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WorksheetsEnvironmental Science Final
Total questions: 87
Worksheet time: 43mins
Density-independent factors would include all of the following EXCEPT
predation
predation
drought
drought
fires
fires
flooding
flooding
Replacement level fertility (RLF) for a couple is
1
2
2.1
3
Varying depending on the country.
Which of the following factors is associated with the highest potential for population growth
High percentage of people under age 18.
High percentage of people in their 30s.
High percentage of people in high-income groups.
High percentage of people in low-income groups.
The density of a population is
the number of individuals living in cities.
the number of individuals per unit area.
the proportion of males and females.
the number of individuals born every year.
The carrying capacity of an environment for a particular species at a particular time is determined by the
distribution of the population.
number of individuals in the species.
supply of the most limited resources.
reproductive potential of the species.
Which factor contributed most to the exponential growth of the human population?
higher birth rates
increased immigration
higher fertility rates
more food, better hygiene
Educating women worldwide has lowered birthrates partly because
educated women need to bear many children to ensure that some will survive.
educated women contribute less to their family income.
educated women may learn family-planning techniques.
All of the above.
A government restricts the production of a certain chemical. This is an example of
regulation
marketing ploy
economic incentive
economic failure
If you wanted to convince your elected leaders that steps should be taken to reduce soil erosion along the bank of the creek that runs through your neighborhood, you would probably be most effective working with your
Congressional Representative
United States Senator
state representative
local government
In general, sustainability is more of a concern now than it was 100 years ago. Why?
People live differently and use more resources
The human population is growing
People are more educated
All of the above
What are wind and water erosion NOT likely to affect?
Rocks
mountains
soil
tides
Which of the following is NOT a mechanism of energy transfer through or within Earth's atmosphere?
condensation
convection
conduction
radiation
Without the greenhouse effect, Earth's atmosphere would be __________ to support life.
too wet
lacking the oxygen
too cold
too hot
In the troposphere, which of the following decreases as altitude increases?
Both temperature and pressure
pressure
radiation
temperature
Where is most of the fresh water on Earth located?
in oceans
in reservoirs and lakes
in ice caps and glaciers
in streams and tributaies
Using the demographic transition model, what stage would be characteristic of death rates falling while birthrates remain high?
Preindustrial (Stage 1)
Transitional (Stage 2)
Industrial (Stage 3)
None of the above
An increase in waterborne diseases could possibly be alleviated by
very rapid growth of big cities.
sufficient fuelwood.
adequate sewage treatment facilities for growing populations.
Both (a) and (b)
Countries with high growth rates usually have an age structure that has
more older people than younger people.
more younger people than older people.
an even distribution over all ages.
more middle-aged people than younger people.
The energy in most ecosytems comes from _______________.
wind
green plants
the sun
all of the above
Some organisms are more likely to survive because they
engage in certain behaviors
lack certain physical traits
have certain physical traits
All of the above
The community of a pond is made up of all the
populations of fish, insects and other living organisms
habitats in and around the water
resources organisms need
abiotic factors in the water
Which of the following describes soil and temperature in an ecosystem?
selection factors
unnecessary factors
biotic factors
abiotic factors
One way that bacteria and fungi are important to the environment is that they
break down dead organisms
are a major food source in many ecosystems
use the sun's energy to make their own food
produce oxygen
Humans have inadvertently promoted the evolution of insects that are resistant to insecticides by
using insecticides that are outdated
using the wrong insecticide
trying to control pests with chemicals
All of the above
Burning fossil fuels coupled with deforestation increases the amount of _______ in the atmosphere
CO2
SO2
O3
All of the above are correct
Communities of bacteria have been found living thousands of feet under water. Which of the following statements is a proper conclusion to draw about these bacteria?
They use an energy source other than sunlight
They were somehow introduced by human activities
They are living on borrowed time.
Somehow they are conducting photosynthesis
Which of the following is correctly arranged from the lowest trophic level to the highest trophic level?
grass, bass, minnow, snake
grass, mouse, snake, eagle
bacteria, frog, eagle, racoon
algae, deer, wolf, hawk
The primary biological process that removes carbon from the atmosphere and moves it to the biosphere is
anaerobic reparation
cellular respiration
photosynthesis
organic decay
Clearing land for either habitation or agriculture does all of the following EXCEPT
increases infiltration (water has time to soak deep into the soil
increases potential for landslides
increases flood risks
increases runoff
The main difference between primary and secondary succession is that
secondary succession occurs on barren, rocky areas and primary succession does not.
secondary succession ends in a climax species and primary succession ends in a pioneer species
primary succession occurs on barren, rocky areas, and secondary succession does not
primary succession occurs in the year before the secondary succession.
The biggest threat to species is
Extremely high reproduction rates
loss of habitat
alien invasive species
low reproductive rates
Species that serve as early warnings of environmental damage are called
native species
indicator species
keystone species
specialist species
Which of the following are most likely to be the pioneer organisms on an area of bare rock?
