exam 3

Question 1

Data detailing deaths from smoking, obesity, and alcohol use are examples of environmental hazards related to

a.
chemicals in the environment.

b.
the physical environment.

c.
culture.

d.
biology.

Answer 1

c.
culture.

Question 2

Which of the following contributes the most to global warming?

a.
water vapor in the air

b.
nitrogen in the air

c.
oxygen in the air

d.
clouds in the air

Answer 2

a.
water vapor in the air

Question 3

Which of the following chemical reactions is (are) involved in ozone depletion in the stratosphere?

a.
ClO + ClO → 2 Cl + O2

b.
CFCl3 + UV → Cl + CFCl2

c.
All of them

d.
Cl + O3 → ClO + O2

Answer 3

c.
All of them

Question 4

Why are fossil fuels considered non-renewable sources of energy?

a.
they form so slowly, over millions of years

b.
the fossil fuel supply can never be depleted

c.
they release sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide when they are burned

d.
organic matter is no longer converted into fossil fuel

Answer 4

a.
they form so slowly, over millions of years

Question 5

Global warming during the 21st century is expected to

a.
Slow the hydrologic cycle and the thermohaline circulation of the ocean

b.
Slow the hydrologic cycle and speed up the thermohaline circulation of the ocean

c.
Speed up the hydrologic cycle and the thermohaline circulation of the ocean

d.
Speed up the hydrologic cycle and slow the thermohaline circulation of the ocean

Answer 5

d.
Speed up the hydrologic cycle and slow the thermohaline circulation of the ocean

Question 6

Loss-of-coolant accidents are initiated due to the loss of

a.
control rods

b.
hot water

c.
fuel rods

d.
moderator

Answer 6

d.
moderator

Question 7

Imagine your town needs a new power plant. You can build a coal plant, a nuclear plant, or a natural gas plant. Which one has the greatest negative impact on your local air quality?

a.
Natural gas

b.
Coal

c.
Nuclear

Answer 7

b.
Coal

Question 8

The light, bleached color of dying coral in marine ecosystems is most likely the result of

a.
shifts in ocean currents.

b.
decreased pH of the ocean, a phenomena called ocean acidification.

c.
exposure to increased levels of sunlight.

d.
interrupted coral-zooxanthellae symbiosis by increased ocean temperatures.

Answer 8

d.
interrupted coral-zooxanthellae symbiosis by increased ocean temperatures.

Question 9

Which one of the following best illustrates a type of adaptation to global climate change?

a.
Constructing and using wind turbines to generate electricity

b.
Using solar and nuclear power to generate electricity instead of burning coal

c.
Building taller levees to hold back storm surges along ocean coastlines

d.
Increasing the use of public transportation systems in cities

Answer 9

c.
Building taller levees to hold back storm surges along ocean coastlines

Question 10

The causes of mortality differ greatly between developing and developed countries. In developing countries, a high proportion of mortality is caused by

a.
wars and accidents while in the developed world, most deaths are related to infectious disease.

b.
poor nutrition while in the developed world, infectious disease causes most deaths.

c.
infectious disease while in the developed world, most deaths are related to crime.

d.
infectious disease while in the developed world, most deaths are related to voluntary behaviors.

Answer 10

d.
infectious disease while in the developed world, most deaths are related to voluntary behaviors.

Question 11

You watched a video on how a combined cycle gas turbine power plant works in your envs1126 class. Which of the following statements is true about the combined-cycle natural-gas unit technology?

a.
The heat of the gases released by the combustion turbine is recovered in a boiler to produce steam to trun the steam turbine.

b.
All of them

c.
With the same volume of fuel, the two turbines generate more electricity when they are used together.

d.
It has two types of trubines, a combustion turbine and a steam turbine.

Answer 11

b.
All of them

Question 12

Examining an old abandoned home several months after a flood, a relief worker suddenly experiences difficulty breathing. At the hospital, she learns that she experienced

a.
an acute respiratory illness, zika, more common in the developing world.

b.
an acute respiratory illness, asthma, more common in the developed world.

c.
a chronic respiratory illness, malaria, more common in the developing world.

d.
a chronic respiratory illness, tuberculosis, more common in the developed world.

Answer 12

b.
an acute respiratory illness, asthma, more common in the developed world.

