Science Final Flashcards
We use only about ___ for crops
4%
5%
6%
14%
4%
Only ~0.5% of water on earth is available freshwater
True
False
true
Too much water can be bad for the earth.
True
False
true
The factors that cause water problems do not include:
Weather and Climate
Drinking Water
Population Growth
Sharing Water Resources Among Countries
None of the choices is correct
None of the choices is correct
Some of the strategics to conserve water are
Install water-saving shower heads and faucets
Install low-flush toilets
Purchase high efficiency appliances
None of the choices are correct
All of the choices are correct
All of the choices are correct
Many developing countries have sufficient water to meet drinking and household needs
True
False
False
The Environmental Impacts of agricultural use of fossil fuels and pesticides contribute to air pollution.
True
False
True
overfishing can lead to loss in biodiversity.
True
False
True
Earth’s biological diversity is disappearing at an unprecedented rate
True
False
True
This specie is extinct
Abingdon tortoise
Pitcher Plant
Black Rhinoceros
Hawk
Mountain Gorilla
Abingdon tortoise
The main problem with energy from nuclear fusion power is:
fusion technology requires vast quantities of uranium
None of these
fusion power still remains to be proven practical to control
it is dependent upon hydrogen, a limited fuel resource.
fusion only occurs in the sun, and we don’t know how the sun’s energy is produced
fusion power still remains to be proven practical to control
Which of the following is a liquid fuel converted from biomass?
charcoal
hydrogen
methanol
methane
propane
methanol
The amount of solar radiation hitting the Earth depends on:
the time of day
All of these
the distance from the equator
the season of the year
the amount of cloud cover
All of these
Which U.S. government agency manages federally owned land?
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
National Park Service
All of these choices are correct
U.S. Forest Service
Bureau of Land Management
All of these choices are correct
The two areas of the world with the greatest food insecurity are:
South America and South Asia
South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
South America and sub-Saharan Africa
the Middle East and South Asia
China and sub-Saharan Africa
South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
Removing too much fresh water from a river or lake can
A. result in increasing salinity for associated estuaries.
B. cause a local increase in bird populations due to an increase in available habitat.
C. have little effect on associated wetland areas.
D. increase the productivity of associated wetlands.
E. reduce an area’s precipitation.
result in increasing salinity for associated estuaries
Water problems are particularly severe in the
A. Pacific Northwest.
B. American Southwest (Colorado River basin).
C. High Plains.
D. Gulf Coast states.
E. Upper Midwest.
American Southwest (Colorado Basin)
Cities are encouraging individual water conservation by
A. including water charges in the rent.
B. providing economic incentives for installing water saving household fixtures.
C. repairing city water mains and pipes to improve “water accountability”.
D. collecting and storing rain water for redistribution to individuals.
E. decreasing the price of water.
providing economic incentives for installing water saving household fixtures
Future climate change will likely
A. have no effect on precipitation.
B. cause an increase in precipitation.
C. cause a decrease in precipitation.
D. cause an increase in precipitation in some areas and a decrease in others.
E. cause extreme droughts throughout all of North America.
cause an increase in precipitation in some areas and a decreased in others
Excessive removal of groundwater can result in
a. rising water tables.
b. sinkhole formation.
c. groundwater desalinization.
d. increased discharge to streams.
e. all of these choices are correct
-sinkhole formation
Which of the following human activities or features does NOT significantly contribute to flooding?
draining of wetlands
zoning restrictions
all of these significantly contribute to flooding
deforestation
paving surfaces for roads and parking
-zoning restrictions
Around the world, about ___ people live without adequate access to safe drinking water?
