AP Enviro Exam
The amount of sediment deposited at the mouth of a river system is likely to be increased by the presence upstream of which of the following? I. artificial leaves II. Dams III. Extensive natural wetlands
(a) I only
El Nino, a periodic warming of ocean surface waters, occurs in which of the following regions?
(a) tropical east pacific
which of the following countries has the largest coal reserves?
(b) china
In a human population undergoing the demographic transition, which of the following generally decreases first?
(b) death rate
In the united states the largest single component of municipal solid waste is
(b) paper
The two major processes involved in the carbon cycle are...
(b) photosynthesis and respiration
High rates of species extinction caused by human activities have taken place at which of the following times in earth history? I. at the end of the Permian period II. at the end of the Cretaceous period III. during recent times
(c) III only
which of the following best describes the mechanism of the greenhouse effect in earths atmosphere?
(c) infrared radiation from the earths surface is absorbed by gases in the atmosphere
In the removal of a pollutant from wastewater, which of the is true of the cost per unit of pollutant removed?
(c) it increases as the concentration of the pollutant decreases
which of the following is an inorganic compound?
(c) table salt
which of the following procedures would be best for rededicating the effects of soil salinization ?
(d) addition of large amounts of water to leach out salts
Road construction, logging, and mining are banned in which of the following federal lands
(d) national wilderness preservation areas
which of the following will result in accelerated eutrophication when introduced into streams, lakes, and bays?
(d) phosphates
which of the following not only results from green house warming but also contributes to additional warming of the earth (i.e., is a positive feedback process) ?
(e) decrease size of snowpack
All of the following gases have been implicated in contributing to the increase in global temperatures via the greenhouse effect EXCEPT A) 02 B) CH4 C) N20 D) CO2 E) CFC's
A
All of the following gases have been implicated in contributing to the increase in global temperatures via the greenhouse effect EXCEPT A) O2 B) CH4 C) N20 D)CO2 E) CFC's
A
Countries undergoing rapid population growth include which of the following? A) I only B) II only C) III only D) II and III only E) I, II and III
A
Countries undergoing rapid population growth include which of the following? A) I only B) II only C) III only D) II and III only E) I,II and III
A
Energy is transferred from one object to another as the result of a temperature difference A) Heat flow B) Kinetic Energy C) Potential Energy D) First Law of thermodynamics E) Second Law of thermodynamics
A
Fragmenting one large park of preserve into many small parks with human habitation in between them is most likely to lead to which of the following? A) Reduction in species diversity B) Stabilization of microclimates C) Decrease in the proportion of edge habitat D) Increase in gene flow within species E) Increase in population size of top carnivores
A
Fragmenting one large park or preserve into many small parks with human habitation in between them is most likely to lead to which of the following? A) reduction in species diversity B) stabilization of microclimates C) decrease in the proportion of edge habitat D) increase in gene flow within species E) increase in population size of top carnivores
A
In models of global warming, the most important factor contributing to an increase in sea level is (a) thermal expansion of the oceans (b) increased precipitation (c) decreased evaporation (d) subsurface ocean cooling (e) the growth of polar ice caps
A
Most volcanism in the world is associated with A) plate boundaries B) midcontinental hot spots C) faulting D) aquifer depletion E) desertification
A
Most volcanism in the world is associated with A) Plate boundaries B) Midcontinental hot spots C) Faulting) D) Aquifer depletion E) Desertification
A
Of the following, which constitutes the greatest percent of domestic use of water in the United States? A) flushing toilets B) drinking C) cooking D) washing dishes E) washing clothes
A
Of the following, which constitutes the greatest percent of the domestic use of water in the United States A) Flushing toilets B) Drinking C) Cooking D) Washing Dishes E) Washing Clothes
A
Of the following, which is the best example of a point source of water pollution (a) Factory effluent (b) Storm water (c) Acid precipitation (d) Agricultural runoff (e) Residential pesticide runoff
A
The most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere is A) Nitrogen B) Oxygen C) Water vapor D) Carbon Dioxide E) Hydrogen
A
