Environmental Science 2:1-10 Test Review

There is evidence the ultraviolet radiation is harmful to this type of organism in the marine ecosystem.

Phytoplankton

The group of people who most often developed severe emphysema were:

Smokers in St. Louis

The major source of radon gas is:

Soil and rock beneath a home

The layer of the atmosphere where the ozone shield is found is the:

Stratosphere

To make a model of the earth and represent the atmosphere, the best choice would be:

The peel represents the atmosphere on an apple representing the earth

When scientists compared the leaf litter on the forest floor at sites near the smelter and sites far from the smelter, The amount of litter near the smelters was more than twice that found far from the smelters. Which of the following statements best explains the difference?

The populations of bacteria and fungi near the smelters are greatly reduced

The level of radon in a home is dependent upon:

The rate of air exchange, the construction materials, the way the home is constructed. (All of the Above)

A census of the trees and tree seedlings on the Blue Mountain compared plots far from the smelters with plots near the smelters. Which description best describes the plots near the smelters?

There were fewer species of trees growing in the near plots.

HCFCs are safer than CFCs because:

They are less stable and break down before reaching the stratosphere.

The number of variables in a well designed scientific experiment is:

Three

The energy to split oxygen molecules in the earth's atmosphere is produced by:

Ultraviolet light

If there is asbestos-containing material in an area of your home where you are doing remodeling, you should:

hire a trained contractor to remove the asbestos

Smokers exposed to radon gas are more likely to die from the effects of the radon gas than nonsmokers who are exposed to radon gas. this is due to:

synergistic effects between pollutants

An important source of methane in the atmosphere is:

the decomposition of organic matter in swamps and marshes.

Cutting a forest, especially a tropical forest, affects weather patterns by reducing the amount of:

transpirations

Identify the secondary air pollutant that is formed by chemical reactions in the atmosphere.

Ozone

In the upper atmosphere this chemical protects the earth from radiation, but in the lower atmosphere it is a pollutant.

Ozone

Produced by agriculture, industries and traffic, this type of air pollutant is classified by size.

Particulate Matter

During the last century, the earth's average temperature has increased about:

1 degree F

Buildings with asbestos-containing materials were most likely built in the:

1960s

The greatest amount of sunlight is absorbed when the light rays strike the Earth at an angle of:

90 degrees

Which of the following people would most likely be hospitalized during an air pollution disaster?

A child with asthma

The Reading Prong is the name of:

A granite rock formation

When cleaning a room where asbestos has been removed, workers should use:

A wet mop

The Reading Prong is located in:

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York

The factor that did not play a role in the disappearance of the original forest ecosystem on the Blue Mountain was:

Air Pollution

According to the EPA: All homes should be tested for radon.

All homes should be tested for radon.

A thin sheet of paper or the outer layer of human skin can stop which of the following types of radiation?

Alpha

Radon daughters are dangerous when they enter the lungs because they produce:

Alpha radiation

The climate may change due to a change in the:

Amount of solar energy reaching the earth, Jet Stream, Temperature of water in the ocean. (All of the Above)

The level of ozone present in an area depends upon which of these variables:

Amount of traffic, Amount of sunshine, and temperature. (All of the Above)

Within a period of one year, which of the following persons will receive the most cosmic radiation?

An airplane pilot

Studies have shown that there is a relationship between the level of fine particulates and:

Asthma, hospital admissions, respiratory infections. (All of the Above)

A fine chalk dust is produced when writing on a chalkboard. The dust can interfere with the operation of a computer located nearby. The process that produced this air pollutant is:

Attrition

A pesticide is sprayed on trees in an orchard. The process in which the liquid is broken into fine droplets that enter the air is:

Attrition

Which of these processes is/are responsible for Volatile Organic Compounds polluting the Air?

Attrition and Vaporization (Both A and C)

Which of these processes is/are responsible for pesticides entering the air and becoming ai pollutants?

Attrition and Vaporization (Both A and C)

If a person inhales a radioactive gas, the greatest amount of damage will occur if the type of radiation released is:

Beta particles

What group of organisms did Roger Tory Peterson consider to be the best indicator of a healthy environment?

Bird

Some kinds of animals are more affected by the changes on the Blue Mountain than other kinds of animals. Based on populatoin studies, which of the following appears to be the most affected?

