Environmental Science Practice Questions (Assignment 5-9)

How do secondary pollutants form? A. They are the pollutants that are most likely to travel long distances in the upper atmosphere. B. They form when primary air pollutants react with one another or with other chemicals in the atmosphere. C. They are released directly from mobile sources. D. They form only when enough precipitation occurs to create toxic, water-soluble molecules. E. They are released from stationary sources.

B. They form when primary air pollutants react with one another or with other chemicals in the atmosphere.

Which of the following is/are predicted to generate the most oil per acre in biodiesel production? A. poplar trees B. algae C. oil palms D. soybean E. switchgrass

B. algae

Decomposers and detritivores break down organic material to help form topsoil. Which layer of soil contains the decomposers and detritivores that aid this process? A. A horizon B. R horizon C. C horizon D. O horizon E. B horizon

A. A horizon

Which of the following statements best describes what we mean by the term "waste"? A. A human term used to describe things we throw away. B. All materials that have negative impacts on human health. C. Anything that is common in natural ecosystems. D. Any discarded item that can be naturally degraded in the environment. E. Anything that humans do not deem valuable to survival.

A. A human term used to describe things we throw away.

Which of the following is not one of the six "criteria air pollutants"? A. carbon dioxide (CO2) B. particulate matter C. lead (Pb) D. ground-level ozone E. carbon monoxide (CO)

A. carbon dioxide (CO2)

Overfishing of upper-trophic-level fish has led to humans seeking new species to harvest at lower trophic levels. This is called: A. fishing down the food chain. B. fishing sustainably. C. fishing up the food chain. D. fishing artificially. E. fishing through the food chain.

A. fishing down the food chain.

What is one volatile organic carbon compound (VOC) known to have significant human health impacts? A. formaldehyde B. particulate matter C. carbon dioxide D. ozone E. carbon monoxide

A. formaldehyde

Which of the following has contributed to aquifer contamination? A. hazardous waste disposal, by pumping waste underground B. leaching of excess water into aquifers C. inappropriate use of household detergents D. natural gases, such as carbon monoxide, dissolving into aquifers E. fungi entering through wells

A. hazardous waste disposal, by pumping waste underground

Which of the following choices has the highest energy return on energy investment ratio? A. hydroelectric B. wind C. coal D. nuclear energy E. natural gas

A. hydroelectric

All of the following are considered sustainable farming techniques except ____________. A. intensive irrigation B. contour farming C. crop rotation D. terrace farming E. reduced tillage

A. intensive irrigation

Currently, most of the municipal solid waste produced in Canada ends up being __________. A. landfilled B. reused C. recycled D. composted E. incinerated

A. landfilled

In developing countries, the main source(s) of indoor air pollution is/are _______. A. particulates like soot as a result of cooking with wood or charcoal B. toxic and synthetic chemicals C. radon from the decay of uranium in rock that seeps through the foundations D. cigarette smoke and pesticides. E. mold, pollen, spores and allergens

A. particulates like soot as a result of cooking with wood or charcoal

The Energy Return on Energy Investment (EROEI) must be ____________ for any fuel to be worth harvesting. A. positive B. negative C. zero D. flexible E. unchangeable

A. positive

Monocultures can result in _________. A. reduction in agricultural biodiversity B. a resistance to pests C. a boost for old varieties of seeds D. an increase in valuable genetic traits E. all of these answers are correct

A. reduction in agricultural biodiversity

What is recombinant DNA? A. It is a term describing pollination of one plant by another of the same species. B. It is a term describing a biological that was part of the Green Revolution of the 1960s but is no longer used.. C. It is the term describing the merging of DNA from two unrelated organisms to create new hybrid organisms. D. It is the term describing the assembly of short sequences of DNA in the lab. E. It is a term describing pollination of one plant by another of a different species to create new hybrids.

C. It is the term describing the merging of DNA from two unrelated organisms to create new hybrid organisms.

Characteristic features of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) include which of the following? A. They use a lot of land relative to the number of animals raised. B. The manure is difficult to collect, as there are so many animals in a small space. C. Animals are generally not permitted to roam free. D. Such operations raise only beef cattle. E. They have no net negative environmental impact.

