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Environmental Science: A Global Concern, 7/e
William P. Cunningham, University of Minnesota
Mary Ann Cunningham, Vassar College
Barbara Woodworth Saigo, St. Cloud State University

Matter, Energy, and Life

Practice Quizzing



1

The smallest particle exhibiting the characteristics of an element is a/an
A)atom.
B)molecule.
C)isotope.
D)ion.
2

Atoms that have become either positively or negatively charged are called
A)atoms.
B)molecules.
C)isotopes.
D)ions.
3

Atoms of the same element but with different atomic mass are called
A)radioactive.
B)molecules.
C)isotopes.
D)ions.
4

Chemical bonds are
A)forces that hold atoms together.
B)an important form of potential energy.
C)very important to biological processes.
D)all of the above.
5

Organic compounds are those substances
A)found only in living organisms.
B)containing carbon.
C)composed of atoms of a single element.
D)exhibiting radioactive decay.
6

Acids are defined as substances
A)composed of two or more atoms bound together.
B)that release hydrogen ions.
C)that react with other substances.
D)are more than one of the above.
7

Characteristics of water with significant implications for life include
A)the cohesive tendencies of its molecules.
B)the large amount of heat needed to convert it from liquid to gas.
C)the large amount of heat required to increase its temperature.
D)all of the above.
8

Energy is defined as
A)sugar, gasoline, and other such substances.
B)any chemical substance that can be broken down.
C)heat.
D)the capability of doing work.
9

The conservation of matter principle is that matter
A)is composed of atoms and molecules.
B)cannot be created, destroyed, nor changed in form.
C)must be used carefully or earth will eventually run out.
D)can neither be created nor destroyed.
10

The first law of thermodynamics states that
A)matter and energy can readily be transformed into one another.
B)energy can neither be created nor destroyed under normal conditions.
C)energy cannot be shifted from one form to another.
D)matter cannot be shifted from one form to another.
11

The second law of thermodynamics states that
A)whenever energy is used, some becomes converted to a form difficult to use to do work.
B)energy cannot be shifted from one form to another.
C)life forms cannot survive without energy.
D)energy exists in both potential and kinetic form.
12

The central accomplishments of photosynthesis include
A)converting solar energy into chemical bond energy.
B)providing the energy base for almost all life forms.
C)producing sugar from simple molecules.
D)all of the above.
13

Cellular respiration is the process by which organisms
A)release energy from sugar for metabolic use.
B)create complex organic molecules from simple molecules.
C)convert heat to chemical bond energy for metabolic work.
D)do more than one of the above.
14

Which of these is the highest level of organization and includes all the others?
A)community
B)ecosystem
C)species
D)population
15

A group of individuals of a particular type that are able to successfully interbreed is called a/an
A)community.
B)ecosystem.
C)species.
D)population.
16

Which of these includes both organisms and the physical environment?
A)population
B)community
C)ecosystem
D)species
17

The productivity of an ecosystem refers to the
A)amount of food consumed by the organisms per unit space.
B)average number of offspring produced per adult female per unit time.
C)amount of biological material produced during a certain period of time.
D)reproductive output.
18

The word trophic refers to
A)food or feeding.
B)one of two phases of photosynthesis.
C)the consumption of plant material by animals and other non-photosynthetic life forms.
D)the transformation of other forms of energy into chemical bond energy.
19

Which have the most diverse diet?
A)photosynthetic plants
B)herbivores
C)omnivores
D)carnivores
20

To be classified as a member of trophic level IV, an organism’s principal food would have to be
A)plants.
B)animals that eat plants.
C)animals that eat animals that eat plants.
D)animals that eat animals that eat animals that eat plants.
21

Which two kinds of organisms are most important in an ecosystem?
A)plants and primary consumers
B)plants and animals at the very top of the food chain
C)animals in trophic levels III and IV
D)plants and decomposers
22

The pyramid of energy in an ecosystem, with its progressive diminishment of energy contained within successively higher trophic levels, exists because
A)of the progressive loss of energy as waste heat as energy moves from one trophic level to another.
B)animal flesh contains a greater density of calories per gram of body weight than plants.
C)plant mass contains a greater number of calories per gram of body weight than animal flesh.
D)the higher the trophic level, generally, the larger the animals become.
23

Photosynthesis and respiration are most significant in the cycle.
A)nitrogen
B)carbon
C)sulfur
D)phosphorus
24

Decomposers are a critical component of which cycle(s).
A)nitrogen
B)carbon
C)phosphorus
D)all of the above
25

The _____ cycle is most dependent on a variety of types of bacteria that shift the element among several different chemical forms.
A)nitrogen
B)carbon
C)sulfur
D)phosphorus
26

The functions and characteristics of living organisms are most broadly the result of characteristics of
A)phosphorus.
B)carbon dioxide.
C)water.
D)sugar.
27

The final breakdown and recycling of organic material is accomplished by
A)top level consumers.
B)decomposers.
C)scavengers.
D)detritivores.
28

Which cycle involves movement of atoms up the food chain from trophic level to trophic level through feeding?
A)carbon
B)nitrogen
C)phosphorus
D)all of the above
29

A carbon sink is a place where carbon
A)atoms wash up for supper.
B)is stored after removal from the atmosphere.
C)is released after cellular respiration.
D)is released by combustion.
30

_____ makes up the majority of the weight of most life forms.
A)Carbohydrate
B)Protein
C)Water
D)Fat