Birds

Children living in communities with higher particulate levels were more likely to have:

Bronchitis

By studying cores of glacial ice, scientists have learned that the level of this gas in the atmosphere has increased nearly 100 ppm since the beginning of the industrial revolution.

Carbon Dioxide

The climate on Venus is far too hot for life as we know it. This is due to the presence of large amounts of:

Carbon Dioxide

The killer cloud of gas that hung over the valley near Lake Nyos contained deadly amounts of this gas which is not normally considered an air pollutant.

Carbon Dioxide

Which of the following compounds is seldom found in amounts that make it harmful to human health?

Carbon Dioxide

Which of the following pollutants is not regulated by the Clean Air Act?

Carbon Dioxide

Which of the following pollutants is produced only if the air supply is limited and combustion is incomplete?

Carbon Dioxide

Sulfur dioxide increases the toxic effects of:

Carbon Monoxide

The majority of this pollutant is produced by gasoline-powered motor vehicles.

Carbon Monoxide

When it combines with hemoglobin, this pollutant decreases the ability of blood to carry oxygen.

Carbon Monoxide

Asbestos fibers are:

Carcinogenic

Which statement best summarizes the status of CFC use in china?

China and other developing countries have a grace period before they must phase out uses of CFCs.

Although the production of this group of chemicals is being phased out, scientists are concerned about their effect on global warming since they remain in the atmosphere for many years.

Chlorofluorocarbons

Damage to the cilia and production of excess mucus that result in a "smoker's cough" are symptoms of:

Chronic Bronchitis

If you leave a light bulb on for ten hours, which of the following fuels from an electrical utility will have the greatest impact on global warming?

Coal

The burning of this fuel darkened the skies and buildings of London during the reign of King Edward I. Today it is the major source of air pollution in China.

Coal

The major source of pollutants that entered the air during the major air pollution disasters was the burning of:

Coal

The major process that produces most air pollution is:

Combustion

The process that produces most of the sulfur dioxide that enters the air is:

Combustion

Volatile Organic Compounds are chemicals that:

Contain Carbon, Vaporize at normal temperatures, and produce the scent of flowers. (All of the Above)

The first important use of CFCs was:

Coolants in Refrigerators

Which of the following types of radiation is a form of ionizing radiation from outer space?

Cosmic Radiation

If a section of pipe insulation that contains asbestos is damaged, it is best to:

Cover the ACM with wide duct tape

If vinyl floor tiles containing asbestos are showing wear, it is best to:

Cover the tile with new flooring

Massive volcanic eruptions, such as Mount Tambora and Mount Pinatubo:

Create aerosols that reflect solar energy and cause a temporary global cooling.

Automobiles, computers, and other products that make our life easier wouldn't work without essential parts made of metal. Which of the following processes is/are necessary to produce these metal parts?

Die casting, mining, and smelting. (All of the Above)

A person accidentally receives 3,500 millirems of radiation. This describes the:

Dose

The direction of the prevailing winds in the United States is from the west. Major mountain ranges extend from north to south. You would expect to find most deserts in North America on this side of the tallest mountain ranges.

East

Interactions between these particles allow different types of atoms to join to form compounds.

Electrons

This pollutant in vehicle exhaust interferes with the opening of some flowers.

Ethylene

Weather conditions that can create air pollution disasters are more likely to occur during the:

Fall and Winter

Temperature inversions are more likely to last longer if they occur in the:

Fall or Winter

The new carpet and drapes may give off this indoor air pollutant.

Formaldehyde

There is a health risk to people who work in buildings where the asbestos is:

Friable

Ultraviolet light has been shown to affect the development of:

Frog eggs

The process occurring on the sun that releases huge amounts of light and heat energy is:

Fusion

The process of coating iron or steel with zinc to prevent rusting is:

Galvanizing

Nuclear reactors in the United States are surrounded by buildings that must be designed to protect workers and the general public form exposure to this type of radiation:

Gamma

Which of the following types of radiation is a wave of energy rather than a particle?

Gamma

Fuels that are pure hydrocarbons contain:

Only carbon and hydrogen

Which of these pollutants destroys rubber?

Ozone

If combustion is incomplete, vaporization of the unburned fuel increases the level of this pollutant in the atmosphere.

