ES Chp 1 and 2 sample questions

Poverty is passed on from one generation to the next primarily through A) the lack of available opportunities. B) genetic conditions. C) improper care of natural resources. D) the lack of motivation to change. E) illnesses spread by viruses.

A) the lack of available opportunities.

Which biogeochemical cycle is dependent upon the work of bacteria? A) the nitrogen cycle B) the carbon cycle C) the hydrologic cycle D) the phosphorus cycle E) the sulfur cycle

A) the nitrogen cycle

Which biogeochemical cycle does NOT have an atmospheric component? A) the phosphorus cycle B) the hydrologic cycle C) the nitrogen cycle D) the carbon cycle E) the sulfur cycle

A) the phosphorus cycle

The concept that a resource that is degraded by the increasing populations that utilize the resource without any regulation of that resource is referred to as A) the tragedy of the commons. B) the population bomb. C) the lack of sustainable thinking. D) a paradigm shift.

A) the tragedy of the commons.

The amount of resource used and how much is thrown away is called A) throughput. B) ecosystem services. C) ecology. D) sustainability.

A) throughput.

Random samples are used A) to eliminate bias from a study. B) only when large samples are not available. C) to eliminate the need for a rigorous method of choice. D) only in double-blind medical experiments.

A) to eliminate bias from a study.

One of the first steps in critical thinking is to A) decide whether conclusions follow premises. B) decide if premises are true. C) identify premises and conclusions. D) identify whether premises are facts or values. E) approach a problem in new and innovative ways.

C) identify premises and conclusions.

Which of the following statements would change this into a true statement: "Most, but not all, living organisms are made up of organic compounds"? A) All living organisms are made up of organic compounds. B) All living organisms are made up of inorganic compounds. C) Most, but not all, living organisms are made up of inorganic compounds. D) Most, but not all, living organisms are made up of organic elements. E) Most, but not all, living organisms are made up of inorganic elements.

A) All living organisms are made up of organic compounds.

Why is world hunger an environmental issue? A) Food production is global but the resources are unequally distributed. B) Agriculture is only possible in developed nations. C) There is not enough fresh water for irrigation. D) There is not enough fertilizer to provide high yields for crops.

A) Food production is global but the resources are unequally distributed.

Of the following statements and questions, which is the best example of deductive reasoning? A) If all insects have six legs, then butterflies have six legs. B) In repeated tosses of a coin, there is a 50/50 chance of each toss resulting in a "head." C) How many times will the toss of coins turn "heads-up" if 100 people each toss a coin? D) Since every insect I have examined so far has six legs, I conclude that all insects must have six legs. E) All of these are examples of deductive reasoning.

A) If all insects have six legs, then butterflies have six legs.

Based on what you know of photosynthesis, what effect would clearcutting of large forests have on the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? A) It would increase the level of carbon dioxide since less photosynthesis would be taking place. B) The amount of carbon dioxide would be decreased since the trees would no longer be living. C) There would be no change in carbon dioxide levels since humans put carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. D) The amount of carbon dioxide would be the same since the reaction rates of photosynthesis and respiration are equal.

A) It would increase the level of carbon dioxide since less photosynthesis would be taking place.

Which of the following pioneers in the American conservation movement is most likely to have made the following statement: Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean. A) John Muir B) Gifford Pinchot C) Aldo Leopold D) President Roosevelt E) Rachel Carson

A) John Muir

Which is the best example of a closed system? A) a space station B) a forest C) a hotel D) a lake E) a river

A) a space station

Which of the following pairs is an incorrect pairing of monomer to organic compound? A) amino acid: carbohydrate B) glucose: carbohydrate C) nucleotide: DNA D) amino acid: protein E) hydrocarbon chain: lipid

A) amino acid: carbohydrate

In explaining your choice of an environmental science major in college to your roommate, you would probably emphasize the fact that environmental science is a(n) A) applied interdisciplinary field concerning the environment with an emphasis on solving problems. B) well-established field that has been in existence for a long time. C) theoretical discipline that will help solve the problems created by human impact. D) relatively new field that will identify remedies to environmental issues. E) theoretical field with an emphasis on scientific understanding.

A) applied interdisciplinary field concerning the environment with an emphasis on solving problems.

