Environmental Science Unit 0: Science, Systems, and Societies Assessment

A scientist observes that plants near a factory grow slower than plants farther away. What would be the most appropriate next step in the scientific method?

• Immediately conclude that the factory is harming the plants
• Share the observation with other scientists
• Form a testable hypothesis about the relationship between factory proximity and plant growth
• Collect more plants from near the factory to study

Which scenario best demonstrates a natural experiment in environmental science?

• Testing different fertilizers on identical plots of land
• Measuring water quality in a laboratory under controlled conditions
• Comparing forest recovery rates after a wildfire versus an unburned control area
• Surveying student opinions about environmental issues

In a study examining how temperature affects fish behavior, what would be the dependent variable?

• The type of fish being studied
• The time of day measurements are taken
• The temperature of the water
• The observed changes in fish behavior

Why is it important for scientific results to be shared with the scientific community?

• To allow for peer review, replication, and validation of findings
• To prevent other scientists from conducting similar studies
• To ensure the researcher gets proper credit for their work
• To meet publication requirements for academic journals

A forest ecosystem exchanges carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, and nutrients with its surroundings. This forest is best classified as:

• A closed system because it has defined boundaries
• A closed system because trees prevent materials from leaving
• An open system because it exchanges matter and energy with its environment
• An open system only during certain seasons

Which example best illustrates the first law of thermodynamics in an ecosystem?

• Ecosystems become more organized over time
• Predators always outnumber prey in stable ecosystems
• Solar energy is converted to chemical energy in plants, then to kinetic energy in animals
• Energy is lost as heat during each transfer between organisms

According to the second law of thermodynamics, what happens to energy as it moves through a food chain?

• Energy becomes more concentrated and useful
• Energy increases at each trophic level
• Energy remains constant but becomes less available for work
• Energy is completely destroyed at each level

A sealed terrarium with plants, soil, and water represents which type of system?

• An open system for both matter and energy
• An open system for matter but closed for energy
• A closed system for both matter and energy
• A closed system for matter but open for energy

The law of conservation of matter is best demonstrated by:

• Carbon atoms cycling between the atmosphere, plants, and soil
• The increase in biomass as you move up trophic levels
• The fact that ecosystems become more complex over time
• Energy flowing in one direction through food chains

Which scenario best illustrates the concept of entropy in an ecosystem?

• A forest growing larger and more diverse over time
• The ecosystem becomes more disorganized over time.
• Predators maintaining stable population sizes
• Nutrients cycling efficiently through the food web