question

The two main gases making up the lower atmosphere are a) helium and hydrogen. b) carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. c) oxygen and methane. d) nitrogen and oxygen. e) oxygen and carbon dioxide.

answer

d) nitrogen and oxygen.

question

The atmospheric zone where most weather events occur is the a) stratosphere. b) thermosphere. c) troposphere. d) mesosphere. e) stratopause.

answer

c) troposphere.

question

The correct sequence of atmospheric zones upward from the earth's surface is a) stratosphere, troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere. b) troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere. c) mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere, thermosphere. d) thermosphere, stratosphere, troposphere, mesosphere. e) troposphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, thermosphere.

answer

b) troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere.

question

When cool, dry air sinks from the upper atmosphere toward the Earth's surface, it is a) compressed and cooled further. b) allowed to expand and become warmer. c) compressed and becomes warmer. d) forced to release any remaining moisture. e) going to hold more water because there is more water vapor closer to the Earth's surface.

answer

c) compressed and becomes warmer.

question

A social or policy concern related to climate change might be a) the change in migratory patterns of birds. b) an increased land area in some countries due to the melting of glaciers. c) increased drought in agricultural regions. d) warmer average temperatures. e) movement of tectonic plates.

answer

c) increased drought in agricultural regions.

question

Paying to plant trees because you use carbon in your daily life would be an example of a) carbon reduction. b) cap and trade. c) carbon offsets. d) carbon sequestration. e) going carbon neutral.

answer

c) carbon offsets.

question

The air pollutant least successfully removed from the air by technologies in developed nations is a) carbon dioxide. b) sulfur oxides. c) nitrogen oxides. d) particulate matter. e) VOCs.

answer

c) nitrogen oxides.

question

When El Niño occurs every three to seven years, a mass of warm Pacific water that is usually pushed westward by trade winds a) surges back eastward toward South America. b) becomes much warmer than usual, strengthening trade winds. c) cools dramatically. d) sinks and therefore cools substantially. e) surges northward toward Japan.

answer

a) surges back eastward toward South America.

question

As far as we are currently aware, who were the first people to notice the El Niño Southern Oscillation cycle? a) scientists studying atmospheric changes b) meteorologists c) indigenous people in South America d) Peruvian fishermen e) colonial governors in South America from Spain

answer

d) Peruvian fishermen

question

Most of the excessive carbon dioxide that is expected to cause global warming is generated by a) green plants. b) burning of fossil fuels. c) production of cement and clearing of forests. d) All of these are correct. e) burning of fossil fuels and production of cement and clearing of forests only.

answer

e) burning of fossil fuels and production of cement and clearing of forests only.

question

What are the ecological implications of global warming? a) Plants and animals that are residing in fragmented habitats may not be able to move to a suitable habitat. b) In general, plants and animals will probably benefit from warmer temperatures. c) Since farmland may be lost, the habitats for plants and animals will increase in area. d) Since biodiversity is usually higher in warmer, milder climates, it will probably be increased. e) Tropical ecosystems will get even warmer than they are now.

answer

a) Plants and animals that are residing in fragmented habitats may not be able to move to a suitable habitat.

question

Proponents of climate change say that given what we know about the probability of the greenhouse effect, the best thing to do is a) immediately cease all industrial activity. b) wait and see how much temperatures change before we change our habits. c) severely cut back on production of greenhouse gases. d) not worry about greenhouse gas production. e) focus on the development of technological advances to help decrease the effects of climate change.

answer

c) severely cut back on production of greenhouse gases.

question

The amount of CO2 released by human activities per year is approximately ___________. a) 30 million tons b) 300 million tons c) 3 billion tons d) 30 billion tons d) 300 billion tons

answer

d) 30 billion tons

question

Primary pollutants are those that are a) released directly in dangerous forms. b) produced in the greatest quantities. c) the most dangerous. d) the most threatening to people. e) classified by the EPA as the most dangerous and abundant.

answer

a) released directly in dangerous forms.

question

________ is/are examples of secondary pollutants. a) Aerosols b) Volatile organic compounds c) Photochemical oxidants d) Combustion gases e) Dust from soil erosion

answer

c) Photochemical oxidants

question

A major source of VOCs is a) incomplete burning of hydrocarbons. b) combustion of sulfur-containing fuel. c) photochemical oxidation. d) CO in the atmosphere. e) CO2 in the atmosphere.

answer

a) incomplete burning of hydrocarbons.

question

___________ ozone is harmful, damaging plants and human health while ozone at the _________ level screens out mutagenic ultraviolet radiation. a) Stratospheric; troposphere b) Thermospheric; mesosphere c) Tropospheric; stratosphere d) Mesospheric; thermosphere e) Stratospheric; mesosphere

answer

c) Tropospheric; stratosphere

question

The \"ozone hole\" is a depletion currently most serious a) at the most populated latitudes. b) over North America. c) in tropical latitudes. d) near the Hadley cells. e) near the poles.

