2008 Multiple Choice
Composed of fibers known to cause lung disease A) Asbestos B) Radon C) Lead D) Carbon monoxide E) Formaldehyde
A) Asbestos
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) Coal, oil, and natural gas
Which of the following best exemplifies population momentum? A) Continued growth of a population after fertility drops to replacement level B) Continued growth of a population due to emigration C) Decreased population due to increase in the death rate D) Decreased population due to a reduced death rate and an increase fertility rate E) Growth of a population after the fertility rate doubles
A) Continued growth of a population after fertility drops to replacement level
Alligators in a Florida lake polluted by high levels of dioxins (chlorinated hydrocarbons) had low testosterone levels and failed to reproduce. Scientists came to the conclusion that the dioxins were acting as which of the following? A) Endocrine disruptors B) Growth hormones C) Carcinogens D) Immune-system suppressors E) Mutagens
A) Endocrine disruptors
Which of the following is most typically associated with the transition from a rural to an urbanized society? A) Reduced birth rate B) Reduced need for sewage-treatment facilities C) Increased rates of population growth D) Increased air quality in urban areas E) Increased stabilization of microclimate in urban areas
A) Reduced birth rate
Which of the following is a way for the government to encourage efficient energy use? A) Requiring higher fuel economy standards for new cars B) Implementing government subsidies to keep gasoline prices low C) Raising the speed limit from 55 to 70 miles per hour D) Limiting the development of public transportation systems E) Removing all taxes from gasoline at the fuel pump
A) Requiring higher fuel economy standards for new cars
Which of the following is most likely to increase both the nutrient levels and the bacterial content of lake water? A) Runoff from a nearby hog farm B) Thermal pollution from a nearby power plant C) Increased aeration of the lake water D) Percolation of the water through soil to groundwater E) Acidification of the lake water by acid deposition
A) Runoff from nearby hog farm
Requires minimum safety standards for community water supplies A) Safe Drinking Water Act B) Clean Water Act C) Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) D) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act E) Toxic Substances Control Act
A) Safe Drinking Water Act
Of the following countries, which has the largest proven reserves of strategic metals such as manganese, chromium, and platinum? A) South Africa B) Japan C) Saudi Arabia D) The United States E) France
A) South Africa
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 a 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
Which of the following describes the heat-island effect? A) Urban areas trap more heat than rural areas do B) Tropical islands reflect heat back into the atmosphere C) Warm water in the Pacific causes excessive evaporation into the atmosphere D) Lakes retain heat and provide warmth for landmasses nearby E) Rapid decomposition in swamps releases a large amount of heat
A) Urban areas trap more heat than rural areas do
Sustainable use of forests in the United States would likely be encouraged by: A) cutting small groups of medium- and large-sized trees in uneven-aged forests B) clear-cutting old-growth forests to allow for secondary succession C) allowing road building in wilderness areas so that older, clear-cut forests have time to regenerate D) logging on steep slopes in designated wilderness areas E) enforcing all provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
A) cutting small groups of medium- and large-sized trees in uneven-aged forests
Overgrazing of grasslands can lead to reduced range quality. Two of the major effects of overgrazing are: A) erosion and desertification B) higher fire potential and increased productivity C) eutrophication and increased productivity D) higher primary productivity and ammonification E) soil compaction and subsidence
A) erosion and desertification
A home uses ten 100-watt lightbulbs for five hours per day. Approximately how many kilowatt-hours of electrical energy are consumed in one year by using the lightbulbs? A) 365 B) 1,825 C) 5,000 D) 10,500 E) 365,000
B) 1,825
If a country has a crude birth rate of 24 per 1,000 and a crude death rate of 8 per 1,000, the natural annual percent increase of its population is: A) 0.6% B) 1.6% C) 3% D) 16% E) 32%
B) 1.6%
Which of the following is a greenhouse gas that is produced by domestic livestock? A) NO2 B) CH4 C) O3 D) CO E) SO2
B) CH4
Mandates the restoration and maintenance of the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's water. A) Safe Drinking Water Act B) Clean Water Act C) Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) D) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act E) Toxic Substances Control Act