A.0.75 billion
B.10 million
C.98 million
D.1.5 billion
E.5.2 billion
0.75 billion
Which of the following best describes ground water?
water moving from precipitation over the ground to rivers and lakes
water that is completely independent of surface water
water found above the water table
water found in lakes and rivers
water flowing through permeable rocks and sediments
water flowing through permeable rocks and sediments
Which of the following is the most effective way to reduce flood related damage?
restricting development on flood plains
constructing new buildings
paving new roads
building expensive levees
creating exposed, barren hillsides by clear cutting woodlands
restricting development on flood plains
Saltwater and saline groundwater can be made drinkable by a process called
trickle irrigation
boiling
reverse osmosis
salinization
osmosis
-reverse osmosis
The effects of flooding are more destructive today than in the past because
buildings are constructed on flood plains
deforestation
all of these significantly contribute to flooding
paving surfaces for roads and parking
draining of wetlands
buildings are constructed on flood plains
The process of forcing saltwater through a permeable membrane in order to remove salt from ground water from the water is termed
a. chlorination.
b. distillation.
c. reverse osmosis.
d. saltwater intrusion.
e. salinization.
-reverse osmosis
Most freshwater is present in the form of:
water in rivers
water in lakes
groundwater
ice caps and glaciers
atmospheric water vapor
ice caps and glaciers
Artificial lakes in which water is stored for later use are called
estuaries
reservoirs
lakes
cisterns
ponds
-reservoirs
Which of the following have a vested interest in resolving the water rights controversy along the Mississippi river?
A. farmers
B. Native Americans
C. recreational and tourism groups
D. hydroelectric producers
E. all of these groups have a vested interest
all of these groups have a vested interest
One way to make agricultural water more sustainable is through
microirrigation
plot flooding
“use it or lose it” water allotments for farmers
international water swaps
water diversion
-microirrigation
Nonportable water that has already been used once but is reused for toilets or car washing is called
household water
gray water
secondhand water
reclaimed water
xeriscaped water
-gray water
Which of the following countries does not face significant water supply challenges?
Which of the following countries does NOT face significant water supply challenges?
A. United States
B. Iraq
C. China
D. Mexico
E. None; all of these countries face water supply challenges.
none: all of these countries face water supply challenges
Desalinization is a particularly large industry in
A. Arizona
B. France
C. Russia
D. Saudi Arabia
E. Denmark
Saudi Arabia
The average U.S. citizen can conserve water by
All of these choices can help conserve water
The upper limit of an unconfined underground reservoir of water is termed the
watershed
water table
groundwater
aquifer
wetland
water table
Complete the following analogy: Dam is to ___ an levee is to ____.
A. xeriscaping / hydroponics
B. electricity / natural gas
C. reservoir / flood plain
D. stable runoff / reclaimed water
E. aquifer / drainage basin
-reservoir / flood plain
All of the following are successful motivators for consumers to conserve water EXCEPT:
All these choices are true
effective education
increased water prices
improved technology
water rationing
water rationing
In many developing countries, individuals
A. utilize excessive amounts of water for irrigation.
B. consume about 200 gallons of fresh water per day.
C. have insufficient water to meet basic drinking and household needs.
D. use the most current technology to increase their water use efficiency.
E. rely on desalinization to provide the majority of their water needs.
have insufficient water to meet basic drinking and household needs
Planting the same crop year after year
a) does not deplete essential nutrients from the
soil
b) increases damage by insects and disease
c) will slowly increase crop yields
d) decreases soil erosion
e) is a new and innovative agricultural practice
increases damage by insects and disease
Increased soil erosion may be caused by all of the following except:
construction of buildings
construction of shelterbelts
agriculture
clearcutting large forested areas
construction of roads
-construction of shelterbelts
Mulch:
a) helps to control weeds.
b) reduces evaporation.
c) extends the growing season.
d) decreases soil erosion.
e) All of these choices are correct
all of the choices are correct
organic fertilizers:
a) have nutrients immediately available to plants.
b) can consist of manure, crop residues, or bone meal.
c) are quickly leached out of the soil by rain.
d) are manufactured.
e) have minimal effect on the production of a given crop.
can consist of manure, crop residues, or bone meal.
