ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FINAL EXAM REVIEW

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FINAL EXAM REVIEW What is the process in which forest plants release water back into the atmosphere? (a) snag (b) clear-cutting (c) deforestation (d) transpiration - CORRECT ANSWER-transpiration Which of the following soil horizons is most severely affected by erosion? (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) R - CORRECT ANSWER-A Removal of ________ will always result in the greatest changes in an ecological system.a decomposer species (a) a carnivore species (b) a competitive species (c) a keystone species (d) a producer species - CORRECT ANSWER-a keystone species Of the following, ________ represent proper ranking of the U.S. total primary energy consumed from the greatest to least used. (a) fossil fuels, bioenergy, hydroelectric, nuclear, new renewables (b) fossil fuels, bioenergy, nuclear, hydroelectric, new renewables (C) fossil fuels, bioenergy, hydroelectric, new renewables, nuclear (d) bioenergy, fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroelectric, new renewables (e) fossil fuels, nuclear, bioenergy, hydroelectric, new renewables - CORRECT ANSWER-fossil fuels, nuclear, bioenergy, hydroelectric, new renewables Aquatic animals such as fish and frogs are especially good indicators of water pollution because ________. (a) all chemical toxicants are found in water (b) they are easy to catch (c) most chemicals are water soluble so they enter these organisms through drinking or skin absorption (d) these organisms are the most abundant on Earth (e) the metabolism of these organisms is most like ours - CORRECT ANSWER-most chemicals are water soluble so they enter these organisms through drinking or skin absorption ________ represent(s) the largest source of unregulated hazardous waste. (a) Farmers (b) Utilities (c) Households (d) Small businesses (e) Large industry - CORRECT ANSWER-Households Heavy metals ________. (a) become less hazardous after incineration (b) bioaccumulate in animal tissues (c) are unregulated by the U.S. government (d) are not harmful unless they are directly ingested (e) become less hazardous over time as they degrade chemically - CORRECT ANSWER-bioaccumulate in animal tissues You have been hired by a rapidly growing small city to improve the air quality, which has deteriorated in the past 10 years. Your first suggestion is to ________. (a) move or close the cattle feed lots near the river (b) investigate the large city downwind whose factories produce large amounts of pollution (c) remove the hydroelectric dam on the river (d) improve transportation options, including carpool lanes, buses, and light rail (e) decrease the amount of CFCs used locally - CORRECT ANSWER-improve transportation options, including carpool lanes, buses, and light rail This is the U.S. government designation that provides the most protection from human damage to a public area. (a) national wildlife refuge (b) wilderness area (c) national park (d) national forest - CORRECT ANSWER-wilderness area Only about 2.5% of all the water on our planet is freshwater, however, ________. (a) most of this is in polar ice caps, glaciers, and underground aquifers and is not easily accessed for human use (b) over half of this is extremely hard water and is nearly unusable for drinking or agriculture (c) most of this is in underground aquifers (d) most of this is in large, freshwater lakes (e) over half of this is in wetlands near coastlines and is becoming contaminated with saltwater - CORRECT ANSWER-most of this is in polar ice caps, glaciers, and underground aquifers and is not easily accessed for human use What are green buildings? (a) inexpensively constructed buildings that help save taxpayers a lot of money (b) buildings covered in vines and plant life that enable energy-efficient cooling and heating as well as providing food (c) buildings constructed out of sustainable materials, which limit the use of energy and water, minimize health impacts, control pollution, and recycle waste (d) buildings painted green to help reflect sunlight - CORRECT ANSWER-buildings constructed out of sustainable materials, which limit the use of energy and water, minimize health impacts, control pollution, and recycle waste Which of the following is a consequence of acidic deposition? (a) It creates rainwater that can damage skin cells or cause cancers. (b) It is increasing the rate of global warming. (c) It increases the likelihood of low-lying ground fogs. (d) It results in offshore eutrophication, damaging coral reefs. (e) It leaches out important minerals from soils and causes a loss of biodiversity. - CORRECT ANSWER-It leaches out important minerals from soils and