Biocentric preservationists, first led by John Muir, advocate saving natural areas for their A) beauty and wildlife habitat. B) hunting and fishing value. C) wood and mineral resources for the future. D) tourism and recreation potential. E) economic value in cleaning the air and preventing soil erosion.

A) beauty and wildlife habitat.

Humans alter the sulfur cycle by A) burning fossil fuels. B) mining rock. C) applying too much fertilizer to crop fields. D) clear cutting tropical forests.

A) burning fossil fuels.

The burning of fossil fuels is a chemical reaction called combustion. When a fossil fuel is combusted, carbon dioxide and water are released. This is most similar to which reaction? A) cellular respiration B) photosynthesis C) transpiration D) fixation E) leaching

A) cellular respiration

Organisms that live in deep sea ocean vents use chemicals rather than sunlight to drive the energy producing reactions. These organisms undergo what process? A) chemosynthesis B) photosynthesis C) biosynthesis D) accumulation

A) chemosynthesis

If you heard that cultural diversity was disappearing in one of the most culturally diverse regions of the world, you would A) deduce that biodiversity was disappearing as well, because the two tend to go hand in hand. B) induce that biodiversity was disappearing as well, because the two tend to go hand in hand. C) assume that this phenomenon is not related to any other environmental degradation. D) assume that scientists had already studied their language and biodiversity, so there is no immediate threat to their continued existence.

A) deduce that biodiversity was disappearing as well, because the two tend to go hand in hand.

At the end of the twentieth century, ________ has/have been added to environmental thinking. A) global concerns B) urban problems C) water supply and pollution problems D) human population growth E) air pollution problems

A) global concerns

In the process of photosynthesis, which component is an organic molecule? A) glucose B) oxygen C) carbon dioxide D) water E) sunlight

A) glucose

Which of the following would NOT be an indicator of good quality of life? A) high total fertility B) high life expectancy C) access to clean water D) high adult literacy E) low index of poverty

A) high total fertility

As the hydrogen ion [H+] concentration in a solution decreases, the hydroxide ion [OH-] concentration A) increases and the pH increases. B) increases and the pH decreases. C) decreases and the pH increases. D) decreases and the pH decreases. E) decreases and the pH stays the same.

A) increases and the pH increases.

The statement, "Since every insect I have examined so far has six legs, I conclude that all insects must have six legs." is an example of A) inductive reasoning. B) deductive reasoning. C) hypothesis testing. D) reductive reasoning. E) parsimony.

A) inductive reasoning.

A/An ________ is all forms of a single element that differs in atomic mass. A) isotope B) atom C) molecule D) element

A) isotope

The motion of a rock rolling downhill is known as ________ energy. A) kinetic B) latent C) potential D) electrical E) mechanical

A) kinetic

A biological community consists of all A) populations living and interacting in an area. B) members of a species living in the same area. C) living things on Earth. D) populations of a given species. E) members of a species living in the same biome.

A) populations living and interacting in an area.

Systems function in cycles and consist of ________ that increase a process or component, and ________ that diminish a process or component. A) positive feedbacks; negative feedbacks B) open systems; closed systems C) throughputs; thresholds D) positive feedbacks; open systems E) balances; imbalances

A) positive feedbacks; negative feedbacks

The amount of biomass that is produced in an area during a given time would be referred to as A) productivity. B) chemosynthesis. C) nutrient load. D) production.

A) productivity.

The length and complexity of a food web in the Arctic would be ________ when compared to one in the tropical rainforest. A) short and less complex B) short and more complex C) long and less complex D) long and more complex E) about the same

A) short and less complex

The first law of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of matter are similar in that A) under normal circumstances neither energy nor matter is created nor destroyed. B) both energy and matter are recycled through biological systems. C) both energy and matter flow in a one-way path through biological systems. D) under normal circumstances energy and matter are destroyed as they pass through biological systems. E) The first law of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of matter are not similar.

A) under normal circumstances neither energy nor matter is created nor destroyed.

Photosynthesis produces sugars from A) water, carbon dioxide, and energy. B) water, other sugars, and oxygen. C) oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water. D) carbon dioxide, enzymes, and energy. E) oxygen, water, and energy.

A) water, carbon dioxide, and energy.

The point of critical thinking is to learn to A) weigh all the evidence and draw your own conclusions. B) distrust all opinions other than your own. C) trust only your own experimental results. D) learn to accept the views of real authorities. E) identify true experts in a field.

