Environmental Science Toughest Questions! Trivia Quiz
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- 1.Inland wetlands are valuable for providing
- A.
Wildlife habitat.
- B.
Improved water quality.
- C.
Regulated stream flow.
- D.
All of these answers
- E.
None of these answers
- 2.Which of the following statements best illustrates the tragedy of the commons?
- A.
A factory pollutes a river as much as the law allows.
- B.
Some levels of pollution are life threatening.
- C.
Some activities harm the environment, but others do not.
- D.
Irrigated cropland can be ruined by salinization.
- E.
Cropland can decrease biodiversity.
- 3.In the United States, ______ of all urban transportation is by car.
- A.
68%
- B.
78%
- C.
88%
- D.
98%
- E.
48%
- 4.The goal of even-aged management of a forest is
- A.
Maintenance of maximum biological diversity.
- B.
Production of high-quality timber.
- C.
A long-term ecologically oriented approach.
- D.
To grow and harvest monoculture forests.
- E.
Multiple use of forest for timber, watershed protection and recreation.
- 5.Leaf mold, a humus-mineral mixture, and silty loam are indicative of
- A.
Coniferous forest soil.
- B.
Deciduous forest soil.
- C.
Tropical forest soil.
- D.
Grassland soil.
- E.
Desert soil.
- 6.Since 1920, urban areas in the United States have seen improvements in
- A.
Housing conditions.
- B.
Medical care.
- C.
Air and water quality.
- D.
Sanitation.
- E.
All of these answers.
- 7.Good wilderness management would do all of the following except
- A.
Extensively patrol the accessible popular areas.
- B.
Offer permits to selected area for those who have demonstrated wilderness skills.
- C.
Leave some areas undisturbed by humans
- D.
Allow citizens to camp anywhere at their own risk.
- E.
Limit number of people using sites at any one time.
- 8.Which of the following is not a factor that leads to urban sprawl?
- A.
High cost of gasoline
- B.
State and local zoning
- C.
Availability of mortgages
- D.
Government loan guarantees to veterans
- E.
Ample land for expansion
- 9.Which of the following is not appropriate to use in describing a tropical rain forest?
- A.
Humid
- B.
Rich soil
- C.
Stratified
- D.
Diversity
- E.
Rainfall
- 10.The hydrologic cycle is driven primarily by
- A.
Solar energy and gravity.
- B.
Solar energy and the moon.
- C.
Solar energy and the mechanical energy.
- D.
Mechanical and chemical energy.
- E.
Chemical energy and the moon.
- 11.Which of the following statements is false?
- A.
When environmental conditions are changing rapidly, a generalist is usually better off than a specialist.
- B.
The fundamental niche of a species is the full range of physical, chemical, and biological factors it could use if there were no competition.
- C.
The competitive exclusive principle states that no two species with the same fundamental niche can indefinitely occupy the same habitat.
- D.
Interspecific competition is competition between two members of the same species.
- E.
Intraspecific competition is competition between two members of the same species.
- 12.To decay to what is considered to be a safe level a sample of radioisotope should be stored in a safe enclosure for approximately _____ half lives.
- A.
2
- B.
5
- C.
10
- D.
20
- E.
30
- 13.Which of the following statements about the greenhouse effect is false?
- A.
The amount of heat trapped in the troposphere depends on the concentrations of greenhouse gases.
- B.
The greenhouse effect is a new theory that explains the warming of the atmosphere.
- C.
Heat trapped by greenhouse gases keeps the planet warm enough for life.
- D.
The two predominant greenhouse gases are water vapor and carbon dioxide.
- E.
It has been confirmed by numerous lab experiments and measurements of atmospheric temperatures at different altitudes.
- 14.Sustainable agriculture is characterized by all of the following except
- A.
Promoting monoculture.
- B.
Lack of requirements of massive amounts of fossil fuels.
- C.
Conserving and building topsoil.
- D.
Lack of use of many artificial chemicals.
- E.
Promoting polyculture.
- 15.
- A.
Switch from fossil fuels to nuclear fuels.
- B.
Increase the efficiency of energy use.
- C.