causes a loss of biodiversity. Why is variety in crop plants important for "food security"? (a) Monocultures are not capable of reproducing. (b) People and the food industry naturally want a wide variety of different types of food plants. (c) Varieties contain genes that, through conventional breeding, might confer resistance to disease. (d) Monocultures are inherently stable. - CORRECT ANSWER-Varieties contain genes that, through conventional breeding, might confer resistance to disease. Growing rice results in the release of ________ into the atmosphere. (a) ozone (b) sulfate aerosols (c) methane (d) sulfur oxides (e) carbon dioxide - CORRECT ANSWER-methane What is one problem associated with the incineration of solid waste? (a) hazardous chemicals are often created and released into the atmosphere (b) the volume of waste increases (c) the waste is radioactive (d) leachate the may contaminate groundwater - CORRECT ANSWER-hazardous chemicals are often created and released into the atmosphere Biodiversity enhances human food security because it ________. (a) reduces the number of pollinators available to any one plant species (b) increases the number of available pathogens (c) decreases the number of predators (d) means that there is genetic uniformity (e) is a potential source of new food items or new genetic varieties of existing foods - CORRECT ANSWER-is a potential source of new food items or new genetic varieties of existing foods What is the status of GM products in the United States? (a) U.S. citizens have largely accepted the GM crops on the market. (b) GM crops can be sold in the United States only if they are labeled as being genetically modified. (c) GM crops have been banned in the United States. (d) GM crops will only be sold in the United States for livestock feed. - CORRECT ANSWER-U.S. citizens have largely accepted the GM crops on the market Which of the following statements about ocean water is true? (a) Oceans change temperature more quickly than the land changes temperature. (b) Surface waters change temperature more slowly than oceans. (c) Oceans have a high heat capacity and change temperature slowly. (d) Oceans change temperature regularly throughout the day. - CORRECT ANSWEROceans have a high heat capacity and change temperature slowly The two processes that determine the world's current biodiversity are ________. (a) extinction and speciation rates (b) allopatric and sympatric speciation (c) mutation and humidity (d) breeding and ecotourism endemism and climate change - CORRECT ANSWER-extinction and speciation rates Both fossils and fossil fuels are found in __________ rock layers. (a) Molten (b) Metamorphic (c) Mantle (d) Sedimentary - CORRECT ANSWER-Sedimentary How are warming temperatures causing a vicious cycle (positive feedback) that is leading to enhanced warming? (a) Ice and snow reflect light, and as they melt, Earth absorbs more of the sun's rays. (b) Global warming increases the planet's albedo, leading to more global warming. (c) Global warming decreases the planet's albedo, which releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. (d) Ice and snow absorb light, and as they melt, Earth produces more carbon dioxide. - CORRECT ANSWER-Ice and snow reflect light, and as they melt, Earth absorbs more of the sun's rays Which of the following is an unhealthy mixture of pollutants that forms over cities? (a) smog (b) the stratosphere (c) the ozone layer (d) the thermosphere - CORRECT ANSWER-smog What is a secondary pollutant? (a) a pollutant emitted into the troposphere in a form that is directly harmful (b) a pollutant that develops after a chemical reaction with chemicals normally present in the atmosphere (c) a minor pollutant released by a factory - CORRECT ANSWER-a pollutant that develops after a chemical reaction with chemicals normally present in the atmosphere The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a divergent boundary that bisects the entire Atlantic Ocean. What is produced at this and other mid-ocean ridges? (a) new oceanic crust (b) water (c) oil (d) coal - CORRECT ANSWER-new oceanic crust Water bodies where rivers flow into the oceans, mixing fresh water with saltwater, are called ________. (a) upwellings (b) salt marshes (c) mangroves (d) estuaries (e) littoral ecosystems - CORRECT ANSWER-estuaries All of the following are advantages of nuclear power except ________. (a) uranium generates far greater amounts of energy than coal by weight or volume (b) uranium mines cause less environmental damage than coal mines because less uranium is needed to generate power (c) the power-generating process is emission-free (d) nuclear power plants generate no nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide (e) safe