B) Clean Water Act
Which of the following human activities is most closely associated with depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer? A) Mining of coal B) Disposal of refrigerators and air conditioners C) Heating of homes and factories D) Generation of electricity E) Agricultural irrigation
B) Disposal of refrigerators and air conditioners
Which of the following is a major goal of the program begun in 1995 to reintroduce the gray wolf into Yellowstone National Park? A) Decrease the number of grizzly bears, because they were becoming a nuisance B) Enable the removal of the gray wolf from the endangered species list C) Increase the dwindling numbers of tourists that visit the park each year D) Upset the natural predator-prey balance between coyotes and elk E) Decrease the number of sheep and cattle that wander into the park and overgraze the vegetation
B) Enable the removal of the gray wolf from the endangered species list
Which of the following best describes the first law of thermodynamics? A) Energy always changes from a more useful, more concentrated form to a less useful, less concentrated form B) In a closed system of constant mass, the energy involved in any physical or chemical change is neither created nor destroyed, but merely changed from one form to another C) Heat always flows from a hot body to a cold body D) Entropy of a system increases as the state of disorganization in the system increases E) In a reversible process, the entropy of the system is constant, whereas in an irreversible process, the entropy of the system increases
B) In a closed system of constant mass, the energy involved in any physical or chemical change is neither created nor destroyed, but merely changed from one form to another
Rachel Carson's contributions to the environmental movement include which of the following? A) Alerting the public to the hazardous waste problem at Love Canal B) Increasing public awareness of the risks of using pesticides C) Starting the first Earth Day in 1970 D) DIscovering the thinning of the ozone layer in polar regions E) Being the first female administrator of the EPA
B) Increasing public awareness of the risks of using pesticides
Five islands, A, B, C, D, and E differ only in distance from the mainland, area and species diversity. Which island would be predicted to have the highest species diversity? A) Island: A Distance from Mainland: 50 km Area (hectares): 1 x 10² B) Island: B Distance from Mainland: 50 km Area (hectares): 1 x 10⁶ C) Island: C Distance from Mainland: 500 km Area (hectares): 1 x 10² D) Island: D Distance from Mainland: 1,000 km Area (hectares): 1 x 10² E) Island: E Distance from Mainland: 1,000 km Area (hectares): 1 x 10⁶
B) Island: B Distance from Mainland: 50 km Area (hectares): 1 x 10⁶
Which of the following is a true statement about passive solar heating? A) It is effective only during the summer months B) It is based in part on the principle of the greenhouse effect C) It is not used to heat commercial buildings D) It is not efficient because it cannot produce high-quality energy E) It produces more pollution than heating with an electric heat pump
B) It is based in part on the principle of the greenhouse effect
Of the following cities, which regularly experiences the worst levels of photochemical smog that is enhanced by thermal inversions? A) New York City, New York B) Los Angeles, California C) Portland, Oregon D) Atlanta, Georgia E) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
B) Los Angeles, California
Which of the following best explains why it is predicted that ozone depletion over the poles will be at its worst between 2010 and 2019? A) Projected global warming from carbon dioxide emissions is expected to reach a peak during those years B) Ozone-depleting chemicals produced before their use was banned will take that long to reach peak concentrations in the stratosphere C) Deforestation in tropical regions is expected to reach a peak during the second decade of the twenty-first century D) Increased global population will lead to an increase in per capita CO2 production E) Acid deposition will continue to increase, reaching a peak in approximately 2015
B) Ozone-depleting chemicals produced before their use was banned will take that long to reach peak concentrations in the stratosphere
in a typical forest ecosystem, dead trees and fallen trees are most important because of their role in which of the following? A) Providing a valuable source of timber B) Providing habitats for wildlife C) Contributing to soil erosion D) Increasing water runoff E) Removing carbon dioxide from the air
B) Providing habitats for wildlife
Colorless, odorless gas that is a naturally occurring decay product of uranium A) Asbestos B) Radon C) Lead D) Carbon monoxide E) Formaldehyde
