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Environmental Science FINAL EXAM REVIEW

Total questions: 60

Worksheet time: 45mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Environmental science is the study of the interaction of humans with the environment.  Which of these would be included as part of the environment?
a)
What the soil is made of
b)
Animals and plants in the surrounding area
c)
The average temperature, wind, and precipitation
d)
All of the above
2.
Which of the following series correctly represents the levels of organization from smallest to largest? 
a)
community -> population -> ecosystem -> biosphere->individual->biome
b)
individual ->population -> community -> ecosystem ->biome-> biosphere
3.
Which components of this cycle decrease CO2 in the atmosphere?
a)

C

b)

D

4.
What best explains the difference between primary and secondary succession?
a)
Secondary succession begins with lichens and primary succession begins with trees.
b)
Secondary succession begins on soil and primary succession begins on newly exposed surfaces.
5.
Only 10 percent of the energy stored in an organism can be passed on to the next trophic level. Of the remaining energy, some is used for the organism’s life processes, and the rest is
a)
stored as fat
b)
eliminated as heat
6.
Which example best illustrates the point behind the Tragedy of the Commons essay?
a)
Various nations overfishing in international waters, leading to a collapse of fish stocks.
b)
A property owner clear-cutting all of the trees on his land to sell for timber.
7.
What goes in Box 5 of the food web in Figure 3–2?
a)

decomposers

b)

carnivores

8.
Which of the following is the correct order for a food chain?
a)
herbivore --> producer -->secondary consumer
b)
producer --> herbivore --> secondary consumer
9.
Which zone of an aquatic ecosystem tends to have more life—both producers and consumers?
a)
aphotic zone
b)
photic zone
10.
Salinity, depth, and whether the water is flowing, or standing are used by scientists to
a)
classify aquatic ecosystems
b)
measure primary productivity in lakes
11.
Sustainability is defined as
a)
Rapidly increasing resource consumption over time.
b)
Maintaining a rate of resource consumption that will allow the population to survive indefinitely.
12.
In the food web below, a caterpillar represents a(n)
a)

primary consumer

b)

secondary consumer

13.
Eutrophic lakes are best described by:
a)
have very low productivity as a result of acid rain.
b)
have very high productivity as a result of high levels of nutrients.
14.
The movements of energy and nutrients through living systems are different because
a)
Energy flows in one direction, and nutrients recycle.
b)
Energy is limited in the biosphere, and nutrients are always available.
15.
What is the difference between swamps and freshwater marshes?
a)
Swamps have deep water, but marshes have shallow water.
b)
Swamps have mostly trees, but marshes have grasses.
16.
What is the estimate of the amount of land and ocean required to provide resources and absorb wastes called?
a)
Ecological Footprint
b)
Carry Capacity
17.
Using the above figure, which biome would you expect to find in an area with an average temperature of 10o C and 100 cm of precipitation annually?
a)

Temperate grassland

b)

Temperate seasonal forest

18.
The figure below represents the stages of ecological succession. The stages are NOT in order. Which sequence represents the correct order of succession that would involve these stages?
a)

2 --> 1 --> 3 --> 5 --> 4

b)

3 --> 2 --> 1 --> 5 --> 4

19.
Rainforest biomes can be characterized by which level of biomass and productivity?
a)
Low and High
b)
High and High
20.
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field of study. This means that
a)
It is limited to only one branch of science; ecology.
b)
Many science and non-science fields of study, such as economics and politics, are included.
c)
Multiple branches of science only (biology, chemistry, etc) are covered.
d)
Each environmental issue is specific to only one type of science.
21.
The below diagram is demonstrating which microclimate event?
a)

El Nino

b)

Global Warming

22.
Why is biodiversity important to ecosystems?
a)
It increases at each level of the food chain.
b)
It helps populations adapt to ecological changes
23.
Which statement describes how humans are affecting the balance of carbon in the atmosphere?
a)
Fewer crops are planted, reducing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
b)
Burning fossil fuels has increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
24.
The current rate of species extinction is
a)
slower than at any other time in this century.
b)
likely attributable to the actions of humans.
25.
A koala’s only eats eucalyptus leaves. Koala’s only inhabit eucalyptus forests and generally live and sleep in these trees. Knowing this, koala’s would be considered.
a)
A specialist species
b)
A generalist species
26.
Globally, the human population is _____ but the growth is expected to ____________.
a)
Decreasing; drop
b)
Increasing; level off
27.
Estuaries and coastal wetlands are important for all of the following reasons except
a)
breeding grounds for waterfowl.
b)
providing coral for limestone production and the tourist trade.
28.
To stop population growth, the total fertility rate has to drop below _____ per woman.
a)
1 child
b)
2.1 child
29.
The below climatograph is most likely which biome?
a)

