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AP Environmental Unit 4 Review

Total questions: 95

Worksheet time: 1hrs 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What are some soil conservation techniques that can be used to prevent soil erosion?

a)

Using heavy machinery on the soil

b)

Removing all vegetation from the area

c)

Watering the soil excessively

d)

Contour plowing, terracing, cover cropping, and planting windbreaks

2.

What is El Nino and how does it impact global weather patterns?

a)

El Nino is a type of dessert made with chocolate and vanilla, causing people to gain weight and impacting their health.

b)

El Nino is a type of dance popular in South America, causing people to feel happier and impacting cultural events.

c)

El Nino is a climate pattern that occurs in the Pacific Ocean, causing warmer water temperatures and impacting global weather patterns.

d)

El Nino is a type of fish found in the Atlantic Ocean, causing colder water temperatures and impacting local weather patterns.

3.

Describe the different layers of the atmosphere and their characteristics.

a)

Hotosphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere

b)

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Megalosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere

c)

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere

d)

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Hypersphere

4.

What are the factors that contribute to the formation of soil horizons?

a)

Latitude, longitude, and altitude

b)

Population, economy, and technology

c)

Color, texture, and smell

d)

Climate, organisms, relief, parent material, and time

5.

Discuss the effects of El Nino on marine life and ecosystems.

a)

El Nino can lead to changes in water temperature, nutrient availability, and food sources for marine organisms.

b)

El Nino only affects land animals and has no impact on marine life

c)

El Nino causes an increase in water temperature, nutrient availability, and food sources for marine organisms

d)

El Nino has no effect on marine life and ecosystems

6.

Explain the role of troposphere in regulating Earth's climate.

a)

It is responsible for creating the ozone layer

b)

It traps heat from the sun and maintains the planet's temperature.

c)

It has no impact on Earth's climate

d)

It causes extreme weather events

7.

How does the stratosphere protect life on Earth from the sun's harmful UV radiation?

a)

By reflecting the sun's harmful UV radiation back into space

b)

By releasing a protective gas that neutralizes the sun's harmful UV radiation

c)

By creating a barrier that physically blocks the sun's harmful UV radiation

d)

By containing a layer of ozone that absorbs and blocks the sun's harmful UV radiation.

8.

The land mass where all of the continents were once together in one large continent is called ________________.

a)

Laurasia.

b)

Pangaea.

c)

Eurasia.

d)

Gondwana.

9.

Tectonic plates consist of

a)

continental crust.

b)

mesosphere.

c)

both continental and oceanic crust.

d)

oceanic crust.

10.

The fact that similar fossils are found on both sides of the ocean is evidence of

a)

magnetic reversal.

b)

global positioning.

c)

continental drift.

d)

oceanic drift.

11.

The movement of the tectonic plates is caused by

a)

the rotation of the Earth.

b)

convection currents in the Asthenosphere

c)

the gravity of the iron-nickel core.

d)

the Moho discontinuity.

12.

Observe this diagram of a plate boundary. One statement BEST describes what is happening. It is that

a)

the oceanic crust is melting.

b)

the denser ceanic crust is subducting under the less dense oceanic crust

c)

volcanic islands are forming.

d)

the tectonic plates are moving away from each other.

13.

Most geologists think that the movement of Earth’s plates is caused by _______

a)

convection.

b)

continental drift.

c)

subduction.

d)

conduction.

14.
What does the theory of continental drift state?
a)
The continents were once joined in a super-continent and have moved over time
b)
Continents are stationary and do not move
c)
The Earth is broken into lithospheric plates that move due to convection currents
d)
none of the above
15.

How fast the continents move?

a)

3-4 inches per day

b)

3-4 inches per week

c)

3-4 inches per month

d)

3-4 inches per year

16.

What is common at convergent boundaries?

a)

Valleys

b)

Canyons

c)

Mountains

d)

Rivers

17.

The wearing away or a change in the appearance or texture of something by long exposure.

a)

Environmental Factors

b)

Weathering

c)

Organic Matter

d)

Soil Horizon

18.
Which of the following is NOT one of the three types of soil?
a)
clay
b)
sand
c)
silt
d)
mud
19.
Humus is.....
a)
the dead parts of plants and animals in soil.
b)
A food we eat with pretzels.
c)
The tiny particles inside of soil
d)
The roots that come off of a plant and live in soil.
20.
Which of the following is the largest particle in soil?
a)
sand
b)
silt
c)
humus
d)
clay
21.
Layers of soil are also known as:
a)
Soil Profiles
b)
Soil Horizons
c)
Soil sheets
d)
Soil cores
22.

