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Human Impact

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 43mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

A community is concerned about the water quality of a nearby lake. Increased sedimentation in the lake is endangering the native habitat. The increased sedimentation is most likely caused by which of the following?

a)

trees planted along the shore of the lake

b)

construction of homes along the lake

c)

the amount of sunlight on the lake

d)

the amount of fish in the lake

2.

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.

3.

The main human activity that adds to an individual's carbon footprint.

a)

usage of alternative energies (wind, solar, etc)

b)

respiration and growth

c)

photosynthesis by plants

d)

usage of fossil fuels for energy

4.

The total set of carbon emissions caused by an individual.

a)

carbon cycle

b)

carbon handprint

c)

carbon footprint

d)

carbon summary

5.

The clean, relatively low-cost energy source from the Sun is referred to as

a)

solar energy.

b)

magnetic energy.

c)

energy efficient.

d)

wind power.

6.
What is an invasive species?
a)
A native (naturally found) species which are added to an area. 
b)
A non-native (not naturally found) species added to an area. 
c)
A keystone species in an environment
d)
none of the above
7.

Invasive species alter the ecosystem by __________in number quickly,this leads to _____ food for the native species.

a)

increasing, less

b)

declining,more

8.

We live in a desert. What type of biodiversity do we have here?

a)

High biodiversity

b)

Low biodiversity

9.

This is an example of

a)

High species diversity

b)

Low species diversity

c)

High genetic diversity

d)

High ecosystem diversity

10.

What is Global Warming?

a)

Increasing temperature in Earth's atmosphere

b)

Decreasing temperature in a city

c)

Increasing rain rates in Earth

d)

Decreasing temperature rates

11.
The main human activity that releases greenhouse gases is
a)
using bottled water
b)
burning fossil fuels
c)
texting on cellphones
d)
eating meat
12.

Which 2 greenhouse gases contribute the MOST to global warming of Earth?

a)

N2O and H2O

b)

O3 and H2O

c)

CO2 and CH4

13.
How can global warming cause sea levels to rise? Choose the best answer.
a)
by causing it to rain more often
b)
by melting glaciers and ice caps
c)
by increasing the number of undersea volcanic eruptions
d)
by creating bigger and more powerful hurricanes
14.

The graph below shows CO2 emissions and temperatures from 1909 to 1949. What conclusion is best supported by the graph?

a)

There is no relationship between carbon dioxide concentrations and temperatures

b)

As carbon dioxide concentrations increase, temperatures increase

c)

As carbon dioxide concentrations increase, temperatures decrease

d)

As carbon dioxide concentrations decrease, temperatures increase

15.

What is the greenhouse effect?

a)

A natural process where gases trap heat in the atmosphere.

b)

A man-made process where gases trap heat in the atmosphere.

c)

A natural process where the ocean traps heat in the atmosphere.

d)

A man-made process where the ocean traps heat in the atmosphere.

16.

Which of these is NOT a greenhouse gas?

a)

Carbon Dioxide

b)

Nitrous Oxide

c)

Oxygen Gas

d)

Methane

17.

Carbon Dioxide, CO2, comes from

a)

Burning fossil fuels

b)

Cold water

c)

Animal manure

d)

Plastic

18.
The diagram shows the carbon cycle.  If many trees are removed from a forest by logging, what is the most immediate effect on the carbon cycle in that forest?
a)
 increase in the rates of decomposition
b)
increase in the rates of atmospheric carbon dioxide
c)
decreased combustion of fossil fuel
d)
 increase production of organic compounds
19.
A strip mining company wants to lease some land that is currently part of a national park. They promise to reclaim the land should any minerals be mined from the area, and they are willing to pay top dollar for the rights. As an ecologist, what factors would you raise with the local government?
a)
the threat to local biodiversity
b)
management of the land after the company leaves
c)
the new jobs that would be created
d)
the increased traffic in the area
20.
When fertilizers run off farmland into streams and ponds, the nitrogen content of the water increases. This can lead to rapid growth of algae in a process called eutrophication. How can this process affect other organisms in the water?
a)
Oxygen is used up as algae is decomposed, reducing the amount available to other organisms.
b)
The water becomes better able to support aerobic organisms.
c)
The algae provide food for fishes and other organisms, leading to decreased algae populations.
d)
The extra nitrogen provides additional food for the other organisms, increasing their population.