Unit 9 Environmental Science MCQ

Which of the following best describes why there has been a reduction in ozone depletion over the last half of the twentieth century?

A global plan to decrease CFC emissions was enacted by signing the Montreal Protocol.

Which of the following best describes how ocean acidification harms coral reefs?

Acidification decreases the amount of carbonate ions, which leads to a decline in the formation of reef infrastructure.

Which of the following best describes the effect of increasing global temperature on coral ecosystems?

Algae that live symbiotically with the corals leave the reef, causing coral bleaching.

Which of the following changes are linked to an increase in ocean water temperature?

An increase in metabolism in marine species and an decrease in dissolved oxygen in ocean water

Which of the following is a likely explanation for the difference shown in the graph for the percent of animals and the percent of plants threatened by transient-human activity?

Animals are mobile and able to avoid trampling, but because plants are stationary, transient-human activity affects a larger percent of plants than of animals.

Many organisms, such as honeybees and livestock, have been domesticated for economic reasons. Which of the following best describes an unintended consequence of this practice?

As humans tamed wild organisms to amplify desired traits, genetic diversity decreased in the organisms' populations.

Which of the following best describes an example of a harmful effect of an invasive species on biodiversity?

Asian carp outcompete native fish species in rivers in the United States.

Which of the following best identifies the reason that chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) were banned in 1996 by the Montreal Protocol?

CFC led to the destruction of stratospheric ozone.

Which of the following best identifies the primary cause of increasing acidity in the oceans?

Carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels

Which of the following best describes why carbon dioxide has a significant effect on global climate change?

Carbon dioxide is the largest contributor to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.

Which of the following is the primary cause of stratospheric ozone depletion?

Chlorine atoms in CFCs

Which of the following gases has the greatest impact on global climate change as a result of having the highest global warming potential (GWP)?

Chlorofluorocarbons

Which of the following best describes a disadvantage of creating a series of protected habitats in an effort to maintain biodiversity in an area?

Climate change can lead to habitat loss because of changes in temperature and precipitation in an area.

Which of the following environmental problems is most directly linked to ocean warming?

Coral bleaching

Which of the following best describes an advantage of constructing habitat corridors?

Corridors connect habitats separated by fragmentation and connect wildlife populations.

Which of the following claims about crocodile nests is best supported by the data in the maps?

Crocodiles now nest in areas where they did not nest historically as a result of restoration projects at public beaches, county parks, and other areas.

Sea surface temperatures in the Caribbean Sea have increased over the past 30 years. Which of the following is the most likely cause for the warming trend?

Elevated levels of atmospheric CO2

Which of the following best describes how an anthropogenic activity can increase ocean acidification?

Emissions from power plants that burn fossil fuels increase atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is absorbed by the ocean.

Based on the data shown in the graph, which of the following is the most plausible hypothesis about the number of glacial periods that occurred in the past 400,000 years?

Four glacial periods occurred in the past 400,000 years.

Which of the following best describes the cause of the greenhouse effect on Earth?

Gases in the atmosphere absorb infrared radiation and radiate the energy back toward Earth's surface.

Based on the diagram, which of the following best illustrates how the biosphere can affect global climate change?

Glaciers and snow reflect back the Sun's energy, decreasing the amount of sunlight absorbed and decreasing the surface temperature.

Which of the following best describes the greenhouse effect on Earth?

Greenhouse gases are emitted from human activities such as the combustion of fossil fuels and agricultural practices.

Which of the following best describes the advantage of using hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) to replace chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) in industrial processes?

HFC and HCFC have lower ozone-depleting potentials than CFC do.

Based on the data shown in the graph, which of the following is the most plausible hypothesis for the cause of the trend in CO2 levels from about 5,000 years ago to the present?

Human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels, has led to an increase in anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. This has caused a doubling in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Which of the following events would most likely lead to a decrease in the pH in the oceans?

Increased burning of fossil fuels in power plants

Which of the following best describes the primary cause of global ocean warming?

Increased global temperature from an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Based on the information in the diagram, which of the following best supports the claim that a change in the duration of warm seasons would result in a higher prevalence of vector-borne diseases?

Increased temperatures provide an expanded breeding range and duration, which will likely increase the size of vector populations.

Which of the following would most likely promote biodiversity in a given area?

Increased use of habitat corridors between fragmented ecosystems

Which of the following types of releases of greenhouse gases from an anthropogenic source is shown in the diagram?

