Deck 7: Climate and Biodiversity

Question 1

Which of the following is one of the major factors that influences global air circulation as described in the textbook?

A)The location of mountain ranges
B)The rotation of the earth on its axis
C)The lunar cycle
D)ENSO
E)The shape of continents

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Large regions characterized by a certain climate and dominant plant life are called ____.

A)ecosystems
B)communities
C)populations
D)habitats
E)biomes

Answer 2

E

Question 3

What term describes the large-scale weather phenomenon that occurs when prevailing winds in the Pacific Ocean weaken, resulting in above average warming?

A)ENSO
B)greenhouse effect
C)rain shadow effect
D)SNSO
E)heat island effect

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following statements about oceans is not true?

A)Ocean currents redistribute heat from the sun.
B)Most of the heat absorption by the oceans occurs in tropical waters.
C)Irregularly shaped continents cause currents to flow in circular patterns.
D)Differences in density of warm and cold seawater set up warm and cold currents.
E)Ocean currents flow counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere.

Question 5

What is the best explanation for why tropical regions normally receive more precipitation than other areas of the globe?

A)Increased heating increases local evaporation.
B)Tropical regions are surrounded by oceans.
C)The prevailing winds bring more rain.
D)Convectional cells bring more rain.
E)Warm ocean currents bring more precipitation.

Question 6

Which of the following is not true about mountains?

A)They serve as major storehouses for water.
B)They contain habitats for many endemic species.
C)They serve as sanctuaries for species driven from lowland areas.
D)They have deep, fertile soils.
E)They contain a majority of the world's forests.

Question 7

The term greenhouse effect describes ____.

A)the radiation of heat energy into space
B)the trapping of heat energy by molecules in the atmosphere
C)the effect climate change has on the economy
D)the efforts of the White House to support environmental legislation
E)mutations in DNA from UV radiation

Question 8

The rain shadow effect refers to ____.

A)an increase in sunlight on the windward side of mountain ranges.
B)an increase in moisture on the leeward side of mountain ranges
C)an increase in moisture on the windward side of mountain ranges
D)a decrease in moisture on the windward side of mountain ranges
E)less light available on the leeward side of mountain ranges

Question 9

Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?

A)carbon monoxide
B)water vapor
C)carbon dioxide
D)methane
E)nitrous oxide

Question 10

The deserts of Death Valley formed as a result of ____.

A)the greenhouse effect
B)increased solar radiation
C)the rain shadow effect
D)ocean circulation
E)persistent pressure systems

Question 11

Which term describes the temperature, precipitation, and humidity of an area over hours or days?

A)climate
B)weather
C)biomes
D)ecosystems
E)currents

Question 12

The rain shadow effect is responsible for the formation of which of the following?

A)The Sahara desert
B)The Mojave desert
C)The Grand Canyon
D)The Brazilian rain forest
E)The Great Plains

Question 13

Suppose you are walking through a forest dense with oak and hickory trees, and with a thick litter layer underfoot. What type of forest are you most likely to be in?

A)tropical savanna
B)temperate deciduous forest
C)tropical rain forest
D)temperate rain forest
E)coniferous forest

Question 14

Scientists predict that human-enhanced global warming will have several effects. What is not one of these?

A)Alter precipitation patterns.
B)Shift areas where we can grow crops.
C)Raise average sea levels.
D)Lower sea levels.
E)Shift areas where plants and animals can be found.

Question 15

Which is an effective strategy adopted by desert plants for survival?

A)storing toxins in stems
B)enjoying a long growing season
C)opening pores during the day
D)storing water in expandable tissues
E)having thin, flimsy large leaves

Question 16

How much of the world's population depends on mountain systems for all or some of their water?

A)10%
B)18%
C)36%
D)56%
E)69%

Question 17

Where does the largest input of solar energy occur?

A)the North pole
B)the South pole
C)at 30 ° N
D)at 30 ° S
E)the equator

Question 18

How do the tropical rain forest differ from the temperate deciduous forest?

A)Rain forests have more foliage at ground level than deciduous forests.
B)Rain forests have fewer lianas than deciduous forests.
C)Deciduous forests have a slower rate of decomposition than rain forests.
D)Rain forests have lower species diversity than deciduous forests.
E)Deciduous forests have a dense canopy of broad leaves, compared with an open canopy of the rain forest.

Question 19

In the northern hemisphere, the earth's major ocean currents tend to circulate ____.

A)clockwise
B)counterclockwise
C)north to south
D)east to west
E)south to north

Question 20

In a tropical rain forest, dropped leaves, fallen trees, and dead animals decompose ____.

