APES Unit 8 exam multiple choice
Which of the following is an important contributor to both global warming and ozone depletion? A) An increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide to higher-than-preindustrial levels B) A buildup of methane in the stratosphere to higher-than-preindustrial levels C) An increase in the levels of ultraviolet radiation reaching Earth's surface D) An increase in the amount of infrared solar radiation absorbed in the troposphere E) A release of chlorofluorocarbons to the atmosphere
A release of chlorofluorocarbons to the atmosphere
If Earth had no atmosphere, the mean surface temperature would be approximately -15°C. With our present atmosphere, Earth's mean surface temperature is approximately +15°C. Which of the following is the best explanation for this difference? A) Reflection of incident solar radiation by clouds B) Scattering of visible radiation by aerosols C) Absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer D) Absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases E) The breakdown of oxygen molecules in the thermosphere
Absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases
The drop in stratospheric ozone levels in the Southern Hemisphere (the "ozone hole") is most evident during which season? A) Antarctic spring (October) B) Antarctic autumn (April) C) Antarctic summer only (January) D) Antarctic winter only (July) E) Both Antarctic summer and Antarctic winter (January and July)
Antarctic spring (October)
Directions: Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following question(s) refer to the substances listed. (A) Asbestos (B) Radon (C) Lead (D) Carbon monoxide (E) Formaldehyde Composed of fibers known to cause lung disease
Asbestos
Which type of electricity-generating power plant releases radioactive materials as well as toxic metals such as lead and arsenic under normal operating conditions? A) Nuclear B) Hydroelectric C) Solar D) Coal-burning E) Geothermal
Coal-burning
Global warming is most likely to directly cause which of the following? A) Shifting of grain belts toward the equator B) Falling sea levels in the Southern Hemisphere C) Coastal flooding and submersion of low-lying areas D) A decrease in the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere E) An increase in the number and size of glaciers
Coastal flooding and submersion of low-lying areas
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be an effect of global warming? A) Loss of fertile delta regions for agriculture B) Change in global patterns of precipitation C) Extinction of some species that have narrow temperature requirements D) Decreased rate of photosynthesis in vegetation E) Increased frequency of hurricanes
Decreased rate of photosynthesis in vegetation
Which of the following human activities is most closely associated with depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer? A) Mining of coal B) Disposal of refrigerators and air conditioners C) Heating of homes and factories D) Generation of electricity E) Agricultural irrigation
Disposal of refrigerators and air conditioners
Which of the following is a major goal of the program begun in 1995 to reintroduce the gray wolf into Yellowstone National Park? A) Decrease the number of grizzly bears, because they were becoming a nuisance B) Enable the removal of the gray wolf from the endangered species list C) Increase the dwindling numbers of tourists that visit the park each year D) Upset the natural predator-prey balance between coyotes and elk E) Decrease the number of sheep and cattle that wander into the park and overgraze the vegetation
Enable the removal of the gray wolf from the endangered species list
Characteristics that tend to increase the risk of a species becoming endangered include which of the following? I) Having a very limited distribution II) Being a specialist at the end of a long food chain III) Having a small population size
I, II and III
Possible effects of a warmer atmosphere include which of the following? I) Expanded ranges of tropical diseases II) More intense hurricanes and typhoons III) Increased crop damage from pests and diseases
I, II and III
Of the following, which is the most serious immediate problem associated with sanitary landfills? A) Generation of gas B) Leachate contamination of groundwater C) Release of disease organisms D) Incomplete degradation of wastes E) Compaction and settling
Leachate contamination of groundwater
Which of the following is a greenhouse gas that is also a by-product of anaerobic respiration? A) Methane, CH4 B) Nitrogen, N2 C) Oxygen, O2 D) Nitrogen dioxide, NO2 E) Hydrogen sulfide, H2S
Methane, CH4
All of the following gases have been implicated in contributing to the increase in global temperature via the greenhouse effect EXCEPT A) O2 B) CH4 C) N2O D) CO2 E) CFC's
O2
Which of the following best explains why it is predicted that ozone depletion over the poles will be at its worst between 2010 and 2019? A) Projected global warming from carbon dioxide emissions is expected to reach a peak during those years. B) Ozone-depleting chemicals produced before their use was banned will take that long to reach peak concentrations in the stratosphere. C) Deforestation in tropical regions is expected to reach a peak during the second decade of the twenty-first century. D) Increased global population will lead to an increase in per capita CO2 production. E) Acid deposition will continue to increase, reaching a peak in approximately 2015.
Ozone-depleting chemicals produced before their use was banned will take that long to reach peak concentrations in the stratosphere.