What is the relationship between groundwater and surface water?
Surface water is found in lakes directly above underground water sources.
Groundwater filters through the soil to form surface water.
There is no relationship between surface and groundwater, they form independantly.
Surface water percolates through the soil to form groundwater.
Many areas of the world without adequate fresh water have become habitable because
water conservation has been implemented.
icebergs have been towed in to provide fresh water.
water management projects have diverted water to the area.
rainfall patterns have changed.
Which of the following is one way a person could conserve water?
water your lawn daily and at mid-day.
use a low-flow showerhead and take short showers.
wash laundry in small, partial loads
take a long bath instead of a shower.
Most large cites get water for households and industries from
removing salt from sea water.
pumps connected to springs.
rivers and lakes.
deep wells.
Which of the following would likely cause conflict between Georgia and Florida since they share a common watershed?
New industries built in Apalachicola, Florida where the river empties into the ocean.
More dams built upstream in Georgia
Increased amount of water used for irrigation in Florida.
More wells drilled upstream in Georgia
Most air pollution is produced by
volcanic eruptions
ozone layer depletion'
fuel burning
thermal inversions
Which of the following is an example of land used as a protected area to preserve the scenery and ecosystems?
Rocky Mountains
Great Plains
Great Basin
Grand Canyon National Park
Which of the following most effectively allows forests to recover from tree harvesting?
cutting only young trees and then replacing them with seedlings.
allowing the forest to reseed itself.
cutting all of the trees and then replanting the area with seedlings.
cutting only medium-sized or mature trees.
An important environmental benefit of open spaces in cities (parks) includes
All of the above
the improvement in air quality resulting from filtering of pollutants by plants.
hotter, humid summers due to evaporation of water from plant leaves.
contamination of water sources by runoff of soil and animal wastes.
Much of the oil and natural gas in the United States is located in
Alaska, Texas, California, and the Gulf of Mexico
Texas, Colorado, New York, and the Gulf of Mexico
Alaska, California, Michigan, and Nevada
Alaska, Minnisota, New York, and Texas
Which of the following forms of energy is a renewable resource?
Breeder fission
Synthetic Oil
Synthetic natural gas
Biomass
Oil Shale
Which of the following accurately describes the use of fossil fuels for energy?
Fossil fuels account for 69% of the electricity generated in the United States.
Burning fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
At the present rate, we will run out of fossil fuels in about 250 years.
All of the above.
Which of the following alternatives would NOT lead to a sustainable energy future?
Create tax incentives for independent power producers.
Decrease fuel-efficiency standards for cars, appliances, and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems.
Assess penalties or taxes on continuous use of coal and oil.
Phase out nuclear power subsidies.
At today's rate of consumption, known U.S. oil reserves will be depleted in about
3 years
10 years
25 years
50 years
100 years
The lowest average generating cost (cents per kWh) comes from what energy source?
Solar photovoltaic
Nuclear
Geothermal
Large hydroelectric facilities
Coal
Habitat loss, soil erosion, and air pollution are disadvantages of which renewable energy source?
moving water
Biomass fuel
wind
solar
The least-efficient energy conversion device listed is
fluorescent light
internal combustion engine
incandescent light
fuel cell
Steam turbine
Only about 10% of the potential energy of gasoline is used in powering an automobile. The remaining energy is lost as low-quality heat. This is an example of the
law of supply and demand
first law of thermodynamics
second law of thermodynamics
law of conservation of energy
first law of efficiency
Regional climates are most influenced by
latitude and longitude
altitude and longitude
prevailing winds and latitude
latitude and altitude
Coriolis affect and trade winds
A low pressure air mass is generally associated with
hot humid weather
straight line winds
cloudy or stormy weather
hurricanes
tornadoes
The gas that is responsible for trapping most of the heat in the lower atmosphere is
nitrogen
oxygen
carbon dioxide
ozone
water vapor
The surface with the LOWEST albedo (a measure of the reflection of sunlight)
black topsoil
desert
forest
desert
snow
Areas of low pressure are typically characterized by ___________ air and move toward regions where the pressure is ________________ with time.
non-moving, changing
rising, rising
rising, falling
sinking, falling
sinking, rising
How can zoos, botanic gardens, and wildlife parks help save species?
by preserving threatened species from destruction
by collecting species from remote wilderness areas
by participating in captive breeding programs
BOTH (a) and (c)
Which of the following is true in a climax community?
it goes through a major change called "climax" every few hundred years
if one species dies, a new species will fulfill the same role
They are stable for a long time, with the same species maintaining their population
the community will constantly evolve and change
What is one result of pioneer species in Primary Succession?