Made of small fine soil particles & other organic matter. Plant roots, fungi, & earthworms live in the horizon. It is typically 2-10ft deep.

a)

A Horizon

b)

C Horizon

c)

Bedrock

d)

O horizon

e)

B Horizon

23.

Made of humus, clay, & minerals (iron/aluminum). Nothing grows here, typically red/brown color, & 10-30ft deep.

a)

A Horizon

b)

C Horizon

c)

Bedrock

d)

O horizon

e)

B Horizon

24.

Made of broken up rocks & parent material. Nothing lives in & it is typically 30-48ft deep.

a)

A Horizon

b)

C Horizon

c)

Bedrock

d)

O horizon

e)

B Horizon

25.

Made of solid rock & nothing lives in the layer

a)

A Horizon

b)

C Horizon

c)

Bedrock

d)

O horizon

e)

B Horizon

26.

The air we breathe is made mostly of:

a)

argon

b)

carbon dioxide

c)

nitrogen

d)

oxygen

27.

How does the ozone layer benefit living things on the Earth.

a)

We need it to breathe.

b)

It keeps the Earth cool.

c)

It is a source of rain.

d)

It protects the Earth from ultraviolet rays.

28.

Which layer of the Earth's atmosphere does most weather occur?

a)

mesosphere

b)

stratosphere

c)

thermosphere

d)

troposphere

29.

What is the molecular formula for ozone?

a)

O

b)

O2

c)

O3

d)

Oz

30.
Two gases that make up 99% of Earth's atmosphere
a)
carbon dioxide & oxygen
b)
nitrogen & carbon dioxide
c)
nitrogen & oxygen
d)
nitrogen & water vapor
31.
Layer of Earth's atmosphere that contains most of the ozone
a)
thermosphere
b)
mesosphere
c)
stratosphere
d)
troposphere
32.

One of the major ways oceans contribute to weather systems is that the oceans -

a)

provide a diverse habitat for many organisms

b)

store and transport the Sun's heat energy.

c)

experience changes in amounts of dissolved salt.

d)

reach depths that can be as much as 12,000 meters.

33.

Which best describes this image

a)

Convection Current

b)

Conduction Current

c)

Solar Cycle

d)

Lunar Cycle

34.

Cold air is denser than warm air, so it sinks. What kind of pressure area does this create?

a)

Dense pressure

b)

High pressure

c)

Low pressure

d)

No pressure

35.

What is wind?

a)

Large scale movement of air caused by differences in air pressure and temperature

b)

Large scale movement of CO2 caused by differences in air pressure

c)

Large scale movement of air caused by differences in temperature

d)

Large scale movement of temperature caused by differences in air pressure

36.
The tendency for objects to move to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and the to the left in the Southern Hemisphere is due to the:
a)
Eckman's spiral
b)
Coriolis effect
c)
Westerlies
d)
Gyres
37.
What is the main source influencing global climate?
a)
The moon
b)
Tidal bulges
c)
Solar energy
d)
Currents
38.

A geographical ridge, like a hill or mountain, that separates one watershed land area from another.

a)

divide

b)

tributary

c)

river

d)

aquifer

39.

An area of land where the surface water and groundwater drain into a particular body of water

a)

Watershed

b)

Drainage Divide

c)

Erosion

d)

Aquifer

40.

What season is happening in the Southern Hemisphere?

a)

Summer

b)

Fall

c)

Winter

d)

Spring

41.

What season is happening in the Northern Hemisphere?

a)

Summer

b)

Fall

c)

Winter

d)

Spring

42.

During a(n) ____ event, trade winds are much stronger than usual.

a)

El Nino

b)

La Nina

c)

Normal

d)

Partly sunny

43.

Both El Nino and La Nina have this in common

a)

Influence birds that migrate over the ocean

b)

Influence rainy / dry weather world wide

c)

The weather at the polar regions

d)

The directions that ships travel in the oceans

44.

During an El Nino, trade winds are typically...

a)

about average

b)

stronger

c)

weaker

45.

The image is of a(n):

a)

El Nino event

b)

La Nina event

c)

Non-El Nino (normal conditions)

46.

The picture below is of a(n) ____ event.

a)

Non-El Nino (Normal)

b)

El Nino

c)

La Nina

47.

