GE 101 - CH 13 Human Impact on the Environment - Multiple Choice
40. Places where thermal pollution causes fish to die are typically __________. (13.2) a) near the equator c) in areas of bright sunlight and shallow waters b) in the vicinity of warm ocean currents d) near electric power plants
d) near electric power plants
105. Located between Hawaii and Japan are two enormous stretches of floating debris that together are known as the __________. (13.1) a) Great Pacific Garbage Patch c) Pacific Rubbish Realm b) Pacific Island Wasteland d) Great Watery Waste
a) Great Pacific Garbage Patch
47. Which of the following statements about sanitary landfills is correct? (13.6) a) Most landfills produce leachate liquids which must be captured so that it does not contaminate the groundwater. b) Municipal landfills are easy to site, compared to recycling plants. c) Landfill capacity has kept pace with population growth. d) Many landfills have been closed because of concern over air pollution.
a) Most landfills produce leachate liquids which must be captured so that it does not contaminate the groundwater
64. Which of the following is NOT a primary source of air pollutants? (13.3) a) ammonia c) hydrocarbons b) carbon dioxide d) nitrogen oxides
a) ammonia
74. The three main types of pollutants found in agricultural runoff are __________. (13.2) a) animal wastes, biocides, and fertilizers b) animal wastes, sediment, and inorganic solvents c) biocides, e-coli bacteria, and organic solvents d) biocides, herbicides, and pesticides
a) animal wastes, biocides, and fertilizers
58. Acid rain __________. (13.3) a) can cause problems hundreds of kilometers downwind of its source b) occurs when heated wastewaters are returned to the environment c) occurs because water expands as its temperature increases d) refers to oxygen-deficient water
a) can cause problems hundreds of kilometers downwind of its source
85. Which of the following is the greatest contributor to ozone depletion? (13.3) a) chloroflurorocarbons (CFCs) c) halons b) methyl bromide d) fertilizers
a) chloroflurorocarbons (CFCs)
88. E-waste refers to __________. (13.6) a) discarded consumer electronic products b) E. coli entering water systems c) fertilizers that cause eutrophication d) energy-related waste from the extraction and processing of coal and petroleum
a) discarded consumer electronic products
99. Areas with an exceptionally high number of endemic species and are also at high risk of disruption by human activities are known as __________. (13.5) a) hot spots c) areas of extinction b) danger zones d) altered landscapes
a) hot spots
68. Dams and reservoirs are responsible for all except __________. (13.2) a) introduction of exotic species b) increases in salinity of soil c) reduction in the amount of nutrients downstream d) subsidence
a) introduction of exotic species
18. Air pollution __________. (13.3) a) is caused primarily by burning fossil fuels b) is not a significant problem in developing countries c) first occurred as a result of the Industrial Revolution and the use of fossil fuels by factories d) may have serious consequences for human health but rarely affects plant life
a) is caused primarily by burning fossil fuels
104. Which of the following lists the three methods of solid-waste disposal in proper order, based on the percentage of waste disposed in the United States? (13.6) a) landfills, incineration, recycling c) incineration, landfills, recycling b) landfills, recycling, incineration d) recycling, incineration, landfills
a) landfills, incineration, recycling
22. All of the following statements about pesticides are true EXCEPT __________. (13.5) a) long term effects of their usage is not known b) they are most effective on resistant, as opposed to high-yielding, varieties of plants c) very few of their ingredients have been reviewed for safety by the EPA d) they can leach into aquifers long after the chemicals are no longer used
a) long term effects of their usage is not known
42. All of the following statements about the greenhouse effect are true EXCEPT that it __________. (13.3) a) occurs when there is a low level of carbon dioxide in the air b) is caused by the burning of fossil fuels and the accumulation of other gases in the air c) could result in a global warming trend d) slows down the reradiation of heat from earth back into space
a) occurs when there is a low level of carbon dioxide in the air
59. What gas in the stratosphere prevents dangerous intensities of ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth's surface? (13.3) a) ozone c) argon b) hydrogen d) nitrogen
a) ozone
106. Which of the following identifies the three factors influencing the degree of human impact on the environment, as measured through the IPAT equation? (13.1) a) population, affluence, technology b) pollution, affordability, transnational corporations c) pricing, age, threshold d) point source, agglomeration, tertiary activity
a) population, affluence, technology
65. Water is redistributed through the hydrologic cycle by all except __________. (13.2) a) respiration c) precipitation b) evaporation d) transpiration
a) respiration
63. Which one of the following is an example of a non-point source of water pollution? (13.2) a) sewage treatment plant c) power generating plant b) road salt d) coal mine
a) sewage treatment plant
79. Channelization refers to __________. (13.2) a) the artificial means of straightening or widening river flow b) recycling of treated water back into a river c) extraction of groundwater to farmlands d) deposition of sediments at the mouth of a river
a) the artificial means of straightening or widening river flow
23. The biosphere is composed of __________. (13.1) a) the troposphere, hydrosphere, and the upper portions of the earth's upper crust b) the stratosphere, the living organic world, and the absorbable minerals of the earth's crust c) water, phosphorus, and carbon d) solar energy, the earth's crust, and living organisms
a) the troposphere, hydrosphere, and the upper portions of the earth's upper crust
94. Formerly the fourth-largest inland sea in the world, as a result of water diversion this sea now has less than half its original surface area. (13.2) a) Caspian Sea c) Black Sea b) Aral Sea d) Red Sea
b) Aral Sea
37. Which of the following statements about solid waste is NOT true? (13.6) a) Recycling has little effect on the volume of solid waste that must be land filled or incinerated. b) Because of high collection costs, recycling is rarely practiced in developing countries. c) Society has always been faced with problems of discarding materials that are no longer needed. d) Every method of disposing of solid waste has an impact on the environment.