A) weigh all the evidence and draw your own conclusions.

Water supplies contaminated with algae that produce toxins making the water unfit to drink is a result of the human impact to the A) hydrologic cycle. B) carbon cycle. C) nitrogen cycle. D) sulfur cycle.

C) nitrogen cycle

Potential energy is ________ energy. A) electrical B) motion C) stored D) heat E) latent

C) stored

Proponents of sustainable development argue that A) all development has environmental costs. B) development is less important than the environment. C) development can proceed with minimal costs to the environment. D) the environment is less important than development. E) development does not cause environmental damage.

C) development can proceed with minimal costs to the environment.

Plants capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere would be an example of A) sustainable development. B) environmentalism. C) ecosystem services. D) throughput.

C) ecosystem services.

The process of photosynthesis and cellular respiration are similar in that they both A) capture energy in the form of sugar. B) occur in all living organisms. C) temporarily store energy in chemical bonds. D) capture energy from the sun. E) none of these are correct.

C) temporarily store energy in chemical bonds.

________ is an example of something that has a basic pH. A) Tomato juice B) Ammonia C) Milk D) Saliva E) Coffee

B) Ammonia

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistic to compare quality of life in different places. Why do some countries have low HDI values compared to others? A) People live longer and have greater incomes in these locations. B) Poverty, hunger, and health problems are greater in these places. C) The majority of the data is collected by U.S. agencies and is biased. D) Literacy and education is higher in these locations compared to others. E) The quality of life in these places in high.

B) Poverty, hunger, and health problems are greater in these places.

Evidence of progress in dealing with increasing population problems is best illustrated by A) current evidence of a stable population in the developing and developed world. B) a decrease in the average number of children born to each woman. C) current evidence of a globally stable population growth. D) the decreasing population growth rate in the United States. E) current evidence of a stable population in the developing world.

B) a decrease in the average number of children born to each woman.

Producers rely on the process of ________ to release chemical energy and consumers rely on the process of ________ to release chemical energy. A) cellular respiration; photosynthesis B) cellular respiration; cellular respiration C) photosynthesis; cellular respiration D) photosynthesis; photosynthesis E) the sun; the sun

B) cellular respiration; cellular respiration

Most environmental problems result from A) excessive pollution. B) complex, interrelated problems. C) technological development problems. D) global warming. E) urban degradation.

B) complex, interrelated problems.

Which of the following is not an example of how statistics are used? A) assessing the general state of a group B) determining the context of how data was gathered C) estimating the confidence you can have in the data D) determining if your group is unusual E) evaluating the relationship between variables

B) determining the context of how data was gathered

Environmentalism stemming from the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring differed from earlier North American conservation perspectives by A) focusing on human population growth. B) placing more emphasis on pollution problems. C) emphasizing international problems. D) encouraging energy efficiency. E) emphasizing the value of natural resources.

B) placing more emphasis on pollution problems.

Metabolism can be seen as the process of converting A) energy into matter. B) potential energy into kinetic energy. C) kinetic energy into potential energy. D) atoms into compounds. E) matter into potential energy.

B) potential energy into kinetic energy.

Methods in environmental science include all of the following, except A) observations. B) qualitative reasoning. C) the scientific method. D) quantitative reasoning. E) critical and analytical thinking.

B) qualitative reasoning.

The process of cellular respiration A) helps primary producers store energy accumulated by chloroplasts. B) releases energy from chemical bonds of molecules such as glucose. C) eliminates the need for enzymes in metabolism. D) does not occur in primary producers. E) does not occur in detritivores.

B) releases energy from chemical bonds of molecules such as glucose.

Photosynthesis is the process of converting ________ into ________ energy. A) chemical bond energy; kinetic B) solar energy; chemical bond C) solar energy; kinetic D) solar electrical energy; heat E) chemical bond energy; potential

B) solar energy; chemical bond

Utilitarian conservationists, including Gifford Pinchot and Theodore Roosevelt, supported forest conservation in order to provide A) wildlife habitats in forested areas. B) untouched, unvisited wilderness areas. C) homes, jobs, and recreation for people. D) the scenic beauty found in natural areas. E) resources, such as natural habitats, for future generations.

C) homes, jobs, and recreation for people.

