Question 1

Subduction occurs:

Accepted Answer

A)  when ozone is struck by cosmic radiation. 
B)  when one tectonic plate descends below another. 
C)  because of the Coriolis effect. 
D)  on the leeward side of a mountain. 
E)  as the result of volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. 
A)  when ozone is struck by cosmic radiation. 
B)  when one tectonic plate descends below another. 
C)  because of the Coriolis effect. 
D)  on the leeward side of a mountain. 
E)  as the result of volcanic eruptions or earthquakes.

Question 2

Approximately what percentage of the atmosphere is CO2?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.001% 
B)  0.04% 
C)  10% 
D)  30% 
E)  75% 
A)  0.001% 
B)  0.04% 
C)  10% 
D)  30% 
E)  75%

Question 3

If the temperature of the troposphere decreases with increasing altitude by about 6°C for every kilometer, then the temperature at the outermost edge of this layer is approximately __________ lower than at the Earth's surface.

Accepted Answer

A)  0°C 
B)  6°C 
C)  60°C 
D)  360°C 
E)  600°C 
A)  0°C 
B)  6°C 
C)  60°C 
D)  360°C 
E)  600°C

Question 4

Put the following surfaces in descending order from those surfaces that reflect the greatest % of sunlight hitting their surfaces to those surfaces that have the lowest albedo.
I. clouds
II. ice sheets
III. forest
IV. asphalt pavement

Accepted Answer

A)  I-II-III-IV 
B)  II-I-IV-III 
C)  III-I-IV-II 
D)  IV-III-II-I 
E)  II-IV-I-III 
A)  I-II-III-IV 
B)  II-I-IV-III 
C)  III-I-IV-II 
D)  IV-III-II-I 
E)  II-IV-I-III

Question 5

Rain shadow describes the

Accepted Answer

A)  silhouette of mountains as the sun passes from east to west 
B)  shade on the ground produced by clouds that threaten rain 
C)  darkened areas of the distant sky indicating rain is falling at a far-away location 
D)  dry land on the side of the mountains away from the prevailing wind 
E)  lessening of a chance of precipitation on any given day due to dry air at the equator 
A)  silhouette of mountains as the sun passes from east to west 
B)  shade on the ground produced by clouds that threaten rain 
C)  darkened areas of the distant sky indicating rain is falling at a far-away location 
D)  dry land on the side of the mountains away from the prevailing wind 
E)  lessening of a chance of precipitation on any given day due to dry air at the equator

Question 6

A Tropical Cyclone forms as:

Accepted Answer

A)  a mass of cool, dry air collides with warm humid air 
B)  a sudden increase in water moves onto land 
C)  wind picks up speed as it moves from land to water 
D)  strong winds pick up moisture over warm waters 
E)  all of these 
A)  a mass of cool, dry air collides with warm humid air 
B)  a sudden increase in water moves onto land 
C)  wind picks up speed as it moves from land to water 
D)  strong winds pick up moisture over warm waters 
E)  all of these

Question 7

Which of the following is not a source of carbon for the carbon cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  Shells of marine organisms 
B)  Oil 
C)  Decomposers 
D)  Inorganic fertilizer 
E)  The atmosphere 
A)  Shells of marine organisms 
B)  Oil 
C)  Decomposers 
D)  Inorganic fertilizer 
E)  The atmosphere

Question 8

El Niño-Southern Oscillation events:

Accepted Answer

A)  are responsible for dramatic increases in the productivity of fisheries off South America. 
B)  reach coastal areas of Peru around mid-summer. 
C)  occur once or twice every century. 
D)  alter both ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns. 
E)  have little impact on marine organisms, but devastating effects on terrestrial weather patterns. 
A)  are responsible for dramatic increases in the productivity of fisheries off South America. 
B)  reach coastal areas of Peru around mid-summer. 
C)  occur once or twice every century. 
D)  alter both ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns. 
E)  have little impact on marine organisms, but devastating effects on terrestrial weather patterns.

Question 9

Why were the mangroves cut down in the Sri Lankan village?

Accepted Answer

A)  Lumber 
B)  Fossil fuel used for energy 
C)  Export to boost their economy 
D)  Build tourist resorts or promote aquaculture 
E)  All of these choices are correct 
A)  Lumber 
B)  Fossil fuel used for energy 
C)  Export to boost their economy 
D)  Build tourist resorts or promote aquaculture 
E)  All of these choices are correct

Question 10

Which of the following is not an example of a fossil fuel?

Accepted Answer

A)  Wood 
B)  Oil 
C)  Natural gas 
D)  Coal 
E)  The remains of ancient organisms 
A)  Wood 
B)  Oil 
C)  Natural gas 
D)  Coal 
E)  The remains of ancient organisms

Question 11

Winds tend to blow from areas of _________atmospheric pressure to areas of _______atmospheric pressure, and the greater the difference between the high- and low- pressure areas, the _______ the wind.

Accepted Answer

A)  Low, high, weaker 
B)  High, low, stronger 
C)  Low, high, stronger 
D)  High, low, weaker 
E)  East, west, more continuous 
A)  Low, high, weaker 
B)  High, low, stronger 
C)  Low, high, stronger 
D)  High, low, weaker 
E)  East, west, more continuous

Question 12

Which of the following is not one of the biogeochemical cycles considered of particular importance for organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon 
B)  hydrogen 
C)  nitrogen 
D)  phosphorus 
E)  water 
A)  carbon 
B)  hydrogen 
C)  nitrogen 
D)  phosphorus 
E)  water

Question 13

Bacteria are key participants in the sulfur and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles. Briefly describe the role of oxygen in the various bacteria's ability to process sulfur and nitrogen.

