Deck 28: Optional Chapters Available in Launchpad

Question 1

The net loss of trees in a region is known as __________________.

A) deforestation
B) industrialization
C) clear-cutting
D) fire suppression
E) charcoal

Answer 1

deforestation

Question 2

Which statement is correct?

A) Fire suppression prevents destruction of forests in the long run.
B) Deforestation causes little change in the water supply of an area.
C) Subsistence farming can help prevent mass scale deforestation.
D) Roads going through forested areas have little effect on deforestation because people use them solely for transportation.
E) All of these answers are correct.

Answer 2

Subsistence farming can help prevent mass scale deforestation.

Question 3

The term for trees that lose their leaves on an annual basis is __________________.

A) emergent
B) temperate
C) deciduous
D) boreal
E) coniferous

Answer 3

deciduous

Question 4

Which forest type is NOT paired with its correct description?

A) boreal forest - short growing season
B) temperate forest - distinct seasons
C) boreal forest - thick soils from plant decomposition
D) tropical forest - wet and dry seasons
E) tropical forest - thin, acidic, low-nutrient soils

Question 5

Infographic 28.2.

Refer to Infographic 28.2. Which of the following would NOT be an effect of a tree falling down in the local forest?

A) Increased sunlight could cause saplings to quickly grow, trying to take its place.
B) More niches would be opened up.
C) Decomposers and scavengers would make a home in the fallen tree.
D) Wildflowers would not bloom.
E) Shade-adapted species might be detrimentally affected.

Question 6

If a particular species of vine required sunlight and a moderate level of temperature and humidity to survive, which forest layer would it most likely be found in?

A) emergent layer
B) canopy
C) understory
D) forest floor
E) all of these answers

Question 7

Why are forests called carbon sinks?

A) Carbon drains out of forest biomes through groundwater running below the surface.
B) Forest biomes store more carbon than they release.
C) Carbon in forest biomes becomes trapped and is never released, even after logging occurs.
D) High amounts of water in forest biomes capture carbon and hold it there.
E) Forests pull carbon out of organic plant materials and transform it into atmospheric carbon.

Question 8

The type of forest is determined by which main factor(s)?

A) temperature
B) precipitation
C) type of soil
D) A and B
E) B and C

Question 9

What would you expect to happen to the distribution of boreal forests as average global temperatures increase with climate change?

Question 10

Many species of trees found in the canopy and emergent layer of forests have seeds and saplings that are "shade adapted." Why do you think this is?

A) The seeds need a low temperature to germinate and grow.
B) The seeds and saplings will be in the shade for much of their early life because the parent trees in the upper layers of the forest will block a portion of sunlight.
C) There is a higher level of humidity in the shade, which the saplings need to survive.
D) In order for animals to find and eat the seeds, a necessary step in the trees' germination cycle, they must be on the forest floor.
E) Canopy and emergent-layer trees do not produce shade-adapted saplings.

Question 11

The three-dimensional structure of the forest refers to the fact that __________________.

A) forests can cover thousands of acres
B) forests can contain a variety of tree species
C) forests can have multiple layers
D) forests can be restored in a relatively short time span
E) forests exist in several types, such as tropical, deciduous, and boreal

Question 12

Which of the following statements about forests is NOT true?

A) Temperature and the amount of sunlight an area receives determine which type of forest is present in that area.
B) Forests cover about one-third of the planet's landmass.
C) In terms of biodiversity, forests are home to over one-half of Earth's terrestrial life.
D) Forests are dominated by trees.
E) The types of forests vary across the globe.

Question 13

The soils of tropical forests are typically thin and low in plant nutrients. Yet tropical forests are some of the most productive and diverse ecosystems on the planet. How can you explain this paradox?

Question 14

Which forest type has the most fertile soil?

A) deciduous
B) boreal
C) coniferous
D) tropical
E) temperate

Question 15

What percentage of Haiti's original forests remains compared with those that existed prior to European settlement?

A) 2%
B) 6%
C) 10%
D) 25%
E) 50%

Question 16

A temperate forest __________________.

A) is characterized by evergreen species
B) covers vast tracks of land in the higher latitudes and altitudes
C) is found in tropical latitudes
D) contains deciduous trees that lose their leaves in the winter
E) is characterized by low temperatures and precipitation levels

Question 17

The layer of a forest cross section that generally would contain seedlings is the ___________.

A) forest floor
B) understory
C) canopy
D) emergent layer
E) none of these answers

Question 18

The forest biome that you would expect to find in a cool location with mild precipitation and a short growing season would be __________________.

A) deciduous
B) boreal
C) coniferous
D) tropical
E) none of these answers

Question 19

The correct order of forest layers from the bottom to top of a forest is __________________.

A) forest floor, canopy, understory, emergent layer
B) emergent layer, forest floor, understory, canopy
C) forest floor, understory, emergent layer, canopy
D) forest floor, understory, canopy, emergent layer
E) understory, forest floor, emergent layer, canopy

Question 20

Trees and shrubs that are adapted to shade would be found in which layer of a forest?

