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WorksheetsEnvironmental Science Final Exam Review
Total questions: 99
Worksheet time: 50mins
Which of the following are considered part of the environment?
forests
people
buildings
all of these
A person holding a sign during a protest against cutting down trees in a forest would be considered a(n)
enviromentalist
peer reviewer
ecological footprint
environmental scientist
A natural resource that is naturally formed much more slowly than we use it is called
renewable
nonrenewable
sustainable
ecological
Which of the following is an example of a renewable natural resource?
crude oil
coal
wave energy
copper
Which of the following is an example of a nonrenewable natural resource?
wind energy
natural gas
geothermal energy
sunlight
Which of the following is an example of quantitative data?
There are 3 tulips.
The tulips are red.
Tulips are prettier than roses.
Tulips smell nice.
A human-centered view of our relationship with the environment is known as
biocentrism
anthropocentrism
ecocentrism
environmentalism
What term describes a social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world from undesirable changes brought about by human actions?
the environment
environmentalism
ecological footprint
environmental science
Which steps are usually near the beginning of a scientific investigation?
hypothesizing and theorizing
observing and questioning
predicting and modeling
gathering and interpreting data
A set of moral principles or values held by a person or a society is called
ethics
justice
biocentrism
culture
Which of the following gives value to all living things, both human and nonhuman?
biocentrism
ecocentrism
anthropocentrism
environmental justice
Tigers living in warm climates have thinner coats of fur than tigers living in cool climates. This is a result of
genetic diversity
species diversity
ecosystem diversity
general divesity
The easiest component of biodiversity to measure is
ecosystem diversity
species diversity
genetic diversity
ecosystem health
The Sikhote-Alin Mountains, and the Siberian tigers living on them, are separated from other mountain regions in which the tigers could live. The mountains are an example of a(n)
mass extirpation
invasive species
mass extinction
habitat fragment
To manage, protect, and reintroduce threatened and endangered species are the goals of
wildlife corridors
conservation concessions
species survival plan
biodiversity hot spot
A region that includes tigers, eagles, lizards, fish, rabbits, and many other types of organisms would be described as having a high level of
taxonomic diversity
gentic diversity
ecosystem diversity
species diversity
Which is the highest level of biodiversity?
general biodiversity
ecosystem diversity
species diversity
genetic diversity
Which type of organism dwarfs all others in terms of species diversity?
plants
mammals
insects
protists
High levels of biodiversity tend to
have little or no effect on ecosystems
decrease an ecosystem's resistance
make an ecosystem less resilient
increase the stability of an ecosystem
The disappearance of a particular population from a given area, but not of the entire species globally, is called
extirpation
extiction
poaching
fragmentation
A species that is at serious risk of extinction is called
threatened
invasive
endangered
extirpated
By far, the biggest cause of biodiversity loss today is
climate change
over harvesting
habitat change and fragmentation
pollution
There is a plan to establish an 8000-kilometer-long strip of land across eight southeast Asian countries to rejoin fragments of tiger habitat. This is an example of a
wildlife corridor
worldwide biodiversity treaty
conservation concession
captive breeding program
Predator prey relationships are an example of a
system with no feedback
positive feedback loop
negative feedback loop
destabilizing system
Which sphere of Earth is made of all the rock above and below Earth's surface?
lithosphere
geosphere
hydroshere
atomosphere
The lithosphere is carried on a softer, but still firm, layer of rock called the
geosphere
core
crust
asthenosphere
Which sphere are humans a part of?
geosphere
biosphere
hydrosphere
atmosphere
A change in state in which water returns to Earth's surface and changes from a vapor to a liquid is called
condensation
evaporation
transpiration
recharge
Matter that organisms require for their life processes are called
legumes
decomposers
fertilizers
nutrients
What products are created by the process of photosynthesis?
sun's light and energy
oxygen and carbohydrates
phosphorus and nitrogen
carbon dioxide and water
Water molecules are composed of
two oxygen and two hydrogen atoms
one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms
two oxygen and one hydrogen atom
one oxygen and one hydgrogen atom
The thin layer of rock that forms Earth’s outer skin both on dry land and in the ocean is called Earth’s
core
crust
mantle
asthenosphere
Which of Earth’s spheres consists of the layers of gases surrounding our planet?