Plant trees to trap more carbon dioxide.
- D.
Stop deforestation.
- E.
Slow population growth.
- 16.To qualify as a metropolitan area, a city must have a population of _______ people.
- A.
25,000
- B.
50,000
- C.
75,000
- D.
100,000
- E.
500,000
- 17.Advantages of automobiles include all of the following except
- A.
Freedom to go where you want when you want.
- B.
Adventure.
- C.
Energy efficiency.
- D.
Provisions of jobs.
- E.
Convenience of use.
- 18.Which of the following statements is false?
- A.
The amount of solar energy reaching Earth's surface is dependent on latitude.
- B.
Hot air rises.
- C.
Air at the lower latitudes tends to cool and fall or sink downward.
- D.
Cool air is denser than warm air.
- E.
Cool air falls.
- 19.With 46% of the world's population, urban dwellers occupy about _____ of the planet's land area, but to meet their demands has required using or disturbing about _____ of the Earth's habitable land area.
- A.
20%...73%
- B.
20%...33%
- C.
44%...88%
- D.
4%...75%
- E.
50%...50%
- 20.Since 1860, mean global temperature has risen ____ degree(s) centigrade.
- A.
0.1-0.3
- B.
0.6-0.8
- C.
0.8-1.0
- D.
1.0-1.5
- E.
2.0-2.5
- 21.Today's cities are not self-sustaining because they import
- A.
Minerals.
- B.
Energy.
- C.
Food.
- D.
Manufactured goods.
- E.
All of these answers.
- 22.The UNICEF program to sharply reduce childhood deaths from improper nutrition would include all of the following except
- A.
Discouraging breastfeeding.
- B.
Preventing dehydration by giving infants sugar and salt in water.
- C.
Giving vitamin A supplements.
- D.
Providing family planning services.
- E.
Giving iron supplements.
- 23.Which of the following cutting methods leaves only a few mature seed-producing, wind-resistant trees for the regeneration of forest?
- A.
Selective cutting
- B.
Seed-tree cutting
- C.
Clear-cutting
- D.
Shelterwood cutting
- E.
Strip cutting
- 24.Of the following forms of birth control, the least effective is
- A.
IUD plus spermicide.
- B.
An oral contraceptive.
- C.
A hormonal implant.
- D.
A condom (good brand).
- E.
The rhythm method.
- 25.A form of clear-cutting that can allow a sustainable timer yield without widespread destruction is called
- A.
Selective cutting.
- B.
Seed-tree cutting.
- C.
Strip cutting.
- D.
Shelterwood cutting.
- E.
Straight cutting.
- 26.Developed countries
- A.
A highly industrialized.
- B.
Have a low GNP per person.
- C.
Are generally located in Asia.
- D.
Make up about 80% of the world's population.
- E.
Use about 12% of the world's natural resources.
- 27.Which of the following is an example of low-quality energy?
- A.
Electricity
- B.
Heat in the ocean
- C.
Nuclei of uranium-235
- D.
Coal
- E.
Oil
- 28.Which of the following principles would most environmentalists <em>not</em> want to see being a guide to governance of public lands? Which of the following principles would most environmentalists not want to see being a guide to governance of public lands?
- A.
All users of public lands should be responsible for correcting any environmental damage they cause.
- B.
Protection of biodiversity and ecological integrity should be the most important goal.
- C.
Public lands should be used to enrich individual citizens to make a strong U.S. economy.
- D.
No one should be given subsidies or tax brakes for extracting resources on public lands.
- E.
The American people deserve fair compensation for the use of their properties.
- 29.The world's marine catch is not expected to increase significantly. The factor least responsible for this trend is
- A.
Increased population growth.
- B.
Global warming.
- C.
Overfishing.
- D.
Water pollution.
- E.
A decline for few years.
- 30.The surface litter horizon is described by the letter
- A.
A.
- B.
B.
- C.
C.
- D.
O.
- E.
D.
- 31.Weather occurs
- A.
In the troposphere.
- B.
At a particular place.
- C.
At a particular time.
- D.
All of these answers.
- E.
None of these answers.