Tropical rain forest

b)

Tundra

30.
An endangered species is:
a)
a species in danger of extinction
b)
a species growing on public land.
31.
The population change in a particular year can be calculated by
a)
(deaths + emigration) - (births + immigration)
b)
(births + immigration) - (deaths + emigration)
32.
Which of the following would decrease the likelihood of a couple having a child?
a)
Poor medical care
b)
Women have many opportunities to participate in the work force.
33.
What phenomenon does the figure represent?
a)

Desert formation

b)

rain shadow effect

34.
Using the above figure, Population A is most likely
a)

growing rapidly

b)

growing slowly

35.
Stage 2 in the demographic transition graph above is characterized by _________
a)

Decreasing birth rate and Decreasing death rate

b)

Stable birth rate and Decreasing death rate

36.
The predominant greenhouse gas related to climate change is:
a)
Carbon dioxide
b)
Ozone
37.
Most air pollution is produced by
a)
thermal inversions
b)
Burning fossil fuels
38.
As you travel from the North Pole toward the equator, you would expect to see
a)
tundra, then grasslands, then tropical rain forests.
b)
taiga, then desert, then tundra
39.
How much of Earth’s water is fresh water?
a)

1%

b)

3%

40.
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
a)
point-source pollution
b)
groundwater pollution
41.
Over half of the total mass of pollutants entering streams and lakes comes from
a)
non point pollution from roadside runoff and construction
b)
nonpoint pollution from agriculture.
42.
The term demographic transition refers to
a)
a requirement for a population to reach a specific size before it becomes stable.
b)
the slowing down in the growth of a population as it approaches the carrying capacity.
43.
Oil and natural gas result from
a)
The migration of complex carbohydrate molecules from nonporous rock formations
b)
the decay of tiny marine organisms that fell on the ocean floor millions of years ago
44.
Which of the following is an advantage of using fossil fuels for energy?
a)
the resulting air pollution
b)
versatility in their uses
45.
Which of these human activities is often responsible for the other three human impacts?
a)
Rapid increase in loss of natural habitat and biodiversity
b)
Rapid increase of the human population
46.
Compared to washing clothes in warm water, washing clothes in cold water uses
a)
much less energy
b)
a little more energy
47.
How is electricity generated in a coal-fired power plant?
a)
The heat generated from burning coal turns water into steam, which turns a turbine, thus running the electric generator.
b)
The coal is burned, which heats the air. The hot air rises and turns the electric generator’s turbine.
48.
A true statement about greenhouse gases is that they
a)
trap heat that is radiated upward from Earth.
b)
are not affected by human activity.
49.
The graph below shows how the human population has grown over the last several thousand years. Which statement is a valid inference that can be made if the human population continues to grow at a rate similar to what is shown between 1000 A.D. and 2000 A.D.?
a)

After all resources are used, the human population will level off

b)

All environmental issues will be solved without a reduction in population growth

50.
A geothermal power plant gets energy by
a)
pumping heated water or steam from rock formations.
b)
holding water behind a dam.
51.
Which compound is the leading cause of stratospheric ozone depletion?
a)
CO2
b)
CFCs
52.
What event in the mid-1700s significantly changed human population growth?
a)
Industrial Revolution
b)
Agricultural Revolution
53.
If you were to conduct a survey of the Mississippi river, where would you expect to find the greatest amount of nutrient (fertilizer) pollution?
a)

The Lower Mississippi

b)

The Delta Plain

54.
Which of the following is most likely to cause you to be exposed to the greatest amount of radiation?
a)
Talking on a cell phone
b)
Getting a x-ray
55.
Climate in a region is
a)
the long-term, prevailing atmospheric conditions.
b)
determined only by seasonal daylight hours.
56.
A hybrid car uses
a)
an efficient gasoline engine and an electric motor.
b)
a photovoltaic cell and an electric motor.
57.
A greenhouse is built with clear glass or plastic panels that allow sunlight through; trapping the heat inside. This is an example of a
a)
Active heating solar structure
b)
Passive heating solar structure
58.
The main usage of petroleum (oil) in the United States is:
a)
Heat production
b)
Transportation
59.
Mexico City, during the winter months, sub-tropical high-pressure systems can cause a warm layer of air to get trapped above the colder denser layer of air in the Valley of Mexico. This phenomenon can increase surface air pollutants and is called
a)
a thermal inversion
b)
ozone deposition
60.
Which surface has the greatest albedo?
a)
Dark, exposed soil
b)
Snow