Question 13

Global warming is raising sea levels because of

a.
melting ice and thermal expansion.

b.
ocean basins compressed by continental drift and thermal expansion.

c.
melting ice and greatly increased precipitation.

d.
increased use of irrigation and drainage of wetlands on land.

Answer 13

a.
melting ice and thermal expansion.

Question 14

The catalytic converter on automobiles is not intended to do which one of the following?

a.
convert unburned hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide

b.
convert sulfur dioxide to hydrogen sulfide

c.
convert nitrogen oxides to nitrogen gas

d.
convert CO to carbon dioxide

Answer 14

b.
convert sulfur dioxide to hydrogen sulfide

Question 15

Which of the following statements regarding methane is FALSE?

a.
It is a greenhouse gas.

b.
It is produced in the stomachs of ruminant animals.

c.
It is decreasing in concentrations in the troposphere.

d.
It is a primary component of natural gas.

Answer 15

c.
It is decreasing in concentrations in the troposphere.

Question 16

Which rock type is most effective at buffering acid precipitation?

a.
granite

b.
limestone

c.
clay-rich rocks

d.
sandstone

Answer 16

b.
limestone

Question 17

Acid rain is rain that has been made acidic by pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the air. Rainwater having a pH of 4 is

a.
1000 times more acidic than pure water.

b.
10,000 times more acidic than pure water.

c.
3 times more acidic than pure water.

d.
4 times more acidic than pure water.

Answer 17

a.
1000 times more acidic than pure water.

Question 18

A major federal law aimed at controlling air pollution is the

a.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

b.
Clean Air Act.

c.
Sunshine Maintenance Act.

d.
Air Purification Act.

Answer 18

b.
Clean Air Act.

Question 19

Which one of the following is most associated with an air-pollution disaster like the one in 1948 in Donora, Pennsylvania?

a.
high winds

b.
shutdown of a power plant

c.
a temperature inversion

d.
increased industrial production

Answer 19

c.
a temperature inversion

Question 20

134Cs and 137Cs differ from each other in their

a.
mass number

b.
none of these.

c.
proton number

d.
electron number

e.
mass number and neutron number

f.
neutron number

Answer 20

e.
mass number and neutron number

Question 21

In the video “Hydrogen: fuel of the future?” discussed in your envs1126 class, a hydrogen fuel cell uses

a.
Hydrogen and oxygen and generates electricity and water.

b.
Carbon dioxide and water and generates electricity and hydrogen.

c.
Hydrogen and water and generates electricity and oxygen.

d.
Hydrogen and water and generates electricity, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.

Answer 21

a.
Hydrogen and oxygen and generates electricity and water.

Question 22

In coal-power plants, fluidized-bed combustion using limestone is employed to

a.
reduce operational cost

b.
prevent from the formation of acid rain

c.
save energy

d.
remove carbon dioxide

Answer 22

b.
prevent from the formation of acid rain

Question 23

Which of the following statements is a reasonable interpretation of the Hubbert curves?

a.
the world’s oil and gas production is increasing. Even if this is incorrect, it will eventually increase regardless of reaching peak production

b.
Oil and gas will never be depleted.

c.
The world energy consumption continuously increases.

d.
the worlds oil and gas production is decreasing. Even if this is incorrect, it will eventually decrease after reaching peak production

Answer 23

d.
the worlds oil and gas production is decreasing. Even if this is incorrect, it will eventually decrease after reaching peak production

Question 24

Which one of the following chemical reactions causes ocean acidification?

a.
SO2 + 2OH → H2SO4

b.
CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O → Ca2+ + 2HCO3-

c.
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3 → HCO3- + H+

d.
2NO + H2O + O3 → 2HNO3

Answer 24

c.
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3 → HCO3- + H+

Question 25

Ozone concentrations accumulate in air if volatile organic carbon compounds react with which one of the following?

a.
methane

b.
sulfur dioxide

c.
NO

d.
CO

Answer 25

c.
NO

Question 26

What does “fracking” do?

a.
It might cause earthquakes.

b.
It brings the cost of natural gas down.

c.
Fracking does all of these things.

d.
It greatly increases supplies of petroleum and natural gas.

Answer 26

c.
Fracking does all of these things.