A)quickly due to the abundance of decomposers
B)slowly due to the nutrient-poor soils
C)slowly due to the abundant rainfall
D)moderately and nutrients are taken up by the roots of the lianas
E)quickly due to the dense ground vegetation

Question 21

Moose, lynx and burrowing rodent species are most likely found in which of the following?

A)temperate grasslands
B)deserts
C)boreal forests
D)tropical forests
E)savannahs

Question 22

The large grazing animals such as wildebeests and gazelles are best associated with which biome?

A)savanna
B)temperate grassland
C)temperate deciduous forest
D)tropical desert
E)tundra

Question 23

The biome that has warm temperatures year-round and widely spaced clumps of trees is the ____.

A)savanna
B)boreal forest
C)temperate grassland
D)temperate rain forest
E)prairie

Question 24

Which type of desert would have high daytime temperatures in summer, low temperatures in winter, and moderate precipitation?

A)tropical deserts
B)cold deserts
C)Gobi desert
D)temperate deserts
E)Sahara desert

Question 25

The most important factor in determining which biome is found in a particular area is ____.

A)soil type
B)topography
C)altitude
D)climate
E)tidal activity

Question 26

Biomes are characterized by certain types of ____.

A)light and temperature
B)climate and light
C)light and climate
D)climate and dominant plant life
E)dominant plant life and temperature

Question 27

What is the best example of a major human impact on mountain ecosystems?

A)conversion to cropland
B)overgrazing by livestock
C)depletion of groundwater
D)timber and mineral extraction
E)habitat loss due to the development of major urban areas

Question 28

Desert ecosystems are fragile for which of the following two reasons?

A)frequent wildfire and flooding
B)rapid nutrient cycling and frost damage
C)slow plant growth and low species diversity
D)overpopulation of predator species and drought
E)off-road vehicle traffic and deep, organic soils

Question 29

Redwoods are associated with which of the following?

A)taiga
B)boreal forest
C)temperate rain forests
D)tropical rain forest
E)temperate deciduous forest

Question 30

The forest that grows in regions that receive little precipitation, and have short summers with cool to warm temperatures is the ____.

A)boreal forest
B)temperate deciduous forest
C)tropical rain forest
D)temperate grassland
E)temperate rain forest

Question 31

Over the last 10,000 years, which of the following has taken place in eastern North America?

A)A continental ice sheet has advanced into the northern states.
B)A cool temperate deciduous forest has moved into the Great Lakes region.
C)A temperate evergreen forest has advanced into Minnesota.
D)A prairie has become established in Kentucky and Tennessee.
E)A boreal forest has retreated northward.

Question 32

Which of the following biomes has bitterly cold winters, hot dry summers, and receives sparse precipitation?

A)temperate grassland
B)cold desert
C)boreal forest
D)temperate deciduous forest
E)tropical rain forest

Question 33

Treeless, bitterly cold most of the year, long and dark winters, low-growing plants, and permafrost are characteristics of which of the following?

A)tall-grass prairie
B)tundra
C)short-grass prairie
D)temperate grassland
E)savanna

Question 34

Woody plants that are vines supported by trees are called ____.

A)herbs
B)shrubs
C)canopy
D)mesquite
E)lianas

Question 35

"Widely scattered clumps of trees, warm temperatures year-round, and alternating dry and wet seasons, with herds of herbivores" are characteristics of which of the following?

A)tall-grass prairie
B)tundra
C)short-grass prairie
D)temperate grassland
E)savanna

Question 36

Thick, spongy mats of low-growing plants, primarily grasses, mosses, and lichens, are typical of the ____.

A)arctic tundra
B)coniferous forest
C)tall-grass prairies
D)tropical forests
E)taiga

Question 37

The biome with the highest diversity is the ____.

A)cold desert
B)tropical rain forest
C)temperate rain forest
D)savanna
E)temperate evergreen forest

Question 38

Oak, hickory, maple, aspen and birch are best associated with the ____.

A)temperate deciduous forest
B)tropical rain forest
C)boreal forest
D)temperate rain forest
E)temperate evergreen forest

Question 39

The forest that grows in regions that receive continuous warm temperatures and seasonal rainfall is the ____.

A)boreal forest
B)temperate deciduous forest
C)tropical rain forest
D)northern coniferous forest
E)temperate rain forest

Question 40

Tropical rain forests cover about ____ of the earth's surface, but contain at least ____ of the known terrestrial plant and animal species.

A)2%; 50%
B)10%; 50%
C)2%; 20%
D)30%; 30%
E)50%; 50%

Question 41

Deserts are primarily located in hot, tropical regions.

Question 42

Heat is trapped and released more slowly by land than water.

Question 43

Which of the following does alpine tundra receive in larger amounts than Arctic tundra?

