APES - Unit 7 MCQ

<thermal inversion diagram> In addition to a nearby mountain range, which of the following environmental conditions would be required for the process in the diagram to occur? (a) A cool sea breeze and a high pressure system (b) A warm mountain breeze and a low pressure system (c) A cool sea breeze and a low pressure system (d) A cool mountain breeze and a high pressure system

(a) A cool sea breeze and a high pressure system

Which of the following is most likely responsible for the indoor air pollutant shown in the graph? (a) Cracks in the basement foundation (b) Synthetic fiber in carpets and furniture (c) Leaking water (d) Pet hair

(a) Cracks in the basement foundation

The graph shows the average distance traveled by individuals in a population in an urban area in the southwestern United States. Based on the data, which of the following months most likely experiences the highest levels of photochemical smog? (a) July (b) August (c) November (d) December

(a) July

Which of the following best describes the impact of modifying the slurry by increasing the amount of limestone? (a) The amount of sulfur dioxide released will decrease. (b) The amount of ground-level ozone released will decrease. (c) The amount of water released will increase. (d) The amount of carbon monoxide released will increase.

(a) The amount of sulfur dioxide released will decrease.

Which of the following devices is correctly paired to the air pollutant it would be used to measure? (a) gas sensor - CO2 (b) electrostatic precipitator - CO (c) sound pressure level sensor - PM (d) catalytic convertor - VOCs

(a) gas sensor - CO2

A researcher wants to determine if ponds and lakes downwind of a coal-burning power plant are affected by the plant's emissions. Which of the following would be the best parameter from the water in the ponds and lakes to measure in order to determine the effect of the plant's emissions on the aquatic ecosystems? (a) pH (b) Biological oxygen demand (BOD) (c) Carbon dioxide (d) Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

(a) pH

<thermal inversion diagram> Which of the following best describes the process shown in the diagram above? (a) Less-dense, cool air rises up and mixes with the denser warm air above it, increasing the amount of thermal pollution in the atmosphere. (b) Less-dense, warm air creates a temperature inversion between more-dense layers, trapping pollutants near the ground. (c) Dense, warm air from the mountains on the right pushes into the less-dense, cool air mass, causing an inversion layer. (d) Movement of air currents over urban areas decreases the amount of photochemical smog during summer months.

(b) Less-dense, warm air creates a temperature inversion between more-dense layers, trapping pollutants near the ground.

Which of the following best describes how a scientist could accurately study the effects of soil buffering on plant growth in a region that is affected by acid deposition downwind of a coal-burning power plant? (a) Measure changes in plant height over a year in a two different groups of trees; one group is 5km5km from the power plant and one group is 10km10km from the power plant. (b) Measure the changes in plant height over a year in two different groups of trees the same distance from the power plant; one group is in topsoil and one group is in topsoil with limestone added. (c) Measure changes in plant biomass over a year in two different groups of trees the same distance from the power plant; one group is not manipulated and one group is watered daily to dilute the deposition's acidity. (d) Measure changes in plant biomass over a year in two different groups of trees; one group is 5km5km from the power plant over

(b) Measure the changes in plant height over a year in two different groups of trees the same distance from the power plant; one group is in topsoil and one group is in topsoil with limestone added.

Based on the data in the graph, which of the following insulation options is ineffective at insulating a home and greatly contributes to indoor air pollution? (a) Blown cellulose (b) Mineral fiber batt (c) Expanded polystyrene (d) Rigid foam

(b) Mineral fiber batt

Which of the following is most responsible for the change in the emissions of volatile organic compounds ( VOCVOC ) from 1970 to 2020 as shown in the graph? (a) A decrease in the number of vehicles fitted with catalytic converters and an increase in the number of hybrid vehicles beginning in 1970. (b) A decrease in the average driving distance in the United States from 1970 to 2020 that resulted from increased urbanization. (c) An increase in air emission standards that began in 1970 that regulated corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards. (d) An increase in VOC emissions from car exhausts that resulted from increased driving distances from 1970 to 2020.

(c) An increase in air emission standards that began in 1970 that regulated corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards.

<prior text> Which of the following claims is best supported by the data shown in the table? (a) Ozone levels are not a serious air quality concern in Berlin. (b) Ozone levels in Berlin were consistently higher in 2014 than in 2006. (c) Isoprene's contribution to ozone levels in Berlin was greatest in July of both years. (d) Isoprene levels were negatively correlated with maximum temperature.

(c) Isoprene's contribution to ozone levels in Berlin was greatest in July of both years.

<prior text>: Which of the following best describes the relationship between variables in the data table? (a) Impact factor causes a change in temperature maximum. (b) Isoprene levels vary depending on traffic and urbanization. (c) Ozone maximum is correlated to average and maximum temperature. (d) Changes in average temperature are linked to changes in land use in Berlin.

