Question 1

Although the terms climate and weather are often used interchangeably,they are not the same thing.Climate differs from weather in that

Accepted Answer

A) weather includes amount of rainfall per year and climate does not. 
B) climate is based on biomes,whereas weather is not. 
C) climate describes long-term patterns,whereas weather describes short-term fluctuations. 
D) climates are described in terms of long-term average temperature,and weather is described by other factors,such as prevailing winds. 
A) weather includes amount of rainfall per year and climate does not. 
B) climate is based on biomes,whereas weather is not. 
C) climate describes long-term patterns,whereas weather describes short-term fluctuations. 
D) climates are described in terms of long-term average temperature,and weather is described by other factors,such as prevailing winds.

Question 2

Match the term to the correct example.
-a redwood tree

Accepted Answer

A) biotic 
B) abiotic 
C) biosphere 
D) weather 
E) climate 
A) biotic 
B) abiotic 
C) biosphere 
D) weather 
E) climate

Question 3

Not all gases are greenhouse gases.Which of the following would be a greenhouse gas?

Accepted Answer

A) a gas that participates in biogeochemical cycling in the biosphere 
B) a gas that absorbs heat that radiates away from the Earth's surface 
C) a gas that does not participate in biogeochemical cycling in the biosphere 
D) a gas that does not absorb heat that radiates away from the Earth's surface 
A) a gas that participates in biogeochemical cycling in the biosphere 
B) a gas that absorbs heat that radiates away from the Earth's surface 
C) a gas that does not participate in biogeochemical cycling in the biosphere 
D) a gas that does not absorb heat that radiates away from the Earth's surface

Question 4

What will happen in the future if humans continue to impact natural systems at the same rates as today?

Accepted Answer

A) The environment is much too big and the human population much too small in comparison to have any serious consequences. 
B) Human societies may experience severe disruptions in the services ecosystems provide that human societies depend on. 
C) Some short-term changes may be experienced,but the magnitude will likely be no greater than those that have occurred naturally. 
D) Some beneficial and necessary reductions in population growth will occur. 
A) The environment is much too big and the human population much too small in comparison to have any serious consequences. 
B) Human societies may experience severe disruptions in the services ecosystems provide that human societies depend on. 
C) Some short-term changes may be experienced,but the magnitude will likely be no greater than those that have occurred naturally. 
D) Some beneficial and necessary reductions in population growth will occur.

Question 5

Which of these changes would decrease one's food footprint the most?

Accepted Answer

A) cooking chicken instead of steak 
B) cooking steak instead of chicken 
C) cooking steak instead of vegetables 
D) cooking vegetables instead of steak 
A) cooking chicken instead of steak 
B) cooking steak instead of chicken 
C) cooking steak instead of vegetables 
D) cooking vegetables instead of steak

Question 6

Which study below focuses on the biosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) a study measuring how introducing wolves into an area affects the deer population 
B) a study measuring how building a dam affects plants and animal populations in an area 
C) a study measuring how human habitation has changed then population size of caribou in a decade 
D) a study measuring how acidification of the oceans affects aquatic and terrestrial organisms 
A) a study measuring how introducing wolves into an area affects the deer population 
B) a study measuring how building a dam affects plants and animal populations in an area 
C) a study measuring how human habitation has changed then population size of caribou in a decade 
D) a study measuring how acidification of the oceans affects aquatic and terrestrial organisms

Question 7

Carbon dioxide makes up approximately ________ percent of Earth's atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) 94 
B) 44 
C) 4 
D) 0.04 
A) 94 
B) 44 
C) 4 
D) 0.04

Question 8

Atmospheric scientists anticipate a 3.5°C temperature rise in the next century.If so,what impacts will such change bring?

Accepted Answer

A) Some plant and animal species will migrate to cooler locations,whereas others will become extinct. 
B) There will be a positive impact on the world's agricultural systems as ocean evaporation and terrestrial rainfall increases. 
C) Sea levels could rise high enough to improve the ease of navigability and shipping. 
D) The polar ice caps will increase in size. 
A) Some plant and animal species will migrate to cooler locations,whereas others will become extinct. 
B) There will be a positive impact on the world's agricultural systems as ocean evaporation and terrestrial rainfall increases. 
C) Sea levels could rise high enough to improve the ease of navigability and shipping. 
D) The polar ice caps will increase in size.

