Environmental Science FINAL EXAM Review
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. During the _____ period(s), humans altered their habitats.
a.
|
hunter-gatherer
|
c.
|
Industrial Revolution
|
b.
|
agricultural revolution
|
d.
|
All of the above
|
____ 2. The _____ was not a direct result of the Industrial Revolution.
a.
|
overhunting of large mammals
|
c.
|
improved quality of life
|
b.
|
shift in the use of fossil fuels
|
d.
|
growth of cities
|
____ 3. Why is the world’s loss of biodiversity a source of concern?
a.
|
Humans depend upon other organisms for food and oxygen.
|
b.
|
Species extinctions have been rare throughout history.
|
c.
|
Loss of biodiversity is not a concern because extinctions are common.
|
d.
|
Both (a) and (b)
|
____ 4. The group that does not receive the experimental treatment in an experiment is the
a.
|
control group.
|
c.
|
data.
|
b.
|
experimental group.
|
d.
|
variable.
|
____ 5. By examining _____, scientists can test predictions for situations in which it is impossible or unethical to use experiments.
a.
|
correlations
|
c.
|
control groups
|
b.
|
observations
|
d.
|
variables
|
____ 6. The average mass of a wolf in a pack of wolves is an example of
a.
|
mean.
|
c.
|
sample size.
|
b.
|
distribution.
|
d.
|
statistical population.
|
____ 7. Which of the following are producers of oxygen?
a.
|
plants
|
c.
|
automobiles
|
b.
|
animals
|
d.
|
industries
|
____ 8. _____ causes air to be denser near Earth’s surface.
a.
|
Gravity
|
c.
|
Condensation
|
b.
|
Temperature
|
d.
|
Evaporation
|
____ 9. Which of the following is not an ecosystem?
a.
|
vacant lot
|
c.
|
coral reef
|
b.
|
oak forest
|
d.
|
utility pole
|
____ 10. The energy in most ecosystems comes from
a.
|
green plants.
|
c.
|
wind.
|
b.
|
the sun.
|
d.
|
All of the above
|
____ 11. The organisms most likely to belong to the same species are
a.
|
people at a football game.
|
c.
|
birds in a forest.
|
b.
|
bacteria inside a person’s body.
|
d.
|
organisms in a pond.
|
____ 12. Which of the following statements is not correct?
a.
|
Plants and other producers get their energy directly from the sun.
|
b.
|
Animals get their energy from the sun indirectly.
|
c.
|
Rare bacteria that live deep in the ocean get their energy from hydrogen sulfide in hot water.
|
d.
|
Consumers get their energy directly from the sun.
|
____ 13. Which kind of organism obtains energy only from producers?
a.
|
decomposers
|
c.
|
omnivores
|
b.
|
herbivores
|
d.
|
All of the above
|
____ 14. Which of the following are photosynthetic organisms?
a.
|
fungal decomposers
|
c.
|
freshwater algae
|
b.
|
deeply buried soil bacteria
|
d.
|
intestinal bacteria
|
____ 15. If you visited a savanna, you would likely see
a.
|
large herds of grazing animals, such as rhinos, gazelles, and giraffes.
|
b.
|
a dense forest.
|
c.
|
snow and ice.
|
d.
|
a coastal ecosystem.
|
____ 16. The tundra
a.
|
has a layer of soil that is permanently frozen beneath the top soil.
|
b.
|
is too cold to support insect life.
|
c.
|
is resistant to environmental damage because it is usually frozen.
|
d.
|
All of the above
|
____ 17. Biomes
a.
|
contain two ecosystems, hence the name “biome.”
|
b.
|
are usually described by their vegetation.
|
c.
|
exist in limited regions of the world.
|
d.
|
All of the above
|
____ 18. In the _____ zone, life is diverse and abundant.
a.
|
benthic
|
c.
|
littoral
|
b.
|
eutrophic
|
d.
|
plankton
|
____ 19. Estuaries
a.
|
are always saltwater ecosystems.
|
b.
|
are always freshwater ecosystems.
|
c.
|
are ecosystems where both fresh water and salt water are present.
|
d.
|
prevent the development of salt marshes.
|
____ 20. Which organism produces most of the food in an aquatic ecosystem?
a.
|
fish
|
c.
|
phytoplankton
|
b.
|
barnacles
|
d.
|
zooplankton
|
____ 21. An example of a population is
a.
|
all trees in a forest.
|
c.
|
all plants in a forest.
|
b.
|
all maple trees in a forest.
|
d.
|
all animals in a forest.
|
____ 22. The density of a population is
a.
