Question 1

Which of the following surfaces has the highest albedo?

Accepted Answer

A)  Glaciers 
B)  Forests 
C)  The ocean 
D)  Buildings 
E)  pavements 
A)  Glaciers 
B)  Forests 
C)  The ocean 
D)  Buildings 
E)  pavements

Question 2

Nitrogen gas accounts for what percentage of the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.03% 
B)  1% 
C)  Approximately 50% 
D)  78% 
E)  99% 
A)  0.03% 
B)  1% 
C)  Approximately 50% 
D)  78% 
E)  99%

Question 3

Discuss the major components of the hydrologic cycle and identify the processes involved in the transfer or exchange of water from one reservoir to another. In the correct context, use the following vocabulary in your discussion: watershed, transpiration, percolate, runoff, precipitation, groundwater, evaporation, and estuary. Draw a diagram incorporating these terms into the cycle.

Accepted Answer

In the hydrologic cycle, water continuou

Question 4

Solar radiation:

Accepted Answer

A)  powers the hydrologic and other biogeochemical cycles. 
B)  is essential for photosynthesis. 
C)  is the product of a massive nuclear fusion reaction. 
D)  is captured by plants and may eventually become the energy available from fossil fuels. 
E)  All of these choices are correct 
A)  powers the hydrologic and other biogeochemical cycles. 
B)  is essential for photosynthesis. 
C)  is the product of a massive nuclear fusion reaction. 
D)  is captured by plants and may eventually become the energy available from fossil fuels. 
E)  All of these choices are correct

Question 5

By what process do plants take the nitrate (NO3-) absorbed by their roots and incorporate the nitrogen into plant proteins and other molecules.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

Why was Hurricane Katrina such a devastating storm?

Accepted Answer

A)  The city is at or below sea level 
B)  Sea level has been rising 
C)  Destruction of wetlands due to construction 
D)  The city has been subsiding 
E)  All of these choices are correct 
A)  The city is at or below sea level 
B)  Sea level has been rising 
C)  Destruction of wetlands due to construction 
D)  The city has been subsiding 
E)  All of these choices are correct

Question 7

Define "rain shadow" and explain why deserts form in the rain shadows of mountains.

Accepted Answer

The dry land on the side of a mountain,

Question 8

Which of the following accurately represents a sequential portion of the nitrogen cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  N2 in the atmosphere → ammonification → nitrification → plants 
B)  N2 in the atmosphere → nitrification→ plants 
C)  dead organic material → ammonification → nitrification → plants 
D)  plant proteins → animal proteins → nitrification → N2 in the atmosphere 
E)  animal proteins → nitrogen fixation → N2 in the atmosphere 
A)  N2 in the atmosphere → ammonification → nitrification → plants 
B)  N2 in the atmosphere → nitrification→ plants 
C)  dead organic material → ammonification → nitrification → plants 
D)  plant proteins → animal proteins → nitrification → N2 in the atmosphere 
E)  animal proteins → nitrogen fixation → N2 in the atmosphere

Question 9

Which of the following processes plays an important role in the phosphorus cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  Erosion 
B)  Fixation 
C)  Combustion 
D)  Cellular respiration 
E)  ammonification 
A)  Erosion 
B)  Fixation 
C)  Combustion 
D)  Cellular respiration 
E)  ammonification

Question 10

Biogeochemical cycles:

Accepted Answer

A)  Only include processes conducted by or within living organisms. 
B)  Pertain only to the abiotic environment. 
C)  Describe the movement of water and other materials through abiotic and biotic interactions. 
D)  Only pertain to exchanges and interactions that occur within the atmosphere. 
E)  Are used to describe the attempts of humans to recycle various pollutants. 
A)  Only include processes conducted by or within living organisms. 
B)  Pertain only to the abiotic environment. 
C)  Describe the movement of water and other materials through abiotic and biotic interactions. 
D)  Only pertain to exchanges and interactions that occur within the atmosphere. 
E)  Are used to describe the attempts of humans to recycle various pollutants.

Question 11

Lava IS TO volcano AS tsunami IS TO

Accepted Answer

A)  Tornado 
B)  Cyclone 
C)  Firestorm 
D)  Earthquake 
E)  Plate boundary 
A)  Tornado 
B)  Cyclone 
C)  Firestorm 
D)  Earthquake 
E)  Plate boundary

Question 12

Which of the following plants is a legume which may have nitrogen fixing bacteria attached to their roots?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bean 
B)  Beet 
C)  Potato 
D)  Cucumber 
E)  Carrot 
A)  Bean 
B)  Beet 
C)  Potato 
D)  Cucumber 
E)  Carrot

