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Unit 1 Environmental Science

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is an dependent variable?

a)

What a scientist changes in an experiment to test their hypothesis

b)

What scientist measure to see if it responded to a change

c)

What happens when you do an experiment

d)

What you keep the same throughout all experimental groups

2.

Carmen conducted an experiment to determine if listening to different types of music would affect a
person’s pulse. Her hypothesis was that pulse rate would change with different types of music. Each
person listened to seven different selections of music for 30 seconds each. Each person’s pulse was
taken before the music and then after each 30-second interval of music. The pulses were taken again
after the music selections were completed. Based on her experiment, Carmen concluded that a
person’s pulse rate changed when the person listened to different types of music.

 

Which component is missing from Carmen’s experiment?

a)

a question

b)

a hypothesis

c)

a control group

d)

a description of the experiment

3.

What percentage of energy is passed on to each tropic level?

a)

10%

b)

20%

c)

25%

d)

50%

4.


Which of the following illustrates the correct ordering of trophic levels?

a)


decomposers-carnivores-autotrophs-herbivores

b)

herbivores-autotrophs-carnivores-decomposers

c)

autotrophs-herbivores-carnivores-decomposers

d)

carnivores-producers-omnivores

5.

The greatest number of individuals in a population that the environment can hold at that point in time

a)

greatest number of individuals in a population that the environment can hold at that point in time

b)

biotic potential

c)

carrying capacity

d)

exponential growth

6.

Deforestation of areas considered to be rich sources of genetic material could limit future agricultural and medical advances due to

a)

the maintenance of dynamic equilibrium 

b)


the loss of biodiversity

c)

an increase in the ecosystem’s carrying capacity

d)

the depletion of the ozone layer

7.

Which of the following are abiotic factors that shape ecosystems? 

a)

worms, plants and temperature

b)

wind, precipitation, and soil type

c)

niches, trees, and bacteria

d)

sunlight, mushrooms, and wind

8.

Succession is the process of change in a community:
*In primary succession the process starts with bare rock and its pioneer species are- 

a)

Weeds and Grasses

b)

Large Trees

c)

Lichen and Moss

d)

Soil

9.

Invasive species such as lionfish and pythons can compete with the native species and have a direct effect on an ecosystems through a-

a)

decrease in biodiversity 

b)

no change in the ecosystem

10.

To reduce the effects of climate change we need to reduce the use of fossil fuels and rely more on any of the following except-

a)

wind power

b)

solar power

c)

Hydroelectric

d)

coal, oil and natural gas

11.

A team of ecologists observed feeding patterns of several populations in the desert. The energy pyramid shown below depicts the feeding patterns the ecologist observed. 

Which of the following best explains the difference in the amount of available energy in the trophic levels of the desert ecosystem?

a)

There is less energy available in the producers because their tissues are less dense than those at higher trophic levels.

b)

There is more energy available in the second trophic level because less energy is needed for hunting compared to the higher trophic levels. 

c)

There is more available energy in the birds of prey because they have greater muscle mass for storing energy than organisms in lower trophic levels have. 

d)

There is less available energy in the fourth trophic level because of the loss of energy through metabolism in each of the lower trophic levels.

12.

The common brushtail possum is a marsupial native to Australia. This possum was introduced to New Zealand where it had no natural predators and had an abundant food supply. Which of these likely occurred a few years after the introduction of this possum to New Zealand?

a)

The possums became extinct.

b)

The possums developed shorter life spans.

c)

The possum population grew to a larger size.

d)

The possum population evolved into a different species.

13.

The one thing that is changed in an experiment.
*Can only have 1 

a)

Independent Variable

b)

Dependent Variable

c)

Control

d)

Hypothesis

14.

A theory and law are interchangeable- 
* a theory can become a law and law a theory.

a)

True

b)

False

15.

Removal of which organism would affect all other organisms in the food web?

a)

Octopus

b)

Zooplankton

c)

Phytoplankton

d)

Fish

16.

Salt water is an abundant resource but unusable for irrigation and drinking. As demands on freshwater sources increase, the use of desalination processes to remove salt from ocean water is increasing. A concern of desalinating water is the large amounts of recovered salts that are returned to the ocean. Which of the following describes the most likely impact of desalination on the surrounding ocean environment? 

a)

Methane gas would pollute the ocean environment as shoreline organisms begin to die and decay.

b)

Alteration in ocean salt levels would cause loss of species and unbalanced populations in marine food webs.

c)

Nonrenewable resources in the ocean environment would become depleted and upset the ecosystem's balance.

d)

Increased levels of salts and minerals in the ocean would result in overpopulation of marine bivalves due to strengthened shells.

17.

Which of these organisms would most likely be found at the top of an energy pyramid? 

a)

clams - a primary consumer

b)

sardines - a primary consumer

c)

sharks - a secondary consumer

d)

kelp - a primary producer

18.

In a process called transpiration, plants get rid of excess water through pores in the leaves called stomata. This excess water is then released into the atmosphere as part of the water cycle. Which of the following terms best describes how the released water enters the atmosphere?

a)

condensation

b)

precipitation

c)

evaporation

d)

capillary action

19.

The framework of organic molecules essential to all organisms is composed mainly of carbon atoms. Which processes are involved in the cycling of carbon within an environment? 

a)

photosynthesis and respiration

b)

evaporation and condensation

c)

transcription and translation

d)

diffusion and transpiration

20.

The presence of wastes, such as plastic bags and motor oil, in lakes and streams miles away from developed areas suggests that

a)

ecosystems are interconnected and human action can alter ecosystem equilibrium.

b)

recycling programs have failed to conserve biotic resources.

c)

natural processes can alter ecosystem stability.

d)

direct harvesting practices have led to irreversible destruction of ecosystems.