Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Environmental Science FINAL EXAM FALL 2024

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 32mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which layer of the earth is the thinnest?

a)

Crust

b)

Mantle

c)

Outer core

d)

Inner core

2.

The exact underground location where an earthquake occurs is called the ____.

a)

Epicenter

b)

Thrust

c)

Focus

d)

Elastic rebound

3.

Look at the image to the right. Which of the layers is the oldest?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

4.

Which of the following is NOT true of mining?

a)

It will likely become more costly to mine in the future.

b)

We can reduce our need to mine by recycling mineral-containing materials.

c)

Minerals are used to produce household items such as electronics and cosmetics.

d)

The environmental impact of mining will likely remain the same in the future.

5.

Which soil particle is the smallest?

a)

sand

b)

silt

c)

clay

6.

Which of the following are the three largest sources of energy for the United States?

a)

petroleum, natural gas, and coal

b)

solar, natural gas, and coal

c)

petroleum, hydroelectric, and natural gas

d)

solar, wind, and hydroelectric

e)

nuclear, hydroelectric, and coal

7.

Which of the following IS true of nuclear energy?

a)

Nuclear meltdowns can affect large areas, but are easily cleaned up.

b)

Nuclear power is a renewable energy source.

c)

Nuclear power produces radioactive waste that must be disposed of properly.

d)

Nuclear power produces more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases than oil or coal power.

8.

The source of most irrigation water is:

a)

flowing surface water such as streams and rivers

b)

surface water reservoirs such as lakes and ponds

c)

the ocean

d)

groundwater

9.

In the image to the right, which number is an example of a confined aquifer?

a)

2

b)

5

c)

6

d)

9

10.

Which of these is NOT true about water?

a)

water expands as a solid

b)

water is a nonpolar molecule

c)

water has a neutral pH

d)

water has a high specific heat

11.

The term “surface tension” is created by which property of water?

a)

Capillary action

b)

Condensation

c)

Adhesion

d)

Cohesion

12.

Which process brings water into the ground?

a)

transpiration

b)

condensation

c)

infiltration

d)

evaporation

13.

How does deforestation affect the local climate?

a)

A lack of trees increases the humidity in the air.

b)

Groundwater infiltration will decrease.

c)

Precipitation will increase.

14.

In terrestrial (on land) biomes, the factor limiting photosynthesis is __________, whereas in marine biomes, it is __________.

a)

carbon dioxide, light

b)

light, nutrients

c)

nutrients, carbon dioxide

15.

Which of the following is NOT a benefit that can be gained from aquaculture?

a)

Stable income for fishermen

b)

Fewer diseases for fish

c)

Reduced fuel consumption for commercial fishing vessels

d)

Requires less aquatic area to yield the same catch

16.

A large plant near your house is contaminating the local stream by dumping water that contains POCs in the stream.

This pollution could be categorized as a...

a)

point-source chemical pollution

b)

nonpoint-source nutrient pollution

c)

point-source sediment pollution

d)

nonpoint-source thermal pollution

17.

Many individuals of one species together in one place are called _____________________.

a)

a niche

b)

a community

c)

a population

d)

mutualism

18.

A place where an organism lives is called its _____________________.

a)

community

b)

niche

c)

trophic level

d)

habitat

19.

Which level of an energy pyramid is most likely to have the highest number of organisms?

a)

Producers

b)

Primary consumers

c)

Secondary consumers

d)

Tertiary consumers

20.

Which of these is not an example of an abiotic factor?

a)

soil

b)

temperature

21.

How much chemical energy is transferred from the producer level to the secondary consumer level in a food chain?

a)

1/10

b)

1/20

c)

1/100

d)

1/1000

22.

Organisms that eat both plants and meat are called ______________.

a)

omnivores

b)

herbivores

c)

autotrophs

d)

carnivores

23.

A biome is cold, treeless and permanently frozen. Which type of biome is it?

a)

Tundra

b)

Taiga

c)

Alpine

d)

Chaparral

24.

Which of the following is an example of climate?

a)

There is a cold front coming in this weekend

b)

A snowstorm is forecasted to hit the northeast US this week

c)

It is usually hot in Texas in July

d)

It rained 4 inches last week in Seattle, WA

25.

Because frogs absorb both oxygen and toxins through their skin, they are very sensitive to air and water quality. This makes them an excellent

a)

keystone species

b)

indicator species

c)

pioneer species

d)

primary species

26.

Which of the following is not an example of secondary succession?

a)

Vegetation growing after a hurricane has destroyed a patch of land

b)

Trees regrowing after deforestation

c)

The recolonization of an area that has been burned by forest fire

d)

The growth of lichens on a newly created volcanic island

27.

