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Climate and Environmental Science Quiz

Total questions: 21

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which example best illustrates the concept of climate?

a)

A drought this summer has severely impacted crops.

b)

Last Friday set a new record low temperature for March 12th.

c)

The spring has been unusually wet for the Midwest.

d)

Yesterday, it rained in Atlanta, Georgia.

e)

Averaged over the last 30 years, the high temperature for June in an area is 82°F.

2.

The Equator is warmer than the Poles because _____.

a)

the Equator is closer to the sun

b)

sunlight hits the Equator directly, but hits the Poles at a low angle

c)

there is less water at the Equator

d)

geothermal energy from Earth’s interior is higher at the Equator

e)

atmospheric circulation moves warm air toward the Equator

3.

The Coriolis effect is the result of the _____.

a)

moon’s gravitational pull

b)

evaporation of ocean water

c)

rotation of Earth

d)

temperature at the Poles

e)

physics of expanding gases

4.

As moist air blowing inland from an ocean reaches a mountain range, _____.

a)

it expands and disperses, preventing rainfall

b)

it rises, expands, and cools, losing moisture as rain and snow

c)

it descends, contracts, and warms, losing moisture as rain

d)

its movement is halted, preventing the mixing of air masses on either side

e)

it is pushed back toward the ocean, causing convection

5.

Which of the following is a greenhouse gas?

a)

N₂

b)

O₂

c)

CH₄

d)

Ar

e)

H₂O

6.

About _____ of Earth’s tropical rain forests have been destroyed by agriculture and _____.

a)

one-third; pollution

b)

nine-tenths; urban development

c)

three-fourths; pollution

d)

one-fourth; forest fires

e)

half; urban development

7.

The greatest species diversity in an area tends to be found _____.

a)

at the transition zone between biomes

b)

at the center of the biome

c)

at the southern edge (in the Northern Hemisphere)

d)

at the northern edge (in the Northern Hemisphere)

e)

at the highest elevation

8.

Temperate deserts can be _____.

a)

wetter than most grasslands

b)

wetter during the winter than most forests

c)

hotter during the winter than in the summer

d)

even hotter at night than they are during the day

e)

hot during the day but cold at night

9.

Most of the world’s forests are located in _____ regions.

a)

coastal

b)

arid

c)

river valley

d)

mountain

e)

urban

10.

Which portion of the open ocean is defined as the brightly lit upper zone?

a)

littoral zone

b)

abyssal zone

c)

euphotic zone

d)

bathyal zone

e)

benthic zone

11.

Ocean, pond, lakes, and river systems are examples of _____ ecosystems.

a)

freshwater

b)

wetland

c)

saltwater

d)

aquatic

e)

coastal

12.

The burning of fossil fuels _____.

a)

prevents ocean acidification because it puts extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

b)

contributes to ocean acidification because it puts extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

c)

contributes to ocean acidification because it removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

d)

prevents ocean acidification because it stabilizes the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

e)

contributes to ocean acidification because it stabilizes the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

13.

What river feature is found in the source zone?

a)

headwaters

b)

floodplain

c)

delta

d)

salt marsh

e)

oxbow lake

14.

Over time, many inland wetlands in the United States have _____.

a)

become more productive due to agricultural nutrient runoff

b)

formed in new locations due to increased flooding

c)

expanded as grassland soils become degraded

d)

expanded as forests were cleared

e)

been drained or filled to grow crops

15.

Runoff of _____ from farms and lawns causes explosive blooms of algae that removes oxygen from nearby lakes.

a)

by-products

b)

salt water

c)

heavy metals

d)

nutrients

e)

acid

16.

Which of the following processes contributes to the formation of acid rain?

a)

Condensation

b)

Photosynthesis

c)

Combustion of fossil fuels

d)

Transpiration

e)

Evaporation

17.

What is the primary cause of the greenhouse effect?

a)

Deforestation

b)

Increased levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases

c)

Solar flares

d)

Volcanic eruptions

e)

Ozone layer depletion

18.

Which of the following is a characteristic of a temperate forest biome?

a)

Predominantly coniferous trees

b)

High temperatures year-round

c)

Low precipitation levels

d)

Deciduous trees that shed leaves annually

e)

Permafrost soil

19.

Which of the following is a primary factor in the formation of ocean currents?

a)

Human activity

b)

Wind patterns

c)

Solar radiation

d)

Volcanic activity

e)

Earthquakes

20.

What is the main reason for the seasonal changes in weather?

a)

Distance from the sun

b)

Earth's axial tilt

c)

Gravitational pull of the moon

d)

Ocean tides

e)

Solar flares

21.

Which of the following best describes a savanna biome?

a)

Mountainous region with snow

b)

Dense forest with high rainfall

c)

Grassland with scattered trees

d)

Wetland with abundant water

e)

Desert with little vegetation