WorksheetsIntro Earth and Human Activity ESS8.3
Total questions: 50
Worksheet time: 25mins
Which chemical factor best indicates safety and potability of the water supply?
turbidity
temperature
bioindicators
dissolved oxygen
Which factors would tell scientists that a local stream is safe and healthy?
The nitrates are high and the turbidity is low.
The pH is high and the dissolved oxygen is high.
The dissolved oxygen is low and the turbidity is high.
The dissolved oxygen is high and the temperature is low.
Which best describes how humans can be good stewards of the hydrosphere?
by watering grass every day
by taking shorter daily showers
by washing multiple small loads of laundry
by spraying pesticides daily to control pests
How is the number of individuals in a biological indicator species population related to the health of the water system?
If the number of individuals shows a steady decline, the health of the water system is also declining.
If the number of individuals shows a steady increase, the pollution in the water system is also increasing.
As the number of individuals increases, the population becomes a better biological indicator species.
As the number of individuals decreases, the population becomes a better biological indicator species.
Which is most likely to happen to a water supply in an area where acid rain falls consistently for several years?
The pH of the water supply will increase.
The pH of the water supply will decrease.
The turbidity of the water supply will increase.
The turbidity of the water supply will decrease.
Which explains how the dissolved oxygen in a body of water would change?
If bacteria in the body of water increased, the dissolved oxygen level would increase.
If drought near the body of water increased, the dissolved oxygen level would increase.
If the temperature of the body of water decreased, the dissolved oxygen level would increase.
If the movement of the body of water decreased, the dissolved oxygen level would increase.
Which would most likely increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in a lake?
increased amount of organic material
increased turbidity due to sediment
increased movement of the water
increased water temperature
Which factor would most likely be examined to determine whether increased runoff was occurring into a body of water?
pH
turbidity
bioindicators
dissolved oxygen
Which happens when there is a decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen in an aquatic ecosystem?
The turbidity increases.
The type of sediment changes.
The temperature of the water decreases.
The type and number of aquatic bioindicators changes.
Which regulation will most likely help maintain water quality and the good health of humans?
a law that will increase aquaculture farms
a law that will reduce waste storage standards
a law that will limit pesticide use by local farmers
a law that will increase commercial fishing permits
Which describes a bioindicator that would most likely help determine the health of a local pond?
the appearance of an algae bloom
the decrease in dissolved oxygen levels
the rapid increase in water temperature
the change in turbidity after heavy rainfall
A local lake is experiencing above average algae growth on its surface. Which could be a cause of this increased algae?
fertilizer runoff from a local farm
high turbidity due to stormy weather
acid rain due to emissions from a nearby factory
hot water returned to the lake from a local factory
Which is a potential environmental consequence of using wind power to generate electricity?
The constant motion of the wind turbines in wind farms creates air pollution.
The movement of air created by wind farms is disruptive to weather patterns.
Large pieces of land must be cleared to provide enough area for the construction of wind farms.
Chemical waste products from the wind farms can contaminate soil and nearby water resources.
Which best explains why conservation is needed when using wind for energy production?
A. Energy production releases CO₂ into the atmosphere.
B. Energy production causes the formation of acid rain.
C. Energy production is limited by the weather.
D. Energy production is affected by the tides.
Which statement best describes a disadvantage of using wind power to generate electricity?
The technology used to generate electricity from wind is expensive.
Much of the energy in wind power is lost when it is converted to electricity.
The source of wind needed to generate electricity is variable and unpredictable.
The amount of electrical energy produced from wind power is too great for power lines to withstand.
Which best explains an environmental consequence of using nuclear energy?
Radioactive waste products must be stored at great expense.
The use of medical x-rays will be disrupted by radioactive waste.
The release of cold water into nearby lakes damages the ecosystem.
The release of contaminated smoke adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
Which best describes a negative consequence of mining the coal near the site of a power plant?
Mining of coal near the plant increases the risk that coal will fall on the ground as it is transported to the power plant.
