APES Unit 4 Review - MRQ

The diagram below represents how solar radiation strikes the surface of Earth differently, depending on location, during the June solstice. Which of the following combinations correctly identifies and explains the effects of the differences in the distribution of solar radiation on Earth as seen in the diagram above?

Global wind patterns are created because uneven solar radiation results in warm air at low latitudes and cool air at high latitudes, resulting in density differences between the air masses. (Solar radiation is most direct at low latitudes and least at high latitudes. This results in the air masses having different densities and the Coriolis effect that deflects the air masses, creating winds.)

During a La Niña event, what environmental changes would the tropical Pacific Ocean and its surrounding landmasses most likely experience?

Increased upwelling off the coast of South America resulting in increased productivity of fisheries (Upwelling in the eastern Pacific will be increased due to strong easterly winds pulling surface water to the west. This brings nutrient-rich cold water to the surface, which increases productivity and benefits fisheries.)

Which of the following is a dependent variable in the experiment?

Percent change in mass of the soil sample (Percent change in mass is a calculation determined from the amount of soil collected in the runoff.)

Which of the following describes the dependent variable in this investigation?

Percentage of each particle size in each soil sample (The percentage of each particle size in the soil samples was calculated based on the layers that settled out in the jars and was dependent on each soil sample. This is the dependent variable.)

The vast majority of ozone (O3)is found in a thin layer due to a lack of circulation in which of the following atmospheric layers?

Stratosphere (The stratosphere contains the ozone layer, which is thin because the air within the stratosphere does not circulate (unlike the air in the troposphere).)

Which of the following is the best explanation for the deflection of the trade winds in both hemispheres, as seen in the diagram above?

The wind is deflected west because of Earth's rotation. (Earth rotates faster near the equator than at the poles, and therefore the path of the air current is deflected to the west as seen in the diagram above.)

The Atlantic Ocean is expanding as a result of plate tectonics. Which of the following explanations best identifies the type of plate boundary and processes occurring at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?

A divergent plate boundary exists at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where plates move away from one another, leading to seafloor spreading. (The Atlantic Ocean is expanding east to west at a rate of about 2.5 centimeters annually. Divergent plate boundaries are the only type of boundary that results in seafloor spreading.)

Based on the diagram, which of the following describes why the summer solstice in Australia occurs in December and not in June?

At this time of year, the tilt of Earth causes Australia to receive highly concentrated solar radiation. (At this time of year, the Earth is tilted in such a way that Australia receives solar radiation nearly perpendicular to the Earth's surface, resulting in highly concentrated rays during the summer season.)

Based on the diagram, which of the following days in Earth's yearly orbit would have the longest period of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere?

June solstice (The summer solstice is on June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, when the Earth's North Pole has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. The summer solstice is when the Sun is at its highest position in the sky and the day has the longest period of daylight. Day length on this day ranges from about 13 hours (in Hawaii) to almost 24 hours (in northern Alaska).)

Peru's commercial anchovy industry would most likely be harmed during an El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for the decline in anchovy during an El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event?

Less nutrient-rich water reaches surface waters, disrupting the food web. (When the upwelling of cold water is cut off, there will be a decrease in nutrients and primary productivity.)

Based on the map, which of the following best explains the area of the Andes Mountains that would have the greatest number of rivers?

More rivers would be located on the east side of the Andes Mountains because the trade winds are coming from the east. (Trade winds come from the east, so the east side of the mountain will have air currents rising, cooling, and dropping precipitation before going over the mountain and descending on the other side, creating drier conditions. Increased precipitation on the eastern side supports the claim that more rivers would be expected on the eastern side of the mountain range.)

Which statement is best illustrated in the diagram above regarding how the Sun's energy affects the Earth's surface from June through September in the Northern Hemisphere?

The season changes from summer to autumn, daylight hours decrease, and infrared radiation is the strongest during the June solstice. (The season changes from summer in June to autumn in September. Infrared radiation is the strongest during the June solstice, which is also the longest day of the year. Daylight hours begin to decrease after the June solstice.)

A student claims that soil sample B would be classified as a loam. Which of the following best describes the method used by the student to reach this conclusion?

The student used a soil triangle to determine where the lines intersect for sand, silt, and clay for the soil sample. (A soil texture triangle would be used to identify different soil types based on the percentage of sand, silt, and clay in a sample.)

Which of the following layers of the atmosphere contains charged gas molecules that glow and produce light when hit by solar energy, leading to glowing gases such as the northern lights, found over 90 kilometers above Earth's surface?

Thermosphere (The thermosphere is found between 80 and 600 kilometers above Earth's surface. Here the charged gas molecules can glow and produce light when hit by solar energy and can be viewed from Earth. In the northern United States, Canada, and northern Europe, these glowing gases are known as aurora borealis.)

During an El Niño event, farmers in the southwestern United Stated often benefit from which of the following climatic changes?