Question 27

Which of the following states will most likely experience the greatest warming in the next 50 years?

a.
Alaska

b.
Louisiana

c.
Hawaii

d.
Illinois
Feedback

Answer 27

a.
Alaska

Question 28

Given the problems of inconsistent winds, the best place to position new wind turbines would be

a.
in offshore locations where winds are more consistent

b.
along railroad tracks, where there are few trees

c.
along rivers and streams, where there is less human interference

d.
in deserts, where few man-made structures are located

Answer 28

a.
in offshore locations where winds are more consistent

Question 29

The EROI system of evaluating energy exploitation from various sources is based upon

a.
the amount of heat produced by using a unit of the energy in question.

b.
the market price of the energy involved.

c.
the ratio of energy extracted to energy invested in the extraction process.

d.
the environmental damage likely to be caused by the extraction process.

Answer 29

c.
the ratio of energy extracted to energy invested in the extraction process.

Question 30

This graph compares the toxicity of pollutant A and pollutant B. LD50 is the dose at which 50% of the population is killed. Which one of the following statements is correct? (exam 3 q.30)

a.
A is more toxic than B

b.
The LD50 value of A is larger than the LD50 value of B.

c.
B is more toxic than A

d.
The LD50 values of A and B are the same.

Answer 30

a.
A is more toxic than B

Question 31

Which one of the followings correctly explains the number of reactants and products involved in fission or fusion reactions?

a.
Fission begins with one reactant and yields two atomic products and a release of energy

b.
Fission begins with two reactants and yields one atomic product and a release of energy

c.
Fusion begins with one reactant and yields two atomic products and a release of energy

d.
Fusion combines three reactants and yields one atomic product and a release of energy

Answer 31

a.
Fission begins with one reactant and yields two atomic products and a release of energy

Question 32

The fossil fuels that we burn today were formed long ago from buried organic matter. However, only a small fraction of the original organic carbon remains in the coal, oil, or natural gas that is formed. Thus, it requires approximately 90 metric tons of ancient organic matter—so-called paleoproduction—to result in just 3.8 L (1 gal) of gasoline. The graph presents estimates of the amount of paleoproduction required to produce the fossil fuels humans used each year between 1750 and 2000. The red line represents annual human consumption of paleoproduction by fossil fuel combustion. The dashed line indicates current annual net primary production (NPP) for the entire planet. Now calculate the total carbon content of the fossil fuel consumed in the year 1750 (assume 0.03 trillion kg C). How many times greater was the total carbon content of the fossil fuel consumed in 2000 than in 1750? (exam 3 q. 32)

a.
350,000,210

b.
6 x 10-7

c.
1.7 x 106

d.
7.4 x 1010

Answer 32

c.
1.7 x 106

Question 33

A consequence of the second law of thermodynamics is that

a.
We cannot create or destroy energy.

b.
In every conversion from one energy source to another (e.g., coal to electricity) some energy is lost.

c.
Fossil fuels build up naturally because they are low entropy.

Answer 33

b.
In every conversion from one energy source to another (e.g., coal to electricity) some energy is lost.

Question 34

Which one of the following chemical reactions causes shell dissolution?

a.
SO2 + 2OH → H2SO4

b.
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3 → HCO3- + H+

c.
2NO + H2O + O3 → 2HNO3

d.
CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O → Ca2+ + 2HCO3-

Answer 34

d.
CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O → Ca2+ + 2HCO3-

Question 35

Hydropower is the most abundant and important form of renewable energy in use today. However, hydropower often negatively impacts the populations of certain fish because

a.
dams can block migration routes.

b.
fish cannot live in the reservoirs created by dams.

c.
the flood zone created by a dam is unsafe for fish.

d.
hydropower generation releases toxic emissions which can poison the fish.

Answer 35

a.
dams can block migration routes.

Question 36

At the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), which opened in Glasgow, Scotland on October 31, 2021, developing countries have urged developed nations to provide financial support for measures to cope with climate change. This argument illustrates the

a.
precautionary principle.

b.
polluter pays principle.

c.
equity principle.

d.
conservation of the commons principle.

Answer 36

c.
equity principle.

