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ASA - Environmental Science A - End of Semester Practice Exam

Total questions: 63

Worksheet time: 56mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
What do greenhouse gases do in our atmosphere?
a)
They absorb radiation given off by the Earth
b)
They block harmful radiation from reaching the Earth
c)
They keep all the air within the Earth
d)
They make the Earth cooler
2.

Which types of species distribution pattern might require collaboration between different countries for effective preservation?

a)

local endemic

b)

sparse distribution

c)

migratory

d)

equal distribution

e)

global endemic

3.

An explorer was on a global trek to identify different species across the globe. The explorer recorded, "latitudinal increase in species richness" in their journal. How did the explorer observe this "latitudinal increase"?

a)

The explorer found more species as they moved from the equator to the poles.

b)

The explorer found more species in the temperate zones.

c)

The explorer found more species towards the western hemisphere.

d)

The explorer found more species as they moved from the poles to the equator.

e)

The explorer found fewer species in the southern hemisphere.

4.

When was DDT banned in the United States?

a)

1972

b)

1962

c)

1958

d)

1988

e)

1948

5.

Who wrote the book, Silent Spring, which acted as the catalyst of the modern environmental movement and led to the banning of DDT?

a)

Rachel Carson

b)

Dennis Meadow

c)

Paul Erlich

d)

Stephen Hawking

e)

Richard Dawkins

6.

During an excursion, an archaeologist finds an ecologically important area. Which organization should the archaeologist approach to conserve the land?

a)

SERI/NREL

b)

IPCC

c)

Nature Conservancy

d)

MMPA

e)

NOAA

7.

Areas of farmland have shown signs of soil erosion and contamination, which results in dead crops. Which discipline may help environmental scientists study this problem and develop practical solutions?

a)

electrical engineering

b)

soil science

c)

human health sciences

d)

social sciences

e)

environmental engineering

8.

To kill a pest known as the Peachtree Borer (Synanthedon exitiosa) an orchard management company decided to apply pesticides to the trees. They must directly apply the selected pesticide to the trees' leaves. Which method is the management company using?

a)

a(n) chemical control method

b)

a(n) mechanical control method

c)

a(n) biological control method

d)

a(n) enzymatic control method

9.

To kill a pest known as the Peachtree Borer (Synanthedon exitiosa) an orchard management company decided to apply pesticides to the trees. They must directly apply the selected pesticide to the trees' leaves. This involves using what

method of application, in which management personnel will spray pesticide directly on the trees’ leaves?

a)

basal bark method

b)

cut-stamp treatment method

c)

foliar spray method

d)

root soak method

10.

Fires are a natural part of some ecosystem cycles. And, due to human activities, the absence of seasonal fires may disrupt the natural order within an ecosystem. However, through the use of controlled burns, order can be restored. What can controlled fires help eliminate?

a)

seeds and shoots of invasive plants species

b)

seeds and shoots of native plants species

c)

offspring of native animal species

d)

excess water

11.

Which primary vector helped carry zebra mussels into the Great Lakes?

a)

wood boxes

b)

fish

c)

fungus

d)

boats

e)

birds

12.

Which process completes the nitrogen cycle?

a)

The nitrogen cycle is completed with the process of denitrification

b)

The nitrogen cycle is completed with the process of nitrification

c)

The nitrogen cycle is completed with the process of assimilation

d)

The nitrogen cycle is completed with the process of nitrogen fixation

13.

What process leads to the break down of organic materials, such as leaves, sticks and stems, into hummus and soil?

a)

mineralization

b)

mitigation

c)

nitrification

d)

decomposition

e)

weathering

14.

How does lightning contribute to the nitrogen cycle?

a)

Lightning raises the soil temperature.

b)

Lightning kills bugs in the soil.

c)

Lightning oxidizes nitrogen gas (N2), forming nitrate.

d)

Lightning sanitizes the water in the soil.

e)

Lightning makes the soil more acidic.

15.

What is the complex and non-linear process of energy flow between species known as?

a)

Food web

b)

Food chain

c)

Trophic level

d)

Energy pyramid

16.
Which one is NOT an example of a decomposer?
a)
mushroom
b)
leaves
c)
mold
d)
worm
17.
Examples of a producer
a)
frog
b)
algae
c)
worm
d)
mouse
18.
Example of a consumer
a)
worm
b)
bacteria
c)
mushroom
d)
hawk
19.
What is a producer?
a)
an organism that gets energy from eating other organisms
b)
an organisms that uses sunlight to make its own food
c)
an organism that gets energy from eating dead organisms, non-living material or waste
d)
an organism that uses chemical energy to make its own food
20.
What is a herbivore?
a)
an animal that gets energy from eating other animals
b)
an organism that gets energy from eating only plants
c)
an animal that gets energy by eating both plants and other animals
d)
an animal that eats only herbs
21.
An organism that gets energy from breaking down dead organisms, non-living material or waste
a)
producer
b)
consumer
c)
decomposer
d)
autotroph
22.
Where does the energy start in this food chain?
a)
Plant
b)
Sun
c)
Deer
d)
Wolf
23.
a)
Herbivore
b)
Carnivore
c)
Omnivore
d)
Detritivore
24.
a)
Herbivore
b)
Carnivore
c)
Omnivore
d)
Detritivore
25.
a)

Herbivore

b)

Carnivore

c)

Omnivore

d)

Detritivore

26.
a)
Herbivore
b)
Carnivore
c)
Omnivore
d)
Detritivore
27.
Which level will contain plants?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
28.
Which level has the most energy available?
a)
producer
b)
primary consumer
c)
secondary consumer
d)
tertiary consumer
29.