Mining of coal produces coal dust in the region around the power plant, which will increase the pollution in the atmosphere.
Mining of coal makes the land near the power plant more unstable, which increases the risk of an accident occurring at the power plant.
Mining of coal increases erosion of the land near the river, which increases the leaching of toxic chemicals into the river and other nearby water supplies.
Which most likely explains an environmental consequence of transforming wind into usable energy?
A. Windmills are expensive to build and maintain.
B. Windmills’ energy will spread litter throughout an area.
C. Windmills can destroy birds that get caught in the turbine.
D. Windmills will change local airflow and interrupt the carbon cycle.
Which best explains the environmental consequences of fossil fuel usage?
Burning fossil fuels disrupts the water cycle by adding hydrogen to the atmosphere.
Drilling for fossil fuels disrupts the carbon cycle by adding hydrogen to the ocean.
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon into the atmosphere.
Mining for fossil fuels releases oxygen into the soil.
Which would be the best practice when using nonrenewable energy resources?
Use the supply quickly to force development of new technologies.
Make the full supply available based on user demand.
Maintain the supply with no limits on use.
Conserve the supply with limits on use.
Which is most likely an environmental consequence of hydroelectric power?
creation of desert
water pollution
disruption of water flow
flooding in unlikely areas
Which most likely explains what would happen if fossil fuel reserves were depleted?
A. People would find more sources of oil and coal.
B. People would easily find alternative methods of travel.
C. People would compete for remaining energy resources.
D. People would use the unlimited resource of trees for energy.
How does conserving energy resources prevent damage to the environment?
by decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere
by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere
by decreasing the amount of oxygen added to the atmosphere
by increasing the amount of oxygen added to the atmosphere
Which accurately explains an environmental consequence of energy production?
The use of solar power plants creates noise pollution.
The use of hydroelectric power plants causes acid rain.
The use of wind power plants creates radioactive waste.
The use of coal burning power plants causes CO2 emissions.
Which energy source would be most affected by the depletion of uranium?
fossil fuels
wind power
nuclear energy
hydroelectricity
Which best explains possible environmental disadvantages of burning coal to produce energy?
Burning coal causes acid rain, coal ash and noise pollution.
Burning coal causes acid rain, coal ash and global warming.
Burning coal causes acid rain, coal ash and radioactive waste.
Burning coal causes acid rain, coal ash and eutrophication in water.
How would new techniques designed to obtain gas and oil affect the supply of these nonrenewable energy resources over time?
The supply would increase at first, but with continued population growth, the supply would eventually decrease more quickly.
The supply would decrease at first, but with continued population growth, the supply would eventually decrease more quickly.
The supply would increase at first, and with continued population growth, the supply would increase to accommodate the need.
The supply would decrease at first, and with continued population decline, the supply would be used more slowly and last much longer.
Which form of energy production creates the most air pollution?
coal
hydroelectric
nuclear
wind
Which resource would have the most negative impact on the transportation industry if it were depleted?
oil
coal
wood
natural gas
Which best explains an environmental consequence of using nuclear fission to produce energy?
It adds CO₂ to the atmosphere, increasing temperatures.
It requires large amounts of land, which causes habitat destruction.
It contributes to the formation of acid rain, increasing pH levels in lakes.
It produces radioactive waste that can contaminate soil if not stored properly.
Which form of energy production has an end product that must be discarded carefully?
coal
hydroelectric
nuclear
solar
Which best explains an environmental consequence of transporting oil through pipelines?
Radioactive waste is leaked, causing mutations in organisms.
CO₂ is emitted into the atmosphere, increasing temperatures.
Habitat destruction affects migration, decreasing population numbers.
Acid rain formation increases pH levels, destroying aquatic ecosystems.
