APES END OF YEAR SUMMATIVE
The many finch species of the Galapagos Islands evolved from a single species that immigrated to the islands from the coast of South America. These species differ primarily in beak shape, which is closely related to the type of food each species specializes in eating. Which of the following best explains why each of the finch species on the Galapagos Islands evolved to be specialists? A) Islands have limited food resources, forcing species to feed on a small range of food items. B) Climate on islands tends to be less variable than on the mainland, minimizing seasonal absences of food. C) Reduced competition from other bird species allows finch species to focus on specific food resources. D) Food resources on islands are more plentiful and nutrient rich than on the mainland, leading to specialist behaviors in feeding.
A) Islands have limited food resources, forcing species to feed on a small range of food items.
Scientists are looking for new locations to generate electricity using geothermal energy. Which of the following locations would be the best choice for geothermal energy generating plant? A) Near tectonic plate boundaries B) Near fossil fuel resources C) Near the equator D) Near warm ocean currents
A) Near tectonic plate boundaries
Which of the following is most likely the source of the radon found in a house? A) Radon gas found in bedrock and soil leaked into the home through cracks in the foundation. B) Radon found in pressed wood products such as plywood emitted gas into the house. C) Radon gas leaked from a malfunctioning fuel-burning appliance, such as a furnace. D) Radon gas leaked from open paint and paint products used by the homeowner for repairs.
A) Radon gas found in bedrock and soil leaked into the home through cracks in the foundation.
Which of the following is the primary energy source for producers in near-surface marine communities? A) Solar energy from the Sun B) Carbon dioxide from consumers C) Oxygen in the atmosphere D) Heat from Earth's interior
A) Solar energy from the Sun
Brown marmorated stink bugs are native to China and Japan. They were identified in Pennsylvania for the first time in 1998 and have since spread across North America, feeding on agricultural crops. Which of the following characteristics of the brown marmorated stink bug has led to them being an invasive species in North American? A) They are tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions. B) They reach maturity slowly. C) They are often eaten by native wasps and birds. D) They have only a few surviving offspring each year.
A) They are tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions.
This layer of Earth's atmosphere has the highest density of any atmospheric layer and contains most of the water vapor in the atmosphere
A) Troposphere
This pathogen infects the respiratory system, typically the lungs, and can spread through the air when a person coughs, sneezes, or talks.
A) Tuberculosis
Which of the following agricultural practices would most likely lead to improved water quality in nearby streams and rivers? A) Using crop rotation in fields B) Using nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers C) Converting crop fields to cattle pasture D) Clear-cutting areas around crop fields
A) Using crop rotation in fields
Which of the following locations would most likely receive acid deposition? A) A major city receiving its electricity from hydroelectric sources B) A town downwind from a coal-fired power plant C) A large lake downstream from a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations(CAFO) D) A stream flowing through agricultural land
B) A town downwind from a coal-fired power plant
Which of the following is a problem that is associated with thermal inversion? A) An increase in UV radiation reaching Earth's surface, which can damage plant tissue and decrease crop yield. B) An increase in pollutants trapped at Earth's surface, which increases the number of cases of human respiratory problems. C) A decrease in the release of carbon dioxide from warmer air temperatures at the Earth's surface, which accelerates global climate change. D) A decrease in evaporation rates over the ocean, which increase potential for more severe thunderstorms and hurricanes.
B) An increase in pollutants trapped at Earth's surface, which increases the number of cases of human respiratory problems.
Increased use of which of the following technologies would cause the greatest reduction in the primary source of photochemical smog? A) Electrostatic precipitator B) Catalytic converter C) Carbon sequestration D) Methane collection system
B) Catalytic converter
A team at the University in Pennsylvania has concerns about the health of streams in a watershed because of various land uses in the area. There has been an increase in road repair work, and the area has many dairy farms. Which of the following would be most effective at preventing sediment runoff into the streams of the watershed? A) Have construction crews steepen the slopes of the valleys of streams near roadwork B) Maintain zones of grass at least 100m wide on the sides of streams in the area. C) Construct at least one dam on a stream in the watershed to improve flood control. D) Shift from dairy farming to corn planted in agricultural fields located within 100m of the streams.
B) Maintain zones of grass at least 100m wide on the sides of streams in the area.
The excessive pumping of groundwater from wells can influence the water levels below ground. Which of the following is more likely to occur in aquifers in coastal areas than in aquifers in other regions? A) Upward movement of the water table B) Saltwater intrusion into the aquifers C) The formation of a cone of depression D) An increased rate of recharge from precipitation
B) Saltwater intrusion into the aquifers
Which of the following best describes why secondary succession generally occurs more quickly than primary succession? A) Secondary succession is not hindered by the presence of any existing vegetation, but primary succession is. B) Secondary succession takes place in areas that already have soil and nutrients in place, where as primary succession occurs in areas that lack soil. C) Secondary succession includes the return of plants and animal species, whereas primary succession includes only the return of plants. D) Secondary succession requires pioneer species, including lichen and mosses, in the earliest stages, but primary succession does not.