The most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere is A) nitrogen B) oxygen C) water vapor D) carbon dioxide E) hydrogen
A
The source whose use is a direct cause of deforestation A) Biomass B) Wind C) Tidal Energy D) Nuclear fission E) Sunlight
A
Which method is used most frequently in the United States Today? A)Sanitary Landfill B)Incineration C)Discharge to sewers, streams, and rivers D)Chemical treatment E)Biological treatment
A
Which of the following elements constitutes the highest percentage of mass in Earth's crust? A) Oxygen B) Aluminum C) Carbon D) Potassium E) Nitrogen
A
Which of the following elements constitutes the highest percentage of mass in Earth's crust? A) oxygen B) aluminum C) carbon D) potassium E) nitrogen
A
Which of the following metals is considered an energy resource A) Uranium B) Cobalt C) Mercury D) Copper E) Palladium
A
Which of the following metals is considered an energy resource? A) uranium B) cobalt C) mercury D) copper E) palladium
A
exemplified by moss growing on a tree trunk in a forest A) Commensalism B) Parasitism C) Mutualism D) Predation E) Competition
A
the location where desertification is occurring most rapidly A (South America) B (India) C (China-ish) D (USA) E (Africa)
A
which of the following best explains why DDT has been found in penguin eggs in the Antartic? (a) chemicals used in one region of earth can circulate in the biosphere and affect organisms in a distant region (b) The large number of penguins in Antartica has resulted in depletion of their preserved foods (c) although DDT is toxic to adult birds, it has no effect on developing embryos (d) chemicals like DDT are volatile and eventually make their way to the ozone layer (e) because penguins incubate their eggs on land, the eggs are exposed to DDT
A
represents the biotic potential of the species
A (on graph)
the maximum efficiency possible in an energy conversion process that is not limited by the second law of thermodynamics
A: 100%
country with the greatest percentage of land area affected by desertification
A: australia
the most commonly used measure of the economic growth of a country is which of the following
A: gross national product
ammonia is converted to nitrite, then to nitrate
A: nitrification
the most abundant element in earths crust
A: oxygen
the process in which glucose is synthesized by plants
A: photosynthesis
Most often cited as the causative factor for acid deposition
A: sulfur dioxide
which of the following best exemplifies global collaboration for a sustainable environment
A: the montreal protocol
According to the following information in the graph above, which of the following would most effectively slow the loss of arable land? A) increasing the efficiency of desalination processes B) reducing urban development C) increasing the efficiency of erosion control D) using more extensive irrigation systems E) discovering cheaper energy sources
B
According to the information in the graph above, which of the following would most effectively slow the loss of arable land? A) Increasing the efficiency of desalination process B) Reducing urban development C) Increasing the efficiency of erosion control D) Using more extensive irrigation systems E) Discovering cheaper energy sources
B
Exemplified by ticks feeding on a deer A) Commensalism B) Parasitism C) Mutualism D) Predation E) Competition
B
Matter in motion has energy A) Heat flow B) Kinetic Energy C) Potential Energy D) First Law of thermodynamics E) Second Law of thermodynamics
B
The location where the greatest number of people would be directly affected by a rise in ocean level A (South America) B (India) C (China-ish) D (USA) E (Africa)
B
There are various stages in the formation of coal as heat and pressure are increased and moisture content is decreased. These stages, in order, are... (a) Bituminous, peat, lignite, anthracite (b) peat, lignite, bituminous, anthracite (c) peat, lignite, anthracite, bituminous (d) lignite, bituminous, anthracite, peat (e) anthracite, bituminous, peat, lignite
B
Which method reduces the volume of waste but could release toxic emissions into the atmosphere? A)Sanitary Landfill B)Incineration C)Discharge to sewers, streams, and rivers D)Chemical treatment E)Biological treatment
B
Which of the following best describes soils in many tropical rain forests? A) They lack soil horizons B) They are quickly depleted of nutrients when the forest is removed C) They are similar to soils in grasslands D) They are well suited for growing a wide variety of crops E) They are deep and well drained
B
Which of the following best describes soils in many tropical rain forests? A) They lack soil horizons. B) They are quickly depleted of nutrients when the forest is removed. C) They are similar to soils in grasslands. D) They are well suited for growing a wide variety of crops. E) They are deep and well drained.
