Ecology Semester Test Multiple Choice

The total amount of land and water required to support an individual:

Ecological footprint

In an experiment, a scientist adds fertilizer to one pond in order to compare the algae growth to a pond that does not receive fertilizer. The amount of algae that grows would represent a...

dependent variable

A testable idea that attempts to explain a phenomenon or answer a question is the definition of...

hypothesis

Organisms expel gasses into the air. This is an interaction between the: A: Atmosphere and biosphere B: Hydrosphere and biosphere C: Atmosphere and geosphere D: hydrosphere and geosphere

A

Which statement about science is true? A: It assumes the the natural world works according to rules that do not change unpredictably. B: It attempts to explain the mysteries of the supernatural world. C: It deals mostly with things in the synthetic or unnatural world. D: It asserts that although the boiling point of water is 100*C today, it may be different in the future.

A

Which statement accurately describes effective scientists? A: open to results that change and may even refute a previously accepted B: usually accept what they hear from others C: prefer to deal with questions that involve opinions and personal preferences. D: willing to believe in ideas, even if there is no supporting evidence.

A

A human-centered view of our relation with the environment is known as...

Anthropocentrism

What happens after a scientist submits results for publication in a scientific journal? A: The scientist will then present the results at a conference. B: Several other scientists specializing in the subject will examine the manuscript. C: The scientist then begins a new area of research. D: The results will be printed immediately.

B

Which statement about changes in scientific thought is correct? A: Changes in scientific thought show that the general public cannot rely on science. B: Changes in scientific thought demonstrate a key strength of science: the ability to self-correct and improve C: Scientific thought and interpretations can never change over time. D: Changes in scientific thought are usually rapid and drastic.

B

Which steps are usually near the beginning of a scientific investigation? A: hypothesizing and theorizing B: observing and questioning C: predicting and modeling D: gathering an interpreting data

B

Which of the following gives value to all living things, both human and nonhuman?

Biocentrism

What type of plant is associated with nitrogen-fixing bacteria? A: Grain crops like wheat and oats B: large evergreen trees C: legumes, like soybeans D: aquatic plants, like algae

C

Which is NOT true of ionic bonds? A: they are found in salt B: they create charged atoms called ions C: they share elections to from molecules D: electrons are transferred from one atom to another

C

Which of the following is phosphorus NOT a key component of? A: cell membranes B: DNA C: protein D: RNA

C

One example of a question that can be addressed by science is: A: Which flower is prettier, a rose or tulip? B: What are the best flowers to give on Valentine's Day? C: What percent of people prefer roses to tulips? D: Which flower, a rose or a tulip, has the more pleasant smell?

C: What percent of people prefer roses to tulips?

Denitrification: A: is when bacteria take oxygen out of the water B: is when bacteria decompose algae C: is when bacteria convert nitrogen gas into ammonia D: is when bacteria convert nitrates in soil back into nitrogen gas

D

Which of the following are common sources off phosphorus? A: gases in the atmosphere B: snow and rain C: volcanoes D: fertilizer and detergent

D

Which of the following would not assist a chemical change of nitrogen? A: specialized bacteria B: human technology C: lightning D: eutrophication

D

What term describes a social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world from undesirable changes brought about by human actions?

Environmentalism

Which sphere of Earth is made of all the rock above and below Earth's surface?

Geosphere

What is one of the key differences between scientific theories and hypotheses?

Theories are broader explanations, whereas hypotheses deal with a narrower subject.

The amount of matter in an environment:

always stays the same

The lithosphere is carried on a softer, but still firm rock called...

asthenosphere

The basic units of mater, the smallest units that maintain the chemical properties of an element, are called...

atom

Nutrients circulate endlessly throughout the environment in complex cycles called...

biogeochemical cycles

Why is environmental science considered an interdisciplinary field?

borrows techniques from numerous subjects

What property of water allows the transport of materials in plants and animals?

cohesion

A change in state in which water returns to Earth's surface and changes from a vapor to a liquid is called...

condensation

A process in which an event acts as both an input and output of the same system is called...

feedback loop

In extreme cases, eutrophication can lead to extremely low levels of oxygen in a body of water as decomposers break down all the dead producers, a condition called...

hypoxia

Which macromolecule is primary component of the cell membrane of all cells?

lipids

The phosphorous cycle involves mainly the...

lithosphere and hydrosphere

All material in the universe that has mass and occupies space is called...

matter

Predator prey relationships are an example of a...

negative feedback loop

To carry genetic information from parent to offspring is the main function of which macromolecule?

nucleic acids

Matter that all organisms require for their life processes are called...

nutrients

Eutrophication of a body of water is often caused by the addition of:

phosphorus and/or nitrogen

Water which returns from the atmosphere to Earth's surface as rain or snow is called...

precipitation

Which type of macromolecule is composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur, and can produce tissues, act as hormones, and serve as enzymes?

proteins

Natural resources that are naturally replenished over months, years, or decades are called...

renewable resources

The characteristic that best defines a macromolecule is its...

size

A rate of a resource use that is equal or less than the time needed to replenish the resource:

sustainable

Earthquakes occur often at this type of plate boundary:

transform