The soils of tropical rain forests tend to be nutrient poor due to
a. extensive wind erosion.
b. the fact that nutrient minerals are stored primarily in the vegetation.
c. removal of native plants, largely grasses, depleting the nutrient minerals.
d. sediment washing into streams from intact forests. Incorrect
e. poor crop rotation practices in slash-and-burn agriculture.
the fact that nutrient minerals are stored primarily in the vegetation
Soil degradation is primarily attributed to
a) erosion, excessive tillage and coastal location
b) exhaustion of parent material, severe climate
c) poor agricultural practices, overgrazing and
deforestation
d) wildfires, surplus soil organisms and dense
vegetation
e) heavy rainfall, agroforestry and crop rotation
poor agricultural practices, overgrazing, and deforestation
A(n) _____ is a type of soil that usually forms in colder climates beneath coniferous forests and makes poor farm land because it is often too acidic and nutrient poor.
a) mollisol.
b) oxisol.
c) aridisol.
d) alfisol.
e) spodosol.
-spodosol
Which of the following two regions have the largest land areas with extensive soil damage?
a) Europe and Asia
b) North and South America
c) Africa and Asia
d) Europe and South America
e) Africa and North America
Africa and Asia
A major problem with conservation tillage is
a) the soil becomes compact.
b) soil erosion increases.
c) it increases insect populations.
d) it requires greater use of herbicides to control weeds.
e) the soil contains less organic matter.
it requires greater use of herbicides to control weeds
which of the following is not true of conservation tilling?
a) a method of cultivation in which residues from previous crops are left in the soil
b) residues are partially covering soil and helping it to hold seeds
c) there are several types including no tilling
d) over 70% of US farmland was planted using conservation tilling in the early 2000s
e) all these are false
over 70% of U.S. farmland was planted using conservation tilling in the early 2000s
The difference between compost and mulch is:
a) compost is mixed into soil to improve fertility; mulch is placed on soil’s surface to control weeds and retain moisture.
b) compost is made of inorganic materials; mulch is made of organic materials.
c) compost is used in landfills, individual property owners use mulch.
d) composting is an expensive commercial process; mulching is a do-it-yourself endeavor.
e) There is no difference. Mulch and compost are synonyms.
compost is mixed into soil to improve fertility; mulch is placed on soil’s surface to control weeds and retain moisture
soil is composed of
air
mineral particles
water.
All of these
organic materials
all of these
The 1930s Dust Bowl in the western United States is an example of
a) the use of flood plains for agriculture leading
to desertification
b) the relationship between economics and
annual precipitation
c) human activities not being the cause of or
accentuating soil problems
d) the natural cycle of climate disasters in that
region
e) prolonged drought and accelerated wind
erosion caused by use of marginal land for
agriculture
prolonged drought and accelerated wind erosion caused by use of marginal land for agriculture
A(n) _________ is a type of soil that forms in tropical and subtropical regions where organic material decomposes so fast there is very little A-horizon.
a) mollisol.
b) oxisol.
c) aridisol.
d) alfisol.
e) spodosol.
oxisol
Scientists know relatively little about the roles of most soil organisms because
it is hard to study them in a natural environment
Worldwide, 75 billion metric tons (83 billion tons) of topsoil are lost annually, primarily due to:
a. poor agricultural practices.
b. global warming.
c. ozone depletion.
d. the soil rustler’s black market.
e. conservation tillage.
poor agricultural practices
The removal of dissolved minerals from the soil as water moves downward is called:
a. illuviation.
b. leaching.
c. deposition.
d. decomposition.
e. weathering.
leaching
Humus is composed of
a) weathered rocks
b) fresh leaf litter
c) iron and aluminum compounds.
d) decomposed organic matter.
e) various inorganic minerals.
decomposed organic matter
compost is
a) a natural fertilizer
b) used to minimize soil erosion.
c) placed on the soil surface when used.
d) used to minimize water loss from the soil.
e) used to control weeds.
a natural fertilizer
soil is formed from parent material by biological, chemical, and physical ____ ________.
digestion processes
composting
leaching
terracing
weathering processes
weathering processes
which of the following may affect the mineral composition of soil?
All of these
The deposition of leached material in the lower layers of the soil is called:
illuviation
the uppermost layer of soil that is rich in plant litter and other organic material is the
a) A horizon.
b) B horizon.
c) C horizon.
d) O horizon.
e) E horizon.
O horizon
The ____ is a lighter-colored soil layer where iron and aluminum often accumulate
a) A horizon.
b) B horizon.
c) C horizon.
d) O horizon.
e) E horizon.