A)rain
B)snow
C)sunlight
D)wind
E)ice

Question 44

Tropical rain forests are not good for clearing to grow crops or animals, primarily because they are low in which of the following?

A)rainfall
B)temperature
C)light
D)soil nutrients
E)wind

Question 45

Major human impacts on terrestrial ecosystems are least likely to include ____.

A)an increase in conversion from forest to cropland
B)increased global biodiversity
C)damage by off-road vehicles
D)higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
E)depletion of groundwater

Question 46

Trees of the tropical rainforest are characterized by leaves that are ____.

A)needlelike
B)broadleaf and fall seasonally
C)needlelike and fall seasonally
D)needlelike and evergreen
E)broadleaf and evergreen

Question 47

Approximately _____% of the world's major terrestrial ecosystems are being degraded or used unsustainably.

A)20
B)30
C)40
D)50
E)60

Question 48

A large body of evidence indicates that human activities are enhancing the earth's natural greenhouse effect and changing the earth's climate.

Question 49

Which of the following does not belong with the others?

A)taiga
B)cold forests
C)boreal forests
D)evergreen coniferous forests
E)tropical rain forests

Question 50

Desert ecosystem soils take decades to hundreds of years to recover from off-road vehicle use.

Question 51

Tropical rain forests cover only 2% of the earth's land surface but may contain at least half of the earth's known terrestrial plant and animal species.

Question 52

Cities tend to create distinct microclimates.

Question 53

The greenhouse effect is created entirely by humans.

Question 54

Which of the following would be described as having ample rainfall or moisture from fog, with large conifers such as Sitka spruce and Douglas fir?

A)temperate rain forest
B)temperate deciduous forest
C)tropical rainforest
D)chaparral
E)taiga

Question 55

Which of the following is true about temperate deciduous forests?

A)Average temperatures change significantly with the seasons.
B)They are predominantly populated by evergreen trees.
C)Areas cleared of trees do not naturally regenerate for over 1000 years.
D)They have nutrient-poor soils.
E)Decomposition occurs rapidly.

Question 56

Deserts are commonly cool at night because desert soils have little vegetation or moisture to help store the heat.

Question 57

Which of the following would not be true of a tropical rain forest?

A)low net primary productivity
B)little ground level vegetation
C)low levels of ground level sunlight
D)high biodiversity
E)high humidity

Question 58

Which of the following biomes has been most disturbed by human activities?

A)tundra
B)tropical rain forest
C)coniferous forest
D)temperate deciduous forest
E)taiga

Question 59

Succulent plants are normally found in temperate forests.

Question 60

The El Niño Southern Oscillation changes the weather only along the Pacific coast of South America.

Question 61

____________________ occur in the interiors of continents in areas too moist for deserts and too dry for forests.

Question 62

Boreal forests are composed of a few species of coniferous evergreen trees with small, needle-shaped leaves. These trees can withstand the intense cold and ____________________ of winter.

Question 63

Wind is an indirect form of ____________________ energy.

Question 64

Deciduous forests are typically located at higher altitudes than coniferous forests.

Question 65

About ____________________ percent of the world's major terrestrial ecosystems are either being used unsustainably or are being degraded.

Question 66

About 5% of the earth's population lives in the mountains or in the foothills. .

Question 67

The highest solar energy input is at the ____________________.

Question 68

Tropical savannas in East Africa have herds of ____________________ and ____________________ hoofed animals.

Question 69

Because of a slow rate of ____________________, temperate deciduous forests have nutrient rich soils.

Question 70

Many mountains are islands of biodiversity surrounded by a sea of lower-elevation landscapes transformed by human activities.

Question 71

The rain shadow effect increases the likelihood that deserts will form on the ____________________ side of mountains.

Question 72

Vegetation layers in the tropical rain forests are structured mostly according to plants' need for ____________________.

Question 73

____________________ help redistribute heat from the sun, thereby influencing climate and vegetation, especially near coastal areas.

Question 74

The level of environmental degradation and destruction of terrestrial systems has leveled off.

Question 75

The El Niño Southern Oscillation affects the weather over at least __________ of the earth for one or two years.

Question 76

Soil nutrients are remarkably sparse in the ____________________, considering the overall high levels of biomass.

Question 77

The earth's air circulation patterns, prevailing winds, and configuration of continents and oceans result in ____________________ giant convection cells.

Question 78

_____________________ is the average atmospheric or weather conditions in a given region during a time frame of several decades to thousands of years.

Question 79

Climate and vegetation vary with both latitude and _______________.

Question 80

Ice and snow on mountains absorbs sunlight, helping to store heat and moderate the climate.