WorksheetsGCSE Biology Quiz: Water and Air Pollution
Total questions: 120
Worksheet time: 2hrs 0mins
How does water pollution affect ecosystems?
Ecosystems become healthier with increased water pollution
Water pollution only affects the appearance of ecosystems
Water pollution can disrupt the balance of ecosystems by harming plants, animals, and microorganisms, leading to a decline in biodiversity and overall ecosystem health.
Water pollution has no impact on ecosystems
What are the causes of air pollution?
Burning candles
Industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, agricultural activities, wildfires, volcanic eruptions
Ocean pollution
Space debris
What is the greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is the process by which the Earth's atmosphere cools down the planet's surface
The greenhouse effect is the process by which radiation from a planet's atmosphere warms the planet's surface to a temperature above what it would be without its atmosphere.
The greenhouse effect is the process by which plants trap heat from the sun to grow faster
The greenhouse effect is the process by which the ozone layer protects the Earth from harmful radiation
How does water pollution impact aquatic life?
It only affects one species of aquatic life
It has no impact on aquatic life
It increases oxygen levels and improves the food chain
It reduces oxygen levels, introduces toxins, and disrupts the food chain.
List three human activities that contribute to air pollution.
1. Burning fossil fuels for transportation and energy production 2. Industrial processes and manufacturing 3. Agricultural activities and waste management
Planting more trees
Reducing carbon emissions
Using renewable energy sources
Explain the role of carbon dioxide in the greenhouse effect.
Carbon dioxide traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect.
Carbon dioxide has no impact on the greenhouse effect.
Carbon dioxide only affects the greenhouse effect in certain regions of the world.
Carbon dioxide cools the Earth's atmosphere, reducing the greenhouse effect.
Accumulation of pollutants at successive levels of the food chain.
water pollution
thermal pollution
biomagnification
artificial eutrophication
A chicken farmer stores all of the chicken manure from his farm in large piles next to the river. Throughout the spring and summer, the piles of manure are exposed to rain and wind. The farmer finally removes the manure in the fall.
Toxic
Sediment
Nutrient
Bacterial
By rotating their crops, farmers can reduce their dependence on fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Despite the benefits of crop rotation, many farmers only grow one or two crops year after year. This increases their use of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.
Toxic
Sediment
Nutrient
Bacterial
In a large new housing complex, many families do not practice water conservation. They take long showers, overwater their lawns, and wash their cars frequently. They local water treatment facility is old and was not designed to handle that increased amount of water, causing untreated sewage to be released into the environment.
Toxic
Sediment
Nutrient
Bacterial
What is water pollution?
Pollution that comes from water.
There is not such thing as this ''water pollution''.
Pollution that comes from land or air that ends up in the ocean.
Fire and water together.
What are the main sources of water pollution?
Plastic, Paper, and Metal
Snails in water
Help, there is a boot with a snake inside of it that somehow in the nearby lake.
Agriculture, Industry, and Community
A rapid growth of algae could lead to... (Check all that apply.)
A reduction of oxygen levels in the water.
Water that can support more life.
Waters that are devoid of life.
An increase in oxygen levels.
Eutrophication is caused by...
fossil fuel burning in power plants.
automobiles burning fossil fuels.
over fertilizing farm fields.
limestone rocks in a body of water.
When nutrient levels rise to high levels in a body of water, the effect on dissolved Oxygen levels is...
decreases.
increases.
does not change.
When algae levels increase in a body of water, it
cuts off light to plants at the bottom.
increases light to the plants on the bottom.
causes dissolved Oxygen levels increase.
causes bacteria populations decrease.
What happens in Eutrophication?
A massive die-off of organisms due to low oxygen.
An net increase in oxygen.
A changing of a land biome from fertilizer.
Which of the following is NOT a source of nitrates and phosphates into a river?
Fertilizers
Animal waste
Wastewater
Burning fossil fuels
What can be a source of nitrates for eutrophication in rivers?
fertilisers
plastic bottles
paper
sewage
What is the very next thing that happens after fertilisers enter a river in eutrophication?
