wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

NEW

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Env. Science Semester Review

Total questions: 38

Worksheet time: 19mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the relationship between groundwater and surface water?

a)

Surface water percolates through the soil to form groundwater.

b)

There is no relationship between surface and groundwater; they form independently.

c)

Groundwater filters through the soil to form surface water.

d)

Surface water is found in lakes directly above underground water sources.

2.

Many areas of the world without adequate fresh water have become habitable because

a)

rainfall patterns have changed

b)

water management projects have diverted water to the area

c)

icebergs have been towed in to provide fresh water

d)

water conservation has been implemented

3.

Which of the following represents nonpoint-source pollution?

a)

unlined landfill

b)

polluted wastewater from a chemical plant

c)

leaking oil tanker

d)

runoff from agricultural feedlots

4.

Most of the pollutants in the ocean come from

a)

commercial boats and personal watercraft.

b)

spills from oil tankers.

c)

activities on land.

d)

leaking underground storage facilities.

5.

Most large cities get water for households and industries from

a)

deep wells.

b)

rivers and lakes.

c)

pumps connected to springs.

d)

removing salt from sea water.

6.

Which of the following might occur as a result of plastic trash accumulating in the ocean?

a)

Turtles mistake clear plastic bags for jellyfish, ingest them, and die of intestinal blockage.

b)

Sea birds are strangled by plastic six-pack rings.

c)

Sea mammals, such as seals, become tangled in clear plastic fishing lines and drown.

d)

All of the above

7.

What pollutant forms when automobile emissions react with oxygen gas and ultraviolet rays?

a)

ozone

b)

radon

c)

carbon dioxide

d)

sulfur dioxide

8.

All of the following are primary air pollutants except

a)

carbon monoxide

b)

sulfur oxides

c)

acid rain (nitric acid)

d)

VOC

9.

Which of the following is often used to remove poisonous gases from industrial emissions before they are released into the atmosphere?

a)

catalytic converters

b)

electrostatic precipitators

c)

crushed limestone

d)

scrubbers

10.

Which of the following pH measurements of rainwater would indicate acid precipitation?

a)

pH 6.0

b)

pH 4.1

c)

pH 7.3

d)

pH 9.6

11.

Which of the following contributes most to acid precipitation?

a)

burning of fossil fuels

b)

ethanol

c)

radon and ozone

d)

All of the above

12.

Temperature inversions work to trap pollution when

a)

cool air above keeps warmer air at the surface from moving upward.

b)

cool air above keeps warmer air at the surface from absorbing solar radiation.

c)

warm air above keeps cooler air at the surface from absorbing solar radiation.

d)

warm air above keeps cooler air at the surface from moving upward.

13.

Which of the following activities is the largest producer of primary air pollutants in the United States?

a)

electricity production

b)

transportation

c)

healthcare

d)

agriculture

14.

Rain frequently results whenever

a)

cold, moist air rises.

b)

warm, dry air sinks.

c)

warm, moist air rises

d)

cold, dry air sinks.

15.

Which of the following best describes measurements of CO2 levels in the atmosphere since 1958?

a)

Levels of CO2 were steady until the mid-1970s, when they began to increase rapidly.

b)

Measurements of CO2 have shown a steady increase since accurate measurements began.

c)

CO2 levels are higher in winter and lower in summer, but the winter “highs” have increased each year and the summer “lows” have not fallen as far.

d)

CO2 levels are higher in winter and lower in summer, but the winter “highs” are higher each year and the summer “lows” are lower each year.

16.

Latitude strongly influences climate because _____ solar energy falls on areas that are closer to the equator than to the poles.

a)

less

b)

the same amount of

c)

more

d)

sometimes less

17.

Which of the following gases is most responsible for the greenhouse effect?

a)

nitrous oxide

b)

methane

c)

oxygen

d)

water vapor

18.

Which of the following would occur if Earth were not tilted relative to the plane of its orbit?

a)

Temperatures at the equator would become too hot to sustain life.

b)

Temperate regions would no longer have seasonal changes in climate.

c)

All parts of Earth would receive sunlight of equal concentration.

d)

Polar ice caps would melt due to a rapid increase in global warming.

19.