Question 9

Biodiesel fuel is produced from oils synthesized by and harvested from living plants.How does the use of biodiesel fuel compare to the use of fossil fuels with respect to the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) There is no difference;the combustion of the fuel produces carbon dioxide regardless of its source. 
B) It is beneficial;converting plant material to biodiesel permanently traps carbon dioxide and prevents its entry to the atmosphere. 
C) It is detrimental;because biodiesel produces lower mileage,more must be burned,causing a proportional increase in carbon dioxide release. 
D) It is beneficial;because living plants are the source of the biodiesel,burning it simply represents nutrient recycling. 
A) There is no difference;the combustion of the fuel produces carbon dioxide regardless of its source. 
B) It is beneficial;converting plant material to biodiesel permanently traps carbon dioxide and prevents its entry to the atmosphere. 
C) It is detrimental;because biodiesel produces lower mileage,more must be burned,causing a proportional increase in carbon dioxide release. 
D) It is beneficial;because living plants are the source of the biodiesel,burning it simply represents nutrient recycling.

Question 10

Which of the following would best be considered an aspect of climate?

Accepted Answer

A) a large thunderstorm 
B) average rainfall 
C) a shifting hurricane 
D) a widespread blizzard 
A) a large thunderstorm 
B) average rainfall 
C) a shifting hurricane 
D) a widespread blizzard

Question 11

Describe how burning fossil fuels can warm the planet.

Accepted Answer

Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dio

Question 12

Describe how a decrease in plant populations can affect the water cycle.

Accepted Answer

Plants absorb water from the soil and re

Question 13

In comparison to past estimates,extinction rates are currently high.Which of the following is the most plausible explanation?

Accepted Answer

A) Natural fluctuations in climate causes extinctions. 
B) Continental drift is causing rapid changes in climate,which,in turn,causes extinctions. 
C) Previous extinctions make survival of contemporary species more difficult. 
D) Humans are affecting many aspects of the global environment. 
A) Natural fluctuations in climate causes extinctions. 
B) Continental drift is causing rapid changes in climate,which,in turn,causes extinctions. 
C) Previous extinctions make survival of contemporary species more difficult. 
D) Humans are affecting many aspects of the global environment.

Question 14

Which of the following activities would have the greatest effect in decreasing greenhouse gases?

Accepted Answer

A) decreasing logging 
B) decreasing burning of forests 
C) decreasing construction in cities 
D) decreasing fossil fuel consumption 
A) decreasing logging 
B) decreasing burning of forests 
C) decreasing construction in cities 
D) decreasing fossil fuel consumption

Question 15

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are shown below.This graph was developed by measurements that were obtained by

Accepted Answer

A) direct measurements on Mauna Loa,Hawaii,and from air bubbles trapped in ice. 
B) studies of the tissues of plants and their structures in response to differing CO₂ levels. 
C) carbon isotope levels in sea floor sediments. 
D) measurements from undisturbed bat droppings in caves on a South Pacific island. 
A) direct measurements on Mauna Loa,Hawaii,and from air bubbles trapped in ice. 
B) studies of the tissues of plants and their structures in response to differing CO₂ levels. 
C) carbon isotope levels in sea floor sediments. 
D) measurements from undisturbed bat droppings in caves on a South Pacific island.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of climate change?

Accepted Answer

A) increased droughts 
B) decreased flooding 
C) decreased biodiversity 
D) increase in ocean temperature 
A) increased droughts 
B) decreased flooding 
C) decreased biodiversity 
D) increase in ocean temperature

Question 17

Climate change increases fires in the rainforest.This will

Accepted Answer

A) decrease climate change as carbon sinks are formed. 
B) decrease climate change as carbon reservoirs are released. 
C) further increase climate change as carbon sinks are formed. 
D) further increase climate change as carbon reservoirs are released. 
A) decrease climate change as carbon sinks are formed. 
B) decrease climate change as carbon reservoirs are released. 
C) further increase climate change as carbon sinks are formed. 
D) further increase climate change as carbon reservoirs are released.

Question 18

What best describes the relationship between cutting down forests and changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels?