Fish die due to a lack of oxygen
Plants below the surface die due to a lack of sunlight
The number of aerobic bacteria increases
Fast growth of plants
In eutrophication, what directly causes the death of fish?
The plants use up oxygen in respiration
The fish are poisoned by high CO2 levels
Bacteria use up oxygen in respiration
The fish use up oxygen in respiration
In eutrophication, what does 'algal bloom' refer to?
The rapid increase in the number of bacteria
The rapid increase in the number of plants
The rapid decrease in the number of fish
The rapid increase in the amount of nitrates in the river
Eutrophication is defined as a change that occurs to an aquatic ecosystem. This change is mainly due to what?
Newly introduced fish
Depletion of the ozone layer
Increased nutrient concentration
Increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Which is the correct order of changes that occur during eutrophication?
Aquatic plants cannot photosynthesize and die. Algal blooms blocks light from entering lower levels of a pond or lake. The fish and other aquatic organisms die. The bacteria decompose the algae, and they use up a lot of oxygen during this process. The algae die.
Algal blooms blocks light from entering lower levels of a pond or lake. Aquatic plants cannot photosynthesize and die. The algae die. The fish and other aquatic organisms die. The bacteria decompose the algae, and they use up a lot of oxygen during this process.
Algal blooms blocks light from entering lower levels of a pond or lake. Aquatic plants cannot photosynthesize and die. The algae die. The bacteria decompose the algae, and they use up a lot of oxygen during this process. The fish and other aquatic organisms die.
Aquatic plants cannot photosynthesize and die. Algal blooms blocks light from entering lower levels of a pond or lake. The bacteria decompose the algae, and they use up a lot of oxygen during this process. The algae die. The fish and other aquatic organisms die.
If the amount of oxygen in water decreases...
Respiration rate increases
Respiration rate decreases
No effect on respiration
More photosynthesis occurs
When talking about fertilizers in Eutrophication, fertilizers contain...
(pick TWO answers)
Carbohydrates
Sulfates
Phosphates
Nitrates
Leaching is...
When acid rain harms plants
When fertilizers are stuck in soil, harming plants
When fertilizers are washed away by rain, ending up in rivers/streams
When fertilizers are taken up into the plant to be used for chemical processes
Nitrates that have been leached are used by...
The ocean
Fish
Clams
Algae and green plants
What are the dangers of excessive growth of algae and plants
They might take up too much room
They block sunlight for other organisms
They do not harm other organisms
Other organisms eat them and they are toxic
Place the followng in the correct order:
1. Large amounts of Bacteria Respire
2. Other organisms have to move habitat
3. Bacteria begin to reproduce rapidly
4. Less oxygen is available for other organisms
1,2,3,4
4,3,2,1
1,4,2,3
3,1,4,2
(Check all that apply) Dead zones are regions in a body of water where:
The water is brackish because salt water is mixing with fresh water
Decomposer microbes have multiplied and are using up oxygen
Nutrients from runoff are promoting floating algae growth
No plants are able to grow because of a lack of sunlight
How does eutrophication cause the death of aquatic organisms
the build up of carbon dioxide in the water
the lack of nitrogen in the water
the lack of carbon dioxide in the water
the lack of oxygen in the water
In eutrophication, dissolved oxygen levels decrease because
bacteria use it as they decompose organic material
algae uses it during photosynthesis
it reacts with hydrogen to form H2O (water)
fish use it up as they consume algae
Why should farmers be concerned about unused nitrate fertilizer contaminating surface water and groundwater supplies?
Unused nitrates reduce algae growth.
Unused nitrates increase oxygen in the water.
Excessive amounts of nutrients cause overpopulation of fish.
Excessive amounts of nutrients speed up the eutrophication process.
Where is the most likely location of a dead zone in this watershed?
A
B
C
I
H
The long term effects of a hypoxic/dead zone includes all of the following except for
Fisherman may struggle to catch any fish.
The crops of farmers stop growing.
The health of the fish population declines.
There is an increase in the population of decomposers such as bacteria.
