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WorksheetsThe Human Impact on Earth's Natural Resources Formative Review
Total questions: 40
Worksheet time: 30mins
Mark the correct answer. All of the following statements are true of nuclear power except ____.
large amounts of energy can be produced from small amounts of uranium
nuclear waste has significant threats to human health and the environment
nuclear power is produced from the fission of uranium atoms
nuclear power gives off significant amounts of greenhouse gases
Select the three types of energy sources that are Renewable Resources.
Hydropower Energy
Geothermal Energy
Biomass Energy
Coal
Oil
In which one of Earth’s spheres would minerals be found?
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Geosphere
Human activities have had major impacts on Earth. Which of the following human activities have negatively affected the environment? Choose the three that apply.
Clear cutting forests
Burning fossil fuels
Using alternative energy sources
Practicing conservation
Overpopulation
What is gold an example of?
A fossil fuel
A nonrenewable resource
A renewable resource
A natural pollutant
Fracking uses pressure to break rock underground and release a trapped energy resource. How does fracking work?
Pressurized fluids are inserted into the ground. They force out the groundwater, and the fossil fuels are extracted from the groundwater.
Pressurized fluids are inserted into known gas fields to locate the gases. The gases mix with the liquid before they are extracted.
Pressurized fluids are inserted into deep oil wells to get the remaining oil.
Pressurized fluids are used to break up layers of shale rock. They force out the natural gas trapped there, which is then collected.
What are the problems created by using hydroelectric power? Choose the three that apply.
disrupts natural processes such as fish migration
dams must be built
requires the use of turbines
affects habitats
must be close to a source of moving water
In what ways can minerals form? Select three options from the answers provided.
from cooled magma
from dripping water
from elements in solutions that crystallize
from gases that condense into solids
from organic materials
What is the difference between minerals and ores?
A mineral is a non-living, solid substance made of elements. Ore is a large deposit of one or more valuable minerals in the ground.
A mineral is a non-living, solid substance that can be extracted from the ground. Ore is a type of mineral made up of metals.
A mineral is a valuable form of ore that can be extracted from the ground.
An ore is non-living and solid with little value unless it occurs in large amounts, in which case it is a mineral.
Why is the amount of groundwater limited or unavailable in certain areas?
Much of the groundwater is below a deep layer of porous rock which cannot be easily accessed by drilling.
Much of the groundwater is locked up as ice or found only in permafrost.
Much of the groundwater is in regions where there is a higher chance of it being polluted or contaminated.
Much of the groundwater is locked in mineral formations in the mantle, and it takes millions of years to exchange with surface water.
Which of these pollution sources are nonpoint sources that might bother someone with asthma if they go outside? Choose the two that apply.
cars on the highway
his gas-fueled lawn mower
nearby factories
smoke from their grill
Which statement is true about ozone?
Ozone helps human health no matter where it occurs.
Ozone is a harmful pollutant no matter where it occurs.
Ozone high in the atmosphere is a pollutant, but near Earth's surface, it provides protection from harmful rays.
Ozone high in the atmosphere protects Earth's surface from harmful rays, but near Earth's surface, it is a pollutant.
The amount of Earth covered by water might imply that all water is a renewable resource. Which statement best explains why not all water is renewable?
Most water on Earth is salt water, and salt water is not a renewable resource.
Only 1 percent of water on Earth is drinkable, which makes this water limited.
Fresh water is evenly distributed around the world.
About one-third of all fresh water is frozen in the polar icecaps.
Coal, petroleum, natural gas, and propane are fossil fuels. They are called fossil fuels because:
they are nonrenewable and will run out
they are mixed with fossils to provide energy.
they are burned to release energy and they cause air pollution.
they were formed from the buried remains of plants and tiny animals that lived hundreds of millions of years ago.
Why is wind energy considered a renewable resource?
It costs little to produce.
It can be found in many places.
It is not likely that we will run out of wind.
The wind can blow really fast.
Which form of energy is formed from the carbonization of dead plants?
coal
natural gas
oil
biomass
What do wind, hydroelectric and nuclear energies have in common?
they produce pollution
they all convert chemical to energy to electrical energy
the fuels are gone when used
they spin a turbine in a generator
Which of the following does not release any CO2 when it is used as an energy resource?
natural gas
oil
wind
coal
Which resource releases pollution into the air?