B) Radon
During which stage of the demographic transition does a population begin to experience an explosive increase in growth? A) Stage 1 B) Stage 2 C) Stage 3 D) Stage 4 E) After stage 4
B) Stage 2
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) The second law of thermodynamics
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 increase 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 unites
B) Thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy and then to electrical energy, as in coal-burning power plants
Which of the following best explains why the maximum sustainable yield for ocean fisheries has been exceeded? A) Populations of fish-eating birds such as the albatross have increased B) Too many fish of reproductive age are harvested C) Too many marine fish farms have been created D) Everything trapped by large bottom trawl nets is used for food E) For every calorie for fish caught, a ship uses only about 0.5 calorie of fuel energy
B) Too many fish of reproductive age are harvested
Which of the following is a measure of the amount of suspended material in water? A) Salinity B) Turbidity C) Trace-metal concentration D) Leachate concentration E) pH
B) Turbidity
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
The consumption of mosquitoes by bats and the control of flooding provided by tropical forests in mountainous areas of Central America are examples of: A) adaptive radiation B) ecosystem services C) evolution by natural selection D) ecological equilibrium E) positive feedback loops
B) ecosystem services
Ticks are vectors for various diseases. The ticks acquire the disease-causing organisms from: A) polluted water B) feeding on host animals C) contact with other ticks D) trees and plants in a forest E) gene changes as they go through metamorphosis
B) feeding on host animals
When a rain forest is slashed and burned, the local concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases. This is primarily due to: A) changes in the local climate B) oxidation of carbon compounds C) cellular respiration of rain-forest plants D) erosion of exposed soil E) carbon dioxide being released by anaerobic organisms
B) oxidation of carbon compounds
Most municipal solid waste in the United States is disposed of in: A) the oceans B) sanitary landfills C) deep wells D) open dumps E) abandoned mines
B) sanitary landfills
Pollution is considered an external cost when: A) it has harmful effects borne only by the people who purchase the products that cause the pollution B) the cost to the environment is not reflected in the price of the products that produce the pollution C) it has a significant impact on the consumer's decision to buy a product that pollutes D) it is a hidden cost that would result in a greater demand for the product if the consumer were aware of the hidden cost E) it is produced in the external environment by a malfunction in the operation of the product
B) the cost to the environment is not reflected in the price of the products that produce the pollution
The process in the hydrologic cycle in which water vapor is released from leaves into the atmosphere is called: A) infiltration B) transpiration C) sublimation D) reflection E) percolation
B) transpiration
In 2007 in the United States there were approximately 480 cars for every 1,000 people. The total number of cars in the United States in 2007 was closest to: A) 150,000 B) 30,000,000 C) 150,000,000 D) 300,000,000 E) 3,000,000,000
C) 150,000,000
What is the population doubling time in years for a country with an annual growth rate of 3.5 percent? A) 0.5 B) 3.5 C) 20 D) 24.5 E) 70
C) 20
When scientists discover the existence of an emerging infectious disease such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), they must take immediate steps to determine the cause of the disease and the method of transmission. These initial steps would include which of the following? A) Developing a vaccine to eliminate the disease B) Beginning a program to eradicate insect vectors for the disease C) Acquiring recent medical and travel histories of the disease victims D) Testing methods to block airborne transmission of the disease E) Estimating the cost of eradicating the disease
C) Acquiring recent medical and travel histories of the disease victims
In the majority of less developed countries, the major source of energy for domestic use is which of the following? A) Oil B) Coal C) Biomass D) Nuclear E) Geothermal
C) Biomass
Which of the following is true of carbon as it cycles in nature? A) Carbon dioxide is released during photosynthesis B) Carbon compounds rarely exist in the gaseous state C) Carbon sinks include forests and oceans D) The carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is reduced by cutting rocks E) Carbon is concentrated in igneous rocks