In eutrophication, dissolved oxygen levels decrease because
decomposers use it in cellular respiration
algae bloom and use it up
plant nutrients react with the dissolved oxygen
fish use it up
Eutrophication is caused by...
fossil fuel burning in power plants.
automobiles burning fossil fuels.
over fertilizing farm fields.
limestone rocks in a body of water.
When algae levels increase in a body of water, it
cuts off light to plants at the bottom.
increases light to the plants on the bottom.
causes dissolved Oxygen levels increase.
causes bacteria populations decrease.
The first step in the process of eutrophication involves (a) . In the second step (b) . The third step involves the depletion of (c) . In the final step the water becomes a (d)
Which of the following is NOT am important advantage for aquatic organisms living near the surface of a lake or pond?
higher oxygen levels
warmer temperatures
presence of decomposing organisms
more sunlight
Reorder the following -- from step 1 to 5
N & P are added to environment
Leaching of N & P in soil (water infiltration)
N & P carried by runoff
algae overgrowth due to excess N & P in water
algae blocks sunlight -> sunlight cannot reach plants)
Reorder the following -- from step 5 to 8
algae blocks sunlight -> sunlight cannot reach plants)
Plants cannot do photosynthesis --> plants die -> decomposition
Algae eventually die too --> decomposition
Dead plants (no photosynthesis) + decomposition = no O2 (anoxia) --> animals die
Fertilizer, sewage, and animal feces can wash in to water, leading to...
thermal pollution
eutrophication
photosynthesis
industrial pollution
Waste produced by agriculture, households, industry, mining, and other human activities can end up in ______________.
groundwater
streams and rivers
oceans
All of these choices
The natural process of eutrophication is accelerated when you add...
phosphates and nitrates
nitrates and oxygen
plant nutrients and dish detergent
oil and heat
Dead zones are characterized by all of the following EXCEPT...
a reduced number of shellfish
fish die-off events
low nitrogen concentrations
low oxygen concentrations in the water
Which type of pollution can lead to harmful "algal blooms"?
thermal pollution
oil spills
nutrient pollution
bacteria
A new golf course is built next to a river. Over the past several months, the nitrate levels of the water in the river have been increasing. Which best explains the cause of the increasing nitrate levels?
increased growth of algae
decreased biodiversity
runoff from fertilizer
Which is the most likely result of an increase in the level of nitrates in a body of water?
increase in turbidity
increase in plant growth
increase in fish population
increase in water temperature
Why does fertilizer pollution stimulate the growth of algae in a pond?
Algae are producers and use the fertilizer’s nutrients to rapidly multiply.
Algae are producers and use the fertilizer’s nutrients during decomposition.
Algae are parasites and absorb energy from the fertilizers in order to grow.
Algae are herbivores that feed off of the plants, which grow due to the excess fertilizers.
Why should farmers be concerned about unused nitrates contaminating surface water and groundwater supplies?
Unused nitrates reduce algae growth.
Unused nitrates increase oxygen in the water.
Excessive amounts of nutrients cause overpopulation of fish.
Excessive amounts of nutrients speed up the eutrophication process.
Which is the most likely effect of too much nitrogen and phosphorus flowing into a lake?
algal blooms
greater salinity
decreased turbidity
lower temperature
Dead zones are low-oxygen areas that develop on the seafloor. Scientists hypothesize that phytoplankton blooms cause these dead zones. Phytoplankton blooms occur when excess nutrients are introduced by pollution from fertilizers, sewage plants, and the burning of fossil fuels. Which of the following would most likely cause an increase in these contributors to dead zones?
Rainfall patterns that increase freshwater runoff from terrestrial ecosystems
Replacing coal-fired power plants with windmills
Farming practices that reduce nitrate and phosphate applications
Constructing efficient water-recovery and treatment plants
Consider the following food chain:
Algae > Mayfly > Minnow > Trout
In a polluted ecosystem, which organism would likely have the HIGHEST level of toxic chemicals in its body?
Algae
Mayfly
Minnow
Trout
When you consume an organism, you only receive 10% of the energy, but how much of the toxins do you receive?