- 32.Cities established on barrier islands are subject to
- A.
Beach erosion.
- B.
Hurricanes.
- C.
Flooding.
- D.
All of these answers.
- E.
None of these answers.
- 33.Based on the theory of island biogeography, you would predict that large islands near the mainland would have relatively
- A.
High immigration and low extinction rates.
- B.
High immigration and high extinction rates.
- C.
Low immigration and low extinction rates.
- D.
Low immigration and high extinction rates.
- E.
Not enough information to predict.
- 34.Which of the following types of agriculture is most characteristic of developing countries?
- A.
Plantation agriculture
- B.
Traditional agriculture
- C.
Industrialized agriculture
- D.
Minimum-tillage agriculture
- E.
High-input agriculture
- 35.According to pesticide proponents, pesticides
- A.
Work faster than alternate controls.
- B.
Increase profit for farmers.
- C.
Save lives and money.
- D.
Increase food supplies and lower costs.
- E.
All of these answers.
- 36.What does integrated coastal management accomplish?
- A.
Enlarges the exclusive economic zone
- B.
Reduces the number of marine protected areas
- C.
Supercedes the "Law of the Sea"
- D.
Provides a variety of protection and use levels
- E.
Allows for unlimited development
- 37.Which of the following is the most restricted of all public areas?
- A.
National parks
- B.
National forests
- C.
National resource lands
- D.
National wildlife refuges
- E.
National wilderness areas
- 38.All of the following are abiotic factors except
- A.
Light.
- B.
Bacteria.
- C.
PH.
- D.
Size of soil particles.
- E.
Water.
- 39.Which of the following choices would make the statement false? Economic growth
- A.
Provides good and services for people's final use.
- B.
Is accomplished by minimizing the flow of matter and energy through and economy.
- C.
Is encouraged by population growth.
- D.
Is encouraged by increased consumption per capita
- E.
All of these answers.
- 40.Which of the following statements is true?
- A.
Exposure of a substance to alpha, beta, or gamma radiation makes it radioactive.
- B.
All isotopes are radioactive.
- C.
Radioactive isotopes give off radiation at a fixed rate.
- D.
Only naturally occurring substances are radioactive.
- E.
Radioactive isotopes give off radiation at variable rates.
- 41.Energy can be formally defined as
- A.
The random motion of molecules.
- B.
The ability to do work or produce heat transfer.
- C.
A force that is exerted over some distance.
- D.
The movement of molecules.
- E.
The loss of matter.
- 42.The fragility of the desert ecosystem is indicated by
- A.
The high growth rate of plants.
- B.
Moderate species diversity.
- C.
Abundant groundwater.
- D.
Long regeneration time from vegetation destruction.
- E.
Having shallow roots.
- 43.A shark is least likely to be killed
- A.
By a predator.
- B.
For sport.
- C.
Out of fear.
- D.
For food.
- E.
For their jaws.
- 44.In alley cropping,
- A.
Crops are planted between hedgerows of trees or shrubs that are used for fruits or fuelwood.
- B.
Terrace are built to prevent swift water runoff.
- C.
Plowing runs across slopes.
- D.
Special tillers are used so the topsoil is not disturbed.
- E.
A row crops alternates in strips with another row crop.
- 45.To help protect the food supply and fight pests responsibly, individuals can
- A.
Use larger amounts of pesticides when necessary.
- B.
Dispose of unused pesticide where it will continue to kill pests.
- C.
Allow native plants to cover most of their property.
- D.
Use powerful synthetic to pesticides.
- E.
Help eradicate all pests everywhere.
- 46.Characteristics that make amphibians particularly sensitive to pollution include
- A.
Living part of their life cycle in water and part on land.
- B.
Soft, permeable skin.
- C.
Sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation.
- D.
All of these answers.
- E.
None of these answers.
- 47.Microclimates are least likely to be produced by
- A.
Mountains.
- B.
Bodies of water.
- C.
Cities.
- D.
Flat plains.
- E.
Sand dunes.
- 48.Autotrophs
- A.
Can live without heterotrophs.
- B.
Are know as producers.
- C.
Carry on