Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Pollution
Energy
Earth, Land, and Water
Global Climate Change
100
Which of the following best shows the process of evolution?
A. A lizard's color becomes brown as it sits on a log.
B. A bear goes into hibernation.
C. A plant loses its leaves in a drought.
D. A population of mosquitoes develops resistance to a pesticide.
E. A population of foxes increases as more prey becomes available.
D. Mosquito population develops resistance
100
Acid deposition would most likely result in which of the following?
A. The release of aluminum ions from soil
B. An increase in populations of mollusks
C. The death of species tolerant of low pH levels
D. An increase in buffering of lake water by sulfates
E. An increase in the pH of unbuffered water
A. the release of aluminum ions from soil
100
Which of the following countries has the largest coal reserves?
A. Saudi Arabia
B. China
C. India
D. France
E. Japan
B. China
100
Most of the Earth's deserts are at approximately 30° latitude, north and south, because these latitudes are characterized by
A. generally warm ocean currents
B. predominantly low atmospheric pressure
C. descending dry air currents
D. slow-moving jet streams
E. enhanced solar radiation
C. Descending dry air currents
100
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be an effect of global warming?
A. Loss of fertile delta regions for agriculture
B. Change in global patterns of precipitation
C. Extinction of some species that have narrow temperature requirements
D. Decreased rate of photosynthesis in vegetation
E. Increased frequency of hurricanes
D. Decreased rate of photosynthesis in vegetation
Photosynthesis will increase with more CO2 available
200
The graph below shows the results obtained when two species of Paramecium were grown together in the same medium.
Which principle is illustrated here?
demographic transition
sustained logarithmic growth
edge effect
competitive exclusion
normal distribution
competitive exclusion
200
The three main anthropogenic sources of gaseous air pollutants in the United States are
A. soil erosion, volcanoes, and forest fires
B. soil erosion, volcanoes, and energy production
C. industry, construction, and agriculture
D. industry, transportation, and energy production
E. industry, transportation, and agriculture
D. industry, transportation, and energy production
200
All of the following substances are derived from petroleum EXCEPT
A. asphalt
B. DDT
C. cellulose
D. polystyrene
E. nylon
C. Cellulose comes from wood
200
The primary cause of Earth's seasons is the
A. constant tilt of Earth's rotational axis with respect to the plane of its orbit around the Sun
B. changing distance of Earth from the Sun at different times of the year
C. periodic wobbling of Earth on its axis of rotation
D. changing relative positions of Earth, its Moon, and the Sun
E. periodic changes in solar energy output
A. the tilt of the Earth causes the seasons
200
Which of the following is an important contributor to both global warming and ozone depletion?
A. An increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide to higher-than-preindustrial levels
B. A buildup of methane in the stratosphere to higher-than-preindustrial levels
C. An increase in the levels of ultraviolet radiation reaching Earth’s surface
D. An increase in the amount of infrared solar radiation absorbed in the troposphere
E. A release of chlorofluorocarbons to the atmosphere
E. A release of chlorofluorocarbons to the atmosphere
300
Which process involves the conversion of nitrate/nitrite ions into nitrous oxide gas and nitrogen gas (N2)?
nitrification
denitrification
assimilation
ammonification
nitrogen fixation
denitrification
300
Smoke from forest fires is most likely to affect air quality over larger areas for many days when:
A. smog is produced due to chemical reactions in the atmosphere
B. a persistent atmospheric inversion exists in the region
C. oak trees are burned, releasing terpenes into the atmosphere
D. primary, rather than secondary, forests are burned
E. vegetation in the region is green and burns more slowly
B. a persistent atmospheric inversion exists in the region
300
Which three sources supply the majority of commercial energy in the world today?
A. Coal, oil, and natural gas
B. Solar, wind, and biomass
C. Nuclear, hydropower, and photovoltaics
D. Wood, dung, and charcoal
E. Fuel cells, geothermal, and tidal power
A. Fossil Fuels!
300
During an El Niño event, warm surface water moves from the western equatorial Pacific Ocean to the eastern equatorial region. Which of the following best describes how the warm water will affect upwelling off the coast of equatorial South America?
