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WorksheetsPollution, waste management and climate change review
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 11mins
Marine dead zones can form when nutrient run-off causes certain types of algae to grow very quickly and then die off. As dead algae decompose, oxygen is removed from the water. With less oxygen available, fish and other marine animals can die. What would be one practical way to reduce marine dead zones?
Add bacteria that are able to eat the fast-growing algae.
Harvest marine fish in dead zone areas to reduce oxygen use.
Pump oxygen into the water using equipment on fishing vessels.
Prevent fertilizer and other wastes from entering rivers and streams.
Which of the following are indicators of air pollution?
All of these
Carbon dioxide emissions
Acid Rain
Smog
All of the following are ways to help reverse the damage we have caused to the environment, EXCEPT:
Use transportation that uses fossil fuels
Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse
Regulate pollution through legislation
Research and develop alternative energies, such as solar and wind
What are the two most abundant greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Carbon Dioxide
Methane
Select all of the air pollutants that can react with chemicals in the atmosphere to cause acid rain.
methane
sulfur dioxide
carbon dioxide
nitrogen oxides
chlorofluorocarbons
Coal is used for generating about 53% of the electrical energy in the United States. Which of these environmental issues is directly contributed to by the burning of coal?
beach erosion
ozone depletion
overfishing
air pollution
Which human activity will help decrease air pollution?
burning crops
driving a hybrid car
burning household garbage
using coal to produce energy
Modern factories and industrial plants have filters that remove much of the sulfur from their emissions before it reaches the atmosphere. This design feature helps most in reducing the contribution of factories to which environmental problem?
acid rain
habitat loss
coastline erosion
algal growth in lakes
Which human activity has most negatively affected air quality?
burning coal
growing crops
using solar energy cells
constructing nuclear power plants
Secondary pollutants are produced in the environment by chemical reactions involving primary or emitted chemicals. Which of the following is a secondary pollutant?
carbon monoxide (CO)
nitrogen oxide (NO)
methane (CH4)
ozone (O3)
Based on a number of different observations, scientists have developed a theory that human activities contribute significantly to global warming. Which of the following is an observation that was used in the formulation of this theory?
A) The climate of Mars has warmed over the same period as that of Earth.
B) A large increase in greenhouse gases has occurred as industrial activity has increased.
C) The average temperature of Earth has varied directly with the human population.
D) Average sea level increases as average atmospheric temperature increases.
In the summer, meteorologists often issue an air quality alert if the forecast calls for calm winds, high humidity, and warm temperatures. On these days, the sky becomes hazier and visibility decreases as the day progresses. The number of particles in the air determines the air quality, which determines the color of the alert. Which circumstances would most likely have the greatest number of days with alerts of yellow or worse?
larger cities where commuters rely on personal cars
smaller towns with few large industries or commuters
smaller agricultural communities with very little traffic
larger cities where commuters rely on mass transit systems
The average temperature of Earth’s surface has increased approximately 1°C in the past century. Which of the following can best explain this increase in temperature?
higher levels of oxygen in the atmosphere
lower levels of ozone in the atmosphere
higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
lower levels of nitrogen in the atmosphere
The greenhouse effect is a process by which atmospheric gases, including CO2, help warm the atmosphere and surface of Earth. Most scientists think the greenhouse effect is increasing due to human activities. Which of these human activities has caused the greatest increase in concentrations of atmospheric CO2?
planting trees
recycling aluminum
burning fossil fuels
using nuclear power
Raising livestock, such as sheep and cattle, results in the production of large amounts of methane gas (CH4). Methane has a similar effect in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2). As more livestock are raised to provide food for humans, what is the most likely effect of the increase in methane?
acid rain
ozone thinning
water pollution
global warming
When atmospheric carbon dioxide increases, some of the carbon dioxide dissolves in the ocean causing the ocean to become
warmer
cooler
more acidic
more alkaline
Which human activity has contributed to the formation of the hole in the ozone layer?
burning of high-sulfur coal
use of chlorofluorocarbons
production of lead batteries
destruction of rain forests
Certain lakes in the northeastern part of the United States have had decreases in pH levels, causing the deaths of many fish. What is the most likely reason for this change in pH levels?
nuclear power plants
hydroelectric power plants
coal-burning factories
noncommercial farms
In order to protect aquifers near landfills, material is placed under the soil to prevent pollution. Which property must the protective material possess?
A) High reflectivity
B) Low permeability
C) High porosity
D) Low conductivity
Where is the most likely location of a dead zone in this watershed?
A
B
C
I
H
