Deck 18: The Biosphere and Human Effects

Question 1

Why is it warmer in the tropics?

A) solar rays travel more directly into the tropics
B) less dust in the atmosphere above the tropics
C) less water vapor in the atmosphere above the tropics
D) less absorption by greenhouse gases
E) all of these are reasons why the tropics are warmer

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Which gas has had the greatest impact on life on earth?

A) carbon dioxide
B) methane
C) nitrogen
D) hydrogen
E) oxygen

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Which country has the warmest average yearly temperature?

A) Mexico
B) Japan
C) Canada
D) Germany
E) United States

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The Sierra Nevada Mountains run north and south through California.Storms track from the west to the east.Which side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains will experience a rain shadow?

A) the east side
B) the west side
C) the north side
D) the south side
E) a combination of more than one of these

Question 5

Climate is the

A) average weather conditions an area receives over a short period of time.
B) average weather conditions an area receives over a long period of time.
C) amount of sunlight an area receives over the course of a year.
D) amount of rainfall an area receives over the course of a year.
E) amount of erosion that occurs in an area over the course of a year.

Question 6

At which latitude does the Earth experience desert ecosystems due to global patterns of air circulation?

A) 0
B) 30
C) 60
D) 90
E) more than one of these

Question 7

As global temperatures increase,Arctic sea ice becomes thin and breaks up earlier each spring.What potential consequence described in the text might this directly lead to?

A) fewer migratory birds
B) polar bears being stranded on ice flows far from land
C) further global warming
D) a decrease in Arctic sea levels
E) an increase in polar bear populations

Question 8

Which of the following represents an example of climate?

A) July 20, 1930 was the hottest day on record in Washington, DC
B) April 14th, 1921 Silver Lake, Colorado received 1.7 meters of snow
C) the rainfall in Seattle, Washington on July 4, 2010 was 2 centimeters
D) the average summer temperature in Miami, Florida is 27 Celsius
E) none of these are an example of climate

Question 9

Of the following countries,which of them control and have natural resources rights to the Arctic?

A) Russia
B) Canada
C) United States
D) none of these
E) all of these

Question 10

What happens to air as it is cooled?

A) It rises.
B) It sinks.
C) It moves horizontally.
D) It moves at a faster speed.
E) It does none of these.

Question 11

Forks,Washington receives about 270 centimeters of rain per year.On the other side of the Olympic Mountains only 70 miles away,Sequim,Washington receives about 40 centimeters of rainfall per year.Both are close to major bodies of water and at the same elevation.What is the most likely reason for why there is such a large difference in rainfall between the two towns?

A) Sequim is probably at a latitude closer to 30 degrees while Forks is probably at a latitude closer to 90 degrees
B) Sequim is in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains
C) Sequim probably is receiving a higher amount of solar radiation than Forks
D) the ocean near Sequim is drier than the ocean near Forks
E) none of these answers are plausible.

Question 12

Which country receives the most sunlight per year?

A) United States
B) Japan
C) Canada
D) Germany
E) Mexico

Question 13

Which way do ocean currents circulate in the Northern Hemisphere?

A) counterclockwise
B) clockwise
C) both clockwise and counterclockwise
D) neither clockwise and counterclockwise
E) none of these

Question 14

What happens to air as it is warmed?

A) It rises.
B) It sinks.
C) It moves at a slower speed.
D) It moves horizontally.
E) It does none of these.

Question 15

The average weather condition an area receives over a long period of time is called the

A) forecast
B) climate
C) weather range
D) precipitation range
E) humidity range

Question 16

What is the term for all of the places on earth in which life can be found?

A) biosphere
B) biogeography
C) lithosphere
D) hydrosphere
E) stratosphere

Question 17

Which is NOT an example of the climate of North America?

A) yearly rainfall
B) yearly wind speed and directions
C) average temperature over the year
D) average temperature during the month of June
E) the temperature taken at noon on a Friday in December

Question 18

Which of the following is a climate factor has the greatest effect on how much solar radiation an area receives?