C) Carbon sinks include forests and oceans
Global warming is most likely to directly cause which of the following? A) Shifting of grain belts toward the equator B) Falling sea levels in the Southern Hemisphere C) Coastal flooding and submersion of low-lying areas D) A decrease in the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere E) An increase in the number an size of glaciers
C) Coastal flooding and submersion of low-lying areas
Which of the following terms applies to the economic approach of including external costs in the price of goods and services? A) Optimal-cost pricing B) Cost-benefit pricing C) Full-cost pricing D) Green pricing E) Subsidized pricing
C) Full-cost pricing
Found in old plumbing pipes and fixtures and some ceramic glazes A) Asbestos B) Radon C) Lead D) Carbon monoxide E) Formaldehyde
C) Lead
An integrated pest-management approach to pest control emphasizes which of the following? A) Eradication of the pest population B) Reliance on spraying broad-spectrum C) Reduction of crop damage to an economically tolerable level D) Use of plant monocultures to simplify spraying E) Elimination of the use of second-generation pesticides
C) Reduction of crop damage to an economically tolerable level
Which of the following actions would reduce global greenhouse emissions? A) Increasing the use of automobiles B) Decreasing the number of nuclear power plants C) Replacing coal-burning power plants with wind farms D) Converting tropical forests to rice paddies E) Switching from hydroelectric power generation to power generation using natural gas as the primary fuel
C) Replacing coal-burning power plants with wind farms
In a cost-benefit analysis of the risks associated with an environmental hazard involving human health and safety, which of the following concerns is NOT typically taken into account? A) Lower worker productivity resulting from health-related time lost on the job B) Higher production costs resulting from the installation of expensive pollution-control devices C) The long-term value and peace of mind to society resulting from a cleaner, healthier environment D) The initial capital investment required to purchase pollution-control devices E) The need to remove pollutants from factory effluents
C) The long-term value and peace of mind to society resulting from a cleaner, healthier environment
Most oxygen is found in this layer of the atmosphere A) Thermosphere B) Exosphere C) Troposphere D) Mesosphere E) Stratosphere
C) Troposphere
The phenomenon causing of global warming occurs primarily in this region of the atmosphere A) Thermosphere B) Exosphere C) Troposphere D) Mesosphere E) Stratosphere
C) Troposphere
In a river ecosystem, dissolved oxygen concentrations drop quickly downstream from a point-source input of organic matter into the river. This effect is due to: A) increasing populations of mayfly and stonefly larvae B) increasing activity of trout and black bass C) increasing bacterial activity as organic matter decays D) decreasing bacterial activity as turbidity increases E) decreasing water temperature as surface evaporation increases
C) increasing bacterial activity as organic matter decays
The most populous countries in the world are China, India, and: A) Indonesia B) Russia C) the United States D) Japan E) Mexico
C) the United States
The net annual primary productivity of a particular wetland ecosystem is found to be 8l,000 kcal/m² per year. if respiration by the aquatic producers is 12,000 kcal/m² per year, what is the gross annual primary productivity for this ecosystem, in kcal/m2 per year? A) 4,000 B) 8,000 C) 12,000 D) 20,000 E) 96,000
D) 20,000
If Earth had no atmosphere, the mean surface temperature would be approximately -15°C. With our present atmosphere, Earth's mean surface temperature is approximately +15°C. WHich of the following is the best explanation for this difference? A) Reflection of incident solar radiation by clouds B) Scattering of visible radiation by aerosols C) Absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer D) Absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases E) The breakdown of oxygen molecules in the thermosphere
D) Absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases
By the year 2050, world population is expected to approach 10 billion. If the current population trends continue, which region of the world will most likely experience the majority of the growth? A) North and Central America B) Central and South America C) Eastern and Western Europe D) Africa and Asia E) Australia and New Zealand
D) Africa and Asia
Which of the following are the three major sources of nutrients and calories for the global human population? A) Potatoes, fish, and barley B) Wheat, beef, and potatoes C) Oats, soybeans, and poultry D) Corn (maize), wheat, and rice E) Rye,beef, and eggs
D) Corn (maize), wheat, and rice
