AP Environmental Science - Most Asked Questions

1. C - Troposphere (I) 2. E - Stratosphere (II) 3. C - Troposphere (I)

1. The phenomenon causing global warming occurs primarily in this region of the atmosphere. 2. The beneficial ozone layer is in this region of the atmosphere. 3. Most oxygen is found in this layer of the atmosphere. A - Thermosphere (IV) B - Exosphere (V) C - Troposphere (I) D - Mesosphere (III) E - Stratosphere (II)

C - Ultraviolet light

Ozone in the stratosphere is most important to organisms at Earth's surface because it absorbs: A - Gamma rays B - Microwaves C - Ultraviolet light D - Visible light E - X-rays F - Infrared rays

1. B - They are quickly removed of nutrients when the forest is removed. 2. A - Most nutrients are in the profuse vegetation instead of the soil

1. Which of the following best describes soil sin many tropical rain forests? 2. The soil of tropical rain forests is generally unsuitable for agriculture because: A - They lack soil horizons. B - They are quickly depleted of nutrients when the forest is removed. C - They are similar to soil in grasslands. D - They are well suited for growing a wide variety of crops. E - They are deep and well drained A - Most nutrients are in the profuse vegetation instead of the soil B - Potassium is leached from the soil by runoff of heavy rain C - Plant roots make it too difficult to plow soil D - These forests contain no predators E - Both A and D

C - Part of the energy is lost as low quality head at level of the food chain

Energy quality is degraded as it travels through a food chain because: A - Most of the energy is used up in a primary consumer B - Not much energy can be recovered from lower levels of the food chain C - Part of the energy is lost as low quality head at level of the food chain D - The energy of sunlight is store by producers in a form that cannot be recovered by consumers

1. C - 2.5% 2. B - 70% 3. A - Glaciers

1. Approximately what percentage of the water on Earth is freshwater (liquid and solid)? 2. About what of the Earth's surface is covered by water? 3. Most of the earth's water supply is located in the oceans and: A - 75% B - 25% C - 2.5% D - 0.25% E - 0.025% A - 85% B - 70% C - 50% D - 33% E - 25% A - Glaciers and ice caps B - Aquifers C - Lakes D - Rivers E - Estuaries

1. A - Tropical east Pacific 2. A - Surges back eastward towards South America

1. El Nino, a periodic warming of ocean surface waters, occurs in which of the following regions? 2. When El Nino occurs every three to seven years, a mass of warm Pacific water that is usually pushed by trade winds: A - Tropical east Pacific B - Gulf of Mexico C - Arctic North Pacific D - Temperate West Atlantic E - Tropical Indian ocean A - Surges back eastward towards South America B - Because much warmer than usual, strengthening trade winds C - Cools dramatically D - Sinks and therefore cools substantially E - Surges northward toward Japan

1. B - Paper 2. E - Landfilling

1. In the United States, the largest single component of municipal solid waste is: 2. In the United States, most municipal solid waste is disposed by: A - Glass B - Paper C - Food scraps D - Wood and other construction debris E - Plastic A - Composting B - Recycling C - Incineration D - Ocean dumping E - Landfilling

1. A - Sulfur Dioxide 2. B - Lead 3. C - Ozone 4. E - Particulates

1. Most often cited as the causative factor for acid deposition. 2. Implicated in human neurological damage. 3. Considered harmful in the troposphere but beneficial in the stratosphere. 4. Is the major pollutant that electrostatic precipitators are designed to remove from power-plant smokestack emissions. A - Sulfur Dioxide B - Lead C - Ozone D - Hydrocarbons E - Particulates

1. A - Plate boundaries 2. B - Volcanism

1. Most volcanism in the world is associated with: 2. Which of the following natural events would be most likely to contribute to the cooling of Earth's atmosphere? A - Plate boundaries B - Midcontinental hot spots C - Faulting D - Aquifer depletion E - Desertification A - Earthquake B - Volcanism C - Hurricane D - Tsunami E - Monsoon

1. A - Converting nitrogen to chemical forms which plants can utilize 2. E - Nitrogen fixation

1. Nitrogen fixation refers to: 2. The process by which atmospheric nitrogen is transformed into a form usable by plants is called: A - Converting nitrogen to chemical forms which plants can utilize B - Repairing molecules to use later C - Releasing nitrogen into the air D - Animals releasing nitrogen in urine E - Applying fertilizers A - Solvation B - Dentrification C - Rhizobium D - Nitrolysis E - Nitrogen fixation