B horizon
The Four ways to get rid of solid waste are:
Dump it, bury it, burn it, or eat it
Dump it, bury it, burn it, or compost it
Dump it, bury it, freeze it, or compost it
None of these
Dump it, bury it, burn it, or compost it
Which of the following statements about tropical rain forests is false?
Approximately 1% of tropical rain forests are being cleared or degraded every decade
Most species that live in tropical rain forests are endemic
The forest itself generates much of the rainfall in tropical rain forests
Migratory birds that winter in tropical rain forests are declining
Approximately 1% of tropical rain forests are being cleared or degraded every decade
A species in imminent danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range is said to be:
endemic
endangered
threatened
invasive
commercially extinct
endangered
Endemic species:
all of these choices are correct
often have small populations
have few natural defenses
represent a high percentage of recently extinct (bird) species
are commonly found on islands
all of these choices are correct
Which of the following affects organisms even in undisturbed, natural ecosystems?
acid precipitation
all of these choices are correct
thermal pollution
global warming
ozone depletion
all of these choices are correct
Which of the following have been linked to the dramatic global decline of amphibian populations?
infectious diseases
drainage of wetlands
pollutants
global climate warming
all of these choices are correct
All of the above
All of the following are benefits of coastal wetlands except:
reduced flooding through their ability to hold excess water
reduced impact of ozone depletion
Produce important commercial products
improved water quality
Provide habitat for endangered species
reduced impact of ozone depletion
Sustainable agricultural practices are characterized by all of the following except:
crop selection
water and energy conservation
monoculture
use of manure as a fertilizer
increasing biological diversity to control pests
monoculture
Which of the following techniques is used to identify structural traps that might contain oil and natural gas?
watch plate tectonics and drill test holes and obtain rock samples
satellite imaging
mining
drill test holes and obtain rock samples
watch plate tectonics
Today the world’s main energy source is
coal
hydroelectric
oil
nuclear
natural gas
oil
The fact that solar systems only generate electricity during the day is typically not a problem because:
they are often located in deserts
demand for electricity is often highest during the day
many photovoltaic cells continue to generate electricity through the night
the electricity can be used to power Stirling engines
they currently do not produce much electricity on a global scale
demand for electricity is often highest during the day
A mixture of hydrocarbons contained in oil shale is referred to as:
overburden
bitumen
gas hydrate
anhtracite
kerogen
kerogen
How has the burning of fossil fuels affected the global carbon cycle?
Less carbon is stored underground
The amount of carbon taken up by plants has decreased
Carbon is stored underground for longer periods of time
The carbon cycle has slowed down
The total amount of carbon on earth has increased
Less carbon is stored underground
Which fossil fuel is most abundant in North America?
oil
uranium
peat
natural gas
coal
coal
The energy released in the burning of biomass fuels:
All of these
was stored as chemical energy in plant tissues or animal waste products
originated as solar energy
was initially converted from solar energy to chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis
is one of the oldest fuels known to humans
all of these
Which of the following countries has the largest deposits of the element uranium?
Australia
Canada
Afghanistan
South Africa
United States
Australia
Potential locations for wind farms include:
All of these places
mountain passes
coastal areas
islands
grasslands
All of these places
Many sun-tracking mirrors are used to focus sunlight on a central tower boiler to produce steam to drive generators. This best describes:
indirect solar energy
active solar heating
photovoltaic solar cells
solar power towers
passive solar heating
solar power towers
A 2008 study by researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography predicts climate change over the next 50 years will result in:
flow in the Colorado River decreasing by 10-30%.
flow in the Colorado River increasing due to warmer and wetter air masses
Lake Mead being unable to supply water to San Francisco.
greater saltwater intrusion along the Pacific Coast
Hoover Dam producing 10% more electricity
flow in the Colorado River decreasing by 10-30%.
