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WorksheetsES Test 4 Part 2
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 30mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
The average temperature of Earth has increased approximately 0.8°C in the last one hundred years. Which of the following do researchers most attribute to this temperature increase?
a)
increased population in third-world countries
b)
increased use of fossil fuels
c)
the solar flares reaching Earth
d)
the lower amounts of carbon dioxide
2.
Large metropolitan areas are composed of hard surfaces that trap solar energy as heat, especially in the summer months. The EPA estimates that the trapped heat results in 1.5 – 2.0% increase in energy consumption for every 0.6°C increase in air temperature in these urban heat islands. Most of this energy is supplied by power plants that rely on fossil fuels. Which of the following effects of increased energy use and regional air temperatures directly impacts human health?
a)
increased water temperatures in storm runoff
b)
prolonged growing seasons for urban plants
c)
higher concentrations of ground-level ozone
d)
increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide
3.
What long-term impact could the destruction of large areas of forests have on Earth?
a)
decreased rates of erosion
b)
increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels
c)
decreased amounts of acid rain
d)
increased atmospheric oxygen levels
4.
The United States Geological Survey tracks the masses of three glaciers: The Gulkana and Wolverine Glaciers in Alaska and the South Cascade Glacier in Washington. These glaciers are studied carefully, and changes in their masses are recorded. The graph below shows the change in the masses of each glacier since 1958.
Most scientists agree that the change in the three glaciers is due largely to global climate change. If so, which claim about the climate is best supported by the data?
Most scientists agree that the change in the three glaciers is due largely to global climate change. If so, which claim about the climate is best supported by the data?
a)
The climate has cooled evenly and substantially at all latitudes since 1960.
b)
The climate has warmed since 1960, but most dramatically from 1990 to the present.
c)
The climate in northern latitudes changed at a substantially different rate after 1990 than the climate further south.
d)
The climate changed dramatically from 1960 to 1990, but the rate of change has slowed considerably since then.
5.
The average global ocean temperature in 1912 was 15.8°C, and in 2011 this temperature was 16.5°C. Algae have an optimal growing range of 16°C to 27°C. What is the predicted impact of the change in average ocean temperature on algae?
a)
an increase in algal distribution
b)
elimination of predators on algae
c)
narrowing of the ecological niche for algae
d)
reduction of levels of sunlight needed for algal growth
6.
Which of these situations would most likely be a result of climate change?
a)
weaker storms, causing less shoreline erosion
b)
shorter days, causing longer hibernation periods
c)
shrinking glaciers, causing sea levels to rise
d)
increased radioactivity, causing damage to cells
7.
For thousands of years, people have lived on and farmed the rich soils of the deltas of large rivers. These deltas form where large rivers, such as the Nile and the Colorado, flow into the sea. As waters in these rivers flow towards the coast, they gradually lose energy and the current slows. Sediment then falls to the river bottom and forms a delta as the water moves on to the sea.
River deltas are not as stable now as they have been in the past. They are more vulnerable to ocean flooding, and they are also getting smaller. Which conditions are most likely the reasons for the changes in the deltas?
River deltas are not as stable now as they have been in the past. They are more vulnerable to ocean flooding, and they are also getting smaller. Which conditions are most likely the reasons for the changes in the deltas?
a)
climate change and dam construction
b)
increased water flow and overuse of the deltas
c)
fertilizer runoff and warmer water temperatures
d)
water treatment plants and depletion of sediment sources
8.
Historical data from many sources can be used to model the variability of past climates and predict future climate changes. Which of these data can best be used for this type of climatic computer modeling?
a)
the difference in gas content of mafic magma as compared to felsic magma
b)
the volume of iridium found in sediments that marks the end of a geological era
c)
the mean distance of separation between linked exposures of Glossopteris fossils
d)
the ratio of magnesium ions compared to calcium ions in estuarine Loxoconcha fossils
9.
