Unit 7 Study Guide

Which of the following would be the most likely effect of acid deposition on a northern forest? Responses A Decreased ability of trees to withstand cold weather B Decreased concentration of H+ ions in the soil C Decreased levels of light on the forest floor D Increased buffering capacity of the soil E Increased rates of photosynthesis in evergreen needles

A Decreased ability of trees to withstand cold weather

A paper company located on the banks of a river discharges its treated wastewater into the river. Which of the following would be the best location to obtain a water sample from to determine if the paper plant is affecting the acidity of the river? Responses A Immediately downstream from the paper plant B Immediately upstream from the paper plant C At an upstream tributary to the river D At a downstream tributary to the river

A Immediately downstream from the paper plant

The presence of which of the following in soil is most likely to neutralize acid rain? Responses A Limestone B Granite C Sand D Radon E Humus

A Limestone

Directions: Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following question(s) refer to the following air pollutants. Most often cited as the causative factor for acid deposition Responses A Sulfur dioxide B Lead C Ozone D Hydrocarbons E Particulates

A Sulfur dioxide

Acid deposition would most likely result in which of the following? Responses A The release of aluminum ions from soil B An increase in populations of mollusks C The death of 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

Recent studies show that the decline of some tree populations in the northeastern United States is due to a combination of factors. Which of the following is the most important factor? Responses A Toxic metals freed by acid deposition B Carbon dioxide produced by coal-fueled electric power plants C Carbon monoxide released in motor vehicle exhaust D Lead emissions produced by smelters E Radon produced in the Earth's crust

A Toxic metals freed by acid deposition

Which of the following best describes a potential unintended negative consequence of implementing measures to control acid deposition? Responses A A reduction in environmental lead, leading to decreased negative health effects in humans and wildlife B A reduction in sulfur for crops as a result of less acidic rainfall, leading to an increased need for sulfur supplements C A reduction in mortality rates in freshwater aquatic organisms from an increase in pH of the water D A reduction in acid mine drainage, resulting from a reduced need for nuclear fuel and uranium mining

B A reduction in sulfur for crops as a result of less acidic rainfall, leading to an increased need for sulfur supplements

Which of the following locations would most likely receive acid deposition? Responses A A major city receiving its electricity from hydroelectric sources B A town downwind from a coal-fired power plant C A large lake downstream from a concentrated animal feeding operation D A stream flowing through agricultural land

B A town downwind from a coal-fired power plant

Directions: Each set of lettered choices below refers to the numbered questions or statements immediately following it. Select the one lettered choice that best answers each question or best fits each statement. A choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all in each set. Is primarily responsible for acid rain in the northeast United States Responses A Uranium-238 B Coal C Natural gas D Oil E Solar

B Coal

Directions: Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following questions(s) refer to a pond in southern Canada. In 1950 the pH of the pond water was 8.2, but by 2000 the pH had decreased to 5.2. Which of the following changes would also be expected in the pond over the same time period? Increased levels of dissolved oxygen Increased levels of heavy metals Increased number of fish species Responses A I only B II only C III only D II and III E I, II, and III

B II only

Which of the following actions would be the most effective in decreasing acid rain and acid deposition problems? Responses A Using higher smokestacks B Reducing use of fossil fuels C Developing acid-resistant crops D Adding lime to acidified lakes E Relocating power plants to areas of lower population density

B Reducing use of fossil fuels

Bats use echolocation to find prey by emitting high-pitched bursts of sound and analyzing the reflection. Scientists studying a population of bats in a forest observed that their population size had declined in the years following the completion of a nearby highway. Based on the information above, which of the following best explains how noise pollution from the highway has affected the size of the bat population? Responses A The highway noise is decreasing the bats' echolocation, allowing them to catch more prey each night. B The highway noise is interfering with bats' echolocation, preventing them from successfully locating and catching prey as they fly. C The highway noise is producing sound waves that disrupt air flow, preventing the bats from flying at night. D The highway noise is attracting more bats to the forest, causing an increase in intraspecies competition.

