Download Environmental Systems B Final UTHS Complete Examination A+Graded. and more Exams Science education in PDF only on Docsity!
Environmental Systems B Final UTHS
Complete Examination A+Graded.
Which of the following is not an example of a global warming positive feedback loop? - Correct Ans: As earth heats, increased evaporation produces additional clouds, reflecting infrared radiation back into space, slowing warming. Where is photochemical smog produced? - Correct Ans: Troposphere How does tropospheric ozone affect humans? - Correct Ans: It causes respiratory issues Human activity produces the highest concentration of which greenhouse gas? - Correct Ans: Carbon dioxide Climate change effects the environment in all of the following ways except — - Correct Ans: Stratospheric ozone depletion _____ set quantitative limits on the permissible amount of specific air pollutants that may be released from specific sources over specific time frames. - Correct Ans: Emission Standards Globally, __________ are the largest contributors to carbon dioxide emissions. - Correct Ans: Buildings The method of growing plants in a water-nutrient solution instead of soil is known as — - Correct Ans: hydroponics The first legislated tailpipe emission standard was passed by which US State? - Correct Ans: California
Which of the following changes would be a direct result of setting lower tailpipe emissions? - Correct Ans: decreased nitrogen oxide levels in the air Congress approved the Soil and Water Conservation Act in _______, and it gives the ___________ broad strategic assessment and planning powers for the conservation and protection of soil, water, and related natural resources. - Correct Ans: 1977; USDA When comparing hydroponics to traditional agriculture, which of the following statements is true? - Correct Ans: Hydroponics has less impact on the soil than traditional agriculture Which of the following is not an advantage of a hybrid car? - Correct Ans: batteries need to be replaced often, since they're not rechargeable Which of the following statements is not true of the Clean Water Act? - Correct Ans: It gives the USDA the authority to implement water pollution control programs Which of the following is a result of the Montreal Protocol? - Correct Ans: fewer ozone depleting chemicals in the atmosphere According the United States, which of the following must happen before they consider joining the Kyoto Protocol? - Correct Ans: the global greenhouse gas emissions requirements for developed and developing countries become more balanced All of the following statements about eutrophication are true, except - Correct Ans: Algal blooms release excessive amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere You are purchasing hamburger meat at the grocery store. In front of you are two different products. Product A has a USDA Organic seal on its label. Product B is labeled "all natural," "fed a vegetarian diet," and "raised humanely." What is the most significant difference between the beef contained in these two products? - Correct Ans: The beef in product A was raised without the use of antibiotics and growth hormones. From the
fish in a short period of time. This adversely impacts aquatic ecosystems by — - Correct Ans: Destroying seafloor habitats and depleting aquatic biodiversity One way to prevent individuals from maximizing economic profits at the expense of our natural environment is to — - Correct Ans: Implement federal, state, and local legislation that regulates the use of natural resources Which of the following is least likely to occur if the concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere continues to increase? - Correct Ans: An increase in the thickness of the ozone layer What could cause a rise in sea levels? - Correct Ans: Increases in glacial and ice cap melting and ocean temperatures What is the Kyoto Protocol? - Correct Ans: A binding agreement between the world's industrialized nations to reduce greenhouse gases 5% below 1990 levels The Clean Water Act was enacted by the United States Congress in 1972. This historic piece of environmental legislations effectively — - Correct Ans: Regulated and reduced water pollution from point sources Natural methods of pest control — such as companion planting, the introduction of beneficial insects, and crop rotation — are commonly used by organic farmers. One major advantage of these farming practices is that they — - Correct Ans: increase biodiversity and decrease pollution Which of the following are examples of conservation of a renewable resource? - Correct Ans: Installing low flow toilets and using less paper Coal and nuclear power provide the majority of global electricity production. How does conserving electricity pertain to the sustainability of nonrenewable resources? - Correct Ans: By conserving electricity, fewer nonrenewable resources are used which makes nonrenewable resources sustainable for a longer period of time.
Which of the following is an example of a sustainable farming practice that relies on renewable resources? - Correct Ans: spreading compost to improve soil fertility Which of the following scientists made a significant contribution to agricultural technology in the 20th century? - Correct Ans: Norman Borlaug, Carl Bosch, Fritz Haber Industrialized agriculture is characterized by which of the following agricultural methods?
- Correct Ans: synthetic fertilizer and pesticide application, and widespread irrigation systems Which of the following is an abiotic factor that is essential to the health and survival of consumers? - Correct Ans: oxygen Which of the following best describes a cost-benefit trade-off of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)? - Correct Ans: CAFOs have increased the speed and volume of meat production, while also producing massive amounts of air, water, and soil pollutants. Eutrophication occurs when — - Correct Ans: excess fertilizer pollutes waterways Nitrogen is a limiting factor for plants because — - Correct Ans: atmospheric nitrogen is unavailable to plants Which of the following is NOT a benefit of genetically engineered crops? - Correct Ans: gene transfer to humans Currently, in the United States, 94 percent of all soybeans and 93 percent of corn crops are genetically modified. Concerns about the increasing use of GMO crops are primarily based on — - Correct Ans: ethical concerns about the unknown consequences of GMOs on human health and the environment.
Small personal watercraft are an example of a ______________ human activity that ________________. - Correct Ans: recreational; pollutes the water by leaking unburned fuel Which of the following describes a cost-benefit trade off of palm oil production? - Correct Ans: Palm oil production destroys tropical rainforests and the habitats of endangered species; however, it also boosts the local economies of countries near the equator, by providing jobs and allowing children to attend school. Which of the following statements best describes the environmental consequences of commercial and residential development? - Correct Ans: soil pollution, erosion, and the destruction of wetlands What are responsibilities of the USDA under the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act? - Correct Ans: - Document the status and trends of soil, water, and related natural resources.
