Top Hat Questions Flashcards
Which ethical perspective ascribes value to nature only to the extent that it benefits humans?
Anthropocentrism
Which statement accurately describes the atomic structure?
The electron orbits the dense center of the atom, which consists of protons and neutrons.
An example of a positive feedback loop ________.
is melting arctic snow exposing dark surfaces that heat up and cause further melting
Electrically charged atoms or combinations of atoms are called ________.
ions
DNA is composed of units called ________.
nucleotides
Heavy rains and mudslides cause a river to change course, isolating two groups of lizards of the same species from one another. Over a long period of time, ________.
the groups will probably diverge genetically, and speciation may occur
One example of artificial selection is ________.
broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts bred from Brassica oleracea
What is the ecological phenomenon called when the loss of top predators leads to primary consumers overconsuming producers and changing the ecosystem?
Trophic cascade
The pyramid energy pattern illustrates why eating at the _____ trophic levels—being vegan or vegetarian, for instance—decreases a person’s ecological footprint.
lowest
Gross domestic product (GDP) is ________.
the total monetary value of goods and services produced by a country
Considering the historical context of early U.S. environmental policy, which statement best reflects the transformation of environmental policy over time?
Environmental policy initially facilitated westward expansion and resource extraction before gradually incorporating conservation measures.
Published in the 1960s, Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring ________.
focused on chemical pollutants, including industrial chemicals
A law prohibiting the destruction of habitat for an endangered species would be an example of
a command-and-control policy.
A cap-and-trade system for SO2 would be an example of
an economic policy tool.
Which component constitutes the highest proportion of soil content according to the described composition?
Mineral matter
What percentage of grain produced in the United States is used for human consumption?
41%
Which soil horizon is most crucial for agriculture due to its high nutritive value for plants?
A horizon
What is the term used to describe an organism that integrates DNA from another species?
Transgenic organism
What percentage of processed foods contain at least one GMO ingredient?
70%
The greatest species diversity is found in which of the following groups?
insects
Removal of which of the following species will result in the greatest changes in an ecological system?
a keystone species
Contrary to popular belief, the Endangered Species Act allows ________.
landowners to harm a protected species in one area if they improve habitat for it elsewhere
The greatest cause of the worldwide loss of species is ________.
habitat destruction
What does the ‘take’ mean under Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act?
Harassing or harming the species
Hunting, shooting, or wounding
Capturing or collecting the species
All of the above
Contrary to popular belief, the Endangered Species Act allows ______.
landowners to harm a protected species in one area if they improve habitat for it elsewhere
Which of the following best describes the role of vectors in environmental hazards?
Vectors transfer infectious diseases from one host to another.
Which of the following types of toxic substances specifically cause birth defects?
Teratogens
Considering the information from the slides on toxicology, which of the following indoor hazards has been specifically noted as a leading cause of lung cancer?
Radon or Cigarette Smoke
The LD50 indicates the ________.
amount of toxicant it takes to kill half the population
Most of Earth’s liquid fresh water is found ________.
underground
A watershed is ________.
the area of land that drains into a river or lake
What is the consequence of frequent flooding in a river’s floodplain?
It increases soil fertility, aiding agriculture.
Which zone in a lake is characterized by having enough sunlight for phytoplankton to perform photosynthesis?
Limnetic zone
How might an increased influx of freshwater from Greenland glaciers potentially affect the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) formation?
It could disrupt the flow by decreasing the salinity needed for downwelling.
Which of the following statements accurately describes an adaptation observed in mangrove trees that helps them thrive in their habitat?
Mangrove trees possess roots that grow upward to gather oxygen and others that grow downward to act like stilts.
Which sector is the largest consumer of freshwater resources?
Agriculture
Why do chemicals break down more slowly in groundwater?
Chemicals break down more slowly in groundwater because of the limited exposure to sunlight and oxygen, the slower movement of water through the soil, and the presence of natural compounds in the rock and soil that can bind to the chemicals, hindering their breakdown process
What is the difference between nonpoint and point sources of water pollution?
A “point source” of water pollution refers to a single, identifiable location where pollutants are discharged, like a factory pipe or sewage treatment plant outlet, while a “nonpoint source” is a diffuse, widespread source of pollution where contaminants originate from multiple, dispersed locations, like runoff from agricultural fields or urban streets, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact source of pollution; essentially, point sources are easily identifiable, while nonpoint sources are not
Bycatch ______.
refers to the accidental capture of animals
The Coriolis effect ________.
is caused by Earth’s rotation
Which of the following is a secondary air pollutant?
ozone
The atmosphere around Earth can cause global warming because ________.
molecules in the atmosphere are warmed by radiation from Earth and retain that heat
Keeling’s reports from Mauna Loa demonstrated ________.
an increase in tropospheric CO2 from the 1950s to present