B
Approximate percentage of electrical energy converted to heat in the average incandescent lightbulb
B: 95%
the element commercially extracted from bauxite
B: aluminum
nitrate ions and nitrite ions are converted into nitrous oxide gas and nitrogen gas
B: denitrification
implicated in human neurological damage
B: lead
the presence of fecal coliform bacteria in a sample of river water suggests which of the following
B: the water is contaminated with animal waste
A sample of radioactive waste has a half-life of 10 years and an activity level of 2 curies. After how many years will the activity level of this sample be .25 curies? A) 10 years B) 20 years C) 30 years D) 40 years E) 80 years
C
A sample of radioactive waste has a half-life of 10 years and an activity level of 2 curies. After how many years will the activity level of this sample be 0.25 curie? A) 10 years B) 20 years C) 30 years D) 40 years E) 80 years
C
All of the following except substances are derived from petroleum EXCEPT A) asphalt B) DDT C) Cellulose D) Polystrene E) Nylon
C
All of the following substances are derived from petroleum EXCEPT A) asphalt B) DDT C) cellulose D) polystyrene E) nylon
C
Environmentalists oppose the mining of Antarctic mineral resources because A) Territorial claims to Antartica are unresolved B) The existence of valuable mineral deposits in the Antarctic environment is unlikely C) The antartic environment is fragile and extremely vulnerable to the disturbance that would accompany a development D) Currently known world reserves of important metals and oil are considered inexhaustible E) The demand for minerals is expected to decline as the world's nations become more industrialized
C
Environmentalists oppose the mining of antarctic mineral resources because A) territorial claims to Antarctica are unresolved B) the existence of valuable mineral deposits in the antarctic environment is unlikely C) the antarctic environment is fragile and extremely vulnerable to the disturbance that would accompany development D) currently known world reserves of important metals and oil are considered inexhaustible E) the demand for minerals is expected to decline as the world's nations become more industrialized
C
Living organisms must acquire energy from their environment. Examples of adaptations that help organisms acquire this energy include which of the following I. the dark, heat-absorbing coloration of a reptile II. the fangs and claws of a lion III. The light coloration of a peppered moth A) I only B) II only C) I and II only D) II and III only E) I, Ii and III
C
Living organisms must acquire energy from their environment. Examples of adaptations that help organisms acquire this energy include which of the following? A) I only B) II only C) I and III only D) II and III only E) I, II and III only
C
exemplified by bees consuming nectar and carrying pollen from one flower to another A) Commensalism B) Parasitism C) Mutualism D) Predation E) Competition
C
represents the growth of a population predicted by the logistic model
C (on graph)
plant roots absorb ammonium ions and nitrate ions for use in making molecules such as dna. amino acids, and proteins
C: assimilation
the process by which a soil nutrient is reduced and released to the atmosphere as a gas
C: denitrification
which of the following energy sources is not derived directly or indirectly from solar energy
C: hydroelectric
the most abundant element in earths core
C: iron
considered harmful in the troposphere but beneficial in the stratosphere
C: ozone
Although ozone in the stratosphere has been decreased in recent years, ozone near earth surface is on the increase. This ozone near the surface is undesirable because of it (a) absorbs ultraviolet light (b) has a different chemical structure than stratospheric ozone (c) reacts with hydrocarbons to form CFC's (d) is a strong oxidant and a respiratory irritant (e) accelerates the rate of photosynthesis in plants
D
Approximately what percent of the population in Country II is under age 15? A) 1% B) 5% C) 10% D) 25% E) 50%
D
Approximately what percent of the population in country II is under age of 15? A) 1% B) 5% C) 10% D) 25% E) 50%
D