Fossil Fuels
Nuclear Energy
Solar Energy
Hydropower Energy
Julio’s family recently installed solar panels on their house in Phoenix, Arizona. They wanted to decrease their electrical bills, although the panels cost them some money upfront. The remaining electrical energy in Julio’s home comes from a hydroelectric power plant. Mark the correct answer.
short-term energy
nonrenewable
renewable
generated energy
Sierra lives in a southwestern town in a valley where air pollutants sometimes settle. The mountains that surround the town keep air pollution from blowing away. Sometimes Sierra can actually see the pollution in the air. Which choice is NOT a source of outdoor air pollution?
factory emissions
radon gas
car emissions
volcanic eruptions
Which statement best explains one likely way all this trash affects animals on or near the island?
B. In the trash, there is food that the animals can eat.
C. When animals die from eating trash, they provide a good food supply for other animals.
D. Animals can get tangled up in the trash and be unable to swim or otherwise move.
What form of energy is found in the moving water used to produce hydroelectric energy?
radiant
nuclear
mechanical
chemical
The continent most affected by water scarcity is ___________due to desertification.
North America
South America
Europe
Africa
Some minerals are evenly distributed around the planet, while other minerals are quite rare. Why are some minerals so rare and unevenly distributed?
Certain minerals form only in the extreme heat found at the bottom of lakes and rivers.
Certain minerals form only in specific climates, and not all climates, are the same around the world.
Certain minerals form only in Earth's crust, so they are difficult to locate.
Certain minerals form only under high heat and pressure that develop near volcanoes.
Biofuels are renewable resources because they are made from corn or sugar cane. In what ways are biofuels and fossil fuels similar?
They are both examples of renewable resources.
They are both formed from biomass or plant-based materials.
They are both burned and give off emissions.
They both require more energy to produce or refine them than they yield.
There is only a limited supply of freshwater available around the world. Where are freshwater sources found? Choose the three that apply.
Groundwater
Lakes and Rivers
Oceans
Ice
Which of these ways probably will be effective in reducing water pollution? Choose the three statements that apply.
Clean up and prevent oil spills.
Enact laws that control possible pollutants.
Have factories dump wastes on the land instead of into the water.
Encourage farmers to leave plants in the field after harvest to prevent chemical runoff.
Human activity has been identified as contributing to climate change, through heating up the earth by
Using all the freshwater on earth
Raising CO2 levels in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution
Polluting the earth with too much plastic
Cohesion
The consumption of natural resources by humans has a negative impact on the environment. What data would provide evidence for this claim?
Increased human lifespan and increased ice cap size
Increased human population and decreased habitats for plants and animals
Increased consumption of resources by humans and increased biodiversity (variety) in nature
Increased of fossil fuel burning by humans and decreased use of other resources
Allergens are substances that cause allergic reactions and trigger asthma symptoms in some people. Which substances can be identified as an allergen thus becoming a point source of indoor air pollution? Check all that apply.
Dust
Radon
Carbon Monoxide
Pet hair and dander
These are gases that can be identified as a source of air pollution indoors. Check all that apply.
radon
dust
pet hair and dander
carbon monoxide
Most water on Earth is saltwater and that only a limited supply of freshwater is available around the world. Why is there an unequal distribution of water around the world?
Some regions require and use more water than others.
The water supply is a result of meteorological and geological forces.
Much of the water is trapped in the atmosphere as part of the water cycle.
Pollution affects the water supply in certain area and not in others.
Energy that involves the burning of organic materials such as crops, animal waste and wood.
geothermal
nuclear
biomass
solar
Which refers to the process of producing energy by utilizing heat trapped inside the earth surface?
Hydrothermal energy
Geothermal energy
Solar energy
Wave energy
Select the three types of energy sources that are Nonrenewable Resources.
Crude Oil
Natural Gas
Nuclear
Solar
Geothermal
The burning of coal releases sulfur dioxide gas. How might the burning of coal lead to damaged plant life?
Sulfur dioxide can combine with drops of water to form acid rain.
Sulfur dioxide is a radioactive material that is dangerous for many years.
Sulfur dioxide gives off heat that raises the temperature of bodies of water.
Sulfur dioxide causes the remains of animals to decompose at a faster rate.
Human impact on the environment is often more dramatic than the impact of most other living things because humans have a greater
need for water
need for food
ability to alter the environment
ability to adapt to change
What is the primary purpose of fracking in the energy industry?
To extract coal
To extract natural gas and oil
To generate electricity
To produce solar energy
