Nature of Science
A population of domesticated sheep becomes stranded on a rocky island. Over many years, the physical traits of the sheep population are altered. Their wool became thicker & darker, their hooves became deeper & sturdier, & their ears became smaller and rounded. These changes are an example of which process?
a) Evolution by natural selection, because the environment influenced the fitness of the sheep.
b) Evolution by artificial selection, because the changes in traits are unrelated to fitness.
c) Evolution by artificial selection, because sheep are domesticated animals that were bred by humans.
d) Changes that do not involve evolution, because the population remained the same species.
a) Evolution by natural selection, because the environment influenced the fitness of the sheep.
10. Any gas or solid particle in the atmosphere that is in a high enough concentration to cause harm to any of the biotic factors on Earth is referred to as ____.
a) water pollution
b) stationary air
c) air pollution
d) natural gas
c) air pollution
Healthcare professionals offer a wide variety of advice for staying healthy. Here are three examples: wash your hands before eating and after using the toilet; avoid eating rotten or spoiled food; do not share personal items such as combs and toothbrushes. What do all three of these practices have in common?
a) They prevent allergic reactions.
b) They keep toxic metals away from the body.
c) They help stop the spread of pathogens.
d) They help reduce the mutation rate.
c) They help stop the spread of pathogens.
17. A specific set of organisms, such as the starfish in the cove, is necessary to maintain a balance in populations among different species that share the space. When the starfish is removed, sea urchins can take over and push out other, more sensitive species. The term used to refer to the special role that this starfish plays is called ___.
a) keystone species
b) indicator species
c) top predator species
d) controller species
a) keystone species
Salt water is an abundant resource but is unusable for irrigation and drinking. As demands on freshwater sources increase, the use of desalination processes to remove salt from ocean water is increasing. A concern of desalination water is the large amounts of recovered salts that are returned to the ocean. Which of the following describes the most likely impact of desalination on the surrounding ocean environment?
a) The freshwater lakes would become saltwater lakes.
b) The carbon dioxide levels would increase from the coal burned to make the salt.
c) Changing the ocean salt levels would cause loss of species and alter the ocean food webs.
d) Methane gas would pollute the ocean environment as shoreline organisms begin to die and decay.
c) Changing the ocean salt levels would cause loss of species and alter the ocean food webs.
Harvey is studying the turtles that live in a pond. His knowledge of ecology will be MOST USEFUL for explaining which of these observations of the turtles?
a) A female turtle lays a clutch of eggs along the shore of the lake, and not in the water.
b) The carapace (shell) of the turtle appears to be an extension of its spine.
c) One summer, the size of the turtle population suddenly increases, but then gradually decreases.
d) A turtle may remain underwater for several minutes, but then surfaces for at least a brief moment.
c) One summer, the size of the turtle population suddenly increases, but then gradually decreases.
You work for a company that is investigating the pollution in a river. As you trace the chemicals up the river, you find a pipe dumping a bunch of brown, frothy liquid into the river. What term is used to describe this type of pollution?
a) Nonpoint source pollution
b) Point source pollution
c) Air pollution
d) Piping pollution
b) Point source pollution
The build up of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in various tissues of a living organism is defined as
a) bioaccumulation.
b) mutagen.
c) biomagnification.
d) carrying capacity.
a) bioaccumulation.
We are usually referring to species diversity when we talk about biodiversity. However, genetic diversity is also important to ecological systems because diverse genes
a) increase the efficiency and productivity of a system because all niches are filled.
b) allow an individual organism to adapt to its changing environment.
c) are necessary for a population to evolve in a changing environment.
d) lead to diverse ecological processes in a biological community.
c) are necessary for a population to evolve in a changing environment.
_________ is the water that infiltrates through the ground and is stored in spaces in soil and rock.
a) Lateral recharge
b) Water table
c) Surface water
d) Groundwater
d) Groundwater
Although your sister is not a scientist, she says that she uses scientific techniques in her everyday life. You do not believe her, but she insists it is true. Which of the following examples could she use to best persuade you that science is used daily?
a) When she cooks, she measures ingredients and puts them together to form something else (e.g., a cake).
b) When she drives in her car, she hypothesizes about things (e.g., when the red light will turn green).
c) She put some tomatoes in the sun and some in the shade to see if the sun causes them to ripen faster.
d) She buys a brand of toothpaste based on statistical data (four out of five dentists recommend it).
c) She put some tomatoes in the sun and some in the shade to see if the sun causes them to ripen faster.
Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide and methane. How do greenhouse gases act to increase air temperatures near Earth’s surface?
a) They transmit visible light that enters the atmosphere.
b) They emit heat when they undergo chemical reactions.
c) They trap heat that is radiated from the surface.
d) They reflect heat that enters the atmosphere.
c) They trap heat that is radiated from the surface.
The cutting of rainforests causes a lack of normal water flow into the soil. Puddles of water can stand for long periods. Which of the following statements best explains how rainforest destruction is closely tied with human morbidity and mortality?
a) The elimination of top consumers can favor disease-carrying organisms.
b) Mosquitoes with an aquatic larval form spread many highly contagious diseases.
c) The standing water is used for drinking and disease organisms in the water cause diarrhea.
d) All of these explain the connection between rainforest destruction and human morbidity and mortality.
b) Mosquitoes with an aquatic larval form spread many highly contagious diseases.
In terms of species diversity and complexity, a coral reef would be similar to which terrestrial biome?
a) savannah
b) arctic tundra
c) tropical rainforest
d) chaparral
c) tropical rainforest
Which of the following factors is the most important factor in determining whether a country is "water rich" or "water poor"?
a) country size
b) climate
c) rivers running through the country
d) renewable water supplies and population density
d) renewable water supplies and population density
In reading a claim by an atmospheric scientist that ozone depletion is not an actual environmental problem, a critical thinker would
a) ignore the claim because it does not align with his/her opinions.
b) feel relieved because ozone depletion was such an overwhelming problem.
c) look for evidence that is in line with past experience.
d) look for evidence and background of the source's reliability.
d) look for evidence and background of the source's reliability.
Most organisms in the biosphere exchange the gases oxygen and carbon dioxide with the atmosphere. Which of the following describes an exchange of matter between the atmosphere and the geosphere?
a) Water vapor condensing in the air to form clouds.
b) A volcanic eruption releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
c) Carbon dioxide dissolving from the atmosphere into ocean water.
d) The remains of living things settling on the floor of the ocean, and then becoming rock.
b) A volcanic eruption releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
In the United States about two-thirds of a ton of waste is generated for each person (including children). Compared to the United States, Japan and Europe generate about half that amount. One of the factors that probably does not contribute to this difference is
a) the United States collection and dumping processes mix and crush everything together so separation is not possible.
b) the fact that Japan is an island with limited space.
c) the high rate of recycling in Japan.
d) that people in the United States have a higher standard of living than Japan and Europe.
d) that people in the United States have a higher standard of living than Japan and Europe.
In the partnership of a lichen, the fungus provides _________ and the relationship best described as _______.
a) most of the photosynthesis; symbiosis
b) poisons that deter predation; commensalism
c) structure and moisture-holding ability; mutualism
d) very little to the algal partner; parasitism
c) structure and moisture-holding ability; mutualism
Plants that take up heavy metals found in water would be an example of
a) containment of pollutants.
b) tertiary sewage treatment.
c) bioremediation.
c) wetland treatment.
c) bioremediation.
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistic to compare quality of life in different places. Why do some countries have low HDI values compared to others?
a) People live longer and have greater incomes in these locations.
b) Poverty, hunger, and health problems are greater in these places.
c) Most of the data is collected by U.S. agencies and is biased.
d) Literacy and education are higher in these locations compared to others.
b) Poverty, hunger, and health problems are greater in these places.
Which of the following is a nonpoint source of water pollution?
a) runoff from streets during a large rain event
b) a mine discharging acidic effluent
c) a drainpipe from an industrial factory
d) an effluent pipe from a sewage treatment plant
a) runoff from streets during a large rain event
Based on what you know of risk assessment, which of the following factors would not explain the seemingly irrational behavior of a father who smokes (high risk factor for baby) throwing away his baby's teething rings that may contain phthalates (seemingly low risk factor for baby).
a) People tend to downplay risks that are associated with activities they are committed to or enjoy.
b) Most people do not understand the concepts of probability.
c) News media can give a biased view of hazards.
d) People recognize the risk of man-made objects but not those of natural (tobacco) objects.
d) People recognize the risk of man-made objects but not those of natural (tobacco) objects.
Ecological diversity is a measure of the number of
a) different kinds of organisms within a community or ecosystem.
b) different versions of the same gene in an ecological community.
c) sizes, colors, and shapes of organisms within an ecological community.
d) niches, trophic levels, and ecological processes of a biological community.
d) niches, trophic levels, and ecological processes of a biological community.
Coliform bacteria populations are routinely monitored in drinking water supplies, swimming pools, and at beaches because these bacteria
a) are especially toxic to animals.
b) may mutate into severely pathogenic strains.
c) indicate the presence of feces in water.
d) usually live in pesticide-contaminated water.
c) indicate the presence of feces in water.