If an incandescent lightbulb used for lighting has an efficiency rating of 5 percent, then for every 1.00 joule of electrical energy consumed by the bulb, which of the following is produced? A) 1.05 joules of light energy B) 1.05 joules of heat energy C) .95 joules of light energy D) .05 joules of light energy C) .05 joules of heat energy
D
If an incandescent lightbulb used for lighting has an efficiency rating of 5 percent, then for every 1.00 joule of electrical energy consumed by the bulb, which of the following is produced? A) 1.05 joules of light energy B) 1.05 joules of heat enrgy C) 0.95 joules of light energy D) 0.05 joules of light energy E) 0.05 joules of heat energy
D
The amount of energy in an isolated system stays constant A) Heat flow B) Kinetic Energy C) Potential Energy D) First Law of thermodynamics E) Second Law of thermodynamics
D
The major reservoirs of nitrogen and sulfur in the biosphere are correctly identified by which of the following? A) Rocks Rocks B) Rocks Vegatation C) Rocks Atmosphere D) Atmosphere Rocks E) Atmosphere Atmosphere
D
The major reservoirs of nitrogen and sulfur in the biosphere are currently identified by which of the following? Nitrogen Sulfur A) rocks rocks B) rocks vegetation C) rocks atmosphere D) atmosphere rocks E) atmosphere atmosphere
D
The source that is not renewable A) Biomass B) Wind C) Tidal Energy D) Nuclear fission E) Sunlight
D
The source that produces long-lived hazardous wastes A) Biomass B) Wind C) Tidal Energy D) Nuclear fission E) Sunlight
D
Which method would be best suited for neutralizing the acidic components of waste? A)Sanitary Landfill B)Incineration C)Discharge to sewers, streams, and rivers D)Chemical treatment E)Biological treatment
D
Which of the following correctly orders the methods of solid-waste management in terms of energy required Least energy----Most energy (a) Reuse Recycle Reduce (b) Recycle Reuse Reduce (c) Recycle Reduce Reuse (d) Reduce Reuse Recycle (e) Reduce Recycle Reuse
D
the location where the size of the human population is the most stable A (South America) B (India) C (China-ish) D (USA) E (Africa)
D
the rapid rate of this process in tropical forests results in low nutrient soils
D: decomposition
the most abundant element in earths atmosphere
D: nitrogen
country with the largest area of boreal forests
D: russia
An energy transformation occurs and results in increased disorder A) Heat flow B) Kinetic Energy C) Potential Energy D) First Law of thermodynamics E) Second Law of thermodynamics
E
Exemplified by starlings displacing bluebirds from nesting sites A) Commensalism B) Parasitism C) Mutualism D) Predation E) Competition
E
The diagram above illustrates how the number of individuals in a population changed with time as a result of external stresses and resource limitations. Which lettered portion of the curve most likely corresponds to the carrying capacity of the ecosystems? A) A B) B C) C D) D E) E
E
The diagram above illustrates how the number of individuals in a population changed with time as a result of external stresses and resources limitations. Which lettered portion of the curve most likely corresponds to the carrying capacity of the ecosystem? A) a B) b C) c D) d E) e
E
The land on a 100-acre farm is equally suited for grazing cattle and growing corn. Of the following ways of distributing land use, which would produce the greatest number of calories for human consumption? Acres for grazing cattle Acres for grazing corn (a) 100 0 (b) 80 20 (c) 50 50 (d) 20 80 (e) 0 100
E
The location of the greatest remaining natural biodiversity A (South America) B (India) C (China-ish) D (USA) E (Africa)
E
The source that is converted directly into electrical energy by photo-voltaic cells A) Biomass B) Wind C) Tidal Energy D) Nuclear fission E) Sunlight
E
The ultimate source of energy for terrestrial ecosystem is A) Nutrients in soil B) Nutrients in vegetation C) Primary consumers D) Producers E) The sun
E
The ultimate source of energy for terrestrial ecosystems is A) nutrients in soil B) nutrients in vegetation C) primary consumers D) producers E) the Sun
E
Which method introduces microorganisms to break down hazardous organic compounds? A)Sanitary Landfill B)Incineration C)Discharge to sewers, streams, and rivers D)Chemical treatment E)Biological treatment
