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1 | |
An enhanced "greenhouse effect" caused by human activity is related most closely to: |
| | A) | increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide |
| | B) | nutrient enrichment of water through concentrations of fertilizer in agricultural runoff |
| | C) | the conversion of sulfur oxides into sulfuric acid (acid rain) in the atmosphere |
| | D) | the return of heated water to the environment |
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2 | |
Which of the following would be most likely be a producer (or autotroph) in the food chain: |
| | A) | plants |
| | B) | humans |
| | C) | rabbits |
| | D) | fish |
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3 | |
All but which of the following are symptoms of eutrophication? |
| | A) | fish kills |
| | B) | large masses of algae |
| | C) | prolific weed growth |
| | D) | rapid reduction in bottom sediments |
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4 | |
The process of desertification is occurring in all but which of the following regions: |
| | A) | Canada |
| | B) | India |
| | C) | Middle East |
| | D) | Western Sahara |
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5 | |
All of the following are international agreements to control pollution except: |
| | A) | Montreal Protocol |
| | B) | Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution |
| | C) | Clean Air Acts series, 1963-1990 |
| | D) | Kyoto Protocol |
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6 | |
Worldwide, which activity accounts for the greatest percentage of freshwater usage? |
| | A) | irrigated agriculture |
| | B) | industry |
| | C) | mining |
| | D) | urbanization |
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7 | |
Aside from overhunting, the main cause of animal species extinction has been: |
| | A) | biological concentration of harmful species |
| | B) | habitat degradation or loss |
| | C) | introduction of other predator species |
| | D) | introduction of zebra mussels |
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8 | |
Concentration of such substances as DDT in plants and animals exemplifies a process known as: |
| | A) | biological magnification |
| | B) | eutrophication |
| | C) | drug concentrophication |
| | D) | thermal pollution |
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9 | |
The largest underground water supply in the U.S. is located in the: |
| | A) | Florida Everglades |
| | B) | Great Lakes Basin |
| | C) | High Plains from South Dakota to west Texas |
| | D) | Tennessee Valley |
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10 | |
Which activity contributes to water pollution more than any other throughout the world? |
| | A) | agriculture |
| | B) | hydroelectric power generation |
| | C) | industry |
| | D) | urbanization |
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11 | |
An example of high-level hazardous waste is: |
| | A) | detergent wastes |
| | B) | organic solvents |
| | C) | pharmaceutical waste |
| | D) | spent nuclear power reactor fuel assemblies |
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12 | |
The three main types of pollutants found in agricultural runoff are: |
| | A) | animal wastes, biocides, fertilizers |
| | B) | animal wastes, biocides, organic solvents |
| | C) | biocides, erosion, fertilizers |
| | D) | biocides, herbicides, pesticides |
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13 | |
With respect to the earth as a system, the hydrosphere is concerned with: |
| | A) | air |
| | B) | rocks |
| | C) | vegetation |
| | D) | water |
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14 | |
One possible effect of global warming would be: |
| | A) | an increase in the amount of fresh water throughout the globe |
| | B) | an increase in volcanic activity |
| | C) | coastal wetlands would be submerged |
| | D) | the continental interiors of middle latitudes would receive greater precipitation |
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15 | |
An aquifer is: |
| | A) | a pipeline which transports water to urban areas |
| | B) | responsible for 40 percent of the irrigated acreage in the United States |
| | C) | the cause of regional water shortages |
| | D) | an underground zone of water-saturated sands and gravels |
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16 | |
What is the second largest expenditure for most local governments in the United States? |
| | A) | wetlands protection |
| | B) | air quality monitoring |
| | C) | solid-waste disposal |
| | D) | endangered species protection |
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17 | |
What is the primary source of air pollution in the United States? |
| | A) | industry |
| | B) | transportation |
| | C) | solid waste disposal |
| | D) | fuel combustion from stationary sources |
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18 | |
Which of the following is not a secondary effect of the process of soil erosion? |
| | A) | accelerated siltation of nearby streams and reservoirs |
| | B) | increase in urban water supplies |
| | C) | loss of topsoil |
| | D) | salinization |
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19 | |
The most common disposal of solid waste is: |
| | A) | concrete encased storage tanks |
| | B) | deep well injection |
| | C) | sanitary landfills |
| | D) | ocean dumping |
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20 | |
Which of the following concerning air pollution is not correct? |
| | A) | Air pollution is not a global problem, rather it is restricted to the industrialized countries. |
| | B) | Burning of fossil fuels creates the largest proportion of pollutants. |
| | C) | Dust from volcanic eruptions can temporarily alter the atmosphere. |
| | D) | Truly clean air has probably never existed. |
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21 | |
A plant or animal that has been released into an ecosystem in which it did not evolve is all of the following except: |
| | A) | feral |
| | B) | non-indigenous |
| | C) | exotic |
| | D) | alien |
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22 | |
Acid rain contamination along the eastern seaboard of the United States is blamed primarily on: |
| | A) | increased automobile emissions from states like California |
| | B) | Midwestern coal burning power stations and industries |
| | C) | global warming |
| | D) | recent major volcanic eruptions in Asia |
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23 | |
Which of the following does not place growing demands on water supplies? |
| | A) | hydrologic cycle |
| | B) | agriculture |
| | C) | suburban residential development |
| | D) | industrialization |
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24 | |
Depletion of the earth's ozone layer is expected to lead to all of the following consequences except: |
| | A) | increases in the incidence of skin cancer |
| | B) | increases in human vulnerability to a variety of infectious diseases |
| | C) | an increase in sea temperatures causing melting of the polar ice caps |
| | D) | threaten the existence of the microscopic plankton at the base of the marine food chain |
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25 | |
The agricultural practice of terracing: |
| | A) | allows soil to renew its fertility |
| | B) | decreases soil erosion |
| | C) | increases soil erosion |
| | D) | takes large amounts of land out of agricultural production |
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26 | |
The Ogallala aquifer is located in East Africa. |
| | A) | True. |
| | B) | False. |
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27 | |
The troposphere extends up about 10 kilometers above the ground. |
| | A) | True. |
| | B) | False. |
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28 | |
The enrichment of waters by nutrients is known as eutrophication. |
| | A) | True. |
| | B) | False. |
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29 | |
Oxides of sulfur are the main cause of photochemical smog. |
| | A) | True. |
| | B) | False. |
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30 | |
The 20th century was the warmest century for the past 600 years. |
| | A) | True. |
| | B) | False. |
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31 | |
The Kyoto Protocol primarily deals with the ending of commercial whaling in Asia. |
| | A) | True. |
| | B) | False. |
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32 | |
Each year the world loses about 100,000 square kilometers of tropical rain forest each year. |
| | A) | True. |
| | B) | False. |
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33 | |
Salinization occurs because of the rapid drainage of irrigated agricultural areas in arid climates. |
| | A) | True. |
| | B) | False. |
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34 | |
Incinerators can reduce trash volume by about 90%. |
| | A) | True. |
| | B) | False. |
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35 | |
Yucca Mountain now serves as the repository for all nuclear waste in the United States. |
| | A) | True. |
| | B) | False. |
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