A) forest floor
B) understory
C) canopy
D) emergent layer
E) none of these answers

Question 21

From 1940 to 2000, the population of Haiti ______________, contributing to the unsustainable rate of timber harvest for charcoal.

A) grew slightly
B) doubled
C) tripled
D) declined
E) none of these answers

Question 22

How does the layering or stratification of forests contribute to overall animal biodiversity?

Question 23

Forests remove ____________ from the atmosphere and release _____________ back into the atmosphere.

A) oxygen; carbon dioxide
B) carbon dioxide; oxygen
C) nitrogen gas; oxygen
D) nitrogen gas; carbon dioxide
E) carbon dioxide; nitrogen gas

Question 24

Robert Constanza and his colleagues estimated the total value of the ecosystem services provided by forests in 1994 to be ______________.

A) $100 million
B) $400 million
C) $400 billion
D) $1 trillion
E) $4.7 trillion

Question 25

One of the most important functions of a forest is nutrient cycling. What nutrients does a forest normally recycle?

Question 26

Production of charcoal results in __________________.

A) the release of carbon dioxide and soot into the atmosphere, causing air pollution
B) severe deforestation as trees are chopped down to produce charcoal
C) a sustainable source of energy for countries like Haiti
D) A, B, and C
E) A and B

Question 27

Why does forest conservation in countries that are more developed not make a significant difference in worldwide conservation efforts?

A) Nations that are more developed still demand wood, driving deforestation elsewhere.
B) Multinational corporations simply move their businesses to less-developed nations where deforestation regulations do not exist.
C) Deforestation in countries that are more developed offsets gains in less-developed countries.
D) Both A and B are correct.
E) A, B, and C are correct.

Question 28

What could be one reason why people in developing countries may not agree with conserving forested land?

A) They are unaware of the services intact forests provide.
B) They can easily replace the ecosystem services provided by forests through development of public utilities infrastructure.
C) It is not as profitable in the short term.
D) They do not understand the benefits that can be gained by preserving forests.
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 29

Which of the following is NOT an ecosystem service of a forest?

A) goods
B) soil maintenance and protection
C) contribution to the increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide
D) recreation
E) ecotourism

Question 30

Infographic 28.2.

Refer to Infographic 28.2. What microclimate exists in the emergent tree layer, and how would this affect the species dwelling there?

Question 31

Timber harvests are managed by several different techniques. Choose the technique that has the smallest overall effect on biodiversity.

A) clear-cutting
B) strip harvesting
C) select harvesting
D) shelterwood harvesting
E) all of these answers

Question 32

Which statement is incorrect?

A) Clear-cutting can be appropriate when it removes genetically inferior trees.
B) Shelterwood harvesting works by cutting the high-value trees and leaving the others to reseed the plot.
C) Strip harvesting maintains a small level of biodiversity after a cut is made.
D) Shelterwood harvesting may have the highest levels of biodiversity postharvest compared with the other methods of harvest.
E) All of these answers are incorrect.

Question 33

Water that flows downhill over the land surface, usually after a rainfall event, is called _______________.

A) surface water
B) ground water
C) runoff
D) riparian
E) aquifer

Question 34

Which of the following are services provided by forests?

A) watershed purification
B) sink for carbon dioxide
C) recycling of nutrients
D) reduction of soil erosion
E) all of these answers

Question 35

What is the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act?

A) an act created in 1960 that mandated the management of national forests in a way that balances a variety of uses
B) the key act that drove the establishment of the National Forest Service in 1905
C) the act that went against Gifford Pinchot's concept of inexhaustible forest resources
D) the act that was created to support sustainable business development so that economic benefits from forests could be ranked with more value than recreational benefits from forests
E) the act that supported maximizing the yields of specific forestry products

Question 36

Infographic 28.4.

Refer to Infographic 28.4. In the graph, Robert Constanza and his colleagues quantified the value of some ecosystem services of forests. Nutrient cycling was considered more valuable than the harvesting of raw material, food production, and cultural uses. Why might they have given nutrient cycling such a high value compared with the other services?

A) Without nutrient cycling, the forests could not provide their other services.
B) If the nutrients of the forests were processed artificially, the costs would be enormous.
C) It provides for the storage, internal cycling, processing, and acquisition of nutrients.
D) A, B, and C all contribute to the high value.
E) None of these answers explains the high value.

Question 37

You have been given the task of convincing a country to maintain its forests instead of converting them into large farms. What information would you present in your argument for keeping the forests?

Question 38

How does "slash and burn" agriculture (clear-cutting a forested area and burning the trees on site) affect the carbon cycle and influence climate change?

Question 39

Infographic 28.5.

Refer to the map in Infographic 28.5. The data on the net change in forested area between 2005 and 2010 suggest that, in general, _________________ exists between a country's rate of deforestation and its overall economic status.