E
Which of the following would most likely have the greatest positive impact on the quality of the natural environment worldwide? A) Discovery of new reserves of fossil fuel in coastal areas B) Increased agricultural production on marginal desert lands C) Increased life expectancy in more developed nations D) Increase reliance on food from ocean ecosystems E) Stabilization or reduction of the size of the human population
E
Which of the following would most likely have the greatest positive impact on the quality of the natural environment worldwide? A) Discovery of new reserves of fossil fuel in coastal areas B) Increased agricultural production on marginal desert lands C) Increased life expectancy in more developed nations D) Increased reliance on food from ocean ecosystems E) Stabilization or reduction of the size of the human population
E
represents the maximum number of individuals that can be supported by a particular ecosystem on a long term basis
E (on graph)
approximate efficiency of the conversion of light energy to chemical energy in photosynthesis
E: 1%
country with the largest area of temperate deciduous forest
E: USA
the factor that likely poses the greatest threat of extinction of species worldwide is
E: increasing loss of habitat
which of the following is an effective alternative to chlorine for disinfecting wastewater in a municipal treatment plant
E: ozone
is the major pollutant that electrostatic precipitators are designed to remove from power plant smokestack emissions
E: particulates
Of the following, which is the best example of reclamation of disturbed lands? a) restoring vegetation to an area that has been mined b) constructing a new wetland to compensate for the loss of wetlands c) growing crops on a land formerly used for grazing d) reintroducing an endangered species into an area from which it has disappeared. e) regulating the use of natural resource in order for it to renew itself.
a
The drop in stratospheric ozone level in the Southern Hemisphere is most evident during which season? a) antartic spring (october) b) antartic summer (april) c) antartic summer only (january) d) antartic winter only (july) e) both antartica summer and winter (january and july).
a
regulations that deal directly with the disposal of hazardous materials in the United States include which of the following? I RCRA II Clean Water Act III Clean Air Act a) I only B) II only c) III only d) I and II E) I, II, and II
a
At the current rate of growth, Earths human population will double in about 50 years. Which of the following is LEAST viable strategy for ensuring adequate nutrition for a population of this size? A) increasing the number of new food crops from the great diversity of a plant species b) doubling the area of the arable land on a global basis c) developing systems of making the global distribution of food more equitable d) increasing the area of land that is currently dedicated to grain production by reducing the area dedicated to meat production e) assisting developing countries in using highly efficient crop irrigation systems
b
If mean global temperature keeps on increasing as predicted by contemporary scientist, which of the following is most likely to happen? a) there will be fewer insect pests and disease carrying organisms. b) specialist species living in fragile ecosystems will risk extinction. c) There will be an increase in sulfate concentrations in wetlands d) there will be an increase in the reproductive rate of mammals. e) the geographical range of many plants will move toward the equator.
b
which of the following natural events would be most likely to contribute to the cooling of earths atmosphere? a) earthquake b) volcanism c) hurricane d) tsunami e) monsoon
b
Photosynthesis is the major source of which following gases in Earth's atmosphere? a) Co2 b) H20 c) O2 D) H2 e) N2
c
Which of the following is the usual cause of cultural eutrophication in surface waters of both developed and developing countries? a) lack of proper filtration devices for plant effluents? b) introduction of cyanobacteria to streams and rivers c) runoff of metal ions in bodies of water d) runoff of nitrate compounds into bodies of water e) runoff of herbicides into bodies of water.