- Appraise the costs and benefits of soil conservation measures implemented by the government.
- Assist landowners in conserving and improving soil on private lands. Different types of land use and management can affect land fertility, which can best be defined as — - Correct Ans: the ability of soil in a particular area to grow and sustain plant life. Which of the following human activities educates people about the local environment and endangered species? - Correct Ans: ecotourism Which of the following is an example of a habitat restoration project that likely increased ecosystem biodiversity? - Correct Ans: The removal of a dam Which of the following types of land management actively restores soil fertility by replenishing nutrients and maintaining soil structure and depth? - Correct Ans: agricultural
The combustion of coal releases sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. Why is sulfur dioxide an environmental problem? - Correct Ans: sulfur dioxide causes acid rain Nuclear fission occurs when — - Correct Ans: a neutron collides with the nucleus of a uranium atom and the nucleus splits apart. If coal, oil, and natural gas reserves became so low in the year 2020 that it was no longer economically feasible to extract them for energy, what would be the most likely outcome?
- Correct Ans: Renewable energy use would increase and greenhouse gas emissions would decrease. 1 kilowatt is equal to how many watts - Correct Ans: 1000 watts All of the following statements are true about ALL non-renewable energy resources except — - Correct Ans: The extraction and use of non-renewable energy resources produces carbon dioxide. Which of the following energy transformations takes place in the generator found inside a turbine of a thermal power plant? - Correct Ans: Mechanical energy to electrical energy Many environmentalist argue that nuclear power is more environmentally sustainable than fossil fuels. Which piece of evidence best supports this argument? - Correct Ans: Nuclear power contributes far fewer greenhouse gases to the atmosphere than fossil fuels. Three-Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima are all examples of — - Correct Ans: Nuclear disasters Rank the following energy resources in the correct order from highest carbon dioxide emissions to lowest carbon dioxide emissions: - Correct Ans: Coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear fission
Which of the following statements most accurately describes an advantage of renewable resources over non-renewable resources? - Correct Ans: Renewable resources produce significantly less pollution than fossil fuels. Which of the following is a common example of thermal pollution? - Correct Ans: A coal power plant discharges warm water into a nearby river, decreasing the dissolved oxygen in the river. The volcano and coal power plant in the image above are _________ sources of _______ pollution. - Correct Ans: point; air The EPA recommends limited consumption of aquatic predators such as shark, pike, albacore tuna, and halibut because — - Correct Ans: mercury biomagnifies as it travels up the food chain. Why should wildlife conservationists be more concerned about the use of DDT than the use of other insecticides like Malathion? - Correct Ans: DDT is toxic, persistent in the environment, and fat soluble. Nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons, and ozone are all — - Correct Ans: atmospheric pollutants that contribute to the formation of photochemical smog. On April 20, 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil well drilling platform started the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history, releasing millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Which of the followings statement correctly describes this pollution event? - Correct Ans: The Deepwater Horizon, a point source of water pollution, leaked an organic chemical pollutant into the ocean. Which of the following atmospheric pollutants is responsible for the formation of acid rain, which acidifies lakes and streams, corrodes metals, and dissolves limestone and marble structures? - Correct Ans: Sulfur Dioxide
In developing countries, pathogens should be characterized as — - Correct Ans: Water pollutants from nonpoint sources. A backed-up sewage system is running into a local river. This is an example of — - Correct Ans: point source of water pollution Which of the following is a nonpoint source of pollution? - Correct Ans: oil leaking from vehicles onto a roadway All of the following units are commonly used to discuss pollution concentrations EXCEPT —
- Correct Ans: parts per milliliter As the temperature of water increases, the solubility of oxygen in the water — - Correct Ans: decreases, lowering the carrying capacity of aquatic animals. Which of the following statements most accurately describes the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? - Correct Ans: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is formed by ocean currents that carry plastic waste produced by land-based human activities. Potassium nitrate fertilizer can most accurately be described as — - Correct Ans: a non-point source of water pollution On a warm July day, the temperature of Lake Austin was recorded at 27.78 degrees C. On the same day, the temperature at Barton Springs Pool was 21.78 degrees C. As compared to Lake Austin, Barton Springs Pool likely had ______ concentrations of oxygen and _______ concentrations of solid pollutants - Correct Ans: higher; lower Which of the following greenhouse gases is produced by both deforestation and the combustion of fossil fuels? - Correct Ans: Carbon dioxide
Which of the following directly causes ocean acidification? - Correct Ans: Carbon dioxide dissolving in oceans, forming carbonic acid Which of the following is a consequence of ocean acidification? - Correct Ans: Mollusk shells become weakened, making them vulnerable Climate change impacts biodiversity in all of the following ways except by — - Correct Ans: increasing the diversity and range of decomposers Which of the following events has the greatest impact on ocean levels? - Correct Ans: Melting land ice Which of the following greenhouse gases has the highest global warming potential? - Correct Ans: Nitrous Oxide Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for ozone? - Correct Ans: O^ Why is stratospheric ozone beneficial to life on Earth? - Correct Ans: It protects the earth from UV rays Which of the following is not a source of CFCs? - Correct Ans: cell phones When and where is the ozone hole the largest? - Correct Ans: Between October and November over Antarctica True or false: Chlorofluorocarbons contain heavy metals - Correct Ans: False- they contain halogens like chlorine and flourine