The basis for most of water’s physical properties is/are:
All of these choices are correct
ionic bonds
the hydrogen bonds between adjacent molecules
its non-polar structure
its status as a positive ion
the hydrogen bonds between adjacent molecules
Insects are an important biological resource because they:
produce antibiotics
help control weeds and insect pests
fix nitrogen in the soil
prevent soil erosion
help control the severity of local flooding
help control weeds and insect pests
The introduction of a foreign species onto an island is an example of:
commercial extinction
biotic pollution
background extinction
endemism
commercial harvest
biotic pollution
Which of the following is a disadvantage of restoration ecology?
all of these choices are correct
long time periods required for restoration to occur
high cost
lack of positive results in habitats such as Tallgrass Prairie
Both high cost and the long time periods required for restoration to occur are disadvantages
high cost
Which of the following statements is NOT true about public planning of land use?
All of these statements are true
Initial land development spawns additional land development
Public planning is concerned primarily with immediate effects
Land use decisions are complex because they have multiple effects
Public planning of land should take all repercussions into account
All of these statements are true
Bacteria and fungi are important to humans because they:
pollinate crop plants
provide shelter
provide foods and antibiotics
help control weeds
deplete nutrient minerals in the soil
provide foods and antibiotics
Which fossil fuel reserves will most likely last the longest?
a) oil
b) natural gas
c) coal
d) peat
e) uranium
Peat
The most common foods eaten in the world today are:
corn (maize), rice, sweet potato, and wheat
corn, rice, and wheat
barley, corn, rice, and wheat
corn, potato, soybean, and rice
cassava, potato, rice, and wheat
corn, rice, and wheat
Anthracite coal
a) causes the most air pollution
b) has the highest sulfur content
c) is very hard and burns cleanly
d) is the most abundant grade of coal
e) is very soft and burns at high temperatures
is very hard and burns cleanly
Bituminous coal:
a) is the most common grade of coal
b) causes the least amount of air pollution of any type of coal
c) is very soft and burns at high temperatures
d) is very hard and burns cleanly
e) has the lowest sulfur content of any type of coal
is the most common grade of coal
Lignite coal:
a) is the most common grade of coal
b) causes the least amount of air pollution of any type of coal
c) is very soft and has a relatively low heat value
d) is very hard and burns cleanly
e) has the lowest sulfur content of any type of coal
is very soft and has a relatively low heat value
The world’s coal reserves could last for possibly another:
a) 20 years
b) 50 years
c) 100 years
d) 200 years
e) 500 years
200
The legislation that has regulated mining activities in the United States since 1977 is the:
a) Wilderness Act
b) Clean Water Act
c) Endangered Species Act
d) Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
e) Soil Conservation Service Act
Surface mining control and reclamation act
Scrubbers in smoke stacks remove large amounts of what major air pollutant?
a) carbon dioxide
b) sulfur oxides
c) nitric acid
d) sodium oxides
e) mercury
sulfur oxides
What is the current state of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology for use in coal power plants?
a) The theory of CCS technology is established, but an
adequate design of a CCS mechanism has not been
developed
b) CCS technology is not yet ready for testing in power
plants
c) CCS technology has been tested many times and was
found to be inadequate for meeting current capture
and storage needs
d) CCS technology is ready to be implemented on a large
scale
e) CCS technology is being tested on a very small scale
CCS technology is being tested on a very small scale
It is hypothesized that undiscovered large oil deposits are located
a) In the continental United States
b) In locations where volcanoes are common
c) Below ocean basin trenches
d)In locations where natural gas will not be found
e) Under the continental shelves
under the continental shelves
Petrochemicals are used in the production of all of the following except:
a) Lightweight concrete
b) Paints
c) Synthetic fibers
d) Fertilizers
e) Medicines
lightweight concrete
Which of these statements about coal is false?
a) Some types of coal contain a lot of sulfur
b) Subsurface mining accounts for about 40% of the coal
mined in the U.S.
c) Coal powered the steam engine during the Industrial
Revolution
d) Coal supplies about 20% of the energy used in the
United States
e) Coal produces far less SO2 than natural gas or oil
Coal produces far less SO2 than natural gas or oil
The ____________ contains weathered pieces of rock and is found just above the solid bedrock.
a) A horizon
b) B horizon
c) C horizon
d) O horizon
e) E horizon
C horizon