Accepted Answer

A) Herbivore populations decline in the absence of forests,and without their respiration less carbon dioxide is recycled into the atmosphere. 
B) The carbon dioxide used by the plants for cellular respiration would all be released into the atmosphere at once. 
C) Trees naturally die and decompose,but when turned into lumber their carbon is prevented from recycling back to the atmosphere. 
D) In the absence of forest plants,there would be less carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere for use during photosynthesis. 
A) Herbivore populations decline in the absence of forests,and without their respiration less carbon dioxide is recycled into the atmosphere. 
B) The carbon dioxide used by the plants for cellular respiration would all be released into the atmosphere at once. 
C) Trees naturally die and decompose,but when turned into lumber their carbon is prevented from recycling back to the atmosphere. 
D) In the absence of forest plants,there would be less carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere for use during photosynthesis.

Question 19

Match the term to the correct example.
-a rock formation

Accepted Answer

A) biotic 
B) abiotic 
C) biosphere 
D) weather 
E) climate 
A) biotic 
B) abiotic 
C) biosphere 
D) weather 
E) climate

Question 20

The hydrologic cycle includes

Accepted Answer

A) biotic factors only. 
B) abiotic factors only. 
C) both biotic and abiotic factors. 
D) neither biotic nor abiotic factors. 
A) biotic factors only. 
B) abiotic factors only. 
C) both biotic and abiotic factors. 
D) neither biotic nor abiotic factors.

Although the terms climate and weather are often used interchangeably,they are not the same thing.Climate differs from weather in that

Match the term to the correct example. -a redwood tree

Not all gases are greenhouse gases.Which of the following would be a greenhouse gas?

What will happen in the future if humans continue to impact natural systems at the same rates as today?

Which of these changes would decrease one's food footprint the most?

Which study below focuses on the biosphere?

Carbon dioxide makes up approximately ________ percent of Earth's atmosphere.

Atmospheric scientists anticipate a 3.5°C temperature rise in the next century.If so,what impacts will such change bring?

Biodiesel fuel is produced from oils synthesized by and harvested from living plants.How does the use of biodiesel fuel compare to the use of fossil fuels with respect to the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere?

Which of the following would best be considered an aspect of climate?

Describe how burning fossil fuels can warm the planet.

Describe how a decrease in plant populations can affect the water cycle.

In comparison to past estimates,extinction rates are currently high.Which of the following is the most plausible explanation?

Which of the following activities would have the greatest effect in decreasing greenhouse gases?

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are shown below.This graph was developed by measurements that were obtained by

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of climate change?

Climate change increases fires in the rainforest.This will

What best describes the relationship between cutting down forests and changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels?

Match the term to the correct example. -a rock formation

The hydrologic cycle includes

The Nature of Science

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Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes and Human Genetics

What Genes Are

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The History of Life

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Exam 15: General Principles of Ecology

Although the terms climate and weather are often used interchangeably,they are not the same thing.Climate differs from weather in that

Match the term to the correct example. -a redwood tree

Not all gases are greenhouse gases.Which of the following would be a greenhouse gas?

What will happen in the future if humans continue to impact natural systems at the same rates as today?

Which of these changes would decrease one's food footprint the most?

Which study below focuses on the biosphere?

Carbon dioxide makes up approximately ________ percent of Earth's atmosphere.

Atmospheric scientists anticipate a 3.5°C temperature rise in the next century.If so,what impacts will such change bring?

Biodiesel fuel is produced from oils synthesized by and harvested from living plants.How does the use of biodiesel fuel compare to the use of fossil fuels with respect to the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere?

Which of the following would best be considered an aspect of climate?

Describe how burning fossil fuels can warm the planet.

Describe how a decrease in plant populations can affect the water cycle.

In comparison to past estimates,extinction rates are currently high.Which of the following is the most plausible explanation?

Which of the following activities would have the greatest effect in decreasing greenhouse gases?

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are shown below.This graph was developed by measurements that were obtained by

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of climate change?

Climate change increases fires in the rainforest.This will

What best describes the relationship between cutting down forests and changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels?

Match the term to the correct example. -a rock formation

The hydrologic cycle includes

The Nature of Science

Chemistry of Life

Life Is Cellular

How Cells Work

Cell Division

Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes and Human Genetics

What Genes Are

How Genes Work

Evidence for Evolution

Mechanisms of Evolution

Adaptation and Species

The History of Life

Human Evolution

Growth of Populations

Communities of Organisms

Ecosystems

Applying the Science

Filters