To put fresh oxygen into the air
To feed Johnny
To rebuild soil
To kill the dead materials after a disaster
Succession that occurs in an area where soil is already present
pioneer species
secondary succession
primary succession
ecological succession
Climate in a region is
never affected by ocean currents
the atmospheric conditions on a given day
determined only by seasonal daylight hours
the long term, prevailing atmospheric conditions
The thinning of the ozone layer
occurs over both polar regions
is related to seasonal changes
will take many years to reverse
All of the above
The thinning of the ozone layer
is related to seasonal changes
occurs over both polar regions
will take many years to reverse
All of the above
Which of the following would occur if Earth were not tilted relative to the plane of its orbit?
Polar ice caps would melt due to a rapid increase in global warming.
All parts of Earth would receive sunlight of equal concentratioin.
Temperature regions would no longer have seasonal changes in the climate.
Themperatures at the equator would become too hot to sustain life.
Chlorofluorocarbons molecules are environmentally significant because
they readily break down ozone molecules produces as pollution.
their absorption of lethal solar energy protects Earth.
they are poisonous, flammable, and corrosive to metals.
their chlorine atoms can destroy many stratospheric ozone molecules.
Ultraviolet radiation is particularly dangerous because
little has been done to save the ozone layer
it can damage genetic material in cells
it can damage genetic material in cells
All of the above
A true statement about greenhouse gases is that they
are not affected by human activity
trap heat that is radiated upward from Earth,
are concentrated in the stratosphere
convert sunlight into heat energy that warms Earth
The term biodiversity refers to
the fact that 40 percent of prescription drugs come from living things.
habitat destruction , invasive exotic species, and poaching
the extinction of the dinosaurs
the variety of species on Earth
The United States laws that protect endangered species
are much weaker than the legal protections in most other countries
apply to only 10 species of animals and about 20 species of plants.
are rarely enforced
are considered to be the strongest in the world.
Reintroducing the gray wolf in certain areas of the northwestern United States
discourages hunters from hunting other animals
is in accordance with the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973.
creates a mutualist interaction between wolves and elk.
in beneficial for all those working in that area
The current rate of species extinction
of little consequence to Earth's long-term survival
the result of natural environmental processes
attributable to the actions of humans
slower than at any other time in this century
The type of hunting that threatens species survival the most is
especially a problem in less developed nations.
ignored by global conservation groups.
legal hunting done by sports enthusiasts.
sanctioned by industrialized nations.
The major human causes of extinction today are
polluting and introducing non-native species
hunting and destroying habitats
Neither (a) nor (b)
Both (a) and (b)
Why is biodiversity important to ecosystems?
It reduces the number of insects in a given ecosystem
It helps populations adapt to ecological changes
It increases at each level of the food chain
It allows animals to feed permanently from one type of plant.
On the leeward side of a mountain range (the side opposite the wind) one would expect
more clouds and rain
more clouds but less rain than on the windward side
less clouds and less rain than on the windward side
no significant difference in climate compared with the windward side
colder temperatures
Latitude strongly influences climate because ______ solar energy falls on areas that are closer to the equator.
sometimes less
the same amount of
more
less
The critical difference between today's global warming and Earth's previous climate changes is that
global warming may occur much more rapidly than it did during the previous climate changes
scientists can now save all species from extinction by genetic engnineering.
previous changes in climate were dramatic but very short lived.
human-made chemicals such as CFCs do not influence global warming
Estuaries are very productive ecosystems because they receive fresh nutrients from
streams and springs
marshes and swamps
rivers and oceans
lakes and ponds
Swamps are commonly found on
bottoms of ponds and lakes
flat, poorly drained land
forest clearings
rocky hillsides
As they flow down a mountain to flatter ground, rivers generally become
slower
warmer
wider
all of the above
Two threats to ocean ecosystems are
sewage and algal blooms
nutrient runoff and industrial waste discharges
overfishing and entanglement of marine mammals in trawl nets
All of the above
Estuaries
prevent the development of salt marshes
are ecosystems that are both fresh water and salt water are present
are always saltwater ecosystems
are always freshwater ecosystems
The arrangement of organisms in the open ocean is determined by the
distribution of zooplankton
size of the benthic zone, where photosynthesis occurs
amount of nutrients and sunlight that are available
increase in salt content from shallow to deep waters
Which of the following is a threat to coral reefs?
pesticides
sewage
oil spills
All of the above
Which of the following would you expect to see in the emergent layer of a tropical rain forest?
Which of the following would you expect to see in the emergent layer of a tropical rain forest?
lichens, mosses and dwarf woody plants
eagles, bats and snakes
grasses, succulents and small insects
Which of the following is an adaptation of coniferous trees in the taiga?
They have a shallow root system due to the acidity of the soil.
They have a unique overall shape in order to accumulate snow, which act as a heavy insulating layer.
They have leaves that retain water due their shape and waxy coating
All of the above
Adaptations demonstrated by plants in tropical rainforests include
herbs with large flat leaves located in the understory
trees with above ground roots called buttresses, which increase stability
orchids and vines that use tall tree trunks for support
All of the above