A) the latitude of the area
B) the time of day
C) the topography of the area
D) the proximity to a large body of water
E) more than one of these

Question 19

What happens as air cools?

A) It rises and releases moisture.
B) It sinks and picks up moisture.
C) It sinks and releases moisture.
D) It rises and picks up moisture.
E) It does none of these.

Question 20

Deserts caused by global patterns of air circulation are dry because

A) as the moist air above deserts rise, all of the water evaporates
B) dry, descending air above deserts draws moisture from the soil
C) the moist air above deserts is absorbed by the sandy desert soils
D) because of the warm temperatures, all the moisture in the deserts is drawn away and is transported by air currents to the tropics
E) all of the air currents above deserts have no contact with bodies of water

Question 21

Permafrost is

A) a temporary pool of water in an estuary.
B) a permanent pool of water in the grasslands.
C) permanently frozen ground in the polar icecap.
D) temporary frozen ground in the polar icecap.
E) frozen layer of ground in the tundra that prevents drainage.

Question 22

Which biome has a layered structure that will contain many vines and epiphytes?

A) chaparral
B) tundra
C) estuary
D) taiga
E) tropical rainforest

Question 23

The distribution of major biomes is controlled mainly by

A) ocean currents.
B) climate.
C) human manipulation.
D) longitude.
E) predator-prey relations.

Question 24

Which of the following primary succession events led to the formation of the tundra?

A) large tsunamis
B) glacial retreat
C) volcanic activity
D) the breaking up of Pangaea
E) flooding caused by melting ice

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT a contributing factor to the great diversity of tropical rainforests?

A) warm temperatures year round
B) structural complexity
C) their old age
D) nutrient poor soils
E) all of these are contributing factors

Question 26

Which biome is generally found between the polar ice cap and boreal forests?

A) desert
B) taiga
C) grassland
D) estuary
E) tundra

Question 27

What is an undersea mountain called?

A) seamount
B) sea caste
C) trench
D) estuary
E) none of these

Question 28

Nutrient poor soils and dominant evergreen angiosperm trees dominate this biome.

A) boreal forests
B) chaparral
C) deserts
D) tropical rain forests
E) temperate deciduous forests

Question 29

What is the term for a large-scale terrestrial ecosystem with a unique climate and vegetation?

A) biosphere
B) ecosystem
C) trophic level
D) biome
E) community

Question 30

Which coastal region is where seawater and freshwater mix?

A) hydrothermal vents
B) coral reef
C) seamounts
D) coral reefs
E) estuary

Question 31

The main driving force of the Earth's ocean currents is

A) the tilt of the Earth on its axis.
B) differences in the ocean depths.
C) differences in temperature at different parts of the ocean..
D) relative amount of landmasses versus amount of ocean.
E) the prevailing winds.

Question 32

Which latitude is most likely to have a desert?

A) 30? north and south
B) 30? east and west
C) 45? north and south
D) 50? north and south
E) 70? north and south

Question 33

A rain shadow forms on the west side of the Allegheny Mountains.What for certain can be said about conditions on the west side of the Allegheny Mountains?

A) there is more rain than on the east side
B) there is less rain than on the east side
C) there are higher temperatures than on the east side
D) there are lower temperatures on the west side
E) there is a combination of rain effect and temperature effect on the east side compared to the west side

Question 34

Which aquatic ecosystem is known as the marine nursery?

A) coral reef
B) hydrothermal vents
C) coral reefs
D) estuary
E) seamounts

Question 35

What are the primary producers associated with hydrothermal vents?

A) dinoflagellates
B) archaea
C) red algae
D) diatoms
E) sea kelp

Question 36

Which of the following is a North American biome that has mostly disappeared because of extensive farming of wheat and corn?

A) chaparral
B) grasslands
C) boreal forest
D) desert
E) more than one of these

Question 37

Which of the following is a tree with needle-shaped leaves that are adaptations that minimize water loss?

A) cacti
B) conifer
C) broadleaf evergreen
D) deciduous angiosperms
E) mesquite

Question 38

The prime culprit that produces coral bleaching is

A) fungal infections.
B) water levels changing.
C) salinity levels changing.
D) light levels changing.
E) temperature changes.