A. The warm surface water will not change upwelling because this region is at the equator and always has warm water.
B. The warm surface water will increase upwelling because of the difference in salinity between the warm surface water and the cold deep water.
C. The warm surface water will decrease upwelling because the cooler temperatures on land in the region will prevent upwelling.
D. The warm surface water will decrease upwelling because of the density difference between the warm surface water and the cold deep water.
D. The warm surface water will decrease upwelling because of the density difference between the warm surface water and the cold deep water.
300
The CITES treaty has been helpful in protecting endangered animals and plants by
A. listing all species that can be hunted, traded, and used commercially
B. listing those species and products whose international trade is controlled
C. funding projects for breeding endangered plants and animals
D. preventing the hunting of whales and dolphins
E. specifying prices for certain plant and animal products
B. listing those species and products whose international trade is controlled
400
Losses of usable energy between successive trophic levels in an ecosystem are best accounted for by which of the following?
a. the first law of thermodynamics
b. the second law of thermodynamics
c. the law of conservation of matter
d. the process of ecological succession
e. limiting factors in the ecosystem
B. 2nd law of thermodynamics
400
Which type of electricity-generating power plant releases radioactive materials as well as toxic metals such as lead and arsenic under normal operating conditions?
A. Nuclear
B. Hydroelectric
C. Solar
D. Coal-burning
E. Geothermal
D. Coal-burning
400
A sample of radioactive waste has a half-life of 10 years and an activity level of 2 curies. After how many years will the activity level of this sample be 0.25 curie?
A. 10 years
B. 20 years
C. 30 years
D. 40 years
E. 80 years
C. 30 years
400
Most volcanism in the world is associated with
A. plate boundaries
B. midcontinental hot spots
C. faulting
D. aquifer depletion
E. desertification
A. plate boundaries
400
Which of the following will occur if the trend of global temperature increase continues?
A. Night temperatures will decrease as day temperatures increase.
B. Tropical areas will become cooler than they currently are.
C. Sea levels will drop due to increased evaporation.
D. The incidence of insect-borne diseases will decrease.
E. The troposphere will contain more water vapor
E. The troposphere will contain more water vapor
500
Which of the following can be used to assess the biological diversity of an area?
A. Population size of each species and area occupied by each population
B. Minimum population area and minimum viable population size
C. Ratio of r-strategists to K-strategists and life expectancy of K-strategists
D. Number of individuals under fifteen years old and number of individuals over sixty-five years old
E. Genetic variation within each species and number of species present
E. Genetic variation within each species and number of species present
500
Is the major pollutant that electrostatic precipitators are designed to remove from power-plant smokestack emissions
A. Sulfur dioxide
B. Lead
C. Ozone
D. Hydrocarbons
E. Particulates
E. Particulates
500
Which of the following is a true statement concerning the production of electricity in conventional nuclear power plants using fission reactors?
A. New nuclear power plants will be built without containment structures, due to the increased insulation in the reactor core.
B. Thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy and then to electrical energy, as in coal-burning power plants.
C. Regularly scheduled releases of radioactive gases during production are well below the maximum contamination levels set by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).
D. Nuclear production of electricity is much less expensive per kilowatt-hour than production of electricity at a coal-burning or natural- gas-fueled power plant.
E. Storage of nuclear waste is no longer an issue, because power plants are now storing all wastes on-site in specialized containment units.
B. Thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy and then to electrical energy, as in coal-burning power plants.
500
The rapid rate of this process in tropical forests results in low-nutrient soils
A. Photosynthesis
B. Eutrophication
C. Denitrification
D. Decomposition
E. Transpiration
D. Decomposition
500
Which of the following would likely reduce the threats posed by exotic species to native species?
i. Increasing inspections of goods coming into a country
ii. Mandating that bilgewater from vessels be emptied in ports instead of in the open ocean
iii. Enforcing legislation that restricts imported materials such as untreated wooden packing crates
A. i only
B. ii only
C. iii only
D. i and iii only
E. i, ii, and iii
D. i and iii only