Which level will contain primary consumers?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

30.

Which level will contain secondary consumers?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

31.

Which level will contain tertiary consumers?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

32.

What is the correct term for the boundary between vadose water and groundwater?

a)

The water table

b)

The water pitcher

c)

The water bath

d)

The water spout

33.

Basements are not constructed in some places. What could be a reason for not constructing basements?

a)

the water table is too high in these places.

b)

the water table is too low in these places.

c)

there is too much rainfall in these areas.

d)

there surface runoff is very high in these places.

34.
Which of the following terms identifies the change from a liquid to gas?
a)
Vaporization
b)
Condensation
c)
Deposition
d)
Sublimation
35.
Which of the following terms identifies the change from a liquid to solid?
a)
Melting
b)
Condensation
c)
Vaporization
d)
Freezing
36.
Phase change from a solid to a gas.
a)
sublimation
b)
deposition
c)
condensation
d)
evaporation
37.
Phase change from a solid to a liquid.
a)
melting
b)
sublimation
c)
boiling
d)
condensation
38.
Phase change from a liquid to a gas that only happens at the surface.
a)
evaporation
b)
boiling
c)
sublimation
d)
melting
39.
Phase change from a gas to a liquid.
a)
condensation
b)
evaporation
c)
melting
d)
deposition
40.

What is the correct term for Earth's slow wobble as it spins on its axis?

a)

Rotation

b)

Precession

c)

Ellipses

d)

Revolution

41.

What is the correct term for a source of historical climate data?

a)

statistical projection

b)

air sample

c)

proxy

d)

guess

e)

rumor

42.

Why is terrestrial radiation weaker than solar radiation?

a)

different color

b)

lower temperature

c)

longer wavelength

d)

higher temperature

e)

shorter wavelength

43.

What theory states that not only climate, but several other factors, determine the characteristics of the climax community?

a)

polyclimax

b)

monoclimax

c)

simple

d)

complex

44.
The layers of treetops that shade the forest floor
a)
Biome
b)
Canopy
c)
Emergent Layer
d)
Understory
45.

Identify the biome shown in the image.

a)

Lake

b)

River

c)

Coral Reef

d)

Estuary

e)

Pond

46.

What biomes contain a littoral zone?

a)

sea, lakes, and rivers

b)

estuaries

c)

coral reefs

d)

oceans

47.

A camel's hump is an example of which kind of adaptation?

a)

structural

b)

behavioral

c)

physiological

d)

psychological

48.

What does physiological mean?

a)

pertaining to organic structure; morphological.

b)

responses to internal and external stimuli.

c)

consistent with the normal functioning of an organism.

d)

pertaining to, dealing with, or affecting the mind,especially as a function of awareness, feeling.

49.

A camel's hump is an example of a structural adaptation, but the _____________ adaptation enables a camel to survive longer without drinking water.

a)

structural

b)

behavioral

c)

physiological

d)

psychological

50.
What is an adaptation?
a)
A feature or behavior that helps an animal survive.
b)
The food that an animal eats.
c)
How energy moves in a food web.
d)
How animals evolve throughout time.
51.
How do adaptations help animals?
a)
to hide from predators
b)
to hunt for food
c)
to survive in their habitats
d)
All of these are correct
52.
The ears of this fox are an example of...
a)
A behavioral adaptation
b)
Poor breeding
c)
A physical adaptation
d)
Plastic surgery gone horribly wrong
53.
The behavior of a rooster herding hens around could help them survive by
a)
giving them plenty of exercise.
b)
making them do what he wants.
c)
protecting them from danger.
d)
pulling out their feathers.
54.

When a Lion and a Hyena fight over a gazelle it is ________ competition.

a)

Intraspecific

b)

Exploitative

c)

Interference

d)

Mean

55.
A relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unharmed...
a)
Mutualism 
b)
Competition
c)
Parasitsm 
d)
Commensalism 
56.
A tapeworm and a cat have this type of relationship.
a)
mutualism
b)
parasitism
c)
commensalism
d)
competition
57.
What type of symbiosis?  Hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowers.  The flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds as they move from flower to flower.
a)
commensalism
b)
mutualism
c)
parasitism
d)
predation
58.
Another term for consumer
a)
Heterotroph
b)
Autotroph
59.
Another term for producer
a)
Heterotroph
b)
Autotroph
60.

The outermost solid layer of the Earth is called the

a)

mantle

b)

outer core

c)

inner core

d)

crust

61.

This layer of the Earth is found between the core and the crust.

a)

mantle

b)

outer core

c)

inner core

d)

crust

62.

The layer that lies beneath the mantle and surrounds the inner core.

a)

mantle

b)

outer core

c)

inner core

d)

crust

63.

The solid, dense center of our planet that extends from the bottom of the outer core to the center of the Earth..

a)

mantle

b)

outer core

c)

inner core

d)

crust