Which of the following would encourage recycling? A) Decreasing government purchases of recycled materials B) Decreasing subsidies for recycling C) Decreasing taxes on resource-extracting industries D) Decreasing taxes on recycled material E) Decreasing fees for using landfills
D) Decreasing taxes on recycled material
True statements about ozone include which of the following? I. It is a pollutant in the troposphere II. It filters out most of the UVC radiation in the stratosphere III. Most of it is formed in the stratosphere by reaction between carbon dioxide and free oxygen atoms A) I only B) II only C) III only D) I and II only E) I, II, and III
D) I and II only
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 only
D) I and III only
The use of which of the following to control agricultural insect pests is most likely to have a negative and persistent impact on an ecosystem? A) Bacillus thuringiensis, a soil organism that kills insect larvae B) Braconid sp., a parasitic wasp C) Insecticidal soap, a surfactant that kills through suffocation D) Lindance, a chlorinated hydrocarbon E) Rotenone, a toxic plant derivative
D) Lindance, a chlorinated hydrocarbon
Which of the following best illustrates an abiotic component of the environment affecting a biotic component of the environment? A) Composted manure is added to agricultural soil during spring tilling B) Coral reefs modify the direction of an ocean current C) Plants release O2 into the atmosphere during photosynthesis D) Low phosphorus content in soil limits the growth of vegetation E) A thick planting of ground cover reduces soil erosion on a hillside
D) Low phosphorus content in soil limits the growth of vegetation
Establishes cradle-to-grave tracking of hazardous waste A) Safe Drinking Water Act B) Clean Water Act C) Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) D) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act E) Toxic Substances Control Act
D) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Overuse of groundwater in coastal areas would most likely result in which of the following? A) Rise in water table B) Increase in stream flow C) Bacterial contamination of surface water D) Saltwater intrusion E) Decrease in eutrophication
D) Saltwater intrusion
During an El Nino-Southern Oscillation event, which of the following best describes conditions in the eastern part of the tropical Pacific Ocean (e.g., near Peru and Ecuador) ? A) Sea Surface Temperature: Low; Rainfall: Low B) Sea Surface Temperature: Low; Rainfall: High C) Sea Surface Temperature: High; Rainfall: Low D) Sea Surface Temperature: High; Rainfall: High A) Sea Surface Temperature: High; Rainfall: Normal
D) Sea Surface Temperature: High; Rainfall: High
An advantage of using natural gas, rather than oil, as a fuel is that natural gas is: A) less of a contributor to global warming because it does not release CO2 when it burns B) less expensive because most reserves are in the United States C) more abundant because it is a by-product of photosynthesis D) cleaner because it burns more completely E) safer to store because it is a gas
D) cleaner because it burns more completely
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
Lakes that are characterized by high water clarity and low concentration of dissolved nutrients are classified as: A) buffered B) climax C) eutrophic D) oligotrophic E) stratified
D) oligotrophic
A sustainable society would emphasize: A) maintaining the current rates of energy flow and resource use B) converting the world's high-quality energy resources to low-quality heat C) recycling both matter and high-quality energy D) using energy efficiently and reusing and recycling matter E) quickly expanding nuclear power, because it is a renewable resource
D) using energy efficiently and reusing and recycling matter
The half-life of radon gas is approximately four days. Four weeks after the introduction of radon into a sealed room, the fraction of the original amount remaining is closest to: A) 1/2 B) 1/8 C) 1/32 D) 1/64 E) 1/128
E) 1/128
Which of the following shows the approximate concentration of CO2, N2, and O2 in dry air? A) 78% CO2, <1% N2, 21% O2 B) 43% CO2, <1% N2, 56% O2 C) 36% CO2, 8% N2, 56% O2 D) 10% CO2, 70% N2, 20% O2 E) <1% CO2, 78% N2, 21% O2
E) <1% CO2, 78% N2, 21% O2
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
Which of the following world regions contain the greatest area of rain forest? A) Canada and the United States B) Eastern and Western Europe C) Russia and China D) Australia and New Zealand E) Brazil and Indonesia
E) Brazil and Indonesia
Emitted from most manufactured building materials and furniture A) Asbestos B) Radon C) Lead D) Carbon monoxide E) Formaldehyde
E) Formaldehyde
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
