environmental science final exam

Salinization may be caused by

Long term irrigation

which of the following pollutants is most likely to reach unhealthy levels inside an office building

VOCs found in the buildings foam insulation

Which air pollutants can aggravate bronchial asthma in humans and cause fish to suffocate?

acids formed from nitrogen compounds

Acid shock can be treated by

adding powdered lime to the affected water

As a lake becomes more acidic, fish are harmed not only by the acidity but also by substances that leach out of the soil into the water. Which of these toxic substances is leached when conditions are acidic?

aluminum

a quarry also could be called

an open pit

Evaporates most commonly form in

arid regions where rates of evaporation are high

Schools in the US have spent over $40 billion to remove

asbestos

which of the following is not a characteristic of a mineral

atoms in random geometric patterns

Erosion is most likely when the soil is

bare and exposed to wind and rain

all of these contribute to fertile topsoil EXCEPT

bedrock chemical reactions

surface mining can cause

both air and noise pollution

a true statement about carbon monoxide is that it

can lower the level of oxygen carried in the blood

the _____ regulates the release of hazardous substances into the air, soil, and water by mining

comprehensive response compensation and liability act

Electric generators work by

converting mechanical energy into electrical energy

Light pollution can be decreased by

directing light downward

what is one property that may be used to distinguish metallic from nonmetallic minerals

electrical conductivity

which of the following is not a regulation mining companies must follow

endangered species act

earths available agricultural land is being reduced by

fast growing human populations, soil erosion, desertification

which of the following is not one of the ways that ore minerals form

flooding of empty steam beds and rivers

Urban sprawl involves people moving from cities to land that was previously used for

food production and open space

dredging steambeds may be an effective technique to mine

gold

acid mine drainage

harms or kills aquatic life

gangue minerals

have no commercial value

oil and natural gas result from

he decay of tiny marine organisms that accumulated on the ocean floor millions of years ago

the following aliments are long term affects of air pollution except

headaches

One way radon and asbestos are similar is that they

increase risk of cancer

One benefit of preserving farmland is

increased crop production

Products obtained from livestock include

leather, wool, eggs, meat, and manure

what can be done to sustain the productivity of farmland

limit herd size, eliminate invasive plants, leave the land unused for a time

traditional agriculture typically depends on

manual or animal plowing and organic fertilizers

Through _____, mining companies can identify areas where there may be valuable mineral resources.

mineral exploration

placer deposits are surface mineral deposits that have been concentrated by

movement of wind and water

all of the following are air pollutants except

nitric acid

Which type of building would most likely have poor indoor air quality?

one that is tightly sealed and air conditioned

which of the following is not a method of subsurface mining

open-pit mining

what pollutants form when automobile emissions react with oxygen gas and ultraviolet rays

ozone

which of the following pH measurements of rainwater would indicate acid precipitation

pH 6.0

activities such as construction and agriculture are primary sources of

particulate matter

reclamaton is the process of

returning land back to its original or better condition after mining

the layer of impurities on top of molten metal that forms during smelting is called

slag

which of the following is a secondary pollutant

smog formed in the presence of sunlight

When the acidity of soil increases,

some nutrients are dissolved and washed away

which of the following is often used to remove poisonous gases from industrial emissions before they are released into the atmosphere

srubbers

from whom must mining companies obtain permits from before mining a site

state and federal agencies

the process by which land sinks with little or no horizontal movement is known as

subsidence

which of the following is a water contaminants that can cause acid mine drainage

sulfuric acid

the _____ sets standards to minimize the surface effects of coal mining on the environment

surface mining control and reclamation act of 1977

all of these are environmental problems associated with pesticide use in the US except

the ongoing application of DDT

given that mos people live in urban areas,why should rural areas be preserved

they provide ecological services

which of the following is true of parks and reserves

they provide recreation for humans

The first step in surface coal mining is

to remove and set aside the soil that covers the area to be mined

temperature inversions work to trap pollution when

warm air above keeps cooler air at the surface from moving upward

which of the following agricultural products requires the least amount of energy

wheat

which type of area below is protected from exploitation

wilderness