C. Animals are generally not permitted to roam free.

Which of the following is not a problem associated with open water net pen aquaculture? A. Concern about escape of non-native or GMO species into wild populations B. Release of large amounts of waste into the environment C. Disruption of land-based human activities in coastal communities D. Increased rates of disease and parasites relative to wild fish E. Increased use of antibiotics and pesticides

C. Disruption of land-based human activities in coastal communities

How is fracking different from conventional oil wells? A. Fracking involves extensive strip mining developments. B. Fracking causes no environmental damage. C. Frackinig uses cracks created in the rock to release oil or natural gas. D. Fracking does not use any toxic chemicals. E. Fracking uses very little water. ]

C. Frackinig uses cracks created in the rock to release oil or natural gas.

________________ energy is the heat stored underground, contained in either rocks or fluids. A. Wind B. Hydroelectric C. Geothermal D. Biomass E. Solar

C. Geothermal

What is "life-cycle" analysis? A. It is the study of cyclical changes in the human population. B. It examines the cycling of carbon in the environment. C. It examines the life cycle of products for ecological efficiency. D. It is an environmental movement designed to reduce municipal traffic. E. It defines how different organisms interact within ecosystems during their lives.

C. It examines the life cycle of products for ecological efficiency.

Which of the following statements is false regarding livestock feedlots (or CAFOs - concentrated animal feeding operations)? A. They promote antibiotic resistance in bacteria. B. They meet the increasing demand for meat by consumers. C. They contribute to soil degradation. D. They cause outbreaks of harmful algal blooms that can kill fish. E. They emit strong odours.

C. They contribute to soil degradation.

Which computer equipment has the highest lead content? A. batteries B. printers C. computer monitors or CRTs D. keyboards E. computer CPUs

C. computer monitors or CRTs

Garbage, debris and tiny bits of plastic gather in specific areas of the world's oceans where strong currents circle around areas with very weak, or even no, currents. What are these regions called? A. continental shelves B. plankton layers C. gyres D. downwellings E. upwellings

C. gyres

Particulate matter is a common cause of respiratory disease because it ____________. A. causes red blood cells to not take up oxygen as efficiently B. can enter the circulatory system and physically block blood flow C. irritates the lining of the respiratory system and causes inflammation D. alters lung cell DNA and causes cancer E. physically blocks the lungs from properly processing oxygen

C. irritates the lining of the respiratory system and causes inflammation

During fracking what is extracted from deep unconventional reserves? A. tar B. coal C. natural gas D. uranium E. bitumen

C. natural gas

What causes "red tides"? A. increased ocean oxygen content B. increased ocean carbon dioxide content C. nutrient pollution leading to marine algal blooms D. nutrient upwelling E. the position of the moon

C. nutrient pollution leading to marine algal blooms

When e-waste is improperly recycled, toxic metals can be released. Which of the following is not considered a toxic metal? A. chromium B. mercury C. sulfur D. copper E. lead

C. sulfur

What term describes the area that underlies the shallow marine waters that border the continents? A. the surface zone B. the hadal zone C. the continental shelf D. the topographic shelf E. the bathymetric zone

C. the continental shelf

What is the top of the rain-saturated region of soils that may rise or fall seasonally called? A. sink hole B. porous rock C. water table D. confined aquifer E. unconfined aquifer

C. water table

What is the definition of "unconventional oil reserves"? A. It is unrecoverable oil that is found in rock below natural gas deposits. B. It is unrecoverable oil that is found in rock, sand, or clay whose extraction is cheap and environmentally sound. C. It is unrecoverable oil that is found in deep below the ocean floor. D. It is recoverable oil that is found in rock, sand, or clay whose extraction is expensive and environmentally costly. E. It is recoverable oil that is found in rock, sand, or clay whose extraction is cheap and environmentally sound.

D. It is recoverable oil that is found in rock, sand, or clay whose extraction is expensive and environmentally costly.

What are sources of freshwater eutrophication? A. natural sources B. man-made sources C. point sources D. non-point sources E. all of the above

E. all of the above

How does overgrazing by cattle contribute to desertification? A. By promoting topsoil loss through soil erosion B. By contaminating local streams with cattle wastes C. By encouraging the growth of non-native plant species D. By causing competition with native herbivores E. By increasing the demand for water for irrigation

A. By promoting topsoil loss through soil erosion

Which of the following statements apply to modern industrial agriculture methods? A. They focus considerable resources on a single crop or monoculture. B. They rely on renewable energy sources to power modern farming equipment. C. They avoid the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides. D. They follow highly integrated techniques that are referred to as organic polycultures. E. They maintain and enrich ecosystem services through permaculture techniques.