|
the number of individuals born every year.
|
b.
|
the proportion of males and females.
|
c.
|
the number of individuals living in cities.
|
d.
|
the number of individuals per unit area.
|
____ 23. Which of the following organisms has the highest reproductive potential?
a.
|
dogs
|
c.
|
bacteria
|
b.
|
elephants
|
d.
|
humans
|
____ 24. Professionals who study and make predictions about human populations are called
a.
|
stenographers.
|
c.
|
geologists.
|
b.
|
demographers.
|
d.
|
populists.
|
____ 25. It took 50 years for Earth’s human population to double from 1 billion to 2 billion. How long did it take for the population to double again to 4 billion?
a.
|
100 years
|
c.
|
44 years
|
b.
|
75 years
|
d.
|
25 years
|
____ 26. Which factor contributed most to the exponential growth of the human population?
a.
|
more food, better hygiene
|
c.
|
higher fertility rates
|
b.
|
higher birth rates
|
d.
|
increased immigration
|
____ 27. An endangered species is
a.
|
a species in danger of extinction.
|
b.
|
a species growing on public land.
|
c.
|
an organism brought to a place where it has not lived before.
|
d.
|
a species that has disappeared entirely.
|
____ 28. How many species are estimated to be living on Earth?
a.
|
between 10,000 and 100,000
|
c.
|
between 1 and 2 million
|
b.
|
between 500,000 and 1 million
|
d.
|
between 10 and 50 million
|
____ 29. The United States laws that protect endangered species
a.
|
are considered to be the strongest in the world.
|
b.
|
are much weaker than the legal protections in most other countries.
|
c.
|
are rarely enforced.
|
d.
|
apply to only 10 species of animals and about 20 species of plants.
|
____ 30. Earth’s surface water is found in
a.
|
lakes.
|
c.
|
streams.
|
b.
|
rivers.
|
d.
|
All of the above
|
____ 31. How is fresh water used in industry?
a.
|
in manufacturing processes
|
c.
|
to generate power
|
b.
|
in the disposal of waste products
|
d.
|
All of the above
|
____ 32. What pollutant forms when automobile emissions react with oxygen gas and ultraviolet rays?
a.
|
ozone
|
c.
|
radon
|
b.
|
carbon dioxide
|
d.
|
sulfur dioxide
|
____ 33. Schools in the United States have spent over $40 billion to remove
a.
|
non-water-based paint.
|
c.
|
volatile organic compounds.
|
b.
|
carbon dioxide.
|
d.
|
asbestos.
|
____ 34. Which of the following contributes most to acid precipitation?
a.
|
burning of fossil fuels
|
c.
|
radon and ozone
|
b.
|
ethanol
|
d.
|
All of the above
|
____ 35. Where do most Americans live?
a.
|
in urban areas
|
b.
|
on producing farms
|
c.
|
in rural areas
|
d.
|
There is an equal distribution of people across the land
|
____ 36. Which of the following is an example of how people use land?
a.
|
to harvest wood
|
c.
|
to preserve native species
|
b.
|
to grow crops
|
d.
|
All of the above
|
____ 37. The U.S. Census Bureau defines an urban area as an area that contains more than
a.
|
250 people.
|
c.
|
25,000 people.
|
b.
|
2,500 people.
|
d.
|
250,000 people.
|
____ 38. Land where it is possible to grow crops is called
a.
|
organic land.
|
c.
|
vegetative land.
|
b.
|
arable land.
|
d.
|
All of the above
|
____ 39. Which of the following agricultural products requires the least amount of energy?
a.
|
beef cattle
|
c.
|
dairy cows
|
b.
|
wheat
|
d.
|
Both (b) and (c)
|
____ 40. One potential way to deal with the problem of seafood overharvesting is by intensifying _____ efforts.
a.
|
genetic engineering
|
c.
|
aquaculture
|
b.
|
subsistence farming
|
d.
|
integrated pest management
|
____ 41. Evaporites most commonly form in
a.
|
arid regions where rates of evaporation are high.
|
b.
|
rain forests where rates of evaporation are low.
|
c.
|
cold regions that receive significant snowfall.
|
d.
|
an area with frequent volcanic activity.
|
____ 42. Which of the following are minerals that contain valuable substances?
a.
|
native minerals
|
c.
|
gangue minerals
|
b.
|
ore minerals
|
d.
|
longwalls
|
____ 43. Gangue minerals
a.
|
are valued for their rarity and durability.
|
b.
|
have no commercial value.
|
c.
|
are the most difficult to mine.
|
d.
|
are native elements.