b) Because of high collection costs, recycling is rarely practiced in developing countries.
101. In the United States, which state is home to the highest number of endangered species? (13.5) a) Alaska c) California b) Hawaii d) Florida
b) Hawaii
103. The most significant piece of biodiversity legislation in the United States, which has saved the bald eagle from extinction, is ___________. (13.5) a) Toxic Substances Control Act (1986) c) Pollution Prevention Act (1990) b) The Endangered Species Act (1973) d) Clean Air Act (1963)
b) The Endangered Species Act (1973)
72. Which activity contributes to water pollution more than any other throughout the world? (13.2) a) hydroelectric power generation c) industry b) agriculture d) urbanization
b) agriculture
26. All of the following statements about decomposers are true EXCEPT that they __________. (13.1) a) feed on the remains of other organisms b) break down radioactive wastes c) release nutrients for reuse in the food chain d) play an essential part in the cycle of life
b) break down radioactive wastes
110. In the city of Houston, the placement of solid waste disposal facilities and garbage incinerators in minority neighborhoods is pointed to as an example of __________. (13.6) a) detritus c) environmental equity b) environmental racism d) spatial scrapping
b) environmental racism
60. Which of the following is NOT a major consequence of acid rain? (13.3) a) destruction of limestone statues b) forest damage c) soil erosion d) loss of fish populations in parts of the U.S., Canada, and Scandinavia
b) forest damage
24. Acid rain has been linked to all of the following EXCEPT __________. (13.3) a) a decline in fish populations in thousands of lakes and streams b) global warming c) reduced rates of forest growth d) the corrosion and discoloration of buildings and statues
b) global warming
86. Which atmospheric conditions promote the development of photochemical smog? (13.3) a) high winds c) precipitation b) hot, sunny conditions d) cold, overcast conditions
b) hot, sunny conditions
31. All of the following statements about photochemical smog are true EXCEPT that it __________. (13.3) a) is associated with respiratory problems b) is more severe in the winter than in the summer months c) results chiefly from oxides of nitrogen d) characterizes the Los Angeles basin much of the year
b) is more severe in the winter than in the summer months
80. An exotic species is a plant or animal that __________. (13.5) a) is very rare c) is very expensive to purchase b) is released into a foreign ecosystem d) lives in a tropical climate
b) is released into a foreign ecosystem
70. Aside from overhunting, the main cause of animal species extinction has been __________. (13.5) a) biological magnification c) introduction of exotic species b) loss or alteration of wildlife habitats d) water pollution
b) loss or alteration of wildlife habitats
43. Human introductions and extinctions of plant and animal species __________. (13.5) a) have reduced to insignificance the floral and faunal differences between continents b) may result in unforeseen alterations to the original natural environment and to the economic potential of an area c) are, in relation to the immense natural diversity of plant and animal life, insignificant and easily matched by naturally occurring changes d) are the immediate cause of locally serious desertification and salinization problems
b) may result in unforeseen alterations to the original natural environment and to the economic potential of an area
83. The single greatest contributor to solid wastes is __________. (13.4) a) agriculture c) tourism b) mining d) municipalities
b) mining
39. The number of people worldwide who lack access to adequate water supplies is estimated to be __________. (13.2) a) nearly zero due to technological advances c) over 2 billion b) over 500 million d) over 5 billion
b) over 500 million
28. Which of the following factors does NOT affect the type and degree of air pollution found at a given place? (13.3) a) wind patterns c) topography b) ozone layer d) level of industrialization
b) ozone layer
66. Which of the following would be a producer (or autotroph) in the food chain? (13.1) a) humans c) bacteria b) plants d) fish
b) plants
32. The construction of dams, canals, and reservoirs __________. (13.2) a) does not affect stream flow b) reduces the sediment load downstream c) decreases the salinity of the soil d) increases the amount of nutrients available for crops and fish
b) reduces the sediment load downstream