c
approximate efficiency of an average coal fired power plant
c: 30%
If the annual consumption of petroleum in the united states is about 23 barrels per capita, the United States is closest to a) 12 million barrels b) 240 million barrels c) 2 million barrels d) 6 million barrels e) 10 million barrels
d
Many scientists maintain that a rise in sea level has occurred in the last hundred years a result of a)increased precipitation b) increased cloud cover c) increased evapotranspiritation d) thermal expansion of the ocean e) melting of permafrost
d
One solution for reducing the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide would be a) increase oceanic temperatures to enhance carbon dioxide uptake. b) increase the rate of removal of tropical rain forest. c) decrease the total area of rice paddies d) decrease the use of fossil fuels e) decrease the production of chlorofluorocarbons
d
Traveling southward fro the Arctic regions of canada to the tropics of Panama one passes through several biomes- tundra, conferous forest, temperate decidous forest, and tropical rain forest. This pattern of change in vegetation is primarily the result of a) primary an secondary succession b) the invasion of exotic species c) an increase in mean and annual temperature and decrease in mean annual precipitation. d) an increase in both mean temperature and mean precipitation e) an increase int he total annual hours of sunlight
d
Uranium-235 has ahalf life of 710 million years. If it is determined that a certain amount of stored U-235 will be considered safe only when its radioactivity has dropped to .1 percent of the original level, approximately how much time must the U-235 be stored securely to be safe? a) 7.1x10^6 b) 7.1x10^7 c)7.1x10^8 d) 7.1x10^9 e) 7.1x10^10
d
which of the following best describes the significance of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, which was held in 1972 in Stockholm? A) developing countries and developed countries were largely in agreement about the most important environmental problems. b) for the first time since the end of the Second World war, nations set aside their political differences to achieve a common objective. c) Environmental activist who had organized Earth Day 1970 ran the conference. d) The conference provided the first global forum for dialogue on environmental problems e) the delegates assembled at the conference voted in favor of controlling population growth
d
which statement best describes the approximate distribution of coal supplies? a) brazil and south africa together contain 33% of proven reserves b) the united states contains 40% of proven reserves c)Australia, Japan, and france together contain 45% of proven reserves d) the united states, the former Soviet Union and China contain 50% of proven reserves e) Germany, brazil, and india together contain 75% of proven reserves.
d
The combusting one gallon of automobile fuel produces about 5 pounds of carbon . Two autos are making a trip of 600 miles. The first auto gets 20 mpg, and the second gets 30 mpg. Approximetly how much less carbon will be producef by the second auto on this trip a) 300 lbs b) 150lbs c) 100 lbs d) 75 lbs e) 50 lbs
e
WHich of the following would be the strongest evidence in support of a scientist's contention that a local area was experience acid deposition? a) a sudden die off of all the fish in a local stream b) a gradual increase in temperature of a local lake. c) an increase in the rate of photosynthesis of aquatic plants in a local lake. d) a long-term increase in the pH of a local pond. e) an increase in the concentrations of soluble heavy metals in a pond
e
Which of the following best illustrates the concept of the tragedy of the commons? a) destruction of landscape by surface mining on private land. b) selective harvesting of trees by timber company in a national forest. c) Legislation of catch limits to avoid depletion of fish stocks in a shared lack. d) inadvertent destruction of beneficial species while attempting to control pests. e) depletion of an aquifer by regional farmers.
e
Which of the following is a true statement about replacement-level fertility? a) it equals the average number of children a woman will give birth to during her childbearing years. b) it equals the annual number of live births per 1000 people in a population. c) it equals the natural increase of a population in one year. d) it is found by subtracting the number of emigrants from the number of immigrants in one year. e) it is greater in countries with high infant mortality rates than in countries with low infant mortality rates.
e