Deck 18: Air Pollution

Question 1

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
What is the correct sequence of layers of the atmosphere from innermost to outermost?

A) mesosphere-stratosphere-thermosphere-troposphere
B) troposphere-stratosphere-mesosphere-thermosphere
C) stratosphere-thermosphere-troposphere-mesosphere
D) thermosphere-stratosphere-mesosphere-troposphere
E) thermosphere-mesosphere-stratosphere-troposphere

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
It would be ineffective to prevent lead poisoning by ____.

A) phasing out waste incineration
B) banning the use of lead pencils in schools
C) banning lead glazing on ceramic ware used to serve food
D) banning the use of lead solder
E) banning candles with lead cores

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Most of earth's climate occurs in the ____.

A) troposphere
B) thermosphere
C) mesosphere
D) stratosphere
E) tropopause

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Major air pollutants include ____.

A) nitrogen oxides,carbon monoxide and dioxide,sulfur compounds,VOCs,and suspended particulate matter
B) nitrogen oxides,carbon monoxide and dioxide,sulfur compounds,excess water vapor,and suspended particulate matter
C) nitrogen oxides,carbon monoxide and dioxide,argon,excess water vapor,and suspended particulate matter
D) nitrogen oxides,carbon monoxide and dioxide,argon,VOCs,and suspended particulate matter
E) nitrogen oxides,carbon monoxide and dioxide,excess water vapor,VOCs,and suspended particulate matter

Question 5

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Human inputs of outdoor air pollutants occur mostly ____.

A) in rural areas
B) in the mountains
C) along the oceans
D) in urban areas
E) in the deserts

Question 6

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
What do all volatile organic compounds have in common?

A) All are gasses in the atmosphere.
B) All are produced from manmade sources.
C) All are emitted for processing and/or burning fossil fuels.
D) All are colorless,odorless reactive gases.
E) All are naturally occurring colorless and odorless gases found in rocks and vegetation.

Question 7

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The Asian Brown Cloud is a(n)____.

A) large thick cloud of dust,smoke,and toxic metals in the troposphere
B) data storage system in China
C) slow moving cloud of dust,smoke,and toxic metals in the stratosphere
D) area of pollution that only affects Asia
E) cloud of dust,smoke,and toxic metals that is unable to be cleaned up

Question 8

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The Asian Brown Cloud is approximately the size of ____.

A) Tibet
B) Shanghai
C) India
D) China and India
E) the Continental U.S.

Question 9

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
What term refers to harmful chemicals emitted directly into the air from natural processes and human activities?

A) secondary pollutants
B) direct smog
C) photochemical smog
D) tertiary pollutants
E) primary pollutants

Question 10

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The stratosphere ____.

A) is where the Asian Brown Cloud forms
B) has more water vapor than the troposphere
C) is where weather occurs
D) is characterized by temperatures that decrease with altitude
E) contains the ozone layer

Question 11

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Photochemical smog is formed when primary pollutants interact with ____.

A) sunlight
B) water vapor
C) sulfur dioxide
D) oxygen
E) carbon

Question 12

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The atmosphere is divided into spherical layers based upon the ____.

A) density of each layer
B) concentration of ozone in each layer
C) temperature changes from variations in absorption of solar energy
D) concentration of oxygen in each layer
E) precipitation in each layer

Question 13

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Sixteen of the world's twenty most polluted cities are found in ____.

A) the United States
B) Brazil
C) the Ukraine
D) China
E) Mexico

Question 14

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Burning coal will produce pollutants such as ____.

A) carbon monoxide,sulfur dioxide and soot
B) sulfur dioxide,soot and water vapor.
C) carbon dioxide,soot and ozone
D) carbon dioxide,sulfur dioxide and water vapor
E) carbon monoxide,ozone and water vapor

Question 15

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Photochemical smog is characteristic of urban areas with many vehicles and a climate that is ____.

A) cool,wet,and cloudy
B) cool,dry,and sunny
C) warm,dry,and sunny
D) warm,wet,and cloudy
E) warm,wet,and sunny

Question 16

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The biggest air pollution threat to poor people is ____.