77. What is the second largest expenditure for most local governments in the United States? (13.6) a) wetlands protection c) air quality monitoring b) solid-waste disposal d) endangered species protection
b) solid-waste disposal
90. The settling or sinking of a portion of land due to the extraction of material from beneath the ground is known as __________. (13.4) a) excavation c) erosion b) subsidence d) subduction
b) subsidence
44. Of the landforms produced by excavation, which has probably had the greatest environmental impact? (13.4) a) canals c) underground mining b) surface mining d) chalk pits
b) surface mining
97. When air aloft is warmer than air at the surface of the earth, causing pollutants to accumulate in the lowest layer rather than blow away, the condition is known as a(n) __________. (13.3) a) atmospheric anomaly c) ozone alert day b) temperature inversion d) tropopause
b) temperature inversion
51. Channelization refers to __________. (13.2) a) the addition of arsenic to water b) the construction of dikes and embankments to control floodwaters and improve navigation c) the depletion of atmospheric ozone d) soil erosion in mountain streams
b) the construction of dikes and embankments to control floodwaters and improve navigation
78. What is the primary source of air pollution in the United States? (13.3) a) industry c) solid waste incineration b) transportation d) fuel combustion from stationary sources
b) transportation
107. The thin layer of clean air just above the earth's surface, containing all the air that we breathe, is known as the __________. (13.3) a) aerosphere c) mesosphere b) troposphere d) stratosphere
b) troposphere
29. In the process of biological magnification, the most threatened trophic level is the __________. (13.5) a) decomposer c) herbivore b) ultimate consumer d) initial consumer
b) ultimate consumer
71. The largest underground water supply in the U.S. is located in the __________. (13.2) a) Florida everglades b) Great Lakes basin c) High plains from South Dakota to west Texas d) Tennessee valley
c) High plains from South Dakota to west Texas
34. Which of the following statements about mining is NOT true? (13.4) a) It contributes to both water and air pollution. b) In terms of tonnage, it is the single greatest contributor to solid wastes. c) Its negative effects can be minimized by switching from sub-surface mining to surface mining. d) It disrupts wildlife habitats.
c) Its negative effects can be minimized by switching from sub-surface mining to surface mining.
89. What type of liquid is formed when precipitation mixes with decomposing solid waste materials? (13.6) a) halons c) leachate b) nitrates d) acid rain
c) leachate
96. In 1972, which two countries signed a water quality agreement that established regulations to clean up the world's largest freshwater system? (13.2) a) China and India c) United States and Canada b) Brazil and Argentina d) Switzerland and Austria
c) United States and Canada
109. Which of the following has been proposed as the potential site for America's first permanent repository for radioactive waste generated by nuclear power plants? (13.6) a) Pikes Peak c) Yucca Mountain b) Mammoth Cave d) Grand Canyon
c) Yucca Mountain
19. An example of a point as opposed to a non-point source of water pollution is __________. (13.2) a) an animal feedlot c) a sewage plant b) an agricultural field d) a highway
c) a sewage plant
52. The Ogallala Aquifer is __________. (13.2) a) a vast system of canals in the Everglades b) a source of groundwater in Florida that is being depleted faster than it is naturally renewed c) a source of groundwater in the Great Plains that is being depleted faster than it is naturally renewed d) a geologic formation that is ideal for storage of high-level hazardous waste
c) a source of groundwater in the Great Plains that is being depleted faster than it is naturally renewed
36. All of the following statements about eutrophication are true EXCEPT __________. (13.2) a) symptoms of a eutrophic lake include prolific weed growth and fish kills b) it occurs naturally when nutrients in the surrounding area are washed into the water c) acid rain is a chief contributor of excess nutrients to water bodies d) accelerated eutrophication often results from agricultural runoff
c) acid rain is a chief contributor of excess nutrients to water bodies
69. Worldwide, which activity accounts for the greatest percentage of freshwater usage? (13.2) a) mining c) agriculture b) industry d) urbanization
c) agriculture