Which explains an environmental consequence of using nuclear power plants to provide energy?
produces large quantities of solid waste
generates large quantities of hydrogen gas
requires large quantities of seawater for cooling equipment
releases large quantities of dangerous radioactive materials during accidents
Which action has the most immediate environmental impact?
drilling for oil
erecting a windmill
setting up a turbine near a river
creating a nuclear plant in an existing building
Which results from the use of a safe-operating nuclear reactor to generate energy?
air pollution
soil contamination
radioactive wastes
cooler global temperatures
How does the preparation of land for hydroelectric energy production most likely affect the environment?
A. Trees are planted in the watershed, hindering photosynthesis.
B. Habitats are destroyed when the land is flooded to create the reservoir.
C. The area is contaminated with toxic chemicals when water moves through the dam.
D. The area downstream from the dam is more likely to be flooded during major storms.
Which is a result of a decline in the use of hydroelectric energy?
Water quality would increase.
Particle pollution would decrease.
Damage to ecosystems would decrease.
Reservoir water flooding would increase.
Which best explains how obtaining natural gas could affect the environment?
by lowering water quality
by increasing animal habitats
by dispersing sediment and silt
by increasing greenhouse gases
Which would most likely occur if coal supplies were depleted?
increased air pollution
decreased air pollution
increased water pollution
decreased water pollution
Which best represents a consequence of a nuclear reactor malfunctioning?
dependence on oil
unpredictable explosions
radiation sickness and mutations
depleted uranium in the energy supply
Which best explains how the government could help conserve fossil fuels?
by limiting the number of windmills allowed in a given area
by charging a toll to use interstate highways for travel
by allowing exploration for new offshore drilling sites
by providing tax incentives for alternative fuel use
Which best explains a way people can slow the depletion of fossil fuels?
They can reduce the use of aggregate stone for construction.
They can reduce the use of cardboard for shipping boxes.
They can reduce the use of products made from plastic.
They can reduce the use of nickel for making coins.
Which most likely explains a major disadvantage to obtaining energy from the wind?
Wind is a nonrenewable energy resource that can be depleted.
Energy from the wind can only be generated in coastal regions.
Harnessing energy from the wind creates large amounts of pollution.
Wind cannot produce a consistent amount of energy because it depends on the weather.
Which best explains why it is important to conserve energy resources?
They are all renewable.
They are all nonrenewable.
As the use of fossil fuels increases, it becomes more difficult to find alternative energy resources.
As the most readily available resources run out, it becomes more difficult to obtain additional resources from the earth.
Which best describes an environmental disadvantage of burning coal to generate electricity?
A. Burning coal to produce electricity also produces pollution.
B. Burning coal to produce electricity creates excess fossil fuels.
C. Burning coal to produce electricity is the least efficient method of generating electricity.
D. Burning coal to produce electricity is the most expensive method of generating electricity.
Which best describes a potential environmental consequence of cutting down large areas of forests?
The amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will increase.
The amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will decrease.
The amount of oxygen in the atmosphere will decrease while the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will increase.
The amount of oxygen in the atmosphere will increase while the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will decrease.
Which explains how the depletion of current fossil fuel sources will affect obtaining fossil fuels in the future?
They will be more difficult but less expensive to obtain.
They will be more difficult and more expensive to obtain.
They will be easily accessible and less expensive to obtain.
They will be easily accessible but more expensive to obtain.
Which method of energy production is most likely to have a negative impact upon the environment?
hydroelectric power plant
coal-burning power plant
wind turbine
solar panel
The Alaskan National Pipeline stretches across the state of Alaska in order to transport petroleum to the continental US. Which best explains an environmental consequence of transporting petroleum this way?
Water could be polluted if the pipeline were to be damaged.
Oil spills out of the pipeline causing damage to the ecosystem.
Uncontrollable forest fires could result if explosions happen along the pipeline area.
The pipeline disturbs the natural migration of animals on route to breeding and feeding locations.
Why are governments most likely to encourage use of other energy sources other than oil?
A. Oil is renewable.
B. Oil is nonrenewable.
C. Oil is too expensive to use as an energy source.
D. Oil is the least efficient source of energy available.
