Ecology & Ecosystems
Which of the following best describes the role of producers in an ecosystem?
What is "They convert solar energy into chemical energy"
Which of the following is the primary disadvantage of using nuclear energy for electricity generation?
High greenhouse gas emissions, risk of radioactive waste, inability to meet base-load energy demand, or limited fuel availability
What is "risk of radioactive waste"?
Which of the following pollutants is primarily responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer?
Carbon dioxide, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's), nitrogen oxides, particulate matter.
What is "Cholorfluorocarbons (CFC's)"?
Which of the following greenhouse gases is released primarily through agricultural activities?
Methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), ozone (O3).
What is "methane (CH4)"?
Which of the following is a key principle of sustainable development?
Focusing only on economic growth, prioritizing short-term goals over long-term objectives, balancing economic social and environmental factors, or maximizing resource extraction for future generations.
What is "balancing economic, social, and environmental factors?"
In the food chain, which trophic level would a hawk most likely occupy?
Primary producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, or tertiary consumer
What is "tertiary consumer"?
Which of the following is a renewable source of energy?
Natural gas, wind, uranium, coal
What is "wind"?
Which of the following is the most effective strategy for reducing waste sent to landfills?
Incineration, recycling, land application, open dumping
What is "recycling"?
What is the main reason that CO2 levels in the atmosphere have increased significantly since the industrial revolution?
Deforestation, increased agricultural activities, burning of fossil fuels, or natural fluctuations in the carbon cycle.
What is "burning of fossil fuels"?
The "precautionary principle" in environmental law suggests that:
New technologies should be allowed without testing if they have the potential to generate economic growth, environmental protection should be prioritized even when there is uncertainty about the potential risks of an activity, governments should avoid interfering in market decisions regarding environmental issues, or all human activities are harmful to the environment and should be avoided.
What is "environmental protection should be prioritized even when there is uncertainty about the potential risks of an activity"?
Which of the following is a density-dependent factor that affects population growth?
Earthquake, drought, predation, or temperature
What is predation?
Which of the following is the most significant environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for natural gas?
Air pollution from methane leakage, habitat destruction from surface mining, water contamination from chemicals used in the process, global warming from increased CO2 emissions.
What is "water contamination from chemicals used in the process"?
Which of the following is a direct effect of ground-level ozone (O3) on human health?
Respiratory issues including asthma and bronchitis, increased risk of skin cancer, disruption of the immune system, chronic cardiovascular diseases.
What is "respiratory issues including asthma and bronchitis"?
Which of the following is an effect of ocean acidification caused by increased CO2 concentrations?
Increased algal blooms, decreased salinity in coastal waters, damage to coral reefs and marine life, reduced rates of evaporation in oceans.
What is "damage to coral reefs and marine life"?
What is the purpose of the Endangered Species Act (ESA)?
To regulate air pollution levels, to prevent the extinction of species by protecting their habitat, to control the release of greenhouse gases, or to maintain recycling programs for endangered species' habitats.
What is "to prevent the extinction of species by protecting their habitat"?
Which biochemical cycle involves the processes of nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification?
Carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, phosphorus cycle, or water cycle?
What is nitrogen cycle?
Which energy source is most commonly associated with the problem of "thermal pollution"?
Solar power, wind power, nuclear power, hydroelectric power
What is "nuclear power"?
Which of the following is the primary cause of eutrophication in the aquatic ecosystems?
Excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers, increased sedimentation from deforestation, overfishing and species depletion, oil spills and heavy metals from industrial run off.
What is "excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers"?
Which of the following is a likely consequence of global warming on terrestrial ecosystems?
Increased biodiversity due to longer growing seasons, expansion of polar ice caps, increased frequency and intensity of wildfires, or reduced carbon sequestration in forests.
What is "increased frequency and intensity of wildfires"?
What is the goal of the Clean Water Act of 1972?
To regulate the emissions of harmful gases into the atmosphere, to reduce the amount of toxic waste sent to landfills, to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's waters, or to regulate the use of fossil fuels in industrial processes.
What is "to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's waters"?
What is the primary cause of acid rain?
Increased CO2 emissions from cars, excessive phosphorus in water, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide released from burning fossil fuels, increased methane from agricultural activities.
What is "nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide released from burning fossil fuels"?
What is the primary advantage of using geothermal energy for electricity generation?
It is carbon-neutral, it is abundant and easy to transport, it is a renewable resource that does not depend on weather conditions, it generates large amounts of waste heat that can be used for heating.
What is "its a renewable resource that does not depend on weather conditions"?
Which of the following is considered a non-point source of water pollution?
Oil spill from a ship, run off from agricultural fields, discharge from sewage treatment plant, wastewater from an industrial plant.
What is "run off from agricultural fields"?
Which international agreement aims to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming?
Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, Montreal Protocol, or Clean Air Act?
Which of the following is an example of "greenwashing"?
A company advertising its commitment to sustainability without actually implementing eco-friendly practices, a government regulation that limits emissions from power plants, a consumer choosing to buy an electric car over a gasoline-powered car, or a corporation reducing its carbon footprint through renewable energy investments.
What is "a company advertising its commitment to sustainability without actually implementing eco-friendly practices"?