B) Secondary succession takes place in areas that already have soil and nutrients in place, where as primary succession occurs in areas that lack soil.
Which of the following best achieves the goal of providing wood products for humans while preserving biodiversity? A) Clear-cutting of large areas of old-growth forest B) Selective cutting of large areas of old-growth forest C) Used prescribed burns in large areas of old-growth forest D) Planting large tree plantations in abandoned farm fields
B) Selective cutting of large areas of old-growth
This layer of Earth's atmosphere contains the ozone layer that absorbs the sun's ultraviolet rays.
B) Stratosphere
Which of the following biogeochemical cycles is correctly paired with its major reservoir? A) The hydrologic cycle and living things B) The nitrogen cycle and the atmosphere C) The phosphorous cycle and bacteria D) The carbon cycle and glaciers
B) The nitrogen cycle and the atmosphere
This pathogen is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes and is found most often in sub-Saharan Africa.
B) Zika
The snowshoe hare (a member of the rabbit family) is the primary prey for the Canadian lynx. The Canadian lynx is a wild feline that is lightly larger than a bobcat. Scientists plan to investigate the relative sizes of the hare and the lynx populations over a 3-year period. Based on predator-prey dynamics, which of the following identifies the hypothesis most likely to be supported by the study? A) A decrease in the lynx population will lead to a decrease in the hare population size. B) A decrease in the hare population size will lead to an increase in the lynx population size. C) A increase in the lynx population size will lead to a decrease in the hare population size. D) A increase in the hare population will lead to a decrease in the lynx population.
C) A increase in the lynx population size will lead to a decrease in the hare population size.
Which of the following describes an environment where large amounts of oil could form millions of years in the future? A) A volcanic island located along the mid-ocean ridge B) A large glacier in a mountainous area C) A river delta in a forested region D) An area of sand dunes in a desert
C) A river delta in a forested region
Which of the following describes a source of methane in the atmosphere? A) The reaction between nitrogen and oxygen B) Aerobic respiration from animals C) Anaerobic breakdown of organic material D) Evaportranspiration from plants
C) Anaerobic breakdown of organic materials
Which of the following will be the most likely consequence from the daily operation of a typical hydroelectric power plant? A) Greenhouse gases will be released during the generation of electricity. B) The frequency of floods will increase downstream of the hydroelectric dam project. C) Beach erosion will increase where the river meets the ocean downstream from the hydroelectric dam project. D) The population of fish that migrate to areas upstream of the hydroelectric dam project to breed will increase.
C) Beach erosion will increase where the river meets the ocean downstream from the hydroelectric dam project.
This pathogen infects the intestine and is spread through contaminated water or food.
C) Cholera
Which of the following environmental problems is most often linked to the combustion of fossil fuels? A) Cultural eutrophication in surface waters B) Thermal inversions in mountainous coastal areas C) Photochemical smog formation in the troposphere D) Ozone thinning in the stratosphere
C) Photochemical smog formation in the troposphere
Which of the following techniques is a realistic solution for farmers to decrease the amount of fertilizer and sediment runoff into aquatic ecosystems? A) Using integrated pest management B) Switching from drip irrigation to furrow irrigation in fields C) Practicing crop rotation D) Applying manure immediately before precipitation occurs
C) Practicing crop rotation
Which of the following strategies could be used to reduce soil erosion during surface mining of coal? A) Increasing the use of open pit mining. B) Adding air filtration systems C) Replanting vegetation D) Removing only low-grade ores
C) Replanting vegetation
Corn is a crop that grows best in soil that drains well. Which of the following soils is best suited to grow corn? A) Clay because it has at least 45% clay so it absorbs water very well. B) Silt loam because it is about 80% silt and has low amounts of sand. C) Sandy Loam because it has large amounts of sand and less than 20% clay. D) Silty clay loam because it has all three soil components.
C) Sandy Loam because it has large amounts of sand and less than 20% clay.
Which of the following is the most likely unintended consequence of using pesticides in agriculture? A) Pesticides increase the amount of vegetation available for cattle in free range grazing, which causes the cattle to graze over a larger land area. B) Pesticides can contaminate water sources near agricultural areas causing an increase in primary productivity that leads to eutrophication. C) The continual use of pesticides can cause organisms to build a resistance through genetic mutation that then requires more or stronger pesticides. D) The continual use of pesticides can lead to an increase in soil biodiversity from increased soil quality.
C) The continual use of pesticides can cause organisms to build a resistance through genetic mutation that then requires more or stronger pesticides.