Question 39

What percentage of the earth is covered by deserts?

A) 7%
B) 12%
C) 18%
D) 20%
E) 26%

Question 40

As summer comes to the tundra,what will occur?

A) A long growing season will begin.
B) The surface layer will thaw and pools of water will form.
C) The permafrost thaws out.
D) Birds will begin their southerly migration.
E) more than one of these.

Question 41

What will the ozone layer absorb?

A) heat
B) pollution
C) ultraviolet radiation
D) infrared radiation
E) oxygen

Question 42

Approximately,what percentage of the fish evaluated for their conservation status were found to be threatened?

A) 15%
B) 25%
C) 30%
D) 47%
E) 53%

Question 43

Which of the following was the first invertebrate listed as endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service?

A) marine mollusk
B) white abalone
C) Atlantic lobster
D) sea anemone
E) blind crab

Question 44

Which of the following species is NOT threatened or endangered?

A) ivory-billed woodpecker
B) Western prairie orchid
C) Texas blind salamander
D) red imported fire ants
E) all of these species are threatened or endangered

Question 45

The conversion of grasslands or woodlands to desert-like conditions is called

A) desertification.
B) bleaching.
C) eutrophication.
D) deforestation.
E) degrassification.

Question 46

Where,above sea level,would one find the ozone layer?

A) 5 kilometers
B) 10 kilometers
C) 15 kilometers
D) 20 kilometers
E) 50 kilometers

Question 47

What is the main factor that drives ozone formation?

A) cloud cover
B) rainfall
C) time of day
D) sunlight
E) season

Question 48

The increase of toxins as they move up through the food chain is called

A) bioaccumulation.
B) eutrophication.
C) salinization.
D) escalization.
E) desertification.

Question 49

In this freshwater aquatic ecosystem,species composition varies along its length based on rock types,depth,oxygen concentrations,and temperature.

A) streams
B) lakes
C) estuaries
D) coral reefs
E) hydrothermal vents

Question 50

What are the results of an increase in global temperature?

A) extreme amounts of rainfall
B) droughts followed by heavy rains
C) increased intensity of hurricanes
D) increase in sea level
E) all of these

Question 51

The crash of the Atlantic codfish is the result of

A) habitat loss.
B) invasive species.
C) competition.
D) overharvesting.
E) pollution.

Question 52

What percentage of the mammals evaluated for their conservation status were found to be threatened?

A) 15%
B) 22%
C) 30%
D) 47%
E) 53%

Question 53

Which of the following is the greatest threat to most species survival?

A) overharvesting
B) pollution
C) habitat loss
D) oceanic desalinization
E) none of these is a threat to species survival

Question 54

Which of the following plants would be most susceptible to the effects of acid rain?

A) alpine fir tree
B) valley bluegrass
C) cacti
D) chaparral manzanita
E) tundra lichen

Question 55

Which group has the fewest number of described species?

A) fungi
B) gymnosperms
C) mammals
D) amphibians
E) insects

Question 56

This aquatic ecosystem may include protists and bacteria as producers in a well-lit zone and detritus feeders in a deeper dark zone.

A) estuary
B) stream
C) lake
D) coral reef
E) hydrothermal vent

Question 57

Which of the following was found to be the main ozone destroying gas?

A) chlorofluorocarbons
B) carbon dioxide
C) methylmercury
D) methane
E) nitrogen

Question 58

Concerning species survival,which status is of greatest concern?

A) threatened
B) endemic
C) critical
D) endangered
E) serious

Question 59

Of the organisms studied,which group has the most species found to be threatened?

A) fishes
B) angiosperms
C) mammals
D) amphibians
E) insects

Question 60

Which term refers to a species that evolved in area and still resides that area?

A) invasive
B) endemic
C) endangered
D) exotic
E) persistent

Question 61

Which of these is NOT a component of biodiversity?

A) genetic diversity
B) species richness
C) ecosystem diversity
D) ecological footprints
E) more than one of these

Question 62

What term refers to the renewal of a natural ecosystem that has been degraded?