Factors that affect the total fertility rate of a human population include which of the following? I. Cultural traditions II. Government policies and economic incentives III. Education level and economic opportunities for females A) I only B) II only C) I and II only D) II and III only E) I, II, and III
E) I, II, and III
Possible effects of a warmer atmosphere include which of the following? I. Expanded ranges of tropical diseases II. More intense hurricanes and typhoons III. Increased crop damage from pests and diseases A) I only B) II only C) I and III only D) II and III only E) I, II, and III
E) I, II, and III
Which of the following is a common characteristic of lakes undergoing cultural eutrophication? A) Decreased rates of sediment accumulation B) Decreased amounts of green and blue-green algae C) Increased levels of oxygen throughout the water column D) Increased water clarity in the epilimnion E) Increased levels of plant nutrients
E) Increased levels of plant nutrients
The greatest amount of fresh water is found in which of the following? A) The atmosphere B) Estuaries C) Lakes D) RIvers and streams E) Polar ice caps and glaciers
E) Polar ice caps and glaciers
Which of the following best illustrates point-source pollution? A) Toxic sediments in the delta of a major river B) Increase in NOₓ in a traffic-clogged city C) Dust blowing off unpaved roads D) Smoke emitted from forest fires E) Smokestack emissions from a large smelting company
E) Smokestack emissions from a large smelting company
The beneficial ozone layer is in this region of the atmosphere A) Thermosphere B) Exosphere C) Troposphere D) Mesosphere E) Stratosphere
E) Stratosphere
Of the following, which is true of noise pollution? A) Noise pollution is an insignificant occupational hazard B) Noise at 100 decibels has twice the energy of noise at 50 decibels C) Hearing damage occurs most quickly when the intensity level of the sound is low D) In urban areas, few individuals are exposed to noise pollution E) Sudden or persistent noise may lead to permanent hearing loss
E) Sudden or persistent noise may lead to permanent hearing loss
What two main factors would best indicate the quality of life of a country's population? A) The total fertility rate and the death rate B) The crude birth rate and crude death rate C) The birth rate and the infant mortality rate D) The replacement-level fertility rate and the total fertility rate E) The life expectancy and the infant mortality rate
E) The life expectancy and the infant mortality rate
A large forested area is fragmented into small forest tracts separated by agricultural areas. This change will most likely lead to: A) an increase in the population of top carnivores B) an improvement in the dispersal mechanisms of forest species C) a more stable regional climate D) a decrease in the amount of edge habitat E) a decrease in the gene flow within species of the original forest
E) a decrease in the gene flow within species of the original forest
Although the fertility rate for women in the United States has declined in recent years to a value below replacement level, the United States population is still increasing because of: A) lower average age at first marriage B) lower infant death rates C) increased longevity D) improved health care E) immigration
E) immigration
When logging is carried out in a watershed, a likely effect on the local streams is: A) mitigation of anoxia B) decreased nutrient levels C) decreased input of sediments D) increased oligotrophic conditions E) increased water temperature
E) increased water temperature
Three common methods employed in the cleanup of oil spills are: A) aeration of water, skimmer boats, and genetically engineered bacteria B) aeration of water, phytoremediation, and genetically engineered bacteria C) skimmer boats, high temperature incineration, and phytoremediation D) large floating booms, high temperature incineration, and phytoremediation E) large floating booms, skimmer boats, and genetically engineered bacteria
E) large floating booms, skimmer boats, and genetically engineered bacteria
Ground-level ozone in most major United States cities results primarily from: A) burning coal B) burning fuel for cooking C) producing electric power D) industrial emissions E) motor-vehicle exhaust
E) motor-vehicle exhaust
Of the following strategies to decrease the landfill volume of packaging material from food and other consumer products, the most energy efficient is: A) recovering plastic packaging material from the waste stream and recycling it B) recovering metal packaging material from the waste stream and recycling it C) limiting the size of individual beverage containers made from metal, glass, or plastic D) using more packaging materials that are manufactured from raw materials that are renewable E) promoting the use of reusable containers for consumer goods
E) promoting the use of reusable containers for consumer goods