Accepted Answer

Bacteria drive both the sulfur and nitro

Question 14

Which of the following has the most concentrated energy and highest destructive potential?

Accepted Answer

A)  Tornadoes 
B)  Ice storms 
C)  Thunderstorms 
D)  El Niño- Southern Oscillation 
E)  tsunamis 
A)  Tornadoes 
B)  Ice storms 
C)  Thunderstorms 
D)  El Niño- Southern Oscillation 
E)  tsunamis

Question 15

The thermosphere:

Accepted Answer

A)  is the layer of atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface. 
B)  extends to a height of approximately 35 km. 
C)  is characterized by very low temperatures. 
D)  is characterized by steadily increasing temperatures. 
E)  is the layer where weather, including most clouds and wind, occurs. 
A)  is the layer of atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface. 
B)  extends to a height of approximately 35 km. 
C)  is characterized by very low temperatures. 
D)  is characterized by steadily increasing temperatures. 
E)  is the layer where weather, including most clouds and wind, occurs.

Question 16

Precipitation:

Accepted Answer

A)  refers to any form of water, including rain, snow, runoff and groundwater. 
B)  has a profound effect on the distribution of organisms. 
C)  is lightest near the windward (the side from which the wind blows) coasts of continents. 
D)  varies among geographic locations, with the highest annual precipitation occurring in Chile. 
E)  occurs independently of atmospheric circulation patterns. 
A)  refers to any form of water, including rain, snow, runoff and groundwater. 
B)  has a profound effect on the distribution of organisms. 
C)  is lightest near the windward (the side from which the wind blows) coasts of continents. 
D)  varies among geographic locations, with the highest annual precipitation occurring in Chile. 
E)  occurs independently of atmospheric circulation patterns.

Question 17

Transpiration occurs in:

Accepted Answer

A)  oceans 
B)  groundwater 
C)  the atmosphere 
D)  animals 
E)  terrestrial plants 
A)  oceans 
B)  groundwater 
C)  the atmosphere 
D)  animals 
E)  terrestrial plants

Question 18

What is the first step in the nitrogen cycle, in which gaseous nitrogen is converted into ammonia?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nitrification 
B)  Ammonification 
C)  Assimilation 
D)  Phosporication 
E)  Nitrogen fixation 
A)  Nitrification 
B)  Ammonification 
C)  Assimilation 
D)  Phosporication 
E)  Nitrogen fixation

Question 19

Weather is a term that refers to the conditions in the atmosphere on a ________ basis, whereas climate is a description of ___________weather conditions.

Accepted Answer

A)  Hourly or daily, average, long-term 
B)  Permanent, temporary 
C)  Global, local 
D)  Stable, unstable 
E)  Long-term, short term 
A)  Hourly or daily, average, long-term 
B)  Permanent, temporary 
C)  Global, local 
D)  Stable, unstable 
E)  Long-term, short term

Question 20

Stratospheric ozone is important because it:

Accepted Answer

A)  Absorbs UV radiation 
B)  Is what we breathe 
C)  Powers the weather cycle 
D)  Is an industrial pollutant 
E)  Is part of the troposphere 
A)  Absorbs UV radiation 
B)  Is what we breathe 
C)  Powers the weather cycle 
D)  Is an industrial pollutant 
E)  Is part of the troposphere

Exam 4: Ecosystems and the Physical Environment

Subduction occurs:

Approximately what percentage of the atmosphere is CO2?

If the temperature of the troposphere decreases with increasing altitude by about 6°C for every kilometer, then the temperature at the outermost edge of this layer is approximately __________ lower than at the Earth's surface.

Put the following surfaces in descending order from those surfaces that reflect the greatest % of sunlight hitting their surfaces to those surfaces that have the lowest albedo. I. clouds II. ice sheets III. forest IV. asphalt pavement

Rain shadow describes the

A Tropical Cyclone forms as:

Which of the following is not a source of carbon for the carbon cycle?

El Niño-Southern Oscillation events:

Why were the mangroves cut down in the Sri Lankan village?

Which of the following is not an example of a fossil fuel?

Winds tend to blow from areas of _________atmospheric pressure to areas of _______atmospheric pressure, and the greater the difference between the high- and low- pressure areas, the _______ the wind.

Which of the following is not one of the biogeochemical cycles considered of particular importance for organisms?

Bacteria are key participants in the sulfur and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles. Briefly describe the role of oxygen in the various bacteria's ability to process sulfur and nitrogen.

Which of the following has the most concentrated energy and highest destructive potential?

The thermosphere:

Precipitation:

Transpiration occurs in:

What is the first step in the nitrogen cycle, in which gaseous nitrogen is converted into ammonia?

Weather is a term that refers to the conditions in the atmosphere on a ________ basis, whereas climate is a description of ___________weather conditions.

Stratospheric ozone is important because it:

Introducing Environmental Science and Sustainability

Environmental Laws Economic and Ethics

Ecosystems and Energy

Ecosystems and Living Organisms

Major Ecosystems of the World

Human Health and Environmental Toxicology

The Human Population

The Urban World

Energy Consumption

Fossil Fuels

Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power

Water: a Limited Resource

Soil Resources

Mineral Resources

Biological Resources

Land Resources

Food Resources

Air Pollution

Global Climate Change

Water Pollution

Pest Management

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Tomorrows Word

Filters

Winds tend to blow from areas of _____atmospheric pressure to areas of _atmospheric pressure, and the greater the difference between the high- and low- pressure areas, the _____ the wind.

Weather is a term that refers to the conditions in the atmosphere on a basis, whereas climate is a description of ___weather conditions.