APES Unit 1 Exam Questions with
Verified Solutions
The environment refers to - ANS-the sum of all the conditions surrounding us that
influences life
Ecosystem services - ANS-are the processes by which life supporting resources are
produced
Evidence of biodiversity is see in - ANS-genetic variation among human populations
number of species in a region
number of ecosystems and habitats in a region
genetic variation among plants and animals in a region
A population is better able to respond to environmental changes if it has - ANS-fewer
numbers but high genetic diversity
According to the figure above, which statement about the overall trend in per capita
wheat production is correct? - ANS-per capita wheat production increased from 1950
through the mid- 1980's and then started to decrease
Factors that are responsible for grain production not keeping up with worldwide
population include - ANS-crop diseases
soil degradation
use of food crops for food
government encouragement to let land remain uncultivated
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere - ANS-is increasing in part due
to fossil fuel use
Which is NOT a non-renewable resources - ANS-timber
People living in developed nations tend to - ANS-consume more resources
Sustainable development - ANS-balances human needs and resource management
Which is an example of a sustainable practice - ANS-replanting a logged forest
developing substitutes for nonrenewable resources
An ecological footprint considers - ANS-how much an individual consumers in terms of
land area
,The study of environmental science differs from study of other natural science because
it - ANS-also includes politics, law, and economics
A nature system occurs when - ANS-a natural event acts as an experimental treatment
in an ecosystem
Problems developed at Mono Lake because - ANS-its source has been redirected for
use of people in the Los Angeles area
Matter is - ANS-anything that occupies space and has mass
Elections have - ANS-a negative charge
Elements that gain or lose electrons to form compounds create - ANS-covalent bonds
Water's ability to act as a solvent explains which of the following phenomena - ANS-high
concentrations of dissolved ions in seawater
the capacity of living organisms to store many types of molecules in solution in their
sells
easy transportation of toxic substances through the environment
A substance with a pH of 4 has ____ time the hydrogen ion concentration of a
substance with a pH of 6 - ANS-100 (40, 50, 60 with 10 inbetween then do 10 times 10
which is 100)
According to the law of conservation of matter - ANS-matter cannot be destroyed
matter can change form
Organic compounds may contain - ANS-carbon-carbon bonds
carbon-hydrogen bonds
hydrogen-oxygen bonds
What is DNA - ANS-a nucleic acid that contains the code for reproduction
The difference between potential and kinetic energy is - ANS-potential energy is stored,
kinetic energy is the energy of motion
The concentration with which an energy source can be used for work is known as -
ANS-energy quality
The second law of thermodynamics states that - ANS-all systems move toward
increased entropy
system analysis of an ecosystem could involve - ANS-inputs of nutrients
outputs of energy
,evaporation
A positive feedback loop occurs - ANS-when feedback into a system increases a rate of
response
Which is an example of a positive feedback loop - ANS-water evaporation creates high-
altitude clouds which absorb terrestrial energy that would otherwise escape the
atmosphere
Which is an example of applying new energy to decrease entropy - ANS-eating lunch to
have energy to clean up your lab station
Although tropical rain forests are only ___of the earth's land surface, they contain up to
half of the earth's land plants and animal species - ANS-2%
Ecosystems - ANS-an inhabitant of the earth
What are the four major components of the earth's life support systems? - ANS-1-
atmosphere (air)
2-hydrosphere (water)
3-geosphere (rock, soil, sediment)
4-biosphere (living things)
atmosphere - ANS-a thin spherical envelope of gases surrounding the earth's surface
troposphere - ANS-Innermost layer of the atmosphere. It contains about 75% of the
mass of earth's air and extends about 17 kilometers (11 miles) above sea level.
greenhouse gases - ANS-gases in the earth's lower atmosphere that cause the
greenhouse effect.
Which of the following describes the most likely change to terrestrial biomes resulting
from warmer average global temperatures? - ANS-The global distribution of midlatitude
biomes, such as grasslands and temperate rain forests, would increase.