disposal of nuclear waste - CORRECT ANSWER-safe disposal of nuclear wastes Which of the following is the broadest (most all-encompassing) level of ecological organization? (a) a population (b) the biosphere (c) an ecosystem (d) a kingdom - CORRECT ANSWER-the biosphere What is the goal of "new urbanism"? (a) to create functional neighborhoods in which most of a family's needs can be met close to home without the use of a car (b) to shift transportation planning away from SUV-sized vehicles to accommodate hybrid cars (c) to provide modern urban attractions (high-speed Internet, cultural institutions, and so on) to rural areas so people will return to a rural lifestyle (d) to improve quality of life by separating residential areas from all other types of development - CORRECT ANSWER-to create functional neighborhoods in which most of a family's needs can be met close to home without the use of a car Weather patterns are largely determined in the ________. (a) troposphere (b) lithosphere (c) stratosphere (d) biosphere (e) mesosphere - CORRECT ANSWER-troposphere The initial consequence of falling water tables would be the loss of ________. (a) agricultural irrigation water (b) mammals that thrive in dry habitats (c) deep lakes (d) trees that do best with low precipitation (e) birds that live in upland areas - CORRECT ANSWER-agricultural irrigation water Which of the following best describes an umbrella species? (a) a particularly showy species that people will want to protect because it is so attractive (b) a species that, if removed, will cause the community to collapse and be reduced in its biodiversity (c) a species whose protection will result in the protection of a large number of species that require the same habitat (d) a species, such as a large oak tree, that protects the soil beneath it from heavy downpours and prevents erosion - CORRECT ANSWER-a species whose protection will result in the protection of a large number of species that require the same habitat Which of the following statements is true regarding sustainability? (a) Sustainable cities usually have problems with sewage treatment. (b) Sustainable cities do not typically limit sprawl. (c) Sustainable cities tend to be livable cities that provide a good quality of life for their residents. (d) Sustainable cities usually have more garbage accumulation. - CORRECT ANSWERSustainable cities tend to be livable cities that provide a good quality of life for their residents Wastewater that is stirred and aerated so that aerobic bacteria consume most of the small pieces of organic matter in the wastewater is being subjected to ________. (a) tertiary treatment (b) primary treatment (c) pre-treatment (d) secondary treatment basic treatment - CORRECT ANSWER-secondary treatment The greenhouse effect involves warming of Earth's surface and the ________. (a) mesosphere (b) troposphere (c) stratosphere (d) ionosphere (e) thermosphere - CORRECT ANSWER-troposphere Which of the following is an example of a product found in a "throwaway society," such as the United States? (a) reusable cloth diapers (b) reusable razor blades (c) fine silverware (d) paper napkins - CORRECT ANSWER-paper napkins Of the following, ________ is not yet regulated by the EPA. (a) ozone (b) carbon dioxide (c) carbon monoxide (d) sulfur and nitrogen oxides (e) lead - CORRECT ANSWER-carbon dioxide In what two ways can surface water and groundwater transmit toxins to human beings? (a) through evaporation over land and deposition via precipitation (b) through drinking water and through water consumed by nonhuman biota, which, in turn, are consumed by human beings (c) through medical facilities and the soil carried by streams into the workplace (d) through nonhuman biota in the home and medical facilities - CORRECT ANSWERthrough drinking water and through water consumed by nonhuman biota, which, in turn, are consumed by human beings What event is credited with leading to the passage of the Clean Water Act? (a) Lake Erie being declared "dead" (b) sewage collecting on beaches in San Diego (c) the Chicago River being reversed (to flow into the Illinois River rather than into Lake Michigan) to move pollution away from Chicago (d) the Cuyahoga River catching fire - CORRECT ANSWER-the Cuyahoga River catching fire Which piece of legislation set strict standards for air quality and pollution control in the United States? (a) the Clean Air Act (b) the Clean Water Act (c) the Montreal Protocol (d) the Endangered Species Act - CORRECT ANSWER-the Clean Air Act Many developed nations have their economies closely tied to imported fossil fuels. One important consideration is that ________. (a) as supplies decrease, fossil fuels decline in price the economy can be disrupted by the