answer

e) near the poles.

question

There are serious signs that ozone depletion may lead to a) UV-caused skin cancers. b) UV-caused blindness. c) IR-caused sunburn. d) All of these are correct. e) UV-caused skin cancers and UV-caused blindness only.

answer

e) UV-caused skin cancers and UV-caused blindness only.

question

The most common human health response to air pollution is a) inflammatory responses in sensitive tissues. b) lung cancer. c) blindness caused by deteriorating eye tissues. d) skin cancer. e) heart disease.

answer

a) inflammatory responses in sensitive tissues.

question

One of the principal ways lakes suffer from acid deposition is that a) rocks on the bottom begin to dissolve. b) fish eggs die and fish populations fall. c) aquatic vegetation turns yellow. d) plants grow excessively and choke other life. e) All of these can happen in a lake from acid deposition.

answer

b) fish eggs die and fish populations fall.

question

What type of buildings and monuments are most susceptible to acid damage? a) granite and basalt b) wood c) limestone and marble d) concrete and brick e) brick and bronze

answer

c) limestone and marble

question

The use of scrubbers, precipitators, and filters on power plants and other \"smokestack\" industries probably accounts for a(n) a) increase in nitrogen oxides. b) decrease in sulfur oxides and solid particulate matter. c) decrease in volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, solid particulate matter, and lead. d) decrease in solid particulate matter and lead. e) decrease in nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds, solid particulate matter, and lead.

answer

b) decrease in sulfur oxides and solid particulate matter.

question

The __________________ is an international treaty designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions. a) Tokyo Accord b) Kyoto Declaration c) International Agreement on Global Warming d) Kyoto Protocol e) Tokyo Principle

answer

d) Kyoto Protocol

question

The phenomenon where cool, dense air sits under a layer of lighter warmer air is known as a ____________________. a) heat sink b) heat island c) temperature inversion d) Milankovitch cycle e) thermocline

answer

c) temperature inversion

question

The most significant part of President George W. Bush's \"Clear Skies Initiative\" would have _________________. a) reduced allowable sulfur emissions(X) b) reduced allowable nitrogen emissions (X) c) reduced allowable particulate emissions d) eliminated new source reviews for industry in favor of voluntary controls e) none of these are correct. (X)

answer

c) reduced allowable particulate emissions (?)

question

Worldwide, air pollution control efforts are least advanced or least successful in major cities of developing countries. a) True b) False

answer

a) True

question

Eastern European cities and farming regions have been notable in recent years for their steady and successful cleanup accomplishments. a) True b) False

answer

b) False

question

Nineteen of the 20 warmest of the last 150 years have occurred since 1980. a) True b) False

answer

a) True

question

There has been an increase in frequency and intensity of storms and hurricanes. a) True b) False

answer

a) True

question

The total amount of water on the Earth ____________ from year to year and the hydrologic cycle ________________. a) stays about the same; moves it from one place to another place b) increases; captures it from the incoming solar radiation c) increases; gains water from the Earth's interior d) decreases; moves it from one place to another place e) decreases; loses water to the atmosphere

answer

a) stays about the same; moves it from one place to another place

question

Most water in the atmosphere has evaporated from the ocean, and ______ rain falls back into the sea. About ________ % of the earth's total rain falls on land. a) most; 10 b) most; 20 c) less; 55 d) less; 70 e) None of these. Most water in the atmosphere does not evaporate from the

answer

a) most; 10

question

The hydrologic compartment that contains the greatest amount of fresh water is a) groundwater. b) the Great Lakes. c) living organisms and biomass. d) ice and snow. e) clouds in the atmosphere.

answer

d) ice and snow.

question

The place where aquifers are most likely to be contaminated is at a) artesian springs. b) seeps and other outlets. c) recharge zones. d) all discharge and recharge areas. e) the zone of aeration.

answer

c) recharge zones.

question

A country's renewable water supplies are generally made up of a) surface runoff and infiltration into accessible aquifers. b) seasonal flooding and infiltration into accessible aquifers. c) seasonal flooding. d) rivers running through the country. e) water used from an aquifer.

answer

a) surface runoff and infiltration into accessible aquifers.

question

Which of the following factors is the most important factor in determining whether a country is \"water rich\" or \"water poor\"? a) population density b) country size c) humid climate d) rivers running through the country e) renewable water supplies

answer

e) renewable water supplies

question

Withdrawal is the total amount of water a) lost in transmission, due to evaporation or leakage. b) taken from rivers, lakes, or aquifers. c) used in manufacturing or agriculture. d) altered or polluted in human activities. e) lost due to chemical transformation because of human use.