A. They focus considerable resources on a single crop or monoculture.

Non-target species that become trapped in fishing nets and are usually discarded are known as __________. A. bycatch B. endangered species C. depleted fisheries D. target catch E. fishing down the food chain

A. bycatch

All of the following are environmental drawbacks to the mining of coal except A. the release of tons of toxic ash from incinerators B. soil compaction causing increased storm water runoff and flooding C. the water and soil contamination by acid drainage D. the burial and damage to streams caused by the dumping of overburden E. the damage to forests caused by mountain top removal

A. the release of tons of toxic ash from incinerators

What is 'deep-well injection'? A. It is a short-term method for storing hazardous liquid waste until a tailings pond can be built. B. It involves injecting mostly liquid wastes into porous rock deep beneath human water supplies. C. It is a method of disposing of hazardous wastes in deep groundwater aquifers. D. It is a pool of strong acids on the land surface used for breaking down e-waste. E. It is an approved method of disposing of low-level radioactive wastes to prevent land contaimination.

B. It involves injecting mostly liquid wastes into porous rock deep beneath human water supplies.

How do geothermal power plants work? A. They funnel hot steam into people's homes so that it can be used as a heat source. B. They utilize steam released from underground hydrothermal reservoirs to spin turbines and produce electricity. C. They use heat from volcanic eruptions to boil water and create steam that can power a turbine. D. They use the heat from hot rocks located in earthquake zones to heat coal. E. They actively move heat from underground into an overlying structure in order to remove or add heat to the structure.

B. They utilize steam released from underground hydrothermal reservoirs to spin turbines and produce electricity.

Which factor(s) contribute(s) to the emergence of pesticide-resistant crop pest populations? A. the increasing lack of genetic diversity in the targeted pest population B. the ability of individuals within a pest population to survive pesticide exposure and reproduce C. organic farming techniques based on integrated pest management methods D. the ability of pesticide reapplication to kill all pests in a population E. all of the factors listed above contribute to the emergence of pesticide resistance

B. the ability of individuals within a pest population to survive pesticide exposure and reproduce

__________ is the driving force behind the gene revolution. A. Organic farming B. Genetic engineering C. Cross pollination D. Sustainable farming E. Cross breeding

B. Genetic engineering

Which of the following is true of eutrophication in marine systems? A. It provides needed limiting nutrients. B. It can lead to harmful algal blooms that kill fish. C. It can aid corals by killing parasites. D. It is rare and occurs only in bad weather. E. It can aid corals by providing their symbiotic algae with nutrients.

B. It can lead to harmful algal blooms that kill fish.

Which of the following choices is not true about coal? A. Mining coal causes environmental damage. B. It is a renewable resource. C. It is formed over time by the compression and heating of peat. D. Burning coal creates pollution. E. It has a high-energy content.

B. It is a renewable resource.

How does photochemical smog differ from industrial smog? A. It consists of primary pollutants. B. It is formed in the presence of sunlight . C. It has large quantities of soot. D. It is caused by similar substances to those used in non-digital photography. E. It is primarily composed of carbon monoxide.

B. It is formed in the presence of sunlight.

What is true of exposure to radon? A. It is caused by the breakdown of the ozone layer B. It may cause respiratory cancers when inhaled over long periods of time. C. It binds with hemoglobin preventing binding with oxygen. D. It contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone. E. It enters respiratory cells (e.g. in lungs) because it is an organic compound.

B. It may cause respiratory cancers when inhaled over long periods of time.

Nuclear energy is considered to be a "clean energy" and more environmentally-friendly because of all but which of the following? A. Much less CO2 (therefore, fewer greenhouse gases) are released. B. Less hot water is produced than by conventional power plants. C. NOx compounds are not released. D. Sulfur dioxide is not produced. E. Particulate matter is not released.

