Regents Review 2025 PART 1

Coral reefs are vital components of marine ecosystems. They provide shelter and nutrition to many organisms that live on or in them. Some coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean are heavily polluted with plastic objects that provide surfaces where disease-causing microbes are able to grow. If the amount of plastic present on coral reefs continues to increase, it is likely that the

• coral will adapt to the presence of the plastic and thrive

• microbes will adapt to living directly on the coral

• algae that live on the reef will begin to decompose the dying coral

• species dependent on the coral will be negatively impacted

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Which long-term change could directly cause the other three?

• pollution of air and water

• increasing human population

• scarcity of suitable animal habitats

• depletion of resources

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Which graph best illustrates the change in the human population over the past 2000 years?

• Graph 1: Exponential increase

• Graph 2: Fluctuating

• Graph 3: Linear increase

• Graph 4: Decrease

Humans have an effect on ecosystems when they use native grasslands or forested areas for farming or urban use. One negative effect of these changes on the ecosystem is that there will be

• less biodiversity

• more homes

• successful economic growth

• increased food production

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The World Wildlife Federation's recent report indicated that there has been a 60% decline in the size of monitored wildlife populations in just over 40 years. The most likely factor contributing to this decline was

• animals reproducing successfully

• the destruction of many natural habitats

• passing environmental protection laws

• the introduction of native species into habitats

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The graph below shows changes in human population numbers over time. A consequence of these changes is

• an increase in the numbers and kinds of organisms worldwide

• a decrease in the availability of natural resources

• a decrease in deforestation due to technological improvements

• an increase in biosphere stability

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Ringworm is a skin infection common among school-aged children. Although the name suggests that a worm causes the disease, it is actually caused by a fungus that lives and feeds on the dead outer layer of the skin. The relationship between ringworm and humans can be described as

• predator/prey

• predator/host

• parasite/prey

• parasite/host

Which statement best explains how deforestation that is the result of forest fires can contribute to global warming?

• Burning the trees adds smoke to the atmosphere and blocks sunlight.

• Burning the trees adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

• Deforestation removes trees that produce carbon dioxide through the process of photosynthesis.

• Deforestation immediately increases ecosystem stability needed in the burned area.

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In the California Mojave Desert, an energy company is building a large solar-power facility. It is expected to produce enough power for 140,000 homes and also cut carbon dioxide emissions by 500,000 tons a year. The facility will be built on 4,050 acres of wildlife habitat, which is near a protected refuge for a species of desert tortoise. The decision to build this power plant is most likely based on

• proving that positive atmospheric changes are less important than preserving wildlife

• a trade-off, weighing the need for a cleaner energy source versus the protection of a natural resource

• the fact that building these solar-power energy plants disrupts wildlife habitats

• providing evidence that technological advances always produce positive environmental impacts

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A 1°C increase in temperature had what effect on the marine ecosystem?

• It caused a decrease in marine biodiversity.

• It had no effect on the marine ecosystem.

• It increased the population of marine species.

• It improved water quality.

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