If you were to remove the top predator (a tertiary or secondary consumer) in a food web or food chain A) there would be an increase in the number of producers. B) the producer population will be depleted because there are more primary consumers or herbivores. C) another predator would move in and take its place as top predator. D) there would be no change in the exchange of energy since predators get very little (only 10%) of the energy from their food source.

B) the producer population will be depleted because there are more primary consumers or herbivores.

Compared to poorer countries, which of the following is not true of richer nations? A) they have a higher per capita GDP B) they have higher fertility C) they have lower infant mortality D) they have higher adult literacy E) they have higher life expectancy

B) they have higher fertility

An ecosystem consists of A) a physical environment within which a biological community lives. B) the species with which a biological community interacts. C) a biological community and its physical environment. D) the primary producers within a biological community. E) all the species in a biological community.

C) a biological community and its physical environment.

What is the probability of getting tails 4 times in a row when you flip a coin? A) 1 in 4 B) 1 in 10 C) 1 in 16 D) 1 in 20 E) 1 in 24

C) 1 in 16

What implication(s) does the second law of thermodynamics have for biological systems? A) Systems cannot create energy because energy is neither created nor destroyed. B) With each transformation, less available energy is available to do work so older systems have less energy. C) A constant supply of energy is necessary for maintenance of biological systems. D) Energy is unlimited because it is used and reused by living organisms. E) None of these is an implication of the second law of thermodynamics.

C) A constant supply of energy is necessary for maintenance of biological systems.

Which of the following is not a molecule? A) O3 B) O2 C) C D) DNA E) H2O

C) C

Although your sister is not a scientist, she says that she uses scientific techniques in her everyday life. You do not believe her but she insists it is true. Which of the following examples could she use to best persuade you that science is used daily? A) When she cooks, she measures ingredients and puts them together to form something else (e.g., a cake). B) When she drives in her car, she hypothesizes about things (e.g., when the red light will turn green). C) She put some tomatoes in the sun and some in the shade to see if the sun causes them to ripen faster. D) She buys a brand of toothpaste based on statistical data (four out of five dentists recommend it). E) She cannot provide any example that would persuade you of using scientific techniques in her everyday life.

C) She put some tomatoes in the sun and some in the shade to see if the sun causes them to ripen faster.

Energy enters a system as sunlight and a producer is able to produce 10 kilograms of tissue. If eaten, the producer would produce about ________ kilograms of consumer tissue that would provide about ________ kilograms of tissue for a secondary consumer. A) 100; 10 B) 10; 1 C) 100; 1 D) 1; 0.1 E) 10; 0.1

D) 1; 0.1

What implication(s) does the law of conservation of matter have for humans? A) We cannot create energy because it is neither created nor destroyed. B) As matter is recycled it loses some of its integrity so we need to be careful when we dispose of goods. C) Natural resources are unlimited because they are used and reused by living organisms. D) Disposable goods are not going "away" when we throw them out. E) All of these are implications of the law of conservation of matter.

D) Disposable goods are not going "away" when we throw them out.

________ are characteristics of an entire system that are greater than the sum of its parts. A) Open systems B) Closed systems C) Disturbances D) Emergent properties E) Feedback loops

D) Emergent properties

The damage to an ecosystem caused by a hurricane or flood can be referred to as A) an open system. B) an emergent property. C) equilibrium in nature. D) a disturbance. E) negative feedback loop.

D) a disturbance.

A group of concerned citizens are collecting water samples from a local river to detect the level of nitrogen in the water. They plan to take samples every day for a month and then will divide the sum by the number of days they sampled. Which of the following answers most completely describes what the group is trying to do? A) determine the mean level of nitrogen in the water B) determine the average level of nitrogen in the water C) determine the confidence level of the sample D) both determine the mean level of nitrogen in the water and determine the average level of nitrogen in the water E) both determine the average level of nitrogen in the water and determine the confidence level of the sample

D) both determine the mean level of nitrogen in the water and determine the average

How do the organisms living around Yellowstone's hot springs get energy? A) by eating alga B) from the heat in the hot spring C) from photosynthesis D) from chemosynthesis E) no organisms can live at the depths of black smokers

D) from chemosynthesis

Primary consumers are also known as A) carnivores. B) scavengers. C) decomposers. D) herbivores. E) top carnivores

D) herbivores.