A) ecological balance
B) ecological restoration
C) eutrophication
D) biological magnification
E) bioremediation

Question 63

The only way to meet the resource needs of future generations is through

A) sustainable resource use.
B) biological magnification.
C) creating conservation hotspots.
D) clear cutting and mining.
E) increasing use of nonrenewable resources.

Question 64

A plant pathologist,a scientist who studies plant diseases,examines a tree that has burnt leaves,is mineral deficient,and has several diseases.The plant pathologist concludes the tree's symptoms are most likely the direct result of

A) biological magnification.
B) desertification.
C) ozone depletion.
D) acid rain.
E) deforestation.

Question 65

Nonrenewable mineral resources are used in which of the following electronic devices?

A) phones
B) computers
C) televisions
D) MP3 players
E) nonrenewable mineral resources are used in all of these electronic devices

Question 66

Due to biological magnification,which of the following have the highest concentration of a chemical herbicide?

A) grass- the dominant primary producer
B) cow- an herbivore
C) grasshoppers - an herbivore
D) mice - predators of butterflies
E) hawk - predators of mice

Question 67

Sustainability can be achieved by

A) fixing products that we are currently using instead of throwing them away.
B) recycling.
C) reducing our consumption of goods.
D) reducing our energy consumption.
E) all of these.

Question 68

In which of the following ways is biodiversity declining?

A) the genetic diversity component is declining
B) the species diversity component is declining
C) the ecosystem diversity component is declining
D) biodiversity is declining in all regions worldwide
E) all of these are ways in which biodiversity is declining

Question 69

Much of the Pacific Northwest's species rich Old Growth Forests have been clear cut.The only possible way to reclaim those forests that have been clear cut is through

A) biological magnification.
B) establishing the clear cut areas as hot spots.
C) ecological restoration.
D) promoting sustainability.
E) reducing our ecological footprint.

Question 70

Which of the following factors affects global climate change?

A) shifts in Earth's orbit
B) changes in the tilt of Earth's axis
C) changes in solar output
D) human caused increases in greenhouse gases
E) all of these factors affect global climate change

Question 71

The Earth's shifts the angle of its axis approximately every ___ years.

A) 4,000
B) 40,000
C) 400,000
D) 4,000,000
E) 4,000,000,000

Question 72

What ultimately is the greatest threat to biodiversity?

A) plant pathogens
B) exotic species
C) unthinking humans
D) mineral and energy use
E) conservation efforts

Question 73

Which region experienced a desertification event called the Dust Bowl in the 1930s?

A) Europe
B) North America
C) South America
D) East Asia
E) Central Africa

Question 74

The Klamath-Siskiyou forest in southwestern Oregon is endangered due to

A) logging.
B) over-predation.
C) plant diseases.
D) introduced species.
E) more than one of these.

Question 75

The coastal forests of Eastern Africa is home to many endemic species and many of those species are either threatened or endangered.Because of this the coastal forests of Eastern Africa have been designated by Conservation International as a conservation __.

A) hot spot
B) endangered region
C) national park
D) island
E) ecoregion

Question 76

Because they are filter feeders,oysters are most sensitive to pollution levels in their habitat and among the first organisms to suffer if pollution levels become too high.Oysters are an example of ___ species.

A) an endangered
B) an endemic
C) an indicator
D) a threatened
E) a conserved

Question 77

In its use in conservation efforts,lichens are classified as an example of a(n)

A) biological magnified species.
B) endangered species.
C) biodiverse species.
D) indicator species.
E) exotic species.

Question 78

How many land eco-regions have been identified by the World Wildlife Fund as top priorities for conservation efforts?

A) 123
B) 167
C) 456
D) 579
E) 867

Question 79

The genetic diversity within a species of a given region is called the

A) biodiversity.
B) dominance hierarchy.
C) biogeographic distribution.
D) biome.
E) community.

Question 80

The Earth's orbit shifts approximately every ___ years.

A) 1,000
B) 10,000
C) 100,000
D) 1,000,000
E) 1,000,000,000