Wetter and warmer weather that increases soil moisture (The southwestern United States experiences warmer and wetter seasonal climates during an El Niño event. A strong El Niño event can benefit the Southwest by moistening nutrient-rich soils.)

Which of the following would be most helpful to determine the soil texture of a sample?

A density gradient tube and a soil triangle (Both the soil triangle and density gradient tube are used to determine the texture of a soil sample. A soil density gradient tube, which separates particles by density, would help determine a soil profile. Using a soil triangle, the soil texture can be determined using the percentage of sand, silt, and clay from the soil profile.)

The Chesapeake Bay is a watershed that is located in six states and the District of Columbia. Which of the following can cause an increase in water pollution in the watershed?

An increase in stormwater runoff in urban areas (Runoff from impervious surfaces (for example, stormwater that washes off of the road) can pollute the watershed and harm fish.)

The Mississippi watershed is the largest in North America, draining all or part of thirty-two states in the United States and two Canadian provinces. A new apartment complex is being built on a steep slope near the source of the Mississippi River outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Which of the following measures should be taken to best reduce erosion at the construction site to protect the Mississippi watershed?

Plant grass and shrubs on the slope. (Planting grass and shrubs on the steep slope will help to prevent erosion.)

A developer wants to develop a large tract of land near a watershed, which will require the removal of several large trees. Which of the following statements best describes the impact that the development would have on the watershed?

Removing large trees would cause an increase in temperature and keep the surrounding water and soil warmer. (Removing large trees that are present near a watershed would increase the effects of sunlight, keeping the water and soil warmer. This would increase thermal pollution and provide a less stable temperature for organisms.)

Students want to determine how vegetation affects soil erosion. They collect four soil samples of equal starting mass with different types of vegetative cover, as seen in the table below. Each sample is placed in a three-sided plastic dish that can drain into a beaker and is exposed to the same amount of consistent, steady rainfall for ten minutes. The water and soil runoff are collected in the beaker and separated. Which of the following is the control group for this experiment?

Soil with no grass (The bare soil has no form of vegetation added to it. If students are testing the effects of vegetation on soil erosion, the control should remove the variable of vegetation.)

Which of the following abiotic factors, when graphed on the x-axis, leads to the curved line in the graph due to variation in the different layers of the atmosphere?

Temperature gradients (The layers of the atmosphere are a consequence of temperature gradients, as depicted by the curved line in the figure.)

Based on the map above, which of the following best identifies and explains the region of South America that would have a more moderate climate?

The east coast would have a more moderate climate because of the Brazil Current. (The Brazil Current comes from the warm south equatorial current and equatorial waters, so this warmer water would influence the climate and make the east coast warmer than the west coast.)

A map shows locations of known volcanoes and earthquakes. Which of the following explains what is being illustrated in the enclosed area in the northwest portion of the map?

The enclosed area shows a hot spot in the middle of the Pacific Plate in the Hawaiian Islands. (A hot spot is a short section of volcanoes without earthquakes found away from plate boundaries. The Hawaiian Islands are an example of a hot spot.)

The Atacama Desert lies to the west of the Andes Mountains in northern Chile. It is the oldest, most consistently arid place in the world. Based on the map above, which of the following best explains why the Atacama Desert has a consistently arid climate?

It is in the rain shadow of the Andes Mountains. (Because the trade winds come from the east (windward), the west side of the mountain, where the Atacama Desert is located, is the leeward side and will be dry and desert-like.)

A group of students wanted to determine if soil texture can vary by location. Several students brought in a sample of soil from their backyards. Each student added their soil sample of equal mass to a jar with exactly the same amount of water, shook the contents so that all soil particles were suspended in the water, and left the jars covered overnight. The next morning, the soil particles had settled out into layers and students could determine the percentage of each type of particle. Which of the following describes the independent variable in this investigation?

Soil samples taken from different locations (This is the variable that is being tested in this experiment and is what changes between each experimental group. It is the independent variable.)

A model of prevailing wind patterns around the world is shown in the diagram below. Which of the following is the best explanation for the formation of Hadley cells in the tropics, as seen in the diagram, between 30°N and 30°S latitude?

The Sun warms the moist air at the equator and causes it to rise because of its lower density. As the warm air moves away from the equator, it cools, becomes denser, and then sinks. (Heat from the Sun warms moist air near the equator and causes it to rise. The moist air cools and dries as it moves away from the equator. In the Northern Hemisphere the cooler air moves north to south, and in the Southern Hemisphere it moves south to north. This circulation is called a tropical (Hadley) cell. The process forms a high-pressure region at 30 degrees latitude where air sinks.)

Which of the following statements best describes the boundary between the two tectonic plates: the Relative motion of the North American & the Pacific Plate?

The map illustrates a transform boundary, where tectonic plates slide past each other as the Pacific Plate moves northwest and the North American Plate moves southeast. (The San Andreas Fault is a transform boundary. The plates slide past each other in opposite directions, which can result in an earthquake.)