Global warming affects sea levels. Which of these is a likely consequence if the trend of global warming continues in coming decades?
a)
Melting glaciers will cause flooding of coastal towns and cities.
b)
Melting glaciers will reduce lake sizes in mountainous regions.
c)
Evaporation will increase land areas in U-shaped valleys, as fjords dry up.
d)
Evaporation will enlarge land areas near coastlines, as sea levels drop.
10.
Some scientists have predicted that buildup of greenhouse gases will contribute to the occurrence of more hurricanes. Which is the most likely assumption used in making this prediction?
a)
Acid rainfall will cause a decrease in oceanic surface temperatures.
b)
Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide will cause increased ocean surface temperatures.
c)
Any measurable increase in ocean surface temperatures must be caused by human activities.
d)
Saturation of nitrogen in the atmosphere will cause a wide range of ocean surface temperatures.
11.
It is hypothesized that in the next 200 years, the lowest land areas on Earth could be submerged beneath rising oceans. Which climate change would most likely cause this to occur?
a)
global warming
b)
decreased winds
c)
the start of an ice age
d)
increased desertification
12.
A student learning about the carbon cycle reads the following sentence.
Atmospheric carbon is the most important threat to the health of the biosphere.
In which way is carbon a threat to the biosphere?
Atmospheric carbon is the most important threat to the health of the biosphere.
In which way is carbon a threat to the biosphere?
a)
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere serves as a carrier of diseases.
b)
Carbon atoms bond with water vapor to create acidic precipitation.
c)
Carbon dioxide gas can effectively trap heat in the atmosphere.
d)
Carbon compounds can cause genetic damage when burned for fuel.
13.
Estuaries are marine environments located in areas where fresh water from rivers flow into the ocean. Estuaries are one of the most biologically productive ecosystems. Birds, fish, turtles and many other organisms inhabit these ecosystems. Which will most likely cause changes to estuary habitats on a global scale?
a)
decreases in powerful hurricanes
b)
decreases in volcanic eruptions
c)
increases in earthquakes
d)
increases in sea level
14.
The table shows several land areas, their soil characteristics, and their typical plants.
Which of the following correctly identifies the type of land area?
Which of the following correctly identifies the type of land area?
a)
1 is mountain
b)
2 is coastal plain
c)
3 is tidewater
d)
4 is piedmont
15.
Which is a biotic factor that could affect an ecosystem?
a)
dust storms moving through an ecosystem
b)
bacteria harming the health of organisms in an ecosystem
c)
large amounts of acid rain precipitation seeping into the soil in an ecosystem
d)
high levels of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere within an ecosystem
16.
One biome includes bearberry, a short plant with small, waxy leaves, shallow roots, and flowers that bloom quickly in the short growing season. Another biome includes tall grasses that can survive fires due to roots that extend 6 to 7 meters deep during the long growing season. What is most likely true about the two biomes?
a)
They have the same temperature range but different rainfall ranges.
b)
They have the same temperature range and the same rainfall range.
c)
They are at different latitudes but have the same temperature range.
d)
They are at different latitudes and have different temperature ranges.
17.
Many birds live in mountainous temperate forest ecosystems. Above the tree line on mountains, however, the ecosystems change. Few birds are found there. Many factors contribute to the lower number of birds seen above a mountain’s tree line. Which of these factors is abiotic?
a)
limited food
b)
no trees for shelter
c)
frequent high winds
d)
high-flying predators
18.
The table contains information about 4 global biomes.
Which biomes are found in temperate latitudes?
Which biomes are found in temperate latitudes?
a)
1 and 2
b)
1 and 3
c)
2 and 4
d)
3 and 4
19.
Biomes include both biotic and abiotic elements. Which set includes both biotic and abiotic elements of an estuary?
a)
cordgrass, water salinity, great blue herons
b)
ospreys, oysters, black needle rush
c)
silt, air temperature, tidal pattern
d)
periwinkles, bats, egrets
20.
Sweet potatoes grow best in sandy, well-drained soil. In which North Carolina ecological region would you most likely grow sweet potatoes?
a)
piedmont
b)
tidewater
c)
coastal plain
d)
mountain
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