A) a positive relationship
B) a negative relationship
C) no relationship
D) a random relationship
E) none of these answers

Question 40

Approximately _______________ people make their living in and from forests.

A) 500,000
B) 1 million
C) 10 million
D) 50 million
E) 100 million

Question 41

Total global deforestation is approximately ____________ hectares per year.

A) 2.3 million
B) 5.2 million
C) 10.2 million
D) 20.8 million
E) 50.1 million

Question 42

__________________ is low-impact travel to natural areas that contributes to environmental protection and respects the local people.

A) Ecosystem service
B) Ecotourism
C) A green job
D) Recreation
E) Ecosystem tourism

Question 43

Deforestation in less-developed countries can best be described as ___________________.

A) a vicious cycle that results in even further environmental degradation, poverty, and other social issues
B) a problem caused by lack of education among poor people
C) the result of developed nations' dependence on charcoal
D) the only cost-effective way developing nations can meet their energy needs
E) an unsolvable problem

Question 44

People in poor countries, like Haiti, will do whatever is necessary to help support their families. Forests in poor countries are often cut down to harvest for charcoal, use for farming, or harvest for lumber. What could we do to limit the destruction of forests in these countries?

A) encourage our government to provide them with financial support
B) purchase items made in those countries
C) help to sponsor their schools
D) educate the citizens about forests
E) all of these answers

Question 45

Globally, what proportion of harvested forests is certified as "sustainable" by the Forest Stewardship Council?

A) 4%
B) 16%
C) 22%
D) 38%
E) 56%

Question 46

The amount of global deforestation has slowed significantly since the 1990s. One of the major reasons why there is still a net loss of forested land each year is harvesting of forests for wood and wood products. What are some of the ways that a country could reduce its dependence on wood and wood products?

Question 47

Which of the following species can replenish the nutrients in the soil?

A) mango trees
B) oak trees
C) mahogany trees
D) moringa trees
E) none of these answers

Question 48

Many developing countries are removing their forests at an alarming rate. What can be done to slow the rate at which developing countries are harvesting their forests?

Question 49

You are put in charge of a timber harvest for a section of forest that runs along a river. Which of the following techniques will minimize the effects on the environment?

A) leaving a width of trees that run along the side of the river untouched
B) cutting a limited amount of selected trees
C) leaving the best trees behind to reseed the forest
D) allowing ample time for the forest to recover before harvesting again
E) all of these answers

Question 50

Which of the following are current approaches to forest restoration?

A) recycling lumber from salvage
B) using fast-growing plant species, such as flax for paper, instead of tree species
C) Green Belt movements
D) emphasizing alternative forest products, such as nuts and shade-grown coffee
E) all of these answers

Question 51

Which order of timber harvesting methods goes from least conservation of biodiversity to most conservation of biodiversity?

A) clear-cutting, selective harvesting, strip harvesting
B) strip harvesting, shelterwood harvesting, clear-cutting
C) selective harvesting, strip harvesting, shelterwood harvesting
D) clear-cutting, strip harvesting, shelterwood harvesting
E) All harvesting methods increase biodiversity equally.

Question 52

The Forest Stewardship Council certifies lumber and other timber processes through a method that ___________________.

A) punishes companies that do not follow sustainable harvesting techniques
B) evaluates the forest itself and timber-harvesting techniques in terms of wildlife, water, and soil quality
C) funds sustainable forestry operations in developing nations
D) prices ecosystem services and incorporates them into taxes
E) focuses on the jobs and economics behind the forestry industry

Question 53

The key to the regeneration of Haiti's forests is _______________________.

A) finding alternative sources of energy
B) finding alternative sources of food, building materials, and income
C) changing the species used for charcoal production
D) A and B
E) all of these answers

Question 54

The three main causes of forest destruction is harvesting of wood, conversion of forests into agricultural land, and _______________.

A) pest infestation
B) fires
C) roads
D) urbanization
E) air pollution

Question 55

What is the difference between the mandate of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and the Forest Service's new approach, Forest Ecosystem Management (FEM)?

Question 56

The dependence on charcoal as an energy source in Haiti is referred to as a "vicious cycle" with regard to environmental degradation. Why?

Question 57

Which act of Congress mandates that national forests be managed in a way that balances a variety of uses?

A) Clean Air Act
B) Clean Water Act
C) Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act
D) Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability (Superfund) Act
E) none of these answers

Question 58

The majority of deforestation is currently taking place _______________.

A) in countries that are more developed
B) in countries that are less developed
C) at the same rate in both developed and developing countries
D) at rates that vary worldwide, with no pattern
E) There data to determine this are insufficient.

Question 59

The United States was one of a few countries that had a net increase in forested areas between the years 2005 and 2010. What are some of the reasons why the United States saw an increase, and how could this increase have had a negative impact on other countries?

Question 60

Which of the following are major causes of global deforestation?

A) logging
B) cattle ranching
C) pest infestation
D) charcoal production
E) all of these answers

Question 61

Why might forest management be considered a "wicked problem"?