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WorksheetsEnvironmental Science "Final Exam"
Total questions: 75
Worksheet time: 19hrs 45mins
Which of the following situations best describes the use of a renewable resource?
filling a car with gasoline
mining copper
building wooden furniture
burning coal in a power plant
Why is the world’s loss of biodiversity a source of concern?
Humans depend upon other organisms for food and oxygen.
Loss of biodiversity is not a concern because extinctions are common.
Species extinctions have been rare throughout history.
Loss of fossil fuels
An ecological footprint is the
mark a person’s shoe makes in soft earth.
amount of land and ocean area needed to support one person.
fossilized footprints of animals.
the amount of air a person breathes
Most of today’s environmental problems began during which period(s) in human history?
hunter-gatherer period
Industrial Revolution
agricultural revolution
Civil War
Which of the following is the most geologically active region on the surface of Earth?
glacial valleys
boundaries between tectonic plates
mountain peaks
recharge zones
Where is most of the fresh water on Earth located?
in reservoirs and lakes
in oceans
in ice caps and glaciers
in streams and tributaries
Scientists have found fossils of tropical plants in Antarctica. How could tropical plants have grown in Antarctica?
At one time, Earth’s entire surface was a tropical rain forest.
The rotation of Earth has increased, causing cooling of the atmosphere.
At one time, Antarctica was located closer to the equator.
Catastrophic volcanic eruptions melted the ice and exposed the soil to sunlight.
What causes tectonic plates to move along the Earth's surface?
wind
ocean currents
convection in the mantle
convection in the inner core
A divergent boundary occurs when plates ....
Pull apart
Slide past each other
Come together
subducting
All of the following can happen when tectonic plates move except
volcanoes erupt
mountains form
earthquakes to occur
hurricanes
The energy in most ecosystems comes from
green plants
wind
the sun
the soil
An organism is resistant to a chemical if it
has a gene that enables it to break down the chemical
was not in the area where the chemical was applied
has been exposed to a small amount of the chemical over time
did not eat anything with the chemical on it
Which of the following is an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?
plants
fungi
bacteria
water
Which two kingdoms contain organisms that can use energy from the sun to make food?
protists and plants
fungi and protists
fungi and plants
plants and animals
Humans have inadvertently promoted the evolution of insects that are resistant to insecticides by
trying to control pests with chemicals.
using the wrong insecticide.
using insecticides that are outdated.
by using an insect trap
Which of the following is a biotic factor in an ecosystem?
water
sun
insects
air
A change in the genetic characteristics of a population from one generation to the next is ___________________________
Natural Selection
Evolution
Artificial Selection
The selective breeding of organisms, by humans, for specific characteristics is ___________________________
Natural Selection
Evolution
Artificial Selection
Process by which individuals that are better adapted are able to survive and reproduce more successfully than individuals who are not well adapted is ___________________________
Natural Selection
Evolution
Artificial Selection
Which of the following is an example of a population?
All the lions and zebras in an area.
All the sparrows and hawks in a forest.
All the cheetahs in an African savanna.
All of the organisms in pond.
The final and stable community that is formed during ecological succession is known as a ____________________.
secondary community
primary community
climax community
pioneer community
Which statement describes how humans are affecting the balance of carbon in the atmosphere?
Burning fossil fuels in great quantities has increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Severe drought in large areas of the world has decreased the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere.
Overgrazing of grasslands has reduced the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Fewer agricultural crops are planted, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
____________________________ occurs on a surface where no ecosystem currently exists, and there is no soil present.
Old-field succession
Secondary succession
Adaptive succession
Primary succession
___________________ is a common type of succession that occurs on a surface where an ecosystem has previously existed.
Adaptation
Primary succession
Climax community
Secondary succession
The first organisms to colonize any newly available area and begin the process of ecological succession are known as ______________________.
climax species
ecological species
secondary species
pioneer species
Which food chain below is in the correct order?