Which of the following terrestrial biomes has the highest net primary productivity? -
ANS-Tropical rain forest
Which of the following terrestrial biomes has the highest primary productivity per unit
area? - ANS-Tropical rain forest
This biome contains a nutrient-rich environment created by falling leaves and trapped
organic materials from the large trees, and it provides the ecosystem service of filtering
pollutants from water. - ANS-Freshwater wetlands
, This biome is found in shallow waters off the coastline and is Earth's most biologically
diverse marine biome. - ANS-Coral reefs
This freshwater biome is characterized by fast-flowing water that can originate from
underground springs or runoff, which carries sediment and organic material. - ANS-
Rivers
Which of the following biogeochemical cycles includes the processes of buffering ocean
pH and photosynthesis, as shown in the diagram? - ANS-The Carbon Cycle
Which box represents a carbon sink that holds carbon compounds for the shortest
period of time? - ANS-Vegetation
Which of the boxes represents a carbon source? - ANS-fossil fuels
Which of the following processes is illustrated by the downward arrows from the
atmosphere that show the conversion of nitrogen gas into usable forms available to
producers? - ANS-Nitrogen Fixation
Which of the following types of organisms are required to complete the nitrogen cycle,
including the process of denitrification? - ANS-Bacteria
The majority of the nitrogen on Earth can be found in which of the following reservoirs? -
ANS-The Atmosphere
Which of the following statements is best supported by the diagram of the phosphorus
cycle? - ANS-The phosphates absorbed by animal tissue through consumption
eventually return to the soil.
Farmers in a suburban coastal town started using no-till agriculture, a practice that
reduces soil erosion from their farmland. Use the image above to determine which of
the following long-term effects no-till agriculture will have on the ecosystem surrounding
the farmland. - ANS-There will be less algal growth in the nearby ocean.
Based on the diagram, which of the following statements about the hydrologic cycle is
true? - ANS-Water from the ocean evaporates and condenses in the atmosphere.
Which of the following best identifies a key component of the hydrologic cycle that
powers the movement of water and is missing from the diagram? - ANS-The Sun
The total rate of photosynthesis in a given area. - ANS-Gross primary productivity
This rate of reaction can be measured in the dark by determining the amount of oxygen
gas consumed in a period of time. - ANS-Cellular respiration
Verified Solutions
The environment refers to - ANS-the sum of all the conditions surrounding us that
influences life
Ecosystem services - ANS-are the processes by which life supporting resources are
produced
Evidence of biodiversity is see in - ANS-genetic variation among human populations
number of species in a region
number of ecosystems and habitats in a region
genetic variation among plants and animals in a region
A population is better able to respond to environmental changes if it has - ANS-fewer
numbers but high genetic diversity
According to the figure above, which statement about the overall trend in per capita
wheat production is correct? - ANS-per capita wheat production increased from 1950
through the mid- 1980's and then started to decrease
Factors that are responsible for grain production not keeping up with worldwide
population include - ANS-crop diseases
soil degradation
use of food crops for food
government encouragement to let land remain uncultivated
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere - ANS-is increasing in part due
to fossil fuel use
Which is NOT a non-renewable resources - ANS-timber
People living in developed nations tend to - ANS-consume more resources
Sustainable development - ANS-balances human needs and resource management
Which is an example of a sustainable practice - ANS-replanting a logged forest
developing substitutes for nonrenewable resources
An ecological footprint considers - ANS-how much an individual consumers in terms of
land area
,The study of environmental science differs from study of other natural science because
it - ANS-also includes politics, law, and economics
A nature system occurs when - ANS-a natural event acts as an experimental treatment
in an ecosystem
Problems developed at Mono Lake because - ANS-its source has been redirected for
use of people in the Los Angeles area
Matter is - ANS-anything that occupies space and has mass
Elections have - ANS-a negative charge
Elements that gain or lose electrons to form compounds create - ANS-covalent bonds
Water's ability to act as a solvent explains which of the following phenomena - ANS-high
concentrations of dissolved ions in seawater
the capacity of living organisms to store many types of molecules in solution in their
sells