decisions made in fuel exporting nations (b) if energy conservation is put into place, the cost of fossil fuels will increase (c) if energy conservation is put into place, the cost of fossil fuels will decrease (d) the economy will only improve if the price of fossil fuels increases - CORRECT ANSWER-the economy can be disrupted by the decisions made in fuel exporting nations Which of the following is one of the EPA's six criteria pollutants? (a) argon (b) carbon dioxide (c) volatile organic compounds (d) carbon monoxide - CORRECT ANSWER-carbon monoxide All of the following are considered to define types of hazardous waste except ________. (a) corrosive (b) inert (c) reactive (d) ignitable (e) toxic - CORRECT ANSWER-inert Which of the following represents the largest waste disposal practice in the United States? (a) landfills (b) recycling (c) incineration (d) composting - CORRECT ANSWER-landfills E-wastes are a source of ________. (a) compostable organic compounds (b) radioactive materials (c) ignitables (d) heavy and precious metals (e) acid corrosives - CORRECT ANSWER-heavy and precious metals Properties of toxicants likely to build up in animals through bioaccumulation are ________. (a) nitrogen and sulfur compounds (b) biodegradable, water soluble (c) gases carried by pesticide drift (d) non-biodegradable, lipid-soluble (e) carcinogens and mutagens - CORRECT ANSWER-non-biodegradable, lipid-soluble The original purpose of parks in eastern U.S. cities was to ________. (a) provide wildlife sanctuaries within cities (b) protect passenger pigeons, Carolina parakeets, and other rapidly declining species (c) provide open places for picnics and games, such as football, cricket, and lawn tennis (d) provide protected places for hunting foxes, birds, and deer (e) provide a European style experience of the beauty and intimacy of formal landscapes - CORRECT ANSWER-provide a European style experience of the beauty and intimacy of formal landscapes What happens as ocean waters warm? (a) Ocean currents slow down. (b) The oceans absorb less CO2. (c) Tides become higher due to lighter oceans. (d) The pH of the ocean increases. - CORRECT ANSWER-The oceans absorb less CO2 Which of the following phrases best describes the goals behind the resource management strategies? (a) maintenance of species diversity in ecosystems (b) soil conservation (c) sustainable use of natural resources (d) preservation of natural areas - CORRECT ANSWER-sustainable use of natural resources All of the following practices are used to control soil erosion EXCEPT __________. (a) terracing of hillside farms (b) intercropping (c) no-till planting (d) industrial monoculture agriculture - CORRECT ANSWER-industrial monoculture agriculture What occurs when coal mining exposes rock surfaces to weathering? (a) surface area reduction (b) acid flooding (c) oil discovery (d) acid drainage - CORRECT ANSWER-acid drainage Which of the following is the name for water that has been used by humans and then treated for release back into the environment? (a) Sewage (b) septic tank (c) Eutrophication (d) Effluent - CORRECT ANSWER-Effluent Which of the following conditions results from the operation and subsequent use of old landfills built before 1976? (a) Decommissioned landfills cannot be used as locations for schools, industries, parks, or golf courses for 300 years after the closing of the landfill. (b) Modern sanitary landfills are lined with a porous material. (c) Hydrogen gas is generated by the organic decomposition and can be sold as a byproduct. (d) Leachate from old landfills can contaminate groundwater. - CORRECT ANSWERLeachate from old landfills can contaminate groundwater. Which of the following statements about ethanol is true? (a) Corn-based ethanol has a high energy returned on investment (EROI) value. (b) We can supply all of the automotive fuel used in the United States if we just double ethanol production. (c) We can easily grow enough corn ethanol and supply the world's food needs. (d) Growing corn for ethanol requires substantial inputs of fossil fuel energy - CORRECT ANSWER-Growing corn for ethanol requires substantial inputs of fossil fuel energy Which of the following are most likely to be keystone species in an ecosystem? (a) large-bodied, higher-level consumers (b) producers (c) small-bodied, primary consumers (d) parasites - CORRECT ANSWER-large-bodied, higher-level consumers One of the things that contribute to sprawl is ________. (a) the trend toward increasing land area per capita (b) the steadily increasing prices for gasoline (c) the steady state of human populations (d) zoning developer's fees - CORRECT ANSWER-the trend toward increasing land area per capita Of the following renewable energy resources, which one