La Niña is characterized by ______________ of the Western Pacific Ocean.

a)

a warming

b)

a cooling

c)

average temperatures

48.

Why do the fisherman of Peru and South America not welcome a strong El Nino?

a)

El Nino poisons the fish

b)

El Nino causes strong winds and currents which move fish westward

c)

El Nino bring cold water to the surface which kills the base of the food chain

d)

El Nino shuts off upwelling and nutrients needed for the marine food chain do not rise to the surface

49.

What type of plate boundary is shown here?

a)

Convergent

b)

Subduction

c)

Divergent

d)

Transform

50.

What type of plate boundary is shown here?

a)

Convergent

b)

Subduction

c)

Divergent

d)

Transform

51.

What type of plate boundary is most likely to cause earthquakes?

a)

Convergent

b)

Subduction

c)

Divergent

d)

Transform

52.

What is the ozone layer?

a)

A layer of pollution

b)

A layer of still air with no wind

c)

A zone that absorbs UV radiation from the sun

d)

A zone that absorbs air pollution

53.

Which wind system is closest to the equator?

a)

Doldrums

b)

Westerlies

c)

Polar easterlies

d)

Trade winds

54.

As altitude increases, what happens to temperature?

a)

Temperature increases

b)

Temperature decreases

c)

Temperature does not change with altitude

55.

Which gas is there the most of in the atmosphere?

a)

Oxygen

b)

Nitrogen

c)

Water vapor

d)

Carbon dioxide

56.

Which of the following items has the highest albedo?

a)

Asphalt

b)

Grass

c)

Rooftops

d)

Snow

57.

Why does the Earth have seasons?

a)

Tilt of the Earth on its axis

b)

Earth's shape

c)

Earth's rotation around the Sun

d)

Earth's rotation on its own axis

58.

Which month has the highest precipitation?

a)

July

b)

August

c)

September

d)

June

59.

Which of the following is the largest carbon sink?

a)

Atmosphere

b)

Plants

c)

Animals

d)

Ocean

60.

The surface of the earth, otherwise known as the ______, is broken into seven major pieces and sits atop a liquid layer called the _______

a)

lithosphere, asthenosphere

b)

astenosphere, mantle

c)

crust, litosphere

d)

asthenosphere, lithosphere

61.
What is "upwelling"?
a)
when wind near a shore pushes surface water away, nutrient rich cold water rises from the depths
b)
water rises from springs at the bottom of lakes
c)
it is when cold water sinks in the Norwegian Sea
d)
It is when the Coriolis effect makes currents go around in a circle
62.
During __________ upwelling occurs off the coast of Peru.
a)
Normal Conditions
b)
El Nino
63.
One consequence of El Nino is _______ and increased rainfall in South America..
a)
flooding
b)
stronger Tradewinds
c)
strong winter storms
d)
drought
64.
The San Andrea's Fault in California is which type of boundary?
a)
Convergent
b)
Divergent
c)
Subductive Zone
d)
Transform
65.
The layer of soil which the topsoil is found.
a)
Horizon A
b)
Horizon B
c)
Horizon C
d)
Horizon D or R
66.
Most of the freshwater around the world is used for the following purpose.
a)
industry
b)
residential
c)
agriculture
d)
recreation
67.
Which of the following contributes to the unequal warming of earth?
I. variation in the angle of sunlight that reaches Earth
II. variation in the amount of surface area over which the Sun's rays are distributed
III. variation in the amount of sunlight reflected from clouds
a)
I only
b)
I and II only
c)
II and III only
d)
III only
68.
The Coriolis effect is responsible for
a)
the convergence of two ascending Hadley cells
b)
the location of atmospheric currents caused by the unequal heating of Earth
c)
the cooling effect of air as it rises and expands
d)
the deflection of atmospheric currents
69.
Which is the correct order of the convection cells starting from the equator?
a)
polar, ferrell, hadley
b)
ferrell, hadley, polar
c)
polar, hadley, ferrell
d)
hadley, ferrell, polar
70.

A divergent boundary occurs when plates ....

a)

Pull apart

b)

Come together

c)

Slide past each other

d)

subducting

71.