Industrial and agricultural practices releasing CH4 into the atmosphere

Based on the data in the graph, altering human activity in which of the following areas will most benefit plant species?

Introduction of invasive species

HCFCs were originally introduced as a solution to help phase out the use of CFCs. Which of the following most likely contributed to the increased levels of HCFCs in the stratosphere over the past 30 years?

Leaking of refrigeration and air-conditioning units

Which of the following best describes the effect of temperature on the chemical reactions that result in ozone layer depletion?

Low temperatures create polar stratospheric clouds that lead to the production of free radicals of chlorine, which result in the breakdown of ozone at the beginning of the antarctic spring.

Which of the following correctly identifies the three main characteristics associated with the hole in the ozone layer?

Main Chemical Responsible for Causing Ozone Hole Formation: CFCs Geographic Location of the Ozone Hole: South Pole Form of Energy Entering Earth due to Ozone Hole Formation: Ultra Violet

Which of the following could directly lead to a loss of biodiversity as an unintended consequence of human actions?

Mangrove forests are removed as part of a beach development project.

Sixty-five percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are made up of carbon dioxide, while only sixteen percent are made up of methane gas.Which of the following best explains why scientists are increasingly concerned about the effect of methane gas emissions on global climate if they are a relatively small percent of greenhouse gases released?

Methane gas has a higher global warming potential (GWP) than carbon dioxide does, so it can trap more heat in the atmosphere.

Based on the data above, which of the following is the most likely conclusion of a study addressing the following scientific question.What will happen to methane levels in the atmosphere at 60 to 75 latitude from 2018 to 2027 if the trend from 2011 to 2017 continues?

Methane levels in the atmosphere will increase because melting or thawing permafrost will lead to an increase in the amount of organic matter that will decompose.

Local legislation was passed to protect animal species prone to extinction. The legislation included criminalizing poaching, setting limits on number of fish people can catch, and protecting habitats. Which of the following threats shown in the graph will most likely decrease the most as a result of the legislation?

Overharvesting

Which of the following best describes the importance of ozone in the stratosphere to life on Earth?

Ozone absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.

Which of the following actions best explains a cause of increasing ocean acidification?

Reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation emits carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, which is absorbed by the ocean, leading to a decrease in the pH in the ocean.

Which of the following describes a negative effect of substituting hydrofluorocarbons (HCFC) for chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) in an effort to reduce ozone depletion?

Some type of hydrofluorocarbons are greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.

Which of the following hypotheses is best supported by the graph?

Temperatures were warmer 125,000 years ago than the average temperature over the past 400,000 years.

Based on the information in the map, which areas in the United States have experienced the greatest sea level rise?

The Northeast and the Gulf of Mexico

Based on the data above, which of the following hypotheses about the future conditions in the Arctic is most plausible if the trend seen from 2011 to 2017 continues?

The albedo will decrease.

Which of the following best describes how ocean acidification affects coral formation?

The increase in hydrogen ions dissolved in the ocean water sequesters available carbonate ions, preventing the use of calcium carbonate for coral skeleton formation.

Which of the following best describes how the American crocodile has become endangered in the state of Florida?

The increasing use of coastal areas by human has destroyed much of the habitat of the species.

Based on the data above, which of the following best supports the hypothesis that the Arctic (latitudes greater than 66N) experienced accelerated warming compared to the rest of the planet from 2011 to 2017 ?

The largest areas with surface-temperature changes greater than a 4C increase are found in the Arctic.

Based on the diagram, which of the following best predicts how an increase in greenhouse gases would affect the ocean?

The oceans would be warmed because of increased solar radiation being absorbed by the water, causing expansion and sea level rise.

Which of the following best describes a likely unintended consequence of the restoration plan based on the data in the map?

There will be an increase in the number of human and crocodile interactions in coastal areas.

Based on the information in the map, which of the following is a likely consequence for the human population if the sea level continues to change in the same pattern?

There will be in an increase in the number of individuals who live in flood prone regions, and there will be an increase in the number of properties at risk of flooding.

Which of the following best describes why water vapor, a greenhouse gas, is not considered a significant contributor to global climate change?

Water vapor has a relatively short residence time in the atmosphere.

The stratospheric ozone layer benefits life on Earth by

absorbing 99% of incoming UV-B and UV-C radiation

One important drawback of the use of HCFCs as a replacement for CFCs is that HCFCs

are greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change

Coral bleaching can be hazardous to some fish species because

coral reefs provide unique habitats for fish