answer

b) taken from rivers, lakes, or aquifers.

question

In general, water use in poor countries is dominated by a) agricultural use. b) domestic needs. c) industrial activities. d) use as drinking water. e) All of these are correct.

answer

a) agricultural use.

question

A method of increasing water supplies that has been successful, if expensive, is a) desalination by reverse osmosis. b) cloud seeding. c) towing icebergs by ship from polar regions. d) altering the climate's convection currents. e) None of these methods are successful.

answer

a) desalination by reverse osmosis.

question

Principal problems that have resulted from the construction of large dams include a) evaporation and siltation. b) leakage and weakening of bedrock. c) mercury poisoning. d) the relocation of people. e) All of these are correct.

answer

e) All of these are correct.

question

What would you not find in water that has been through tertiary treatment? a) Antibiotics. b) Hormones. c) Dissolved Metals. d) Insecticides. e) Antidepressants.

answer

c) Dissolved Metals.

question

The activity that uses the greatest share of U.S. household water is a) bathing. b) drinking and cooking. c) flushing the toilet. d) washing clothes and dishes. e) watering lawns

answer

c) flushing the toilet.

question

Factories, sewage treatment plants, and oil wells are __________ sources of water pollution. a) point b) primary c) nonpoint d) tertiary pollutant e) secondary

answer

a) point

question

_________ sources of water pollution are relatively easy to monitor and regulate while _____________ sources of water pollution are difficult to monitor and clean up. a) Domestic; industrial b) Primary; tertiary pollutant c) Nonpoint; point d) Tertiary pollutant; primary e) Point; nonpoint

answer

e) Point; nonpoint

question

____________ is to point source of water pollution as _____________ is to nonpoint source of water pollution. a) Golf course runoff; atmospheric deposition b) Golf course runoff; power plant effluent c) Power plant effluent; golf course runoff d) Atmospheric deposition; golf course runoff e) Power plant effluent; underground coal mine drains

answer

c) Power plant effluent; golf course runoff

question

The water pollutant that most commonly threatens human health is a) pathogenic organisms. b) dissolved plant matter. c) toxic and hazardous chemicals. d) thermal pollution. e) oxygen-demanding wastes.

answer

a) pathogenic organisms.

question

Coliform bacteria populations are routinely monitored in drinking water supplies, swimming pools, and at beaches because these bacteria a) are especially toxic to animals. b) may mutate into severely pathogenic strains. c) indicate the presence of feces in water. d) usually live in pesticide-contaminated water. e) are more difficult to find in water.

answer

c) indicate the presence of feces in water.

question

The main reason that surface water pollution has largely decreased in the United States since 1950 is a) the Clean Water Act. b) a series of epidemics that inspired action. c) the discovery of newer technology that makes it cheaper not to pollute. d) decreases in water withdrawal for industrial uses. e) the emphasis in 1950 of watershed management.

answer

a) the Clean Water Act.

question

Tertiary treatment of sewage produces water that is usable for a) agriculture. b) drinking. c) industrial activities. d) watering livestock. e) dumping into freshwater systems.

answer

b) drinking.

question

The city of Arcata, California, is notable because it designed a _________ to treat its sewage. a) system of modern outhouses b) fully modern, technologically advanced system c) natural marsh d) corporate sponsorship system e) living machine

answer

c) natural marsh

question

Best available economically achievable technology (BAT) standards are standards set for a) nonpoint pollution. b) toxic substances. c) radioactive waste, specifically. d) organic compounds. e) all point sources.

answer

b) toxic substances.

question

Plants that take up heavy metals found in water would be an example of a) containment of pollutants. b) tertiary sewage treatment. c) bioremediation. d) wetland treatment. e) in vitro extraction techniques.

answer

c) bioremediation.

question

The residence time for an average water molecule in the ocean is about ________ years. a) 2 b) 60 c) 850 d) 3000 e) 12000

answer

d) 3000

question

A(n) ______________ is all the land drained by a particular river. a) reservoir b) water table c) watershed d) recharge zone e) aquifer

answer

c) watershed

question

Many cities in the American Southwest rely on sources of drinking water that contaminated with __________________. a) arsenic b) lead c) coliform bacteria (X) d) DDT (X) e) none of these are correct. (X)

answer

b) lead (?)

question

An oligotrophic lake would be very productive. a) True b) False

answer

b) False

question

Domestic water conservation in the United States would save about 20% of the water we now use. Therefore, we need to come up with better technology to avoid strict restrictions in the future. a) True b) False

answer

b) False

question

The heating of natural waterways by power plants and other industrial facilities is a form of water pollution. a) True b) False

answer

a) True

question

The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) was established as a part of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). a) True b) False

answer

b) False

Chapters 9: Air: Climate and Polution, and 10: Water: Resources and Polution

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