75. The herbicides and pesticides used in agriculture that can kill living organisms are collectively called __________. (13.2) a) biogenetics c) biocides b) biomass d) biosphere
c) biocides
102. The accumulation of a chemical in the fatty tissue and its concentration at progressively higher levels in the food chain is called ___________. (13.5) a) chemical compounding c) biological magnification b) organism exposure d) exotic accumulation
c) biological magnification
61. The largest volumes of transboundary shipments of hazardous wastes are exported from _______ to ________. (13.6) a) Africa; United States b) developing countries; developed countries c) developed countries; developing countries d) Europe; United States
c) developed countries; developing countries
92. More than 90 percent of the sewage in the developing world is disposed of by __________. (13.2) a) incineration c) dumping into bodies of water b) recycling d) burying in landfills
c) dumping into bodies of water
84. What term refers to the self-sustaining units that consist of all the organisms and physical features existing together in a particular area? (13.1) a) niche c) ecosystem b) food chain d) biosphere
c) ecosystem
48. Which of the following would NOT be an example of how people have disrupted wildlife habitats? (13.5) a) using a tidal marsh as a landfill c) killing elephants for their ivory tusks b) erecting fences to protect cattle d) burning a forest to plant crops
c) killing elephants for their ivory tusks
81. Acid rain contamination along the eastern seaboard of the United States is blamed primarily on __________. (13.3) a) increased automobile emissions from states like California b) global warming c) midwestern coal burning power stations and industries d) recent major volcanic eruptions in Asia
c) midwestern coal burning power stations and industries
82. Depletion of the earth's ozone layer is expected to lead to all of the following consequences except __________. (13.3) a) increases in the incidence of skin cancer b) increases in human vulnerability to a variety of infectious diseases c) more frequent and violent hurricanes d) threatening the existence of plankton at the base of the marine food chain
c) more frequent and violent hurricanes
16. The specific place of an organism in an ecosystem is called its __________. (13.1) a) biome c) niche b) environment d) trophic level
c) niche
25. The most critical concern regarding the disposal of radioactive wastes is that __________. (13.6) a) dumping wastes at sea has resulted in contamination of the oceans b) injecting the waste into deep wells can trigger earthquakes c) no country has constructed a safe, permanent method of disposal d) burying wastes on land has led to contamination via leaks from the barrels
c) no country has constructed a safe, permanent method of disposal
55. Pollutants that chemically react with oxygen and water in the atmosphere to form strong acids that contaminate rain include __________. (13.3) a) hydrocarbons and inert gases c) oxides of sulfur and nitrogen b) PCB's and DDT d) halogens and halons
c) oxides of sulfur and nitrogen
38. Projected increasing levels of water consumption pose potential problems of __________. () a) overload of disposal systems and shift of industrial activity to seacoast locations b) overload of groundwater supplies and growing demand for bottled water c) regional water shortages and limitations on agricultural and urban expansion d) reduction in precipitation and increased desertification
c) regional water shortages and limitations on agricultural and urban expansion
93. Enough rain and snow fall on the continents each year to cover the earth's total land area with _____ inches of water. (13.2) a) 3 c) 23 b) 13 d) 33
d) 33
108. Mountaintop removal mining (MTR) began in which region in the 1970s? (13.4) a) New England c) Ozark Plateau b) Pacific Northwest d) Appalachian Mountains
d) Appalachian Mountains
41. Which of the following laws or treaties focused primarily on the problem of acid rain? (13.3) a) Montreal Protocol b) Clean Air Act c) Kyoto Protocol d) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
d) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
50. Which is NOT true of the Gulf of Mexico dead zone? (13.2) a) Fish, crabs, and other aquatic creatures cannot survive. b) Its size varies from year to year. c) It is located near the mouth of the Mississippi River. d) It is largely the result of sewage dumping by large cities along the Mississippi River.
d) It is largely the result of sewage dumping by large cities along the Mississippi River.
