Top Hat Questions

Question 1

Which ethical perspective ascribes value to nature only to the extent that it benefits humans?

Answer 1

Anthropocentrism

Question 2

Which statement accurately describes the atomic structure?

Answer 2

The electron orbits the dense center of the atom, which consists of protons and neutrons.

Question 3

An example of a positive feedback loop ________.

Answer 3

is melting arctic snow exposing dark surfaces that heat up and cause further melting

Question 4

Electrically charged atoms or combinations of atoms are called ________.

Answer 4

ions

Question 5

DNA is composed of units called ________.

Answer 5

nucleotides

Question 6

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, ________.

Answer 6

the groups will probably diverge genetically, and speciation may occur

Question 7

One example of artificial selection is ________.

Answer 7

broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts bred from Brassica oleracea

Question 8

What is the ecological phenomenon called when the loss of top predators leads to primary consumers overconsuming producers and changing the ecosystem?

Answer 8

Trophic cascade

Question 9

The pyramid energy pattern illustrates why eating at the _____ trophic levels—being vegan or vegetarian, for instance—decreases a person’s ecological footprint.

Answer 9

lowest

Question 10

Gross domestic product (GDP) is ________.

Answer 10

the total monetary value of goods and services produced by a country

Question 11

Considering the historical context of early U.S. environmental policy, which statement best reflects the transformation of environmental policy over time?

Answer 11

Environmental policy initially facilitated westward expansion and resource extraction before gradually incorporating conservation measures.

Question 12

Published in the 1960s, Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring ________.

Answer 12

focused on chemical pollutants, including industrial chemicals

Question 13

A law prohibiting the destruction of habitat for an endangered species would be an example of

Answer 13

a command-and-control policy.

Question 14

A cap-and-trade system for SO2 would be an example of

Answer 14

an economic policy tool.

Question 15

Which component constitutes the highest proportion of soil content according to the described composition?

Answer 15

Mineral matter

Question 15

What percentage of grain produced in the United States is used for human consumption?

Answer 15

41%

Question 16

Which soil horizon is most crucial for agriculture due to its high nutritive value for plants?

Answer 16

A horizon

Question 17

What is the term used to describe an organism that integrates DNA from another species?

Answer 17

Transgenic organism

Question 18

What percentage of processed foods contain at least one GMO ingredient?

Answer 18

70%

Question 19

The greatest species diversity is found in which of the following groups?

Answer 19

insects

Question 20

Removal of which of the following species will result in the greatest changes in an ecological system?

Answer 20

a keystone species

Question 21

Contrary to popular belief, the Endangered Species Act allows ________.

Answer 21

landowners to harm a protected species in one area if they improve habitat for it elsewhere

Question 22

The greatest cause of the worldwide loss of species is ________.

Answer 22

habitat destruction

Question 23

What does the ‘take’ mean under Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act?

Answer 23

Harassing or harming the species
Hunting, shooting, or wounding
Capturing or collecting the species

All of the above

Question 24

Contrary to popular belief, the Endangered Species Act allows ______.

Answer 24

landowners to harm a protected species in one area if they improve habitat for it elsewhere

Question 25

Which of the following best describes the role of vectors in environmental hazards?

Answer 25

Vectors transfer infectious diseases from one host to another.

Question 26

Which of the following types of toxic substances specifically cause birth defects?

Answer 26

Teratogens

Question 27

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?

Answer 27

Radon or Cigarette Smoke

Question 28

The LD50 indicates the ________.

Answer 28

amount of toxicant it takes to kill half the population

Question 29

Most of Earth’s liquid fresh water is found ________.

Answer 29

underground

Question 30

A watershed is ________.

Answer 30

the area of land that drains into a river or lake

Question 31

What is the consequence of frequent flooding in a river’s floodplain?

Answer 31

It increases soil fertility, aiding agriculture.

Question 32

Which zone in a lake is characterized by having enough sunlight for phytoplankton to perform photosynthesis?

Answer 32

Limnetic zone

Question 33

How might an increased influx of freshwater from Greenland glaciers potentially affect the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) formation?

Answer 33

It could disrupt the flow by decreasing the salinity needed for downwelling.

Question 34

Which of the following statements accurately describes an adaptation observed in mangrove trees that helps them thrive in their habitat?

Answer 34

Mangrove trees possess roots that grow upward to gather oxygen and others that grow downward to act like stilts.

Question 35

Which sector is the largest consumer of freshwater resources?

Answer 35

Agriculture

Question 36

Why do chemicals break down more slowly in groundwater?

Answer 36

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

Question 37

What is the difference between nonpoint and point sources of water pollution?

Answer 37

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

Question 38

Bycatch ______.

Answer 38

refers to the accidental capture of animals

Question 39

The Coriolis effect ________.

Answer 39

is caused by Earth’s rotation

Question 40

Which of the following is a secondary air pollutant?

Answer 40

ozone

Question 41

The atmosphere around Earth can cause global warming because ________.

Answer 41

molecules in the atmosphere are warmed by radiation from Earth and retain that heat

Question 42

Keeling’s reports from Mauna Loa demonstrated ________.

Answer 42

an increase in tropospheric CO2 from the 1950s to present