geosphere
biosphere
atmosphere
hydrosphere
Water which returns from the atmosphere to Earth’s surface as rain or snow is called
evaporation
transpiration
condensation
precipitation
Nutrients circulate endlessly throughout the environment in complex cycles called
eutrophication cycles
respiration cycles
photosynthesis cycles
biogeochemical cycles
What is the term for organisms, including plants and algae, that create their own food?
consumers
producers
legumes
decomposers
In extreme cases, eutrophication can lead to extremely low levels of oxygen in a body of water as decomposers break down all the dead producers, a condition called
hypoxia
nitrogen fixation
respiration
photosynthesis
Renewable resources include soil, fresh water, wild animals, and
minerals
coal
timber
petroleum
Which of the following is an economic value of forests?
provide wood
prevent soil erosion
regulate water cycle
decrease flooding
The clearing of a forest and its replacement by another land use is called
forestry
clear-cutting
timber-harvestin
deforestation
Some tree plantations resemble a natural forest that
has been adaptively managed
contains uneven-aged stands
has never been harvested
has been clear-cut
The removal of snags following a fire is called
monoculture
prescribed burn
sustainable forestry
salvage logging
A renewable resource is harvested sustainably if
the amount of replacement is less than the amount harvested
the amount of replacement is equal to the amount harvested
soil erosion is prevented
replacing trees costs less than harvesting trees
Most of Earth’s fresh water is used for
watering crops
drinking
washing clothes and dishes
recreational purposes such as swimming
One disadvantage of the selection system of timber harvesting is that it
produces even-aged stands
produces a monoculture
causes soil erosion
is more dangerous for loggers
Deforestation is particularly harmful in arid regions because it can lead to
desertification
massive loss of biodiversity
loss of jobs
decrease in greenhouse gases
Which type of forest most likely contains the greatest variety of habitats?
old growth
even-aged stands
plantation
monoculture
If a wood product is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, it was produced
using sustainable methods
from trees grown on a plantation
from recycled material
because consumers demanded it
What event in the mid-1700s significantly changed human population growth?
industrial revolution
development of agriculture
bubonic plague
human settlement began
Which combination of factors will produce the highest rate of population growth?
high life expectancy and high infant mortality
low life expectancy and low infant mortality
low life expectancy and high infant mortality
high life expectancy and low infant mortality
What happens during the transitional stage of the demographic transition?
birthrates fall
death rates fall
birth rates increase
death rates increase
In which of the following countries would individuals have the largest ecological footprints?
India
China
Canada
Thailand
In recent years, the human population has
increased exponentially
decreased exponentially
decreased slowly
increased slowly
The average number of years an individual is predicted to live is called
carrying capacity
life expectancey
growth rate
demography
The number of organisms that an environment can support is called the
life expectancy
demography
carrying capacity
growth rate
Which area would have the lowest population density?
seacoast in Europe
river in China
tundra in Russia
suburb in the US
The amount of people living in a given area is described as population
morality
expectancy
rate
density
What can be inferred about an area that has an age structure diagram with a pyramid shape?
The population is likely to decrease in the future.
There is a high proportion of older people to younger people.
There is a high population growth rate.
There is a low population growth rate.
The number of males compared to females in a population is the
age structure
sex ratio
total fertility rate
demography
The model used to explain the reason that some industrialized nations have experienced a large change in birthrates and death rates is called the
demographic transition model.
replacement fertility model
Industrial Revolution model
life expectancy model
After a catastrophe, soil formation is the first step in
primary succession
secondary succession
climax community
A rock containing iron turns red as its surface is exposed to air and water over time. This is an example of
physical weathering
chemical weathering
erosion
decomposition
Most of the nutrients in soil come from
chemical weathering
mechanical weathering
erosion
decomposition
A farmer interested in raising healthy crops should look for a
heavy clay soil with a high pH and a dark color.
loamy soil with a low pH and a light color.
loamy, clumpy soil with a neutral pH and a dark color.
sandy soil with a high pH, no clumps, and a light color.
Deterioration of the soil’s fertility and ability to provide ecosystem services is called
erosion
soil degradation
soil pollution
succession
Watering crops by way of human-constructed structures is known as
precipitation
irrigation
salinization
fertilization
As a farmer, you would be most concerned with the quality of the soil in the
O horizon.
A horizon.
E horizon.
R horizon.