|
____ 44. Which of the following accurately describes the use of fossil fuels for energy?
a.
|
At the present rate, we will run out of fossil fuels in about 250 years.
|
b.
|
Burning fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
|
c.
|
Fossil fuels account for 69 percent of the electricity generated in the United States.
|
d.
|
All of the above
|
____ 45. Electric generators work by
a.
|
converting oil into electricity.
|
b.
|
turning turbines in a dam.
|
c.
|
converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.
|
d.
|
rubbing copper against a substance that does not conduct electricity.
|
____ 46. Inside the combustion chamber of a coal-fired power plant,
a.
|
steam is directed against turbine blades and causes the blades to turn.
|
b.
|
the turbine sets the generator in motion.
|
c.
|
electricity is generated.
|
d.
|
burning fossil fuels release energy in the form of heat.
|
____ 47. Compared to washing clothes in warm water, washing clothes in cold water uses
a.
|
much more energy.
|
c.
|
much less energy.
|
b.
|
the same amount of energy.
|
d.
|
a little more energy.
|
____ 48. Which of the following is a major source of biomass fuel in developing countries?
a.
|
wood
|
c.
|
corn
|
b.
|
dung
|
d.
|
Both (a) and (b)
|
____ 49. The most energy-efficient vehicles available today are
a.
|
cars with gasoline engines.
|
c.
|
fuel cell cars.
|
b.
|
hybrid cars.
|
d.
|
cars that use biomass fuel.
|
____ 50. Which items make up the largest percentage of waste produced by households and businesses?
a.
|
aluminum cans
|
b.
|
plastic bottles and packaging
|
c.
|
paper products
|
d.
|
yard waste, such as grass clippings and tree limbs
|
____ 51. Which of the following is not considered hazardous waste?
a.
|
dead batteries such as those used in flashlights and radios
|
b.
|
rotting meat and other food waste
|
c.
|
metals such as lead and mercury
|
d.
|
Both (a) and (c)
|
____ 52. Which of the following are problems associated with landfills?
a.
|
source reduction and composting
|
c.
|
surface impoundment and leachate
|
b.
|
leachate and methane production
|
d.
|
All of the above
|
____ 53. Which of the following pollutants is caused by poor sanitation and can lead to gastrointestinal infections?
a.
|
bacteria in food
|
c.
|
lead in water
|
b.
|
pesticides in food
|
d.
|
particulate matter in water
|
____ 54. Worldwide, nearly three-fourths of infectious diseases are transmitted through
a.
|
water.
|
c.
|
soil.
|
b.
|
air.
|
d.
|
people.
|
____ 55. Two diseases that can be caused directly by pollution are
a.
|
measles and tuberculosis.
|
c.
|
cholera and river blindness.
|
b.
|
lead poisoning and lung cancer.
|
d.
|
colds and flu.
|
____ 56. If you wanted information about a particular environmental issue, what should you do?
a.
|
watch the news on television
|
c.
|
conduct research on the Internet
|
b.
|
read scientific journals
|
d.
|
All of the above
|
____ 57. A government offers low-interest loans to people who build solar homes. This is an example of a(n)
a.
|
economic failure.
|
c.
|
marketing ploy.
|
b.
|
economic incentive.
|
d.
|
regulation.
|
____ 58. Solutions to environmental problems require
a.
|
individual action.
|
b.
|
the cooperation of many people.
|
c.
|
a basis in scientific methods and knowledge.
|
d.
|
All of the above
|
____ 59. If you wanted to convince your elected leaders that steps should be taken to reduce soil erosion along the bank of the creek that runs through your neighborhood, you would probably be most effective working with your
a.
|
local government.
|
c.
|
United States Senator.
|
b.
|
state representative.
|
d.
|
Congressional Representative.
|
____ 60. Which of the following is not true of the Law of the Sea?
a.
|
It calls for monitoring the health of marine organisms.
|
b.
|
It declares that deep-sea resources are commonly shared.
|
c.
|
It addresses ocean pollution from land runoff.
|
d.
|
It calls for monitoring of ocean dumping.
|
____ 61. Why didn’t the United States sign the Kyoto Protocol?
a.
|
The United States was not part of treaty negotiations.
|
b.
|
The terms of the treaty were considered too weak.
|
c.
|
It was considered costly and contained inconsistent requirements for different nations.
|
d.
|
The United States does not contribute to global warming.
|
____ 62. Which of these would not represent a government incentive?
a.
|
a tax on actions that have a social cost
|
b.
|
a reward for actions that benefit society
|
c.
|
the elimination of the “energy star program”
|
d.
|
All of the above
|
|
