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WorksheetsFinal Exam EL
Total questions: 42
Worksheet time: 11hrs 30mins
What effect would an invasive species have on the biodiversity in an ecosystem?
The survival rate of native species would improve.
The invasive species would compete with native species and prevent them from flourishing.
What effect does low biodiversity have on an ecosystem?
It creates lower genetic variation and causes an ecosystem to be more vulnerable to disease.
It creates greater genetic variation and causes an ecosystem to be less vulnerable to disease.
Which activity causes the least amount of wetland and estuary degradation when it occurs near the coast?
dune grass rehabilitation
agricultural development
At which location along a river or stream would the greatest rate of erosion most likely occur?
at its origin
at its steepest incline
What will most likely happen if a dam is built on a major river system?
Animal biodiversity will decrease because migration patterns will be blocked by the dam.
The dam will decrease the flow of the river, causing flooding to increase downstream.
This map shows global deepwater ocean currents beginning in the North Atlantic Ocean. The currents flow south to the ends of South America and Africa, traveling into the Pacific Ocean or the Indian Ocean.
Which statement explains the behavior of global deepwater ocean currents?
In the North Atlantic, the cold current sinks because of its increasing density. In the Indian Ocean, the warm current rises because of its decreasing density.
In the North Atlantic, the cold current sinks because of its decreasing density. In the Indian Ocean, the cold current rises because of its increasing density.
How is weather different from climate?
Weather focuses on short-term changes to the atmosphere, while climate focuses on long-term changes.
Weather is the average climate for a particular region.
Why do most commercial airplanes fly in the lower stratosphere rather than in the troposphere?
because the lower stratosphere is less turbulent than the troposphere
because the lower stratosphere has less ozone than the troposphere
Why is only a portion of the sun’s electromagnetic radiation that is directed toward Earth able to reach Earth’s surface?
The atmosphere of Earth filters a portion of the radiation.
The gravitational pull of the sun prevents the release of a portion of the radiation.
Which statement describes the revolution of the moon and Earth around a barycenter?
Earth revolves around the moon, while the moon remains stationary.
The moon and Earth revolve around their common center of gravity.
How do harvesting wood and surface mining for coal affect ecosystems?
Both cause soil erosion by removing anchoring roots.
Both cause aeration of the soil when natural materials are removed, which increases the soil quality.
Which characteristics of an area could best identify the type of biome it is?
average annual rainfall, average annual temperature, types of plants and animals native to the area
distance from lakes and rivers, average length of day, average daily precipitation
In some regions of the world, the production of wheat and corn has been reduced by nearly 50%. Which factor most likely caused the decline in the production of these crops?
depletion of water from aquifers in the region
production of energy by nuclear power in the region
Which would most likely cause a rise in sea levels?
the melting of polar ice caps
more urban development along coastlines
What causes greater seasonal changes in the amount of daylight, as latitude increases?
global winds
Earth’s tilt and revolution around the sun
What do drilling and mining for nonrenewable energy sources have in common?
They can pollute and harm the environment.
They are only used in a few countries.
How does Earth’s revolution around the sun and the tilt of its axis affect the seasons?
by changing Earth’s position in orbit
by changing the intensity of sunlight on different parts of Earth
Most Appalachian mountaintops are somewhat rounded and without many vertical cliffs. What most likely caused the shape of these mountaintops?
volcanic activity
millions of years of weathering and erosion
How does deforestation affect climate change?
by increasing the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
by increasing moisture levels in the soil
What effect would a series of major volcanic eruptions have on global climate change?
Ash clouds would reflect the sun’s energy and decrease temperatures globally.
The increase in atmospheric particles would increase rain globally.
Which air-mass interaction is most likely to produce a cyclone?
an interaction between maritime and tropical air masses
an interaction between continental and polar air masses
Which will most likely alter the pH of rain?
burning fossil fuels
creating ethanol from biomass
How does urbanization affect erosion rates?
It causes an increase in erosion rates because there is less vegetation holding the soil in place.
It causes an increase in erosion rates because the grade of the land has been flattened.