A rancher interested in the quality of the soil in her pasture might use which aspect of soil as a quick indicator of the pasture’s overall fertility?
color
texture
pH
structure
In a region with strong winds, flat land, and little natural forest cover, what would you recommend in order to reduce erosion?
terracing
contour farming
crop rotation
shelterbelts
The porous qualities of soil mean that which of the following can filter through the ground and pollute groundwater?
minerals
pesticides
microorganisms
nutrients
A large area of cropland seeded with one crop is a(n)
monoculture
polyculture
organic practice
traditional farming technique
What percentage of the atmosphere is composed of oxygen?
12%
21%
58%
78%
A ratio that compares the amount of water vapor the air contains to the maximum amount that the air could hold at that temperature is
temperature inversion
radiation
relative humidity
convection
Carbon-containing fuels, or fossil fuels, formed millions of years ago from the remains of
gases in the atmosphere
chlorofluorocarbons
living organisms
volcanic eruptions
How does carbon monoxide affect human health?
It interferes with the body’s ability to deliver oxygen to cells.
It irritates the throat and air passages.
It helps the respiratory system function more efficiently.
It depletes ozone, causing greater exposure to the sun’s rays.
A(n) _____ can trap smog close to the surface. It happens when a layer of cool, dense air stays near the ground and under a layer of warm air.
temperature inversion
acid depositin
air mass
convection current
Normal precipitation has a pH of about 5.6. What pH might acid precipitation have?
4.6
7
9.6
12.6
Pollutants are removed or changed chemically before they leave factory smokestacks by a(n)
chlorofluorocarbon
scrubber
inversion
catalytic converter
In which main layer of Earth’s atmosphere does most weather occur?
thermosphere
mesosphere
troposphere
stratosphere
Radiation, conduction, and convection are the three main methods of
calculating relative humidity
modeling climate
measuring air pressure
transferring heat
How does carbon monoxide interfere with your body’s ability to deliver oxygen to cells?
It binds to oxygen and removes it from the respiratory system.
It binds to hemoglobin, thus depriving cells of oxygen.
It causes oxygen to break down in the atmosphere.
It enters cells and forms a barrier to oxygen.
The pH scale is used to measure
amount of smog in a particular region
whether solutions are acidic or alkaline
wind speed
air pressure
A device in a motor vehicle that reduces the amount of air pollutants in emissions is a(n)
catalytic converter
scrubber
shlorofluorocarbon
inversion
What are the two primary methods of waste recovery?
surface impoundment and deep-well infection
incinerating and open-air burning
recycling and composting
sanitary landfills and open dumps
Discarded electronic devices are considered hazardous waste because they
can leach heavy metals
are highly reacitve
are ignitable
cannot be recycled
Which of the following is a source of high-level radioactive waste?
hospitals
nuclear power plants
laboratories
uranium mines
In what category of waste do paint, household cleaners, medical waste, and solvents belong?
hazardous
compost
municipal solid
industrial
Today, waste is buried in the ground or piled up in large, carefully engineered mounds called
incinerators.
material recovery facilities.
sanitary landfills.
surface impoundments.
Items that are biodegradable will
decompose or break down naturally.
not be allowed into an incinerator.
eventually become radioactive waste.
take up more space in a landfill.
The collection of materials that can be broken down and reprocessed to make new items is
composting
incinerating
e-waste
recycling
Only a very small portion of Earth’s water is both liquid and
fresh
salty
frozen
underground
A hole dug into an aquifer to reach groundwater is called a
watershed
well
drainage basin
spring
From greatest to least, rank the primary uses of fresh water around the world.
personal, industry, agriculture
industry, agriculture, personal
agriculture, industry, personal
industry, personal, agriculture
The best way to reduce groundwater pollution is to
increase the use of groundwater mining.
prevent it from happening.
build more desalination plants.
speed up the eutrophication process.
All of the land area that supplies water to a particular river system is included in a(n)
aquifer
water table
watershed
recharge zone
Which major category of water use would include watering grain to feed to livestock?
personal
agricultural
industrial
electrical
Overirrigation can result in
salinization
water diversion
recharge
sediment capture
Which of the following is an example of nonpoint-source pollution?
boat leaking motor oil
pipe releasing hot water
rain washing salt off the road
container leaking chemicals
Leaky underground storage tanks are a major source of what type of pollution?
groundwater
nonpoint-source
biological
sediment