All of the toxins
10% toxins
1% toxins
None of the toxins
What are examples of toxins? (choose all that apply)
water
salt
pesticides
mercury
insecticides
Pesticides and herbicides eventually show up in higher-level consumers (i.e. as you go up the food chain) due to
biomagnification
climate change
habitat destruction
bioaccumulation
Toxin concentrations _____________ as you go up the food chain.
do not change
increase
decrease
Which consumer is the most affected by toxins like mercury?
Primary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Apex Predator
Producers
Which organism in the food web shown would
contain the lowest concentration of chemical pollutants?
producers
primary consumers
secondary consumers
tertiary consumers
The phenomenon by which toxins concentrate in the organisms at higher trophic levels within an ecosystem is known as...
Biotoxicity
Biomagnification
Eutrophication
Predation
_____________ is the increase in concentration of a pollutant in a food chain
Bioaccumulation
Biomagnification
Pesticides and herbicides eventually show up in higher-level consumers (i.e. as you go up the food chain) due to (a)
The highest gaseous pollutant is
methane
nitrous oxide
carbon dioxide
fluorinated gases
The graph shows us that
the earth temperature is always increasing
the earth's temperature has steadily increased since 1900
the earth's temperature has steadily rising since the 1960s
the earth's temperature decreased during the 19th and 20th centuries
Which of the following does NOT happen to solar energy when it reaches Earth?
Some solar energy reflects off the atmosphere, back to space
Some solar energy passes through Earth and comes out the other side
Some solar energy is absorbed by land and water
Some solar energy is radiated from the Earth's surface and trapped by the atmosphere
Name three causes of the greenhouse effect: (a) .
Burning fossil fuels, volcanic erup
Carbon dioxide emissions, deforesta
Which gases contribute to the greenhouse effect?
carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide
carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases
water vapor, ozone, sulfur hexafluoride
oxygen, nitrogen, argon
What are the main greenhouse gases emitted by human activities?
sulfur dioxide, ozone, water vapor
carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide
carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, radon
oxygen, nitrogen, argon
What are the impacts of the greenhouse effect on climate?
The greenhouse effect has no impact on climate.
The greenhouse effect only causes cooling of the Earth's surface.
The impacts of the greenhouse effect on climate include rising sea levels, more frequent and intense heatwaves, changes in precipitation patterns, and disruptions to ecosystems and biodiversity.
The impacts of the greenhouse effect on climate are still unknown.
How do greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere?
creating a barrier that prevents heat from escaping
reflecting sunlight back into space
producing a cooling effect in the atmosphere
absorbing and re-emitting infrared radiation
What are the potential consequences of continued greenhouse gas emissions?
Decreased global temperature, reduced energy consumption, and increased food production
Improved air quality, reduced pollution, and healthier ecosystems
Global warming, climate change, rising sea levels, extreme weather events, loss of biodiversity, and negative impacts on human health.
Decreased rainfall, increased desertification, and droughts
How can acid rain be stopped?
reduce the emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere
using less energy from fossil fuels
Switching to cleaner burning fuels
All of the above
The graph shows the concentration of CO2 in the ocean at Mauna Lao, Hawaii since 1960.
Ocean acidification is what happens when excess CO2 is absorbed by the oceans. This change in pH can have devastating impacts on aquatic plants and animals. Based on the information in the graph which statement best predicts biodiversity of ocean life now versus the 1960’s?
Biodiversity has been unaffected by ocean acidification
Biodiversity has been unaffected because there has been no ocean acidification
Biodiversity has increased because acidification leads to new opportunities to fill niches
Biodiversity has decreased because ocean acidification has made the ocean uninhabitable by some life
Average sea surface temperatures have been increasing over time. Due to this change in temperature, we have seen sea levels rise and the distribution of many marine species shift. Which of the following describes this change?
The ocean has a significant influence on climate change because it absorbs heat
The ocean has a significant influence on climate change because it can dissolve many solutes
the ocean has a significant influence on climate change because it provides a habitat for many species
the ocean has a significant influence on climate change because water has a high specific heat capacity
What are greenhouse gas emissions?