A) badly maintained automobiles
B) pollutants from industry
C) indoor air pollution
D) smoke from burning forests
E) dust blown into the air

Question 17

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The UV filtering effect of the ozone layer is beneficial because it ____.

A) allows humans and other forms of life to exist on land
B) prevents low energy radiation from reaching the earth's surface
C) counteracts global warming
D) prevents the formation of photochemical ozone in the stratosphere
E) reduces the amount of water vapor in the troposphere

Question 18

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
If the earth were an apple,the lower layer of the atmosphere would be the thickness of ____.

A) the core
B) the part of the apple we eat
C) the skin
D) the whole apple
E) a seed

Question 19

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Approximately how much of the air we breathe is composed of nitrogen and oxygen?

A) 99%
B) 77%
C) 63%
D) 54%
E) 33%

Question 20

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The atmospheric layer containing 75% of the mass of earth's air is the ____.

A) thermosphere
B) mesosphere
C) stratosphere
D) troposphere
E) tropopause

Question 21

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Radon-222 is a colorless,odorless gas that forms ____.

A) when primary pollutants interact with ozone
B) from contaminated groundwater seeping through fractures in rocks
C) from underground rock and mineral deposits of uranium,shale,and granite
D) from coal-burning power plants
E) when smokers don't open windows

Question 22

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The grasshopper effect is a result of ____.

A) pollutants being transferred from warmer areas to polar areas by ocean currents
B) warm air sitting on top of cool,stagnant air
C) the mixing of warm and cold air
D) air pollutants being transferred from warmer areas to polar areas by evaporation and wind
E) precipitation exceeding evaporation

Question 23

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Which of the following statements is true?

A) Temperature inversion occurs when a layer of cold air prevents warm air from rising.
B) Temperature inversions make pollution problems worse.
C) Temperature inversions last only a few minutes to a few hours.
D) Normally,cool air near earth's surface expands and rises,carrying pollutants higher into the troposphere.
E) Temperature inversions help prevent air pollution

Question 24

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
According to the EPA,what are the four most dangerous indoor air pollutants?

A) tobacco smoke,formaldehyde,radon-222,and methane
B) tobacco smoke,formaldehyde,sulfur dioxide,and ultrafine particles
C) tobacco smoke,formaldehyde,radon-222,and ultrafine particles
D) tobacco smoke,formaldehyde,sulfur dioxide,and methane
E) tobacco smoke,formaldehyde,radon-222,and sulfur dioxide

Question 25

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The chemical that causes most people in developed countries the most difficulty is ____.

A) chloroform
B) formaldehyde
C) carbon monoxide
D) asbestos
E) sulfur dioxide

Question 26

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Which action would be an ineffective preventive measure for acid deposition?

A) reducing coal use
B) burning low-sulfur coal
C) switching to natural gas or renewable energy resources
D) adding lime to neutralize the acids
E) removing SO₂ and NO_x from motor vehicle exhausts

Question 27

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Respiratory illnesses in developing countries are most likely to be caused by ____.

A) formaldehyde
B) cigarette smoke
C) particulate matter
D) asbestos
E) chloroform

Question 28

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Which statement about acid deposition is false?

A) Forty-five U.S.states have issued warnings to not eat fish.
B) Low pH increases plant nutrients in forest soils.
C) Several thousand lakes in Norway and Sweden contain few fish.
D) Crops are harmed by low pH.
E) Mountaintop forests are the hardest hit regions.

Question 29

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Exposure to indoor formaldehyde pollution is least likely to cause ____.

A) ulcers
B) headaches
C) chronic breathing problems
D) dizziness
E) sore throat

Question 30

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Dry deposition occurs when ____.

A) pollution levels are low
B) acidic particulates reach the ground
C) pollutants are released in cold air
D) pollution travels a large distance from its source
E) acidic snow,rain,or fog reaches ground

Question 31

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Outdoor air pollution is increased when ____.