In reading a claim by an atmospheric scientist that ozone depletion is not an actual environmental problem, a critical thinker would A) ignore the claim because it does not align with his/her opinions. B) feel relieved because ozone depletion was such an overwhelming problem. C) look for evidence that is in line with past experience. D) look for evidence and background of the source's reliability. E) acknowledge the claim because an atmospheric scientist is an expert.

D) look for evidence and background of the source's reliability.

All members of a species that live in the same area at the same time make up a(an) A) species. B) ecosystem. C) community. D) population. E) biome.

D) population.

What would be considered to be an area in environmental science where we are seeing progress toward sustainability? A) biodiversity loss B) world hunger C) climate change D) renewable energy

D) renewable energy

Environmental science is a A) narrowly defined set of physical, life, and social sciences. B) theoretical approach in interpreting the environment. C) way to see the world in scientific terms. D) systematic approach learning about the environment. E) special set of problem-solving skills.

D) systematic approach learning about the environment.

Which biogeochemical cycle lacks an atmospheric component? A) the hydrologic cycle B) the carbon cycle C) the nitrogen cycle D) the phosphorous cycle

D) the phosphorous cycle

Living plants and the ocean are known as "carbon sinks" because A) they are made of carbon. B) they create carbon. C) they destroy carbon. D) they store carbon. E) due to gravity, carbon is found closer to the ground.

D) they store carbon.

Energy is the ability to A) move objects. B) become heated. C) transfer heat from one object to another. D) All of these are true. E) Both move objects and transfer heat from one object to another are true.

E) Both move objects and transfer heat from one object to another are true.

How is cellular respiration related to photosynthesis? A) both break down glucose for energy B) both build glucose to store energy from the sun C) both reactions release carbon dioxide D) Photosynthesis produces glucose using energy from the sun while cell respiration produces oxygen from glucose. E) Photosynthesis produces glucose using energy from the sun while cell respiration breaks down glucose to release energy.

E) Photosynthesis produces glucose using energy from the sun while cell respiration breaks down glucose to release energy.

Which is not a characteristic of acids? A) they readily give up hydrogen ions B) they have a pH of less than 7 C) they react easily with living tissue D) they react easily with nonliving minerals E) all of these are characteristic of acids

E) all of these are characteristic of acids

Adding an acid to a solution ________ the pH, while adding a base ________ the pH. A) decrease; neutralize B) increases; decreases C) neutralize; increases D) decreases; increase E) decreases; neutralize

E) decreases; neutralize

When testing a new drug to treat arthritis what method should be used to avoid bias in the data? A) deductive reasoning B) inductive reasoning C) critical thinking D) statistics E) double-blind experiments

E) double-blind experiments

If current trends continue, climate models indicate that by 2100 global mean temperature will probably increase by 2° to 6°C compared to today's temperatures. This would result in decreases in A) severe droughts. B) heat waves. C) storm intensity. D) flooding. E) glaciers and snowfields.

E) glaciers and snowfields.

The relationship among atoms, elements, and compounds is most like the relationship among which of the following groupings? A) bricks, brick houses, and large brick buildings B) grains of sand, rocks, and continents C) bricks, sidewalks, and paved roads D) ponds, lakes, and oceans E) grains of sugar, sugar, and sweetened iced tea

E) grains of sugar, sugar, and sweetened iced tea

The law of conservation of matter tells us that matter A) can never be reused. B) needs to be conserved or it will not be available for future generations. C) can be destroyed. D) can be conserved by some adaptive strategies. E) is used repeatedly.

E) is used repeatedly.

The best definition of a hypothesis is a(n) A) proof of a proposed theory. B) proposed theory that has been tested numerous times. C) theory based on experiments. D) argument based on acute intuition. E) proposed explanation based on observation.

E) proposed explanation based on observation.

Ideally, science A) is correct most of the time. B) tells us what we expected to find. C) uses new technology. D) is methodical and logical. E) proves that our hypotheses are correct.

E) proves that our hypotheses are correct.

T or F: Photosynthesis is a step in the global nitrogen cycle.

False

T or F: Sustainable development differs from traditional economic development in that it emphasizes economic development in the short term.

False; long term

T or F: Nitrogen is an essential component of amino acids and proteins.

True

T or F: Parsimony is one of the basic principles of science.

True

T or F: Places in the world where indigenous people live tend to have high biodiversity.

True

T or F: Water expands when it crystallizes and freezes.

True