When drawing a food web, arrows represent ____.

a)

which prey is being eaten by a specific predator.

b)

the flow of energy from one organism to another.

c)

the trophic level of a certain species.

d)

the habitat in which an organism lives.

28.

Which process takes carbon dioxide from the air and converts it into organic matter?

a)

Respiration

b)

Denitrification

c)

Decomposition

d)

Photosynthesis

29.

The environment includes

a)

the plants and animals in the natural world

b)

the nonliving portion of an area

c)

humans and man-made structures

d)

plants, animals and their nonliving surroundings

e)

all of these

30.

Which of the following is never considered a renewable resource?

a)

fresh water

b)

natural gas

c)

soil

d)

sunlight

31.

A natural resource that is used at the same rate that it is replenished is called a ________________ resource.

a)

renewable

b)

nonrenewable

c)

ecological

d)

sustainable

32.

Which of the following best describes the idea behind the tragedy of the commons?

a)

Resources are essentially limitless

b)

The human population will eventually be controlled by starvation and disease.

c)

Free access to resources leads to their degradation.

d)

Self-interest always prevents habitat destruction.

33.

Which of the following is an example of a solution to the tragedy of the commons?

a)

Improving literacy among urban populations

b)

Raising tax rates for large corporations

c)

Inventing stronger antibiotics

d)

Passing a law to set limits for fishermen

34.

Sustainability

a)

The process of maintaining resources so they are not depleted or permanently damaged.

b)

The ability to read minds

c)

The ability to save resources for years and years

35.

Using scientific information from chemistry and biology to devise a plan to clean up a lake and make it healthy again describes

a)

ecology

b)

earth science

c)

environmental science

d)

social science

36.

Which two events had the greatest impact on human population?

a)

Agricultural Revolution and Industrial Revolution

b)

Agricultural Revolution and The Baby Boom

c)

Industrial Revolution and The Baby Boom

d)

The 2018 Fortnite competition

37.

The amount of resources that an individual or group of people are responsible for using is called

a)

Ecological yield

b)

Carbon yield

c)

Ecological impact

d)

Ecological footprint

38.

Most of today’s environmental problems began during which period(s) in human history?

a)

hunter-gatherer period

b)

agricultural revolution

c)

Industrial Revolution

39.

plants and animals were domesticated, human populations grew

a)

agricultural revolution

b)

Industrial Revolution

c)

hunter-gatherer period

40.

What is the purpose of reducing fossil fuel use and increasing renewable energy?

a)

To increase air pollution

b)

To reduce emissions from vehicles

c)

To promote the use of lead-free fuels

d)

To manage and control atmospheric pollution

41.

What is the Clean Air Act of 1970 aimed at?

a)

Increasing air pollution and acid deposition

b)

Reducing air pollution and acid deposition

c)

Promoting the use of lead-free fuels

d)

Implementing congestion charges

42.

During a science class, Estfany asked, 'What is the source of energy for all food chains/food webs?'

a)

plants

b)

consumers

c)

producers

d)

the sun

43.

Aidan and Willa are studying a food chain diagram. Look at the image: Which item is a primary consumer?

a)

snake

b)

eagle

c)

rabbit

d)

bird

44.

What are natural resources?

a)

Man-made objects

b)

Radioactive materials

c)

Anything found in the environment that is useful for survival

d)

Chemical compounds

45.

What is the difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources?

a)

Renewable resources are always nonliving, while nonrenewable resources are living

b)

Renewable resources are always man-made, while nonrenewable resources are natural

c)

Renewable resources can be replenished faster than the rate of use, while nonrenewable resources cannot be replenished fast enough to keep up with the rate of use

d)

Renewable resources are always solid, while nonrenewable resources are liquid or gas

46.

Which of the following is evidence for plate tectonics?

a)
Fit of continental coastlines, distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes, similar rock formations and fossils, GPS measurements.
b)
Presence of dinosaurs in Antarctica
c)
Ocean currents affecting climate patterns
d)
Formation of mountains by erosion
47.

Which of the following is not a property of minerals?

a)

Color

b)

Luster

c)

Hardness

d)

Weight

48.

Estuaries are areas where what types of water meet?

a)

Freshwater and saltwater

b)

Saltwater and brackish water

c)

Freshwater and groundwater

d)

Saltwater and rainwater

49.

What is the productivity in the oceans related to nutrient availability and upwelling?

a)

High productivity due to nutrient-rich waters

b)

Low productivity due to lack of nutrients

c)

No effect on productivity

d)

Productivity is unrelated to nutrient availability

50.
__________________________ have leaves that change color and then fall to the ground.
a)
Incredulous Forests
b)
Savannahs
c)
Deciduous Forests
d)
Tundras