environmental science final exam
Salinization may be caused by
Long term irrigation
which of the following pollutants is most likely to reach unhealthy levels inside an office building
VOCs found in the buildings foam insulation
Which air pollutants can aggravate bronchial asthma in humans and cause fish to suffocate?
acids formed from nitrogen compounds
Acid shock can be treated by
adding powdered lime to the affected water
As a lake becomes more acidic, fish are harmed not only by the acidity but also by substances that leach out of the soil into the water. Which of these toxic substances is leached when conditions are acidic?
aluminum
a quarry also could be called
an open pit
Evaporates most commonly form in
arid regions where rates of evaporation are high
Schools in the US have spent over $40 billion to remove
asbestos
which of the following is not a characteristic of a mineral
atoms in random geometric patterns
Erosion is most likely when the soil is
bare and exposed to wind and rain
all of these contribute to fertile topsoil EXCEPT
bedrock chemical reactions
surface mining can cause
both air and noise pollution
a true statement about carbon monoxide is that it
can lower the level of oxygen carried in the blood
the _____ regulates the release of hazardous substances into the air, soil, and water by mining
comprehensive response compensation and liability act
Electric generators work by
converting mechanical energy into electrical energy
Light pollution can be decreased by
directing light downward
what is one property that may be used to distinguish metallic from nonmetallic minerals
electrical conductivity
which of the following is not a regulation mining companies must follow
endangered species act
earths available agricultural land is being reduced by
fast growing human populations, soil erosion, desertification
which of the following is not one of the ways that ore minerals form
flooding of empty steam beds and rivers
Urban sprawl involves people moving from cities to land that was previously used for
food production and open space
dredging steambeds may be an effective technique to mine
gold
acid mine drainage
harms or kills aquatic life
gangue minerals
have no commercial value
oil and natural gas result from
he decay of tiny marine organisms that accumulated on the ocean floor millions of years ago
the following aliments are long term affects of air pollution except
headaches
One way radon and asbestos are similar is that they
increase risk of cancer
One benefit of preserving farmland is
increased crop production
Products obtained from livestock include
leather, wool, eggs, meat, and manure
what can be done to sustain the productivity of farmland
limit herd size, eliminate invasive plants, leave the land unused for a time
traditional agriculture typically depends on
manual or animal plowing and organic fertilizers
Through _____, mining companies can identify areas where there may be valuable mineral resources.
mineral exploration
placer deposits are surface mineral deposits that have been concentrated by
movement of wind and water
all of the following are air pollutants except
nitric acid
Which type of building would most likely have poor indoor air quality?
one that is tightly sealed and air conditioned
which of the following is not a method of subsurface mining
open-pit mining
what pollutants form when automobile emissions react with oxygen gas and ultraviolet rays
ozone
which of the following pH measurements of rainwater would indicate acid precipitation
pH 6.0
activities such as construction and agriculture are primary sources of
particulate matter
reclamaton is the process of
returning land back to its original or better condition after mining
the layer of impurities on top of molten metal that forms during smelting is called
slag
which of the following is a secondary pollutant
smog formed in the presence of sunlight
When the acidity of soil increases,
some nutrients are dissolved and washed away
which of the following is often used to remove poisonous gases from industrial emissions before they are released into the atmosphere
srubbers
from whom must mining companies obtain permits from before mining a site
state and federal agencies
the process by which land sinks with little or no horizontal movement is known as
subsidence
which of the following is a water contaminants that can cause acid mine drainage
sulfuric acid
the _____ sets standards to minimize the surface effects of coal mining on the environment
surface mining control and reclamation act of 1977
all of these are environmental problems associated with pesticide use in the US except
the ongoing application of DDT
given that mos people live in urban areas,why should rural areas be preserved
they provide ecological services
which of the following is true of parks and reserves
they provide recreation for humans
The first step in surface coal mining is
to remove and set aside the soil that covers the area to be mined
temperature inversions work to trap pollution when
warm air above keeps cooler air at the surface from moving upward
which of the following agricultural products requires the least amount of energy
wheat
which type of area below is protected from exploitation
wilderness