Question 37

What is the role of the moderator in a nuclear reactor?

a.
To provide fuel to the reactor

b.
To reduce the speed of neutrons

c.
All of the above

d.
To absorb neutrons to prevent an uncontrolled chain reaction

Answer 37

b.
To reduce the speed of neutrons

Question 38

Drinking water becomes contaminated with lead. If each of the following people consumes 32 ounces of this contaminated water each day for three months, who will most likely be impacted by this poison?

a.
a 55-year-old man

b.
an 80-year-old woman

c.
a 6-month-old girl

d.
a 16-year-old girl

Answer 38

c.
a 6-month-old girl

Question 39

Which one of the following gases causes respiratory irritation in animals and tissue damage in plants when it is in the troposphere but can absorb harmful ultraviolet radiation and reduce cancer rates when it is in the stratosphere?

a.
O3

b.
NO2

c.
CO2

d.
CH4

Answer 39

a.
O3

Question 40

Ionizing radiation takes a few forms. These forms include Alpha, beta, and neutron particles, and gamma and X-rays. Which of the following statement is true about radiation?

a.
All forms of radiation are caused by unstable atoms.

b.
All of them.

c.
In order to reach a stable state, a radioactive atom must release its extra energy or mass in the form of radiation.

d.
Neutron radiation consists of a free neutron and it is able to be effectively stopped if blocked by water.

Answer 40

b.
All of them.

Question 41

Compared to coal power plants, nuclear power plants

a.
generate radioactive waste

b.
emit more carbon dioxide

c.
produce more acid-forming pollutants

d.
require more raw material

Answer 41

a.
generate radioactive waste

Question 42

You sampled a level of radioactivity of soil from a radioactively contaminated site and monitored changes in the radioactivity level for 15 days. The following table shows your measurements. What would be the radioactivity of your sample on day 0? (exam 3 q. 42)

a.
4.87

b.
8

c.
5.87

d.
4

Answer 42

d.
4

Question 43

Compared to conventional energy sources, a noticeable advantage of renewable energy resources is that

a.
they emit more pollutants

b.
their energy efficiency is higher

c.
their energy production cost is cheaper

d.
they are not depleted

Answer 43

d.
they are not depleted

Question 44

Which of the following is a key process of ethanol production?

a.
Electrolysis

b.
Fermentation of starches or sugar

c.
Respiration

d.
Photosynthesis

Answer 44

b.
Fermentation of starches or sugar

Question 45

Which one of the following diseases is caused by a bacterium?

a.
COVID-19

b.
Tuberculosis

c.
Malaria

d.
Zika

Answer 45

b.
Tuberculosis

Question 46

Which of the following should be considered when you design a solar power system?

a.
How to convert sunlight into a usable form of energy

b.
How to collect sunlight

c.
How to transport energy

d.
All of them

Answer 46

d.
All of them

Question 47

Which one of the following is not an example of the consequences of chronic exposure?

a.
Japanese citizens living in Hiroshima and Nagasaki when the atomic bombs were dropped develop cancer 35 years later as a result of the large doses of radiation they received when the bombs exploded.

b.
Over a period of 30 years, workers at a fur felt hat company are exposed to mercury that was used to treat the fur pelts and eventually develop neurological problems as a result of their exposure to the mercury

c.
Workers at a nuclear power plant are exposed to low doses of radiation over a period of 20 years and develop cancer as a result of their exposure to the radiation.

d.
Workers involved in the production of electrical capacitors at a General Electric plant in New York are exposed to PCBs over a period of 25 years and develop nervous system disorders as a result.

Answer 47

a.
Japanese citizens living in Hiroshima and Nagasaki when the atomic bombs were dropped develop cancer 35 years later as a result of the large doses of radiation they received when the bombs exploded.

Question 48

Which one of the following fossil fuels produces the least amount of air pollutants?

a.
Coal

b.
Natural gas

c.
Petroleum

d.
Oil sand

Answer 48

b.
Natural gas

Question 49

Which one of the following air pollutants is not a primary pollutant?

a.
radon

b.
ozone

c.
sulfur dioxide

d.
carbon monoxide

Answer 49

b.
ozone

Question 50

Which of the following cannot penetrate your skin?

a.
gamma radiation

b.
alpha radiation

c.
neutron

d.
x-ray

Answer 50

c.
neutron