Directions: Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following question(s) refer to the following air pollutants. (A) Sulfur dioxide (B) Lead (C) Ozone (D) Hydrocarbons (E) Particulates Is the major pollutant that electrostatic precipitators are designed to remove from power-plant smokestack emissions
Particulates
In general, which of the following is the best long-term method of preventing extinctions? A) Breeding endangered species in captivity B) Protecting the habitats of endangered species C) Paying people not to kill endangered species D) Providing food to endangered species in the wild E) Removing predators from areas that contain endangered species
Protecting the habitats of endangered species
Directions: Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following question(s) refer to the following gases. A) Carbon dioxide B) Carbon monoxide C) Methane D) Radon E) Sulfur dioxide Has been implicated as the cause of as much as 15 percent of lung cancer cases
Radon
Which of the following actions would be the most effective in decreasing acid rain and acid deposition problems? 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
Reducing use of fossil fuels
Fragmenting one large park or preserve into many small parks with human habitation in between them is most likely to lead to which of the following? A) Reduction in species diversity B) Stabilization of microclimates C) Decreases in the proportion of edge habitat D) Increase in gene flow within species E) Increase in population size of top carnivores
Reduction in species diversity
Directions: Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following question(s) refer to the following. (A) Safe Drinking Water Act (B) Clean Water Act (C) Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) (D) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (E) Toxic Substances Control Act Establishes cradle-to-grave tracking of hazardous waste
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Of the following, which is the best example of reclamation of disturbed lands? A) Restoring vegetation to an area that has been mined B) Constructing a new wetland to compensate for the loss of wetlands C) Growing crops on land formerly used for grazing D) Reintroducing an endangered species into an area from which it has disappeared E) Regulating the use of a natural resource in order for it to renew itself
Restoring vegetation to an area that has been mined
If mean global temperature keeps on increasing as predicted by contemporary scientists, which of the following is most likely? A) There will be fewer insects pests and disease-carrying organisms. B) Specialist species living in fragile ecosystems will risk extinction. C) There will be an increase in sulfate concentrations in wetlands. D) There will be an increase in the reproductive rate of mammals. E) The geographical range of many plants will move toward the equator.
Specialist species living in fragile ecosystems will risk extinction.
Which of the following would most likely have the greatest positive impact on the quality of the natural environment worldwide? A) Discovery of new reserves of fossil fuel in coastal areas B) Increased agricultural production on marginal desert lands C) Increased life expectancy in more developed nations D) Increased reliance on food from ocean ecosystems E) Stabilization or reduction of the size of the human population
Stabilization or reduction of the size of the human population
Of the following, which is true of noise pollution? 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.
Sudden or persistent noise may lead to permanent hearing loss.
Acid deposition would most likely result in which of the following? 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
The release of aluminum ions from soil
Many scientists maintain that a rise in sea level has occurred in the last hundred years as a result of global warming. If this is true, which of the following factors best explains such a rise? A) Increased precipitation B) Increased cloud cover C) Increased evapotranspiration D) Thermal expansion of the ocean E) Melting of permafrost
Thermal expansion of the ocean
Why do introduced species often become pests? A) They displace native species. B)They increase biodiversity. C) They do not adapt well to local habitats. D) They contribute to habitat fragmentation. E) They have low biotic potential.
They displace native species.
Most data indicate that, during the past 100 years, mean global annual temperature has A) decreased by 5°C B) decreased by 0.5°C C) stayed the same D) increased by 0.5°C E) increased by 5°C
increased by 0.5°C
The major human health problem related to radon accumulation is A) lung cancer B) heart disease C) pancreatic cancer D) cataracts E) malignant melanoma
lung cancer
Ground-level ozone in most major United States cities results primarily from A) burning coal B) burning fuel for cooking C) producing electric power D) industrial emissions E) motor-vehicle exhaust
motor-vehicle exhaust
In the United States, the largest single component of municipal solid waste is A) glass B) paper C) food scraps D) wood and other construction debris E) plastic
paper
The polar regions radiate away more heat energy than they receive from the Sun in the course of a year. However, they are prevented from becoming progressively colder each year primarily by the A) absorption of ultraviolet radiation by snow B) transport of heat through the atmosphere and oceans C) concentration of Earth's magnetic field lines at the poles D) release of latent heat to the atmosphere when the polar ice caps melt E) generation of heat by glacial movement
transport of heat through the atmosphere and oceans
Ozone in the stratosphere is most important to life at Earth's surface because it absorbs A) gamma rays B) microwaves C) ultraviolet light D) visible light E) x-rays
ultraviolet light
Ozone in the stratosphere is important to organisms at Earth's surface because ozone molecules are very strong absorbers of A) infrared rays B) ultraviolet rays C) microwaves D) visible light rays E) x-rays
ultraviolet rays