1. A - Tragedy of the commons 2. E - Depletion of an aquifer by regional farmers

1. Overgrazing of public land by privately owned livestock is an example of the: 2. Which of the following best illustrates the concept of the tragedy of the commons? A - Tragedy of the commons B - Right of eminent domain C - Rule of seventy D - Principle of manifest destiny E - Swapping of debt for nature A - Destruction of landscape by surface mining on private land B - Selective harvesting of trees by a timber company in a national forest C - Legislation of catch limits to avoid depletion of fish stocks in a shared lake D - Inadvertent destruction of beneficial species while attempting to control pests E - Depletion of an aquifer by regional farmers

1. E - Has been contaminated by untreated human or animal waste 2. B - The water is contaminated with animal waste.

1. The presence of high levels of fecal coliform bacteria in a water source indicates that the water: 2. The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in a sample of river suggests which of the following? A - Is safe to drink B - Is safe to swim in C - Contains too little oxygen to support fish life D - Has been recently chlorinated at a sewage treatment plant E - Has been contaminated by untreated human or animal waste A - The pH of the river is very high. B - The water is contaminated with animal waste. C - The river is devoid of plant life. D - The dissolved oxygen level of the river is high. E - Fish caught from the river will be free of parasites.

1. B - Reducing use of fossil fuels 2. D - The burning of fossil fuels

1. Which of the following actions would be the most effective in decreasing acid rain and acid deposition problems? 2. Acid rain is associated with which of the following? 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 low population density A - Formation of 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

1. E - Increase in consumption of fossil fuels 2. C - Mean global temperatures 3. E - Seasonal photosynthetic activity of green plants

1. Which of the following is most likely a significant cause of the general trend [...]? 2. The data [...] can be useful in explaining the greenhouse effect when they are compared with: 3. The annual fluctuation in carbon dioxide concentration can be best explained by the: A - Reduction of ozone concentrations in the upper atmosphere B - Reduction in size of polar ice caps C - Increase in energy output from the Sun D - Increase in evaporation of ocean water E - Increase in consumption of fossil fuels A - Volcanic activity B - Sunspot activity C - Mean global temperatures D - Annual nitrous oxide production E - Cycles of flooding and drought A - Seasonal use of fossil fuels B - Regularity of volcanic activity C - Deforestation in the tropics D - El Nino events E - Seasonal photosynthetic activity of green plants

1. D - Phosphates 2. D - Runoff of nitrate compounds in bodies of water

1. Which of the following will result in accelerated eutrophication when introduced into streams, lakes, and bays? 2. Which of the following is the usual cause of cultural eutrophication in surface water of both developed and developing countries? A - Bacteria and viruses B - Pesticides C - Herbicides D - Phosphates E - Acid wastes and salts A - Lack of proper filtration devices for power plant effluents B - Introduction of cyanobacteria to streams and rivers C - Runoff of metal ions in bodies of water D - Runoff of nitrate compounds in bodies of water E - Runoff of herbicides into bodies of water

1. E - Phase I and IV 2. C - The beginning of phase III 3. D - Infant and childhood mortality 4. B - Death rate

1. Zero population growth is associated with: 2. The rate of population growth starts to slow down at which point? 3. Which of the following is most likely the primary cause of high death rate in phase I? 4. In human population undergoing demographic transition, which of the following generally decreases first? A - Phase I only B - Phase II only C - Phase III only D - Phase IV only E - Phase I and IV A - The end of phase I B - The middle of phase II C - The beginning of phase III D - The end of phase III E - The middle of phase IV A - Loss of breeding-age males due to warfare B - Loss of breeding-age females due to disease C - Large percentage of elderly individuals in the population D - Infant and childhood mortality E - General starvation due to famine A - Birth rate B - Death rate C - Average family size D - Life expectancy E - Level of education

D - Thermal expansion of the ocean

Many scientists maintain that a rise in sea level has occurred in the last hundred years as a result of global warming. The most important factor contributing to an increase in sea level is: A - Increased precipitation B - Increased cloud cover C - Increased evapotranspiration D - Thermal expansion of the ocean E - Melting of permafrost F - Decreased evaporation G - Subsurface ocean cooling H - Growth in polar ice caps