Which of the following statements related to global warming is not accurate?

a)

Carbon dioxide levels have risen over the last 30 years.

b)

Only fossil fuels, not living plants, release carbon dioxide when burned.

c)

Global temperature and carbon dioxide concentration are related.

d)

By itself, reforestation is not sufficient to slow global warming.

20.

The difference between global warming and climate changes is that

a)

human-made chemicals such as CFCs do not influence global warming.

b)

previous changes in climate were dramatic but very short-lived.

c)

climate change only occurs along the equator.

d)

global warming is a consequence of climate changes.

21.

Chlorofluorocarbon molecules are environmentally significant because

a)

their chlorine atoms can destroy many stratospheric ozone molecules.

b)

they are poisonous, flammable, and corrosive to metals.

c)

their absorption of lethal solar energy protects Earth.

d)

they readily break down ozone molecules produced as pollution.

22.

The average global temperature has _____ during the 20th century.

a)

remained the same

b)

increased every year

c)

risen some years and fallen others, but has increased overall

d)

risen some years and fallen others, but has decreased overall

23.

As the amount of ozone in the stratosphere decreases,

a)

more ultraviolet light is able to reach Earth’s surface.

b)

less solar energy is able to reach Earth’s surface.

c)

the amount of methane in the atmosphere increases

d)

the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean increases.

24.

Which of the following is not an environmental effect of deforestation?

a)

reduction of wildlife habitat

b)

soil erosion

c)

loss of topsoil

d)

re-establishment of trees

25.

Which of the following has not resulted from urban sprawl?

a)

suburbs

b)

overgrazing

c)

loss of farmland

d)

traffic congestion

26.

Where do most Americans live?

a)

in urban areas

b)

on producing farms

c)

in rural areas

d)

There is an equal distribution of people across the land

27.

Which of the following is a side effect of heat islands?

a)

drought

b)

lower temperatures and drought

c)

lower temperatures

d)

increased precipitation

28.

Traffic jams, substandard housing, and polluted air and water can be caused by rapid growth in cities, a phenomenon known as

a)

urbanization.

b)

urban sprawl.

c)

urban crisis.

d)

infrastructure.

29.

Which of the following statements about tree harvesting methods is correct?

a)

Clear-cutting is quick but is more expensive than other methods due to the vast areas involved.

b)

Selective cutting eliminates the possibility of soil erosion.

c)

Clear-cutting requires the most road building due to the large number of trees harvested.

d)

Selective cutting minimizes the impact on forest ecosystems.

30.

Given that most people live in urban areas, why should rural areas be preserved?

a)

They provide crucial infrastructure.

b)

They provide ecological services.

c)

They contain greenbelts.

d)

None of the above

31.

Which of the following best describes why many people in the world go hungry?

a)

Food production has not been increasing as fast as the human population.

b)

There is plenty of food produced for everyone to have more than enough, but it is not distributed equally.

c)

In recent years, the human population has been growing, while food production has been falling.

d)

Global warming has contributed to crop failures.

32.

Which of the following actions contributes to soil erosion?

a)

using compost as fertilizer

b)

allowing land to lie fallow

c)

driving farm machinery over fields

d)

all of these practices contribute to soil erosion

33.

One potential way to deal with the problem of seafood overharvesting is by intensifying _____ efforts.

a)

genetic engineering

b)

subsistence farming

c)

aquaculture

d)

integrated pest management

34.

All of the following factors can cause famines except

a)

the failure of food production to keep pace with population growth.

b)

distribution problems caused by political turmoil.

c)

new, higher-yield crops

d)

crop failure brought on by sustained drought.

35.

Pest populations that damage plants

a)

breed more slowly in hot climates.

b)

become resistant to pesticides via natural selection.

c)

include only insects and small rodents.

d)

attack wild plants with greater success than crops.

36.

Products obtained from livestock include

a)

leather, wool, eggs, meat, and manure.

b)

cotton, linen, and nylon.

c)

wood and plastic.

d)

All of the above

37.

Earth’s available agricultural land is being reduced by

a)

fast-growing human populations.

b)

soil erosion.

c)

desertification.

d)

All of the above

38.

Erosion is most likely when the soil is

a)

bare and exposed to wind and rain.

b)

plowed along the contour of the land

c)

covered with grass.

d)

planted to forest.