Hydrocarbons

The energy produced on the sun is the result of a nuclear reaction between two atoms of:

Hydrogen

A rock that contains a valuable quantity of one or more useful minerals is a(an):

Ore

EAF dust:

Is produced during the recycling of metals, contains valuable amounts of zinc, is classified as a hazardous waste product. (All of the Above)

If material containing asbestos must be cut, workers should:

Keep the material wet while cutting

The time between the exposure to radiation and the appearance of damage is the:

Latent Period

Children may have decreased IQ scores if they are exposed to;

Lead

Low levels of this air pollutant in the blood interferes with normal growth and development in young children;

Lead

Osteoporosis and Kidney disease found in wildlife near the smelter were due to toxic levels of:

Lead

The EPA is concerned that high concentrations of this element found in house dust and in the soil around some Palmerton homes may be affecting the nervous system of children.

Lead

Young horses raised on feed grown in the Palmerton area became stiff-legged due to lesions caused by high levels of this element:

Lead

According to the EPA, radon gas is the second leading cause of:

Lung Cancer

Cell division increases rapidly and the cells produced do not function as normal lung cells in this respiratory disease.

Lung Cancer

People who are exposed to carcinogens often develop:

Lung Cancer

Asbestosis is a condition that affects the normal function of the:

Lungs

The study of weather is called:

Meteorology

Leaking pipelines release this greenhouse gas into the atmosphere

Methane

This hydrocarbon is a major air pollutant produced at sewage treatment plants and landfills during the decomposition of organic waste.

Methane

This chemical is necessary for complete combustion.

Oxygen

According to the EPA, the air pollutant that is the most damaging to crops and costs farmers millions of dollars by reducing yields is:

Ozone

Chlorosis occurs in the leaves of orange trees if they are exposed to more than 0.5 ppm:

Ozone

In an experiment to determine the health effects of particulates in industrial air pollution, the group of mice considered the experimental group would be:

Mice raised in an industrial area breathing unfiltered air.

Which of the following is the major source of air pollution in Los Angeles?

Motor Vehicles

The system of the body that is the most sensitive to radiation and is damaged by the lowest level of radiation is the:

Nervous System

This chemical is a naturally-occurring chemical in the stratosphere, and is responsible for the destruction of ozone molecules in the ozone shield.

Nitric Oxide

Which of the following chemicals is the brownish-red gas present in photochemical smog?

Nitrogen Dioxide

Because the temperature during combustion is extremely high, electric power plants and vehicles that burn fossil fuels produce large amounts of this pollutant.

Nitrogen Oxides

The view from "scenic overlooks" in national parks is not as breath-taking as it once was because the visibility is being reduced by the presence of:

Nitrogen Oxides, Particulates, and Sulfur Oxide (All of the Above)

The major gases in the Earth's atmosphere are:

Nitrogen and Oxygen

The amount of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is so small that it is measured in parts per billion, but it is a concern because it is far more effective in trapping heat than carbon dioxide.

Nitrous Oxide

The transfer of light and heat energy as waves through the atmosphere is:

Radiation

Radon gas is the product of the radioactive decay of this element:

Radium

Workers removing asbestos-containing materials must wear a:

Respirator

In this process, an ore is heated to separate the impurities from the metal contained in the ore.

Smelting

Which of the following signs is most likely to provide an accurate weather forecast?

Smoke rising straight from a chimney means fair weather is coming

Research shows that the high level of zinc on the Blue Mountain near the smelters is interfering with all of these processes except:

Succession of the forest ecosystem

Huge clouds of this harmful gas are emitted during volcanic eruptions.

Sulfur Dioxide

In Beijing, China, harmful levels of this major air pollutant are produced by the combustion of coal.

Sulfur Dioxide

When this pollutant enters the atmosphere there are a series of chemical reactions that produce an aerosol, which forms a haze that reduces visibility.

Sulfur dioxide

The smog that filled the cities during the air pollution disasters was deadly because the moisture in the air combined with an air pollutant to form this potent irritant.

Sulfuric Acid

What season is it in the Northern Hemisphere when the North Pole is tilted toward the sun?

Summer

Energy required for the formation of photochemical smog is provided by:

Sunlight

Which of the following conditions can make an inversion disappear?