57. The agreement that calls for global efforts to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat- trapping gases is known as the __________. (13.3) a) 1979 Convention on Transboundary Air Pollution b) Montreal Protocol of 1987 c) Clean Air Act of 1990 d) Kyoto Protocol of 1997
d) Kyoto Protocol of 1997
56. Sulfurous emissions emitted in __________ are carried by prevailing winds and cause acid rain in ________. (13.3) a) California; Rocky Mountains b) The Lower Mississippi River Valley; Florida c) California; Pacific Northwest d) The Lower Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley regions; New England
d) The Lower Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley regions; New England
30. Which of the following is NOT an effective means of reducing the impact of solid waste on the environment? (13.6) a) reducing the volume of waste that is generated b) recycling household solid waste c) reusing materials rather than discarding them d) all of the above are effective means of reducing the environmental impact of solid wastes
d) all of the above are effective means of reducing the environmental impact of solid wastes
35. Which of the following is NOT an exotic species that has caused unforeseen ecological disruption where it has been introduced, whether accidentally or deliberately? (13.5) a) zebra mussels b) Asian gypsy moth c) rabbits d) all of the above have caused ecological disruption
d) all of the above have caused ecological disruption
76. An aquifer is __________. (13.2) a) a pipeline which transports water to urban areas b) responsible for 40 percent of the irrigated acreage in the United States c) the cause of regional water shortages d) an underground zone of water-saturated sands and gravels
d) an underground zone of water-saturated sands and gravels
21. A temperature inversion __________. (13.3) a) occurs when air temperature decreases with height above the earth's surface b) typically lasts for several weeks c) decreases the effects of air pollution through dilution d) can trap air pollutants near the surface, causing serious human health effects
d) can trap air pollutants near the surface, causing serious human health effects
33. Ozone layer depletion is believed to be caused chiefly by __________. (13.3) a) ultraviolet (UV) radiation c) particulate pollution b) buildup of carbon dioxide d) chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) emissions
d) chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) emissions
95. What toxic liquid is being used to separate gold from earth and rock in Brazil? (13.2) a) mercury c) vinyl chloride b) crude oil d) cyanide
d) cyanide
62. Which of the following is not part of the biosphere? (13.1) a) troposphere c) hydrosphere b) earth's crust d) earth's core
d) earth's core
98. Species that are present in such low numbers that they are in immediate jeopardy of becoming extinct in the wild are said to be __________. (13.5) a) vulnerable c) jeopardized b) defenseless d) endangered
d) endangered
53. The gradual accumulation of nutrients in lakes is called __________. (13.2) a) nutrification c) fertilization b) biocidification d) eutrophication
d) eutrophication
67. Which of the following is not a symptom of eutrophication? (13.2) a) fish kills c) prolific weed growth b) large masses of algae d) excessively high oxygen levels
d) excessively high oxygen levels
91. The major cause of "dead zones" in seas and oceans is __________. (13.2) a) PCBs entering the waterways c) excessive sediment runoff b) thermal pollution runoff d) high levels of nutrients from agricultural
d) high levels of nutrients from agricultural
100. In Central and West Africa, the main threat to species such as the elephant, rhinoceros, and mountain gorilla, is __________. (13.5) a) pollution c) contamination b) habitat disruption d) hunting
d) hunting
45. The most common method of disposing of municipal solid waste in the United States is __________. (13.6) a) by incineration c) by recycling b) in open dumps d) in sanitary landfills
d) in sanitary landfills
27. Which of the following places the greatest demand on freshwater supplies? (13.2) a) waste disposal c) industrial production b) households and cities d) irrigated agriculture
d) irrigated agriculture
20. The Aral Sea has lost much of its water to __________. (13.2) a) evaporation c) thermal pollution b) global warming d) irrigation
d) irrigation
46. All of the following statements about soil erosion are true EXCEPT that it is __________. (13.2) a) exacerbated by population growth b) caused by both wind and running water c) accelerated when land is cleared of its natural vegetative cover d) on a worldwide basis balanced by the continuous soil-forming processes
d) on a worldwide basis balanced by the continuous soil-forming processes
49. In the food chain, the only organisms that produce their own food are __________. (13.1) a) carnivores c) bacteria b) herbivores d) plants
d) plants
73. An example of high-level radioactive waste, which can remain radioactive for 10,000 years and more, is __________. (13.6) a) detergent wastes b) organic solvents c) pharmaceutical waste d) spent nuclear power reactor fuel assemblies
d) spent nuclear power reactor fuel assemblies
54. The Montreal Protocol of 1987 called for global efforts to __________. (13.3) a) reduce acid rain c) halt global warming b) control ocean pollution d) stop the destruction of the ozone layer
d) stop the destruction of the ozone layer
87. An industrial plant that discharges warm water into a lake is causing what type of pollution? (13.2) a) non-point source pollution c) low-level hazardous waste pollution b) leachate pollution d) thermal pollution
d) thermal pollution
17. Water pollution is widespread because __________. (13.2) a) water has a very low tolerance to either natural or artificial contaminants b) once a stream or lake is polluted; there is no way to restore it to usable quality c) increasing world aridity limits the number of water sources that can be used for waste disposal d) water so easily receives the wastes of agriculture, industry, and cities
d) water so easily receives the wastes of agriculture, industry, and cities