B The highway noise is interfering with bats' echolocation, preventing them from successfully locating and catching prey as they fly.

Directions: The following question(s) refer to the graph below. The graph below shows the average pH of precipitation from several regions of the world. The primary cause of acid precipitation in the northeastern United States is Responses A the large number of automobile air conditioners leaking Freon B burning of sulfur-containing fossil fuels to produce electricity C deforestation, which reduces the number of trees removing atmospheric CO2 D strip-mining, which releases large quantities of particulates into the atmosphere E global warming, which speeds the chemical reactions that produce acids

B burning of sulfur-containing fossil fuels to produce electricity

Directions: The following question(s) refer to the graph below. The graph below shows the average pH of precipitation from several regions of the world. Approximately how many more times acidic, in terms of H+ concentration, is precipitation in the northeastern United States as compared to precipitation in the South Pacific? Responses A 0.1 B 2 C 10 D 20 E 100

C 10

Which of the following would most likely neutralize the effect of acid rain on bodies of water, based on the composition of soils and bedrock in the region? Responses A An area downwind of a coal-burning electrical plant B A valley that is frequently shrouded in fog C A forest underlain by limestone D An open plain underlain by granite

C A forest underlain by limestone

Which of the following air pollutants is correctly paired with one of its major effects? Responses A Particulates . . production of photochemical smog B Radon . . global climate change C Sulfur oxides . . acid deposition D Lead . . skin cancer E Carbon oxides . . ozone layer depletio

C Sulfur oxides . . acid deposition

A paper company located on the banks of a river discharges its treated wastewater into the river. Which of the following water quality indicators should be measured to best determine if the wastewater is increasing the acidity of the river? Responses A The amount of dissolved oxygen B The total suspended solids C The amount of hydrogen ions D The species richness

C The amount of hydrogen ions

The concentration of H+ ions in a solution with a pH value of 4 is how many times as great as the concentration of H+ ions in a solution with a pH value of 7 ? Responses A 1 B 10 C 100 D 1,000 E 10,000

D 1,000

A paper company located on the banks of a river discharges its treated wastewater into the river. Which of the following would be the best control group to evaluate the treated wastewater from the paper company? Responses A A sample of distilled water B A sample of water from a nearby river C A sample of water downstream from the same river D A sample of water upstream from the same river

D A sample of water upstream from the same river

A community located downwind from a coal-fired power plant has seen a recent increase in the number of dead and dying trees. A soil scientist measured values for the following parameters before and after the trees died off. Which of the following soil data should be used to determine if the coal-fired power plant emissions were the cause of the damage to the trees? Responses A Moisture content and water retention B Parent material composition C Pesticide and herbicide residue levels D Calcium and aluminum levels

D Calcium and aluminum levels

Acid rain is associated with which of the following? Responses A Formation of the antarctic ozone hole B Release of PCBs into the atmosphere C Damage to tropical rain forests D The burning of fossil fuels E The increasing pH of lake waters

D The burning of fossil fuels

Directions: Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following questions(s) refer to a pond in southern Canada. In 1950 the pH of the pond water was 8.2, but by 2000 the pH had decreased to 5.2. An effective short-term remediation strategy for the pond would be to Responses A build taller smokestacks downwind from the pond B prevent fertilizer runoff from entering the pond C periodically stock the pond with brown trout D add calcium carbonate to the pond water E use tertiary wastewater-treatment protocols

D add calcium carbonate to the pond water

Which of the following would be the strongest evidence in support of a scientist's contention that a local area was experiencing acid deposition? Responses A A sudden die-off of all the fish in a local stream B A gradual increase in the temperature of a local lake C An increase in the rate of photosynthesis of aquatic plants in a local lake D A long-term increase in the pH of a local pond E An increase in the concentrations of soluble heavy metals in a local pond

E An increase in the concentrations of soluble heavy metals in a local pond

Of the following, which is true of noise pollution? Responses 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.

Directions: Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following question(s) refer to the following gases. Is an important precursor to acid rain A Carbon dioxide B Carbon monoxide C Methane D Radon E Sulfur dioxide

Sulfur dioxide