Which of the following is a negative consequence associated with photovoltaic cells? A) Photovoltaic cells increase the reliance on transport of fuels long distances from energy source to homeowners. B) Smog and ground-level ozone can be created from pollutants released from photovoltaic solar cells during electricity generation. C) The manufacture of photovoltaic solar cells involves toxic metals that can be released into the environment. D) The installation of photovoltaic solar cells on houses and other buildings can result in the release of chemicals that destroy stratospheric ozone.
C) The manufacture of photovoltaic solar cells involves toxic metals that can be released into the environment.
Which of the following is a primary cause of El Nino climate variations? A) Reversals of Hadley cell circulation in the Atlantic Ocean B) Increased dust blowing into the Atlantic Ocean from the Sahara desert C) Warmer surface waters in the Pacific Ocean D) Reduced deep-water upwelling in the Pacific Ocean
C) Warmer surface waters in the Pacific Ocean
Which of following identifies an unintended result from recycling programs? A) Recycling is cost effective and low energy process that turns waste into usable goods B) Recycling plastic wrappers from food allows for increased compost material. C) When items are placed in recycling that cannot be recycled, the cost of recycling increases. D) When materials are recycled, it reduces the need for extracting and processing raw materials.
C) When items are placed in recycling that cannot be recycled, the cost of recycling increases.
Which of the following equations best represents the chemical changes that occur during ocean acidification?
CO2 + H2O -> 2H+ + CO3 2-
Which of the following best describes why aquaculture has grown considerably in several parts of the world? A) Increased nutrient availability in the ocean from fish waste has led to an increase in the density of fish that can be supported in aquaculture facilities. B) The use of antibiotics in aquaculture has led to the evolution of resistant bacteria that support the immune system of various fish species. C) Wild fish have increased in size and fitness from the competition with non-native fish that have escaped from aquaculture facilities. D) Aquaculture fisheries provide a larger and more consistent quantity of fish year-round than do wild fisheries.
D) Aquaculture fisheries provide a larger and more consistent quantity of fish year-round than do wild fisheries.
A community located downwind from a coal-fired power plant has seen a recent increase in the number of dead and dying trees. A soil scientist measured values for the following parameters before and after the trees died off. Which of the following soil data should be used to determine if the coal-fired power plant emissions were the cause of the damage to the trees? A) Moisture content and water retention B) Parent material composition C) Pesticide and herbicide residue levels D) Calcium and aluminum levels
D) Calcium and aluminum levels
Which process in the nitrogen cycle releases nitrogen gas into the atmosphere? A) Leaching of fertilizers from agricultural areas B) Assimilation of soil nitrates by plants C) Bacteria fixation of nitrogen in soil D) Denitrification of soil nitrates by bacteria
D) Denitrification of soil nitrates by bacteria
Which of the following best explains the impact of climate change on polar regions? A) Polar regions are warming more slowly than other regions because the ice and show keep the air cool. B) Polar regions are warming more slowly than other regions because atmospheric circulation wind patterns trap cold air at the poles. C) Polar regions are warming more quickly than other regions because more carbon dioxide can dissolve in colder water. D) Polar regions are warming more quickly than other regions because warming decreases the coverage of high-albedo ground cover like ice and snow.
D) Polar regions are warming more quickly than other regions because warming decreases the coverage of high-albedo ground cover like ice and snow.
The Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event was caused when an asteroid impacted Earth approximately 66 million years ago, near what is now the Gulf of Mexico. The indirect effects of the impact affected the entire globe. The event resulted in the extinction of nearly 75 percent of all plant and animal species on Earth, including the majority of dinosaur species. Which of the following likely best describes why most of these species went extinct? A) Direct effects from the impact B) Loss of competitors C) Increase in genetic diversity in most species D) Rapid change and habitat change
D) Rapid change and habitat change
This layer of Earth's atmosphere contains the fewest molecules of the layers shown, and the low density of gas leads to very few molecules transferring heat to an object. In this layer, ultraviolet radiation causes photo-dissociation of molecules, creating ions.
D) Thermosphere
Which of the following scenarios is an example of cogeneration? A) Using dish washing liquid and bacteria to clean up spills B) Using electricity to cool a house and releasing the heat into the atmosphere C) Using two alternative energy sources to produce electricity for a city D) Using the steam given off from a coal-fired electrical generation plant to hear nearby buildings
D) Using the steam given off from a coal-fired electrical generation plant to hear nearby buildings
Which of the following greenhouse gases does not contribute significantly to global climate change because it has a short residence time in the atmosphere? A) Carbon dioxide B) Methane C) Nitrous oxide D) Water vapor
D) Water vapor
Which sequence of events best explains the interaction between the components of the Arctic ecosystems feedback loop?
Global temperature increases -> permafrost thickness decreases -> methane increases -> global temperature increases