Mountains are created when....

a)

Two continental plates collide

b)

Two oceanic plates pull apart

c)

An Oceanic plate subducts under a Continental Plate

d)

Two continental plates pull apart

72.
The process when rocks break into smaller pieces due to exposure to natural elements is called
a)
erosion
b)
weathering
c)
sediments
73.
Which horizon is made up of partially weathered rocks?
a)
Horizon A
b)
Horizon B
c)
Horizon C
d)
Horizon D or R
74.
The two main agents of erosion are...
a)
wind and flowing water
b)
gravity and frost wedging
c)
oxygen and water
d)
carbon dioxiede and wind
75.
Soil sample that is 60% clay, 30% silt, and 10% sand has which texture? 
a)
clay
b)
clay loam
c)
sandy loam
d)
silt 
76.

The rate at which water flows through the soil is called soil percolation or ______.

a)

Groundwater

b)

Permeability

c)

Soil Pores

d)

Porosity

77.
Which soil component has the least capacity for holding water?
a)
silt
b)
clay
c)
sand
d)
humus
78.
You dig a small hole in the soil and the next day it rains. The hole fills with water, but does not empty even after several days of dry weather. What is the soil mostly made of?
a)
clay
b)
sand
c)
humus
d)
silt
79.
Soil is made of
a)
weathered rocks and minerals
b)
dead plants and animals
c)
air and water
d)
all of the above
80.
The sun's rays are least direct
a)
near the poles
b)
near the equator
c)
at high altitudes
d)
far from the ocean
81.

In which layer of the atmosphere do all the pressure, wind, and precipitation changes occur?

a)

Outer space

b)

stratosphere

c)

troposphere

d)

mesosphere

82.

Match the following

a)

Sand

1.

Gritty & Large

b)

Silt

2.

Silky & Medium

c)

Clay

3.

Sticky & Small

83.

How can compatcion impact the growing enviroment of plants?

a)

Reduce Porosity & Bulk Density

b)

Makes water movement and plant growth easy

c)

Makes water movement and plant growth hard

d)

Increase Porosity & Bulk Density.

84.

True or False: Soil traits, like water holding capacity and aeration, are affected by particle size.

a)

True

b)

False

85.

True or False: Pore size and number depends on particle size.

a)

True

b)

False

86.

Which type of soil would water move through more quickly?

a)

Soil made of only large particles

b)

Soil made of only small particles

c)

Soil made of only medium size particles

d)

Soil made of a mix of small and large particles

87.

The mineral portion of a soil is composed of 30% clay, 30% silt, and 40% sand. What type of soil is this?

a)

loam

b)

sandy clay loam

c)

silty clay loam

d)

clay loam

88.

The most biologically active region in the soil is the

a)

B horizon

b)

Bedrock

c)

A horizon

d)

C horizon

89.

Which of the following has the soil components in order from SMALLEST to LARGEST

a)

Sand, Silt, Clay

b)

Clay, Sand, Silt

c)

Silt, Clay Sand

d)

Clay, Silt, Sand

90.

Which option best explains organic matter's purpose in soil?

a)

Available for plant uptake

b)

provides nutrients via decomposition

c)

allows gases, water, and organisms to travel through soil

d)

Provides texture

91.

Which of the following is NOT a reason soil is important?

a)

Provide physical support to plants

b)

Holds little to no water to prevent flooding

c)

Holds water like a sponge and releases it as needed

d)

Water is filtered

92.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) combines with water as raindrops fall through the atmosphere. This makes a weak acid, called carbonic acid. Carbonic acid is a very common in nature, where it works to dissolve rock. Pollutants, such as sulfur and nitrogen from fossil fuel burning, create sulfuric and nitric acid. Sulfuric and nitric acids are the two main components of acid rain, which speeds up chemical weathering.
This statue was probably destroyed by _____.
a)
Wind
b)
Humans
c)
Acid Rain
d)
Animals
93.
Chemical weathering is the other important type of weathering. Chemical weathering may change the size of pieces of rock materials, but definitely changes the composition. So one type of mineral changes into a different mineral. Chemical weathering works through chemical reactions that cause changes in the minerals.
True or false: chemical weathering causes rocks to change into new types of rocks.
a)
True
b)
False
94.
How does freezing water cause the weathering of rocks?  The freezing water—
a)
keeps the rocks in place
b)
makes the rocks last longer
c)
expands cracks and breaks rocks
d)
causes rocks to fall in landslides
95.
What is mechanical weathering?
a)
Process through which rocks are physically broken into smaller pieces.
b)
Rocks are broken down through chemical changes.
c)
Rocks are worn away from acid in plant roots.
d)
Rocks broken down by machinery.