B. Less hot water is produced than by conventional power plants.

____________________ is the addition of anything that might degrade water quality. A. Acid rain B. Water pollution C. Sediment pollution D. Stormwater runoff E. Hypoxia (or oxygen depletion)

B. Water pollution

Which of the following would provide the best incentive for increasing the rate of plastic recycling? A. banning the use of plastic bags B. a decreased supply of petrochemicals C. cancellation of curbside recycling pick-up D. a decrease in the price of petrochemicals E. elimination of bottle deposits

B. a decreased supply of petrochemicals

In developed countries, a great deal of indoor air pollution comes from A. outdoor pollution entering homes B. carpets and furnitiure C. cooking stoves D. washing dishes E. carbon monoxide

B. carpets and furnitiure

Electronic wastes are a source of A. corrosive acids and caustic cleansers B. heavy metals and persistent organic chemicals (like PCBs) C. combustible organic compounds D. high and low-level radioactive materials E. ignitable or highly flammable materials

B. heavy metals and persistent organic chemicals (like PCBs)

What is likely to be the most important global impact of bycatch? A. sediment pollution B. loss of ocean biodiversity C. acidification and coral bleaching D. increase in invasive species E. habitat destruction

B. loss of ocean biodiversity

Soil erosion in grasslands is a direct result of _____________. A. energy production and plant loss B. plant loss and soil compaction C. urbanization and soil compaction D. soil compaction and energy production E. industrialization and urbanization

B. plant loss and soil compaction

Which of the following is not considered as hazardous waste? A. pesticides B. plastic bottles C. compact fluorescent light bulbs D. automotive oil E. electronic waste

B. plastic bottles

What is the main factor that determines the risk of exposure to radon gas in a home? A. the type of fossil fuels used for heating B. the underground geology of an area C. the quality of the building materials used D. the degree of ventilation available E. the quantity of synthetic materials used

B. the underground geology of an area

Which two processes are essential to soil formation? A. soil erosion and overgrazing B. weathering of parent material and decay of organic material C. desertification and erosion D. decay of organic material and soil erosion E. overgrazing and weathering of parent material

B. weathering of parent material and decay of organic material

Which of the following statements is false regarding aquaculture? A. Aquaculture provides a reliable protein source and thus needed nutrition for a growing human population. B. As aquaculture grows in scale, the reduced pressure on natural fisheries is better for ocean biodiversity as it reduces bycatch. C. The dense concentration of farmed fish makes it easier to prevent disease outbreaks from occurring and thus food security is always assured. D. Aquaculture is more energy-efficient as it uses less fossil fuel and produces more fish per unit area than open-water fishing operations. E. All of the above are true statements about aquaculture.

C. The dense concentration of farmed fish makes it easier to prevent disease outbreaks from occurring and thus food security is always assured.

Sustainable agriculture is defined as A. a farming method in which one crop variety is planted over a large area of land with significant inputs of fertilizer, pesticides, and water B. a plant-breeding program focused on the production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to increase crop productivity or create new varieties of crops C. a farming method that does not deplete resources, such as soil and water, faster than they are replaced D. a plant-breeding program focused on developing high yield varieties of grain crops E. a farming method that does not use any synthetic fertilizer, pesticides, or other chemical additives

C. a farming method that does not deplete resources, such as soil and water, faster than they are replaced

What does it mean if a country is "energy independent"? A. A country can pay to have all of its energy imported from other countries without having to borrow money. B. A country uses a hybrid plan of energy production and energy imports to provide a stable supply of electricity for its citizens. C. A country has access to enough reliable and affordable energy resources to meet its needs. D. A country can meet of all of its energy needs without importing any fuel. E. None of the above

D. A country can meet of all of its energy needs without importing any fuel.

In making a transgenic organism, what is typically the role of the bacterium? A. Bacteria are the only organisms that are genetically modified. B. Bacteria mutate randomly in order to create a gene with the desired trait. C. Bacteria are not involved in the creation of transgenic organisms. D. Bacteria are used to transport the desired gene into the target organism. E. Bacteria are used to express the desired gene.

D. Bacteria are used to transport the desired gene into the target organism.

What makes solar energy an unreliable energy source? A. Photovoltaic cells have a lot of moving parts that produce noise. B. Sunlight is intermittent, especially in high latitude locations. C. It is still very expensive in terms of start-up costs. D. Both B and C E. All of the above

D. Both B and C

Why are some people supportive of low-tech farming methods over industrial agricultural methods? A. Low-tech farming methods are strictly organic. B. Low-tech farming methods use more animal labour. C. Low-tech farming methods produce more food. D. Low-tech farming methods are typically less harmful to the environment. E. Low-tech farming methods do not use GMOs or fossil fuels.