A) particles that are heavier than air settle out of the atmosphere
B) rain and snow wash pollutants out of the atmosphere
C) winds sweep pollutants away
D) chemical reactions form acid precipitation that falls out of the atmosphere
E) temperature inversions form over cities surrounded by mountains

Question 32

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Sick Building Syndrome is not correlated with ____.

A) headaches
B) coughing and sneezing
C) lung cancer
D) chronic fatigue
E) depression

Question 33

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Acid deposition is best classified as a(n)____.

A) local problem
B) state problem
C) regional problem
D) national problem
E) international problem

Question 34

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Acidic rain,snow,fog,and cloud vapor typically has a pH of

A) 3.6
B) 4.6
C) 5.6
D) 6.6
E) 7.6

Question 35

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
About 90% of radon related lung cancers in the United States occur among ____.

A) overweight people
B) immune suppressed people
C) pregnant women
D) current or former smokers
E) the elderly

Question 36

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Outdoor air pollution is reduced when ____.

A) buildings slow wind speed and reduce dilution of pollutants
B) hills and mountains reduce the flow of air in valleys
C) high temperatures promote formation of photochemical smog
D) chemical reactions form acid precipitation which falls out of the atmosphere
E) temperature inversions form over cities surrounded by mountains

Question 37

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Radioactive ____ is a product of uranium decay.

A) radon
B) radium
C) plutonium
D) lead
E) hydrogen

Question 38

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
People are exposed to lead via ____.

A) peeling paint and dust in older homes
B) traveling on air planes
C) emissions from nuclear plants
D) eating contaminated fish
E) living in an earthquake prone region

Question 39

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Which statement about indoor air pollution in the United States is false?

A) Levels of 11 pollutants are 2 to 5 times higher in inside U.S.homes than outside.
B) Pollution levels inside cars in urban areas are up to 18 times higher than outside.
C) Health risks are magnified because 70-98% of time is spent in cars or homes.
D) Outdoor air pollution has a higher cancer risk than indoor air pollution.
E) Pesticides and lead accumulate in carpet and on furniture in homes.

Question 40

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The WHO and the World Bank call indoor air pollution ____.

A) the world's most serious air pollution problem
B) an important air pollution problem
C) not a serious air pollution problem
D) a serious problem only for poor people
E) a serious problem only for developed nations

Question 41

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Methane is twenty times more effective at warming the atmosphere than is carbon dioxide.

Question 42

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Secondary pollutants can be classified by the source of pollution,such as stationary sources or mobile sources.

Question 43

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The period from 1980 and 2010 witnessed an increase in which pollutant?

A) lead
B) carbon dioxide (CO₂)
C) sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
D) carbon monoxide (CO)
E) ground-level ozone

Question 44

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs)molecules can stay in the stratosphere for ____.

A) 1-5 years
B) 10-20 years
C) 50-75 years
D) 65-385 years
E) 500-1,000 years

Question 45

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Because of the earth's shape,the atmosphere is thicker over the North and South Pole than at the equator.

Question 46

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Carbon dioxide makes up 21% of the air we breathe.

Question 47

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Before the 1980s,chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)were primarily used as ____.

A) ingredients in fire extinguishers and propellants in aerosol cans
B) coolants in air conditioners and industrial solvents
C) buoyancy gas in blimps
D) ingredients in bleach and propellants in aerosol cans
E) coolants in air conditioners and propellants in aerosol cans

Question 48

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Pollution such as the Asian Brown Cloud can be cleared up fairly quickly when standards are set for coal-burning industries.

Question 49

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Which statement about ozone thinning is true?

A) Ozone thinning is confined to the atmosphere over Antarctica.
B) Ozone levels fluctuate seasonally,with the lowest levels occurring in September and October.
C) Ozone thinning is irreversible since there are no substitutes for CFCs.
D) Ozone thinning was addressed by countries around the world at the 2010 Montreal Accords.
E) Ozone thinning only affects organisms living in polar regions.

Question 50

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Ozone depletion is caused by ____.

A) chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)in the troposphere
B) CFCs in the stratosphere
C) global warming
D) the greenhouse effect
E) cold air in the polar regions

Question 51

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
How many people in the United States die each year from air pollution-related reasons?

A) 25,000 to 30,000
B) 50,000 to 66,000
C) 75,000 to 110,000
D) 100,000 to 175,000
E) 150,000 to 350,000

Question 52

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
According to a 2012 EPA report,between 1980 and 2010,the combined emissions of six major air pollutants decreased by how much?

A) 17%
B) 23%
C) 36%
D) 49%
E) 63%

Question 53

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The ozone layer surrounding the earth is formed when molecules of oxygen in that layer are converted to ozone by UV radiation.

Question 54

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Air pollution is a recent phenomenon,which started when coal-burning became common in the Industrial Revolution.

Question 55

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Air pollution in the urban areas of many less-developed countries is ____.

A) getting much better
B) remaining about the same
C) getting a little better
D) getting worse
E) at crisis levels

Question 56

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Over the past 30 years,the quality of outdoor air in most developed countries has greatly improved.

Question 57

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
According to environmental scientists,U.S.air pollution control laws would be weakened if ____.

A) there was a greater emphasis on preventing air pollution.
B) emissions from older coal-burning power plants were sharply reduced
C) controls on petroleum refineries were relaxed
D) fuel efficiency standards on motor vehicles were improved
E) stricter air pollution regulations on airports and ocean going ships were enacted

Question 58

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Chemicals in the atmosphere combine with one another and with natural components of air to form new,harmful chemicals,called primary pollutants.

Question 59

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
In the United States,the highest levels of air pollution from fine particles are found in ____.

A) the Northwest
B) the Rocky Mountains
C) the Northeast
D) Texas
E) West Virginia

Question 60

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
There is considerable scientific evidence that human activities have resulted in increasing levels of CO₂ and the warming of the earth's climate.

Question 61

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
A(n)____________________ neutralizes a basic or acidic substance.

Question 62

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)molecules have a short lifespan in the stratosphere.

Question 63

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Organic compounds that exist as gases in the atmosphere or that evaporate from sources on the earth into the atmosphere are called ____________________.

Question 64

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Indoor air pollution usually poses a much greater threat to human health than outdoor air pollution,even in the developed world.

Question 65

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The ____________________ market approach may not be an efficient method of reducing emissions because it creates incentive to cheat and would have to be carefully monitored.

Question 66

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Most of the world's forests and lakes are being destroyed or seriously harmed by acid deposition.

Question 67

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Long-lived air pollutants from China,India,and the United States can circle the entire globe in about ____________________ .

Question 68

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
More than half of all commercial buildings in the United States exhibit the "sick building syndrome."

Question 69

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
A(n)____________________ may occur during the movement of a cold front,or result from the infiltration of ocean air by a cooler onshore breeze.

Question 70

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The ozone layer protects living organisms by blocking 95% of ____________________ radiation from reaching the earth's surface.

Question 71

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons and other chemicals responsible for ozone depletion was accelerated by the ____________________,an agreement among nations around the world.

Question 72

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
____________________ is a colorless gas used in foam insulation and can cause irritation of eyes,throat,skin,and lungs.

Question 73

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
One-third of the mercury in the skies above the city of ____________________ can be traced to the air pollution made in China.

Question 74

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
California's cap-and-trade program has not meet its goals for sulfur dioxide emissions reductions and has been hampered by inaccurate reporting of emissions.

Question 75

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Natural causes of ____________________ include volcano emissions,lightning,and microbial processes.

Question 76

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
The ____________________ established air pollution regulations for pollutants to be enforced by states and cities.

Question 77

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Seventy-five to eighty percent of the earth's air mass is found in the ____________________.

Question 78

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
Sunlight,the production of oxides of nitrogen,and the production of volatile organic compounds must be present to develop ____________________.

Question 79

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
A French study found that ____________________ attacks increased by about 30% on smoggy days.

Question 80

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s).
____________________ can result from the decomposition of organic wastes in municipal solid waste landfills as well as the raising of livestock.