easy transportation of toxic substances through the environment
A substance with a pH of 4 has ____ time the hydrogen ion concentration of a
substance with a pH of 6 - ANS-100 (40, 50, 60 with 10 inbetween then do 10 times 10
which is 100)
According to the law of conservation of matter - ANS-matter cannot be destroyed
matter can change form
Organic compounds may contain - ANS-carbon-carbon bonds
carbon-hydrogen bonds
hydrogen-oxygen bonds
What is DNA - ANS-a nucleic acid that contains the code for reproduction
The difference between potential and kinetic energy is - ANS-potential energy is stored,
kinetic energy is the energy of motion
The concentration with which an energy source can be used for work is known as -
ANS-energy quality
The second law of thermodynamics states that - ANS-all systems move toward
increased entropy
system analysis of an ecosystem could involve - ANS-inputs of nutrients
outputs of energy
,evaporation
A positive feedback loop occurs - ANS-when feedback into a system increases a rate of
response
Which is an example of a positive feedback loop - ANS-water evaporation creates high-
altitude clouds which absorb terrestrial energy that would otherwise escape the
atmosphere
Which is an example of applying new energy to decrease entropy - ANS-eating lunch to
have energy to clean up your lab station
Although tropical rain forests are only ___of the earth's land surface, they contain up to
half of the earth's land plants and animal species - ANS-2%
Ecosystems - ANS-an inhabitant of the earth
What are the four major components of the earth's life support systems? - ANS-1-
atmosphere (air)
2-hydrosphere (water)
3-geosphere (rock, soil, sediment)
4-biosphere (living things)
atmosphere - ANS-a thin spherical envelope of gases surrounding the earth's surface
troposphere - ANS-Innermost layer of the atmosphere. It contains about 75% of the
mass of earth's air and extends about 17 kilometers (11 miles) above sea level.
greenhouse gases - ANS-gases in the earth's lower atmosphere that cause the
greenhouse effect.
Which of the following describes the most likely change to terrestrial biomes resulting
from warmer average global temperatures? - ANS-The global distribution of midlatitude
biomes, such as grasslands and temperate rain forests, would increase.
Which of the following terrestrial biomes has the highest net primary productivity? -
ANS-Tropical rain forest
Which of the following terrestrial biomes has the highest primary productivity per unit
area? - ANS-Tropical rain forest
This biome contains a nutrient-rich environment created by falling leaves and trapped
organic materials from the large trees, and it provides the ecosystem service of filtering
pollutants from water. - ANS-Freshwater wetlands
, This biome is found in shallow waters off the coastline and is Earth's most biologically
diverse marine biome. - ANS-Coral reefs
This freshwater biome is characterized by fast-flowing water that can originate from
underground springs or runoff, which carries sediment and organic material. - ANS-
Rivers
Which of the following biogeochemical cycles includes the processes of buffering ocean
pH and photosynthesis, as shown in the diagram? - ANS-The Carbon Cycle
Which box represents a carbon sink that holds carbon compounds for the shortest
period of time? - ANS-Vegetation
Which of the boxes represents a carbon source? - ANS-fossil fuels
Which of the following processes is illustrated by the downward arrows from the
atmosphere that show the conversion of nitrogen gas into usable forms available to
producers? - ANS-Nitrogen Fixation
Which of the following types of organisms are required to complete the nitrogen cycle,
including the process of denitrification? - ANS-Bacteria
The majority of the nitrogen on Earth can be found in which of the following reservoirs? -
ANS-The Atmosphere
Which of the following statements is best supported by the diagram of the phosphorus
cycle? - ANS-The phosphates absorbed by animal tissue through consumption
eventually return to the soil.
Farmers in a suburban coastal town started using no-till agriculture, a practice that
reduces soil erosion from their farmland. Use the image above to determine which of
the following long-term effects no-till agriculture will have on the ecosystem surrounding
the farmland. - ANS-There will be less algal growth in the nearby ocean.
Based on the diagram, which of the following statements about the hydrologic cycle is
true? - ANS-Water from the ocean evaporates and condenses in the atmosphere.
Which of the following best identifies a key component of the hydrologic cycle that
powers the movement of water and is missing from the diagram? - ANS-The Sun
The total rate of photosynthesis in a given area. - ANS-Gross primary productivity
This rate of reaction can be measured in the dark by determining the amount of oxygen
gas consumed in a period of time. - ANS-Cellular respiration