B. Natural factors that contribute to climate variability
D. The rise in the Earth's average surface temperature
C. Changes in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other aspects of the Earth's climate system
A. Human activities that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
Why do polar bears will get thinner and may die of hunger?
Because the weather’s warmer.
Because they don’t have habitat.
Because the weather’s colder, they can’t alive.
Because the melting ice, they won’t have a place to hunt or fish to eat.
The burning of coal releases sulfur dioxide gas. How might the burning of coal lead to damaged plant life?
Sulfur dioxide can combine with drops of water to form acid rain.
Sulfur dioxide causes the remains of animals to decompose at a faster rate.
Sulfur dioxide gives off heat that raises the temperature of bodies of water.
Sulfur dioxide is a radioactive material that is dangerous for many years.
Which is NOT caused by acid rain?
damage to statues
dying fish
spread of disease
weakened trees
Which is a result of human activities?
decay of leaves in a forest
acid rain kills fish in a lake
volcanic eruptions
bad weather
What pushes the clouds over Europe?
wind
rain
waves
human
Which does NOT cause acid rain?
erupting volcanoes
burning fossil fuels - coal, oil, gas
electric cars
car engines
Normal rain water has a pH of about
3
6
7
10
What human activity is the primary source of acid rain?
motor vehicles
deforestation
coal powerplants
waste incinerators
What are the two air pollutants that most often produce acid rain?
Nitrogen Oxides and Sulfur Oxides
Carbon Dioxide and Ozone
Particulate Matter and VOCs
Carbon Monoxide and Smog
Put the steps of acid rain formation in the correct order.
Fossil fuels are burned.
Burning of fossil fuels releases nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
Oxides combine with water vapor in the atmosphere.
Sulfuric acid and nitric acid are formed.
Acidic rain falls to the ground.
Acid rain is caused by:
oxides of sulphur
hydroxides of sulphur and nitrogen
oxides of nitrogen
oxides of sulphur and nitrogen
Acid rain can:
cause nutrient leaching
change the acidity of the soil
destroy monuments
all of the above
SO2 is produced during:
burning of wood
natural degradation of plants and animals
burning of fossil fuels
What is A?
Acid Rain
Gasses carried by the wind
Acid rain destroys plants, pollutes water sources, and erodes buildings
Gases combine with water droplets to form acid rain
Acidic gases are released into the atmosphere
What is C?
Acid Rain
Gasses carried by the wind
Acid rain destroys plants, pollutes water sources, and erodes buildings
Gases combine with water droplets to form acid rain
Acidic gases are released into the atmosphere
What is D?
Acid Rain
Gasses carried by the wind
Acid rain destroys plants, pollutes water sources, and erodes buildings
Gases combine with water droplets to form acid rain
Acidic gases are released into the atmosphere
What is E?
Acid Rain
Gasses carried by the wind
Acid rain destroys plants, pollutes water sources, and erodes buildings
Gases combine with water droplets to form acid rain
Acidic gases are released into the atmosphere
What is the impact of acid rain on fish?
It improves water quality
It increases fish populations
It reduces fish populations
It has no effect on fish
______________ ______________ is produced when fuels containing sulfur are burned in the presence of oxygen.
Carbon dioxide
Sulfur dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Greenhouse gas
Source of carbon monoxide
Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels
Combustion of fossil fuels
Decomposition of plant and animal matters
Photochemical reaction of CO2
The listed pollutants are sometimes found in car exhaust fumes.
1 carbon monoxide
2 nitrogen oxides
3 sulphur dioxide
Which of these pollutants are products of the combustion of the fuel?
1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Which pollutant, found in car exhaust fumes, does not come from the fuel?
carbon monoxide
hydrocarbons
lead compounds
nitrogen oxides
Carbon monoxide is:
A poisonous gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless
A product of fuel burning appliances
Dangerous when inhaled because it displaces oxygen in the blood, depriving vital organs of oxygen
All of the above
What is pollution?
When small materials get into the environment
When clean materials get into the environment
When harmful materials get into the environment
Which pair below are the two main sources of air pollution in urban (populated) areas?
vehicles, volcanoes
vehicles, industries
Industries, agriculture
All of the above