has the highest life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions? (a) biomass (b) wind power (c) solar power (d) hydropower - CORRECT ANSWER-biomass Pathogens and waterborne diseases enter drinking water supplies from ________. (a) poorly treated wastewater or from animal wastes from feed lots (b) pesticides entering groundwater (c) excess nitrogen and phosphorus as agricultural runoff (d) oil and chemical spills (e) upwelling - CORRECT ANSWER-poorly treated wastewater or from animal wastes from feed lots The practice of integrating biocontrol, crop rotation, alternative tillage methods, and chemical use is called __________. (a) integrated technological management (b) integrated pest management (c) integrated biocontrol management (d) coordinated biological and chemical control - CORRECT ANSWER-integrated pest management What is the term that refers to the reduction of the amount of waste entering the waste stream? (a) source reduction (b) recycling (c) liquidation (d) inventory - CORRECT ANSWER-source reduction E-85 ________. (a) is an ethanol-gasoline mixture used in flexible-fuel vehicles (b) was an international summit of 85 nations that met to restrict greenhouse gas emissions (c) was an international summit of 85 nations that met to determine vehicle fuel efficiency standards (d) is an isotope of uranium used to generate electricity (e) was an international summit of 85 nations that met to restrict CFC use - CORRECT ANSWER-is an ethanol-gasoline mixture used in flexible-fuel vehicles Which of the following occupations is tasked with designing cities in such a way as to maximize their efficiency, functionality, and beauty? (a) city planner (b) member of the zoning commission (c) ecologist (d) regional planner - CORRECT ANSWER-city planner Hydroelectric power accounts for approximately how much of the world's electricity production? (a) 0% (b) 16% (c) 75% (d) 90% - CORRECT ANSWER-16% Which of the following would be a limiting factor for a population of dolphins in the ocean? (a) rainfall (b) the number of dolphins in the population (c) atmospheric oxygen levels (d) numbers of fish that dolphin prey on - CORRECT ANSWER-numbers of fish that dolphin prey on What is the direct cause of death for aquatic animals during eutrophication? (a) use of all available CO2 by the growing algae (b) drainage of their habitat (c) toxic secretions by bacteria (d) a loss of dissolved oxygen in the water - CORRECT ANSWER-a loss of dissolved oxygen in the water The largest portion of atmospheric gases is ________. (a) nitrogen (b) argon (c) oxygen (d) sulfur (e) ozone - CORRECT ANSWER-nitrogen Biodiversity is ________. (a) the total number of species in a location (b) the variety of life in all its forms and combinations and at all levels of organization (c) the difference in variety and abundance of species from place to place (d) the three dimensional distribution of species and biological features (e) the relative abundance of the different species in a community - CORRECT ANSWER-the variety of life in all its forms and combinations and at all levels of organization How do plants contribute to the water cycle? (a) through the process of condensation (b) through the process of infiltration (c) through the evaporation of water from their roots (d) through the process of transpiration - CORRECT ANSWER-through the process of transpiration What environmental issue, partially affected by human activities, is directly threatening to cause problems for our forest protection efforts? (a) climate change (b) pollution of water (c) overpopulation (d) loss of biodiversity - CORRECT ANSWER-climate change The leading cause of death in the world today is __________. (a) disease (b) starvation (c) injuries (d) natural disasters - CORRECT ANSWER-disease What is an example of an energy source that is renewable and has less environmental impact than fossil fuels? (a) crude oil (b) natural gas (c) bioenergy (d) coal - CORRECT ANSWER-bioenergy The best solution to the solid waste problem is to ________. (a) increase the number of oceanic burial sites (b) increase the number of sanitary landfills (c) subsidize WTE facilities (d) increase the number of WTE facilities (e) reduce the amount of material that enters the waste stream - CORRECT ANSWERreduce the amount of material that enters the waste stream What is the greatest negative environmental impact that occurs when people live in suburbs instead of living in cities? (a) Suburbanites have higher rates of cardiovascular disease. (b) Suburbanites take up many times as much space as city dwellers. (c) Suburbanites are not aware of resource use. (d) Suburbanites do not recycle. - CORRECT ANSWER-Suburbanites take up many times as much space as city dwellers.