Sunlight

The air condition that caused the pollutants to reach unhealthy levels during levels during the major air pollution disasters was:

Temperature inversion

When a radioactive atom "decays":

The atom gives off particles or waves of energy and a new kind of atom is formed. (Both A and B)

Asbestos is best described as:

heat-resistant

The smell of paint in a newly painted bedroom is due to:

Vaporization

In addition to nitrogen oxide, this type of chemical must be present for the formation of photochemical smog.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Manufacturers are changing the chemical composition of aerosol sprays to reduce the amount of this pollutant that enters the air from consumer products.

Volatile Organic Compounds

These pollutants from auto body and furniture refinishing businesses contribute to the formation of photochemical smog in a city.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Vaporization of fuels releases this type of pollutant into the atmosphere.

Volatile Organic Compounds

The major heat-trapping gas that regulates the temperature of planet earth is:

Water Vapor

The most important of the atmospheric greenhouse gases is:

Water Vapor

Which of the following greenhouse gases can have a warming effect on the planet in some situations and a cooling effect in other situations

Water Vapor

Condensation is the process in which:

Water vapor is changed into a liquid

Who of the following statements is a true statement?

Whether or not a substance is a pollutant depends upon the amount of the substance present.

The subjects in studies of the health effects of radon gas have been:

Workers in uranium mines

Diseases caused by asbestos are now being diagnosed in people who were exposed to asbestos used on ships during:

World War II

Because it is an important element needed by the human body, and the kidneys excrete it, the high levels of this element near smelters is not likely to cause health problems in people living nearby.

Zinc

When it was first produced there was no market for it. Today it is used in paints, rubber, plastic, ceramics, and even some medicines. This important product is:

Zinc Oxide

During an inversion:

a cold layer of air is trapped by a warmer layer above

A dose of radiation below 1,000 millirems is most likely to have an affect on:

a developing embryo

Asbestos is:

a natural mineral found in certain rocks

When zinc and copper are heated together,they fuse to make brass. Brass is an:

alloy

According to EPA regulations, material containing asbestos must be:

buried in an approved landfill

The sun's ultraviolet radiation:

causes cataracts

Ionizing radiation damages cells when it:

changes the position of the electrons in chemicals within the cell, changes chemicals that affect the cell's structure, interferes with important chemical reactions in the cell. (All of the Above)

The type of power plant that releases the most radiation during normal operation is:

coal-burning

Compared to people who do not lie near water, people living on the shore of a large lake will experience:

cooler temperatures in both summer and winter

Satellites provide weather forecasters with all of the following advantages except:

detailed data from low altitudes

Danger is created when materials containing asbestos:

deteriorate releasing tiny fibers

Asbestos fibers are best described as

durable

High levels of radon in the area known as the reading prong were discovered:

during a search for commercially valuable deposits of uranium.

The rate of warming and cooling of land is:

faster than water

A naturally radioactive element:

has an unstable nucleus

To protect students and workers, school districts are required to:

identify asbestos-containing materials and develop a plan to manage ACMs

The Earth's atmosphere:

is a mixture of gases that act as a blanket to insulate the earth.

Global Warming:

is affected by human activities mainly the release of carbon dioxide from the burning fossil fuels

Ozone is:

is constantly created and destroyed in the upper atmosphere.

As air is pushed up over the mountain it:

is cooled and some of the water vapor condenses

The northern regions of the Northern Hemisphere experience distinct summer and winter seasons because the Earth:

is tilted on its axis and rotates around the sun

Field studies of the Blue Mountain and experiments in the laboratory indicate that those populations most affected by the high levels of heavy metals are those that eat:

leaf litter

When asbestos is removed, it should be placed in:

plastic trash bags that are plainly marked with contents

More than one-half of the radiation received by a person living in the united states is from:

radon gas trapped in homes

Zinc Oxide is produced from the zinc that remains in the "dust" collected by pollution control equipment during the:

recycling of scrap steel

On a calm night, the air above a body of water will:

rise above the water and be replaced by air moving from the cooler land.

CFCs are:

split by ultraviolet light in the stratosphere releasing chlorine.

An aerial photograph taken in 1974 showed more than 1000 acres of severely damaged forest on the Blue Mountain. Experiments later showed that the critical factor causing these changes was high levels of this element in the soil.

zinc