(c) Ozone maximum is correlated to average and maximum temperature.

Which of the following is the most likely reason for the trend shown in the graph of fluctuating indoor radon levels over the course of a year? (a) Home windows are often closed during summer months, causing the levels of radon in the house to build up. (b) Barometric pressure changes from summer storms can cause radon levels to increase. (c) Radon levels tend to increase in the colder months because of the difference in temperature inside and outside the home, which creates a vacuum pulling radon into the home at a higher rate. (d) Increased levels of radon are linked to burning biomass indoors, which increases in winter months when more biomass is burned for cooking and heating.

(c) Radon levels tend to increase in the colder months because of the difference in temperature inside and outside the home, which creates a vacuum pulling radon into the home at a higher rate.

Coal Burning Power Plant on lake: Which of the following best describes how their choice of control group could affect the results of their experiment? (a) Using this control would not have an effect on the outcome because the high temperature of the hot spring reduces the acidity of the water in the lake. (b) The coal-burning power plant would appear to have a much larger effect on the pHpH of the experimental group because the pHpH in the control lake would be elevated from the acidic water. (c) The coal-burning power plant would not appear to have a large impact because the pHpH levels of the two lakes would be similar. (d) The coal-burning power plant would affect both lakes because the Coriolis effect and weather patterns would circulate pollutants in the atmosphere.

(c) The coal-burning power plant would not appear to have a large impact because the pHpH levels of the two lakes would be similar.

Scientists have been collecting atmospheric CO2 data for many years to monitor changes over time. Which of the following best describes why an island location, such as the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, is an ideal location to measure global CO2 concentrations? (a) The island is also a dormant volcano, so there will be only anthropogenic atmospheric CO2 measured at the site. (b) The location is below the inversion layer, making it less prone to local effects from industry and transportation. (c) The location is far from any continent, providing atmospheric air samples that are less likely to be affected by industry and transportation. (d) The impact of primary producers in the surrounding Pacific Ocean is negligible, reducing the effect of photosynthesis and respiration on CO2 levels.

(c) The location is far from any continent, providing atmospheric air samples that are less likely to be affected by industry and transportation.

<prior description> Which of the following best describes the efficiency of dry scrubbers at removing particles that are less than 2 micrometers in diameter? (a) Dry scrubbers are less than 20% efficient at removing particles less than 1μm1μm and increase to over 50% efficiency at removing particles between 1 and 2μm. (b) Dry scrubbers are between 50% and 90% efficient at removing particles less than 2μm, depending on the flow rate. (c) Dry scrubbers are between 5% and 40% efficient at removing particles less than 2μm in size. (d) Dry scrubbers are less than 10% efficient at removing particles less than 1μm in size.

(d) Dry scrubbers are less than 10% efficient at removing particles less than 1μm in size.

Which of the following methods would best identify changes from acid deposition in an area over time? (a) Calculating the change in sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-burning power plants over time (b) Mapping out coal-burning power plant locations over the past 50 years (c) Measuring the pH of rainwater and surface water in affected areas (d) Monitoring the long-term chemical and biological parameters of an ecosystem

(d) Monitoring the long-term chemical and biological parameters of an ecosystem

Which of the following points on the graph best illustrates the location where pollutants are most likely to accumulate as a result of a thermal inversion? (a) Point A (b) Point B (c) Point C (d) Point D

(d) Point D

Air pollution from a power plant is being monitored for levels of nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone. The levels are measured daily at the same time. Which of the following best predicts the impact of a dark and cloudy day on the readings for the levels of air pollutants measured? (a) There will be no change in the levels of nitrogen dioxide or ground-level ozone. (d) There will be a decrease in the level of nitrogen dioxide and an increase in the level of ground-level ozone. (c) There will be an increase in the levels of both nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone. (d) There will be an increase in the level of nitrogen dioxide and a decrease in the level of ground-level ozone.

(d) There will be an increase in the level of nitrogen dioxide and a decrease in the level of ground-level ozone.

<prior description> Based on the data in the graph, which of the following methods would be most effective at removing the greatest amount of particulate matter from coal-burning power plant emissions? (a) Dry scrubbers using a flow rate of 200Lmin are best suited to remove small particles. (b) Dry scrubbers using a flow rate of 450Lmin are best suited to remove large particles. (c) Wet scrubbers using a flow rate of 300Lmin are best suited to remove small particles. (d) Wet scrubbers using a flow rate of 450Lmin are best suited to remove large particles.

(d) Wet scrubbers using a flow rate of 450Lmin are best suited to remove large particles.

Which of the following parameters would have been best to measure to help explain the variation in her results? (a) Percent of cloudy days over the two months (b) Particle size of the soils in the field (c) Depth of the organic matter in the soil (d) Wind direction and speed

(d) Wind direction and speed