How has the increased use of land for agriculture most likely affected Earth’s surface?
Erosion has increased and natural soil development has decreased.
Erosion and natural soil development have decreased.
A species of corn is preferred for consumption but requires more water and land to grow. What effect would growing this type of corn have on freshwater availability?
It could cause a fall in the water table in areas where the corn is grown, which would decrease the amount of available freshwater.
It could cause a fall in the water table in areas where the corn is grown, which would increase the amount of available freshwater.
The construction of beach houses and other structures involves bulldozing local North Carolina beaches. How does this construction affect the water quality of nearby estuaries and tidal environments?
Water quality increases because of decreased water pollutants from runoff and sediment.
Water quality decreases because of increased water pollutants from runoff and sediment.
In 1931, a furniture company in Ohio purchased some elm tree logs from France. The logs were infected with a fungus to which elm trees in the United States were not resistant. The spread of this fungus to native elm trees resulted in their near extinction. Which process describes this event?
the creation of a balanced ecosystem
the introduction of an invasive species
A maritime tropical air mass moves over the southeastern region of the United States. What type of weather conditions should the region expect?
hot temperatures with moist air
cold temperatures with dry air
What is the main force that causes tectonic plate movement?
Earth’s convection currents
the sun’s gravity
How is sandstone metamorphosed into quartzite?
by tectonic compression of sedimentary rock inside Earth
by sedimentation caused by sediment deposition
What would most likely happen to North Carolina’s groundwater levels if there were a long drought?
Groundwater levels would fall as surface water levels rose.
Groundwater levels would fall because of a lack of infiltration from precipitation.
Which factors are most likely to cause the water table to rise?
slow-moving surface water and permeable surfaces
fast-moving surface water and permeable surfaces
An area was covered in snow for most of the winter. During the spring, the snow melted. A spring rainstorm caused flooding in the area. Why did the flooding occur?
The ground was already soft because of the melted snow. When the rainstorm occurred, it caused the soft soil to wash away.
The ground was oversaturated from absorbing the melted snow and could not absorb enough of the surface rainwater, causing surface water levels to rise.
A local government decides to build a dam to convert energy production from burning fossil fuels to hydroelectric. How could this affect the biodiversity downstream?
The dam could prevent flooding of the lake and could increase the variety of plants and animals in the area.
The restricted water flow caused by the dam could prevent fish species from successfully mating and laying eggs.
When a group of scientists compare shoreline maps from 1950 to today, they notice that the beach in an area has changed shape. What best explains the changing shoreline?
commercial fishing offshore
weathering and erosion
How does photosynthesis support life on Earth?
by changing minerals from the soil into food
by converting solar energy into chemical energy
Which of the following correctly describes how the Sun produces energy?
One hydrogen atom and one lithium atom fuse into one helium atom.
Four hydrogen atoms fuse into one helium atom.
Coal ash is a byproduct produced when coal is burned for energy. Coal ash contains sand, unburned carbon, and a variety of metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and zinc. Some energy companies mix coal ash with water and store this waste in ponds. How could the accidental release of coal ash waste impact ecosystems?
Unburned carbon could enter waterways and provide food for organisms.
Heavy metals could bioaccumulate in aquatic food chains.
What effect does low biodiversity have on an ecosystem?
It creates greater genetic variation and causes an ecosystem to be more vulnerable to disease.
It creates lower genetic variation and causes an ecosystem to be more vulnerable to disease.
In many parts of the world, land that is too dry for farming is used for grazing livestock. Overgrazing of these lands destroys the native plants and breaks down the natural soil covering. How does overgrazing result in desertification?
by increasing the rate at which topsoil is eroded
by allowing nonnative species to colonize the land
How does human population growth on Earth influence freshwater availability?
Increased human population leads to increased ability to purify salt water, causing a decrease in freshwater availability.
Increased human population leads to more individuals using wells to obtain water from aquifers, causing a decrease in freshwater availability.
How does crop rotation on farmland affect the sustainability of the crops?
It provides a wider variety of agricultural products.
It prevents the exhaustion of soil nutrients.