Question 13

The movement of water from land to rivers, lakes, wetlands and ultimately, the ocean is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  groundwater 
B)  transpiration 
C)  hydrologic cycle 
D)  runoff 
E)  precipitation 
A)  groundwater 
B)  transpiration 
C)  hydrologic cycle 
D)  runoff 
E)  precipitation

Question 14

What is the relationship between locations of earthquakes and plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earthquakes frequently happen where landmasses are on the boundary between two plates. 
B)  Earthquakes release energy as seismic waves. Energy accumulates from the push and stretch of rocks as plates move horizontally across Earth's surface. 
C)  Earthquakes occur along faults. Fault zones are often found at plate boundaries. 
D)  Earthquakes are common in volcanic regions. Volcanoes are common where two plates meet. 
E)  All of these constitute a relationship between earthquakes and plate tectonics. 
A)  Earthquakes frequently happen where landmasses are on the boundary between two plates. 
B)  Earthquakes release energy as seismic waves. Energy accumulates from the push and stretch of rocks as plates move horizontally across Earth's surface. 
C)  Earthquakes occur along faults. Fault zones are often found at plate boundaries. 
D)  Earthquakes are common in volcanic regions. Volcanoes are common where two plates meet. 
E)  All of these constitute a relationship between earthquakes and plate tectonics.

Question 15

The primary reason we have seasons is because of the:

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's rotation 
B)  Earth's orbit 
C)  Earth's tilt on its axis 
D)  Density of the Earth's atmosphere 
E)  Layers of the Earth's atmosphere 
A)  Earth's rotation 
B)  Earth's orbit 
C)  Earth's tilt on its axis 
D)  Density of the Earth's atmosphere 
E)  Layers of the Earth's atmosphere

Question 16

The pathway by which carbon is transferred from living organisms to the atmosphere is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  Photosynthesis 
B)  Cellular respiration 
C)  Evaporation 
D)  Burning fossil fuels 
E)  transpiration 
A)  Photosynthesis 
B)  Cellular respiration 
C)  Evaporation 
D)  Burning fossil fuels 
E)  transpiration

Question 17

Which of the following processes is not involved in the hydrologic cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  Transpiration 
B)  Precipitation 
C)  Evaporation 
D)  Fixation 
E)  Condensation 
A)  Transpiration 
B)  Precipitation 
C)  Evaporation 
D)  Fixation 
E)  Condensation

Question 18

Which of the following accurately represents a carbon source and the process that releases carbon from that source?

Accepted Answer

A)  Fossil fuels, respiration 
B)  Animals, photosynthesis 
C)  Plants, cellular respiration 
D)  Biocarbonate, combustion 
E)  Limestone, combustion 
A)  Fossil fuels, respiration 
B)  Animals, photosynthesis 
C)  Plants, cellular respiration 
D)  Biocarbonate, combustion 
E)  Limestone, combustion

Question 19

During photosynthesis, plants, algae, and certain bacteria remove CO2 from the air and fix it into chemical compounds such as __________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  Water 
B)  Sugar 
C)  Salt 
D)  Acids 
E)  Ammonia 
A)  Water 
B)  Sugar 
C)  Salt 
D)  Acids 
E)  Ammonia

Question 20

Which of the following statements describes a storm surge?
1) A sudden increase in water that moves onto land before a hurricane makes landfall
2) A sudden increase in water that moves onto land as a hurricane makes landfall
3) A sudden increase in water that moves onto land after a hurricane makes landfall

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  1,2, and 3 
E)  None of these statements is true 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  1,2, and 3 
E)  None of these statements is true

Exam 4: Ecosystems and the Physical Environment

Which of the following surfaces has the highest albedo?

Nitrogen gas accounts for what percentage of the atmosphere?

Solar radiation:

By what process do plants take the nitrate (NO3-) absorbed by their roots and incorporate the nitrogen into plant proteins and other molecules.

Why was Hurricane Katrina such a devastating storm?

Define "rain shadow" and explain why deserts form in the rain shadows of mountains.

Which of the following accurately represents a sequential portion of the nitrogen cycle?

Which of the following processes plays an important role in the phosphorus cycle?

Biogeochemical cycles:

Lava IS TO volcano AS tsunami IS TO

Which of the following plants is a legume which may have nitrogen fixing bacteria attached to their roots?

The movement of water from land to rivers, lakes, wetlands and ultimately, the ocean is called:

What is the relationship between locations of earthquakes and plate tectonics?

The primary reason we have seasons is because of the:

The pathway by which carbon is transferred from living organisms to the atmosphere is called:

Which of the following processes is not involved in the hydrologic cycle?

Which of the following accurately represents a carbon source and the process that releases carbon from that source?

During photosynthesis, plants, algae, and certain bacteria remove CO2 from the air and fix it into chemical compounds such as __________ .

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

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