NC earth/enviromental science exam released test

Which best describes the relationship between carrying capacity and Earth's resources?

A population that is above the carrying capacity will have a decrease in natural resources.

In the Sahara Desert of Africa, great sandstorms stir dust into the atmosphere where it travels west across the Atlantic Ocean. This dust can affect the chemical composition of water and soil, decrease air quality, and impact climate as far away as the Caribbean and Florida. Which is the most likely way Saharan dust impacts climate in southern Florida?

Dust reflects solar radiation, cooling the surface.

The air masses that interact to form hurricanes and cyclones rise and fall due to changes in air density and air pressure. Why do these storms also spin?

Earth's rotation causes the air to spin.

Which of the following correctly describes how the Sun produces energy?

Four hydrogen atoms fuse into one helium atom.

Which would be the most sustainable way to increase the supply of potable water as the United States population grows?

Increase the use of greywater for landscaping.

Which most likely occurs when a fast-moving cold air mass moves into a region of warmer, moist air

It causes heavy precipitation for a short period of time.

A company has several factories around the world and has decided to transition from burning fossil fuels to using alternative energy resources. How could a decrease in burning fossil fuels impact the atmosphere?

It could decrease the carbon dioxide levels of the atmosphere.

How does a straight alignment between Earth, the sun, and the moon impact the tides on Earth

It produces the greatest change in high and low tides.

Which statement describes the motion of Earth around the sun?

Speed increases the closer Earth is to the sun and decreases the farther it is from the sun

Scientists believe continental drift over Earth's geological history has had a significant impact on Earth's cycles of warmer and cooler climates. Which statement describes a characteristic of Earth's continents that is most likely to cause changes in global climate when continents drift?

The location of the continent affects amount of sunlight reflected.

What do the energy resources uranium and coal have in common?

They both are acquired by mining the lithosphere.

Which statement describes the general movement of air masses?

They move from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.

Because water can hold a large amount of heat, which effect do oceans have on nearby land areas?

They prevent rapid extreme temperature changes.

Which is an advantage of safely using uranium as an energy source rather than using coal?

Uranium produces energy without polluting the atmosphere, while burning coal can increase the CO2 in the atmosphere.

How does air density affect air pressure in a cyclonic storm?

Warm air rises, creating an area of low pressure under it.

Which structure can form as a result of a divergent plate boundary?

a mid-ocean ridge, due to the separation of two plates

Which is formed when a section of impermeable rock forces groundwater to move laterally and emerge onto the surface of earth

a spring

Nitrogen is a nutrient needed by plants for growth. Nitrogen is naturally cycled into the soil where it is rapidly absorbed by plants. What would a farmer most likely do to replenish nitrogen that was depleted from the soil?

add bacteria to the soil in order for the crop to grow stronger roots

Which would produce the most severe earthquake damage along the surface of Earth?

an earthquake with a shallow focus and a magnitude of 4.5

The drilling for freshwater increases along a coastal area. What is a likely a consequence of this action?

an intrusion of salt water into aquifers

How could the removal of trees and other vegetation impact an environment?

by increasing erosion

Which results from the unequal heating of the ocean water of Earth?

changes in ocean current patterns

Which could most likely have a lasting negative impact on the biodiversity of an area?

clear-cutting

Which of these is most likely to create large areas of land subsidence?

extraction of groundwater

One of the greatest threats to biodiversity is

habitat destruction

The diagram shows an arrangement of Earth, the Sun, and the Moon. Which most likely occurs at Point X due to the positions of the illustrated bodies?

high tide

The average temperature of Earth's surface has increased approximately 1°C in the past century. Which of the following can best explain this increase in temperature?

higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Can Earth's human population increase indefinitely?

no, even though resources are infinite

Human actions can change the rate at which soil erodes. Which of the following would most likely slow the rate of soil erosion?

planting trees along cliffs

The mixing of cold Arctic Ocean water with warm surface Atlantic currents off the northwestern coast of Europe causes which effect?

sinking of water as it circulates

Which of these air pollutants can react with chemicals in the atmosphere and cause acid rain?

sulfur dioxide (SO ) and nitrogen oxides (NO )

Scientists are studying a graph showing the time differences between the seismic P-waves and the seismic S-waves as they travel through Earth. Which information can they learn from the graph

the epicenter of an earthquake