D. Low-tech farming methods are typically less harmful to the environment.

___________________ energy is replenished over short time scales or is perpetually available. A. Non-renewable B. Fossil fuel C. Sustainable D. Renewable E. Reusable

D. Renewable

_______________ involves removing the dirt and rock that overlays a mineral deposit close to the surface in order to access that deposit. A. Fracking B. Hydraulic mining C. Deep mining D. Surface strip mining E. Subsurface underground mining

D. Surface strip mining

Which of the following is/are not contained in smog? A. ground-level ozone B. particulates C. sulfur dioxide (SO2) D. chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) E. nitrogen oxides (NOx)

D. chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Bacteria and fungal spores are A. the result of widespread pesticide use in homes. B. persistent organic pollutants. C. agents that degrade the ozone layer. D. contributors to indoor air pollution. E. sources of radon in homes.

D. contributors to indoor air pollution.

Food self-sufficiency refers to the ability of an individual nation to _________. A. grow enough food to feed the majority of people in the world B. export food crops for a profit C. control the agricultural methods used D. grow enough food to feed its people E. import enough food to feed its people

D. grow enough food to feed its people

Which of the following are classified as heavy metals? A. any nonbiodegradable metals B. carbon, hydrogen and oxygen C. aluminum, iron and silicon D. lead, mercury and cadmium E. nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium

D. lead, mercury and cadmium

The greatest environmental impact of burning fossil fuels is ________. A. on the ozone layer B. that we release carbon back into the carbon cycle, increasing the amount available for plant growth C. the land damage from extraction D. the increase in greenhouse gases E. the resulting carbonic acid, which leads to acid rain in areas downwind from power plants

D. the increase in greenhouse gases

Soil salinization occurs when _______. A. not enough variety of crops are planted in one area B. too much fertilizer is used in one area C. salt is added to the soil as a natural insecticide D. water brought to the fields through irrigation evaporates E. animals are introduced to the fields

D. water brought to the fields through irrigation evaporates

How does the use of coal cause acid precipitation? A. Acids, which leach into the soil from the mining process, are transpired by plants that have taken them up. B. The acid drainage from mining evaporates, which puts the acids into the air. C. The transporting of the coal mining releases sulfur and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. D. The equipment used for mining releases sulfur and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. E. The burning of coal puts out gases like sulfur dioxide, which can combine with water to form acids.

E. The burning of coal puts out gases like sulfur dioxide, which can combine with water to form acids.

Which of the following effectively reduces the level of toxic air pollutants emitted from incinerators? A. using a pollution-removal system (scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators) to remove some of the air pollutants B. accepting only nonhazardous waste for incineration C. burying the toxic fly ash in a sanitary landfill D. choices A, B and C are all effective ways to reduce the level of toxic air pollutants from incinerators E. choices A and B are the only effective ways to reduce the level of toxic air pollutants from incinerators

E. choices A and B are the only effective ways to reduce the level of toxic air pollutants from incinerators

Sinkholes result from ________. A. poorly drilled wells in soft soils B. building on floodplains C. substrates that become weak following rain D. flood damage and chemical erosion E. overconsumption of water from aquifers that weakens the soil substrate

E. overconsumption of water from aquifers that weakens the soil substrate

What factors make wind energy imperfect as energy source? A. Wind is intermittent. B. Wind turbines are expensive to build. C. Wind turbines can create noise. D. Some people think turbines are an eyesore. E. All of the above

E. All of the above

Which of the following choices does not contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone? A. NOx B. oxygen C. sunlight D. VOC E. SO4

E. SO4

What is a known problem associated with industrial agriculture? A. greenhouse gas emission B. water pollution C. pesticide-resistant pests D. the disappearance of local, small, family-owned farms E. all are these answers are known problems

E. all are these answers are known problems

Where are spent fuel rods currently stored? A. in developing countries B. in underground in emptied magma chambers C. in military waste disposal sites D. in long-term storage locations E. in on-site in steel-lined pools

E. in on-site in steel-lined pools

Which of the following is not an example of passive solar technology? A. dark-colored walls and floors installed in a home to absorb more heat B. planting of trees strategically (e.g. on south side of buildings) C. greenhouses D. a roof overhang used to let winter sun enter and block summer sun E. photovoltaic cells

E. photovoltaic cells

Choosing to buy goods with minimal packaging is an example of ____. A. reusing B. refusing C. recycling D. re-purposing E. reducing

E. reducing

Chloroform which can cause nervous system disorders is produced indoors A. when basements have cracks that leak underground gases. B. when home computers are used in a confined space. C. when furnaces are not maintained and serviced regularly. D. when old paint is removed during home renovations. E. when chlorine-treated water is used with hot showers.

E. when chlorine-treated water is used with hot showers.