasoning best supports his claim?

• Removing trees decreases soil erosion, which would decrease the nitrates carried by runoff to the Lucile River.

• Removing trees decreases soil erosion, which would increase the nitrates carried by runoff to the Lucile River.

• Removing trees increases soil erosion, which would decrease the nitrates carried by runoff to the Lucile River.

• Removing trees increases soil erosion, which would increase the nitrates carried by runoff to the Lucile River.

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A potato farmer uses animal-waste fertilizer. Runoff from the farm leads directly to a nearby creek. What should the farmer do to ensure there is no impact on the environment?

• use less electricity at home

• use more electricity at home

• take regular water samples from the creek to check for oil

• take regular water samples from the creek to check for nitrates

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A population of large fish has recently been discovered at a lake. The town council where the lake is located wants to increase tourism and will allow fishing at the lake. What action should the town council take to promote good environmental stewardship?

• To increase the total number of fish available to harvest, the council should introduce invasive species to the lake.

• To encourage people to use fossil fuels, the council should construct a boat dock with a gasoline pump.

• The council should establish rules to ensure that fishing is sustainable and has no impact on the long-term health of the fish.

• The council should add chemicals to the water to keep the dissolved oxygen content of the lake as low as possible.

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Identify each energy source as renewable or nonrenewable the labels.

Petroleum: _______ Wind ________

• nonrenewable

• renewable

• inexhaustible

• sustainable

Which choice provides the best description of hydroelectric energy?

• It is a renewable energy resource because this form of energy is easily replenished by the water cycle.

• It is a renewable energy resource because this form of energy removes greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

• It is a nonrenewable energy resource because this form of energy is not easily replenished by the water cycle.

• It is a nonrenewable energy resource because this form of energy contributes greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

According to the EPA, in the year 2020, vehicles such as cars and planes released 1.6 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, and fossil fuel power plants released 1.5 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. A scientific report states that the United States could transition 80% of its energy production from power plants that use fossil fuels to solar and wind energy by 2030. Which choice best describes some consequences of this transition?

• The United States would reduce its reliance on renewable resources, but vehicles would still rely on resources that cause climate change.

• The United States would reduce its reliance on renewable resources and completely eliminate its reliance on resources that cause climate change.

• The United States would reduce its reliance on nonrenewable resources, but vehicles would still rely on resources that cause climate change.

• The United States would reduce its reliance on nonrenewable resources and completely eliminate its reliance on resources that cause climate change

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A company operates an oil platform off the coast of North America. The oil platform is a large structure that has: a pipe that moves oil from a reservoir deep beneath the ocean floor, facilities above the ocean’s surface where oil is collected, and metal beams that secure these facilities to the ocean floor. Fishermen from a nearby town have noticed they are catching fewer fish than they have in the past, and claim that the oil platform is the cause. What evidence would be most useful when investigating the fishermen’s claim?

• the species of fish that are native to the region

• the distance between the facilities and the ocean floor

• the amount of air pollution produced by the oil platform

• the number of oil leaks that have occurred at the platform

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