Tertiary consumer ---> Secondary consumer ---> Primary consumer ---> Producer
Producer ---> Primary consumer ---> Secondary consumer ---> Tertiary consumer
Primary consumer ---> Producer ---> Tertiary consumer ---> Secondary consumer
Producer ---> Secondary consumer ---> Tertiary consumer ---> Primary consumer
Organisms that break down decaying organisms
nitrogen-fixing bacteria
phosphorus cycle
decomposers
nitrogen cycle
Its reactants (inputs) are glucose and oxygen
cellular respiration
photosynthesis
Its reactants (inputs) are carbon dioxide and water.
cellular respiration
photosynthesis
Organisms that can transform unusable nitrogen in the atmosphere into chemical compounds containing nitrogen that can be used by other organisms are __________________
nitrogen-fixing bacteria
phosphorus cycle
decomposers
nitrogen cycle
Over the course of one year, 100 Koalas were born, and 150 were killed in a forest fire. Which of the following describes their population growth rate?
The Koalas experienced a positive growth rate.
The Koalas experienced zero growth rate.
The Koalas experienced a negative growth rate.
The Koalas adapted to the forest fire.
The density of a population is
the number of individuals born every year.
the number of individuals living in cities.
the proportion of males and females.
the number of individuals per unit area.
The relationship between a fox and a rabbit is an example of
parasite and host.
predator and prey.
competition.
mutualism.
In which of the following relationships is neither species harmed?
predation
parasitism
competition
commensalism
The carrying capacity of an environment for a particular species at a particular time is determined by the
number of individuals in the species.
distribution of the population.
reproductive potential of the species.
supply of the most limited resources.
Competition for food cannot occur
between two populations.
among populations whose niches overlap.
among members of the same population.
between animals from two different biomes.
Which of the following populations has a random dispersion?
Which section of the graph above shows exponential growth?
A
B
C
D
Which of the following populations has a clumped dispersion?
Which line on the graph represents the carrying capacity?
A
B
C
D
Which factor contributed most to the exponential growth of the human population?
more food, better hygiene
higher birth rates
higher fertility rates
increased immigration
Which of the following is a reason that wood is considered a LIMITED resource in many developing countries?
Wood is used in place of money to buy food
Fuelwood allows people to purify their water by boiling it
excess wood is used to construct shantytowns
People cut down trees faster than they can grow
Countries with high growth rates usually have an age structure that has
an even distribution over all ages
more older people than young people
more younger people than older people
more middle-aged people than younger people
Which of the following would cause a population to increase in a region?
increased immigration
increased emigration
decreased fertility rates
decreased survivorship
Which of the following will be a major issue as the human population continues to grow
a decrease in sickness
an increase in life expectancy
an increase in food shortages
a reduction in fossil fuel use
World population growth will eventually stop when
the population reaches 9 billion
most countries have replacement-level fertility rates
most countries have higher birth rates
the worldwide infant mortality rate decreases
According to Figure 2 which population pyramid represents fast population growth?
A
B
C
According to Figure 2 which population pyramid represents a negative population growth?
A
B
C
According to Figure 3, Which country is at replacement level fertility rate?
Iceland
South Africa
Nigeria
Ecuador
According to Figure 3, Which country would you expect to have highest infant mortality rate?
Iceland
South Africa
Nigeria
Ecuador
Dust, ash and pollen are examples of this air pollutant.
Lead
Ground-level ozone
Particulate matter
Nitrogen oxides
What is a primary pollutant?
A pollutant that is put directly into air by human activities
Pollutants that react with other primary pollutants
Pollutants that are put into the air by eating hamburgers
Pollutants formed in the atmosphere by the Sun
This is a potentially deadly, colorless and odorless gas. It's usually produced when someone burns fuel in vehicles, boats, stoves, grills, generators and furnaces.
Nitrogen oxides
Ground-level ozone
Carbon monoxide
Sulfur dioxide
What causes acid rain?
High concentrations of sulfuric or nitric acid from pollution
Fertilizer use
Pesticide use
CFCs
Global warming is due to______________.
an increase in greenhouse gases
Nitric and sulfuric acids
CFCs
Ozone depletion
What is a secondary pollutant?
A pollutant that is put directly into air by human activities
Pollutants formed when primary pollutants react with each other.
Pollutants that are put into the air by eating hamburgers
Pollutants formed in the atmosphere by the Sun
Which of the following gases is the primary cause of global warming?
oxygen
carbon dioxide
nitrogen
hydrogen
Which would reduce air pollution?
acid rain
carpooling
burning trash
using wood for fuel
Which of the following is a natural form of air pollution? (Happens in nature.)
CFC's
Burning Fossil Fuels
Forest Fires
Paints and Solvents
__________results from chemical reactions involving sunlight, air, exhaust, and ozone. It's usually seen in major cities.
CFC's
Smog
Sea-coal
CO2
__________________ is an increase in water temperature that has a negative affect on the aquatic environment.
Thermal pollution
Biomagnification
Artificial eutrophication
Water Pollution
__________________ is an accelerated build up of nutrients in water caused by human activity.
Thermal pollution
Biomagnification
Artificial eutrophication
Water Pollution
Water that contains waste from industry or homes is known as _______________.
thermal pollution
wastewater
artificial eutrophication
water Pollution
What is the purpose of adding chlorine to water during the water treatment process?
to kill bacteria that have accumulated, as well as prevent future bacterial growth
to filter and remove large debris
to form flocs that bacteria and other impurities will cling to
to remove unwanted gases
Most of the pollutants in the ocean come from
spills from oil tankers.
activities on land.
commercial boats and personal watercraft.
leaking underground storage facilities.
Which of the following represents nonpoint-source pollution?
An unlined landfill
Runoff from several agricultural feedlots
A leaking oil tanker
Polluted wastewater from a chemical plant
When neighborhood residents noticed a large number of dead fish in a local creek, they traced the problem to a nearby gas station. It turned out that a tank of gasoline had developed a leak. This is an example of
nonpoint-source pollution.
groundwater pollution.
thermal pollution.
point-source pollution.
__________________ is the accumulation of pollutants at successive levels of the food chain.
Thermal pollution
Biomagnification
Artificial eutrophication
Water Pollution
Some communities have banned detergents containing high levels of phosphates because
phosphates are not efficient cleansers.
phosphates kill algae and disrupt normal food webs in lakes.
phosphates cause chemical reactions that raise the temperature of river and lake water, disrupting ecosystems.
excessive phosphates in lakes may begin a process that causes fish to suffocate and die.
One reason polluted groundwater is difficult to clean is that
pollutants cling to the materials that make up aquifers where groundwater is located.
the location of underground storage tanks is not always known.
runoff contaminates the water supply.
acid rain erodes the ground
Earth’s average temperature ______________________ during the 20th century.
increased
decreased
stayed the same
fluctuated
Scientists predict that the Earth’s average temperature will ______________________ throughout the 21st century
stabilize
continue to increase
begin to decrease
fluctuate more sharply
Where is the Northern Hemisphere in relation to the Sun in summer?
It is tilted toward the sun.
It is tilted away form the sun.
It is tilted to where there are very few hours of daylight.
It is at an obtuse angle from the sun.
What season is it in the Northern Hemisphere when the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun?
winter
summer
fall
spring
How does the tilt of Earth affect sunlight?
As the tilt of the Earth changes, the angle at which the Sun's rays strike the Earth changes.
As the tilt of the Earth changes, the distance the Sun's rays travel to the Earth changes.
The Earth's tilt has no effect on the sunlight that reaches Earth.
The angle at which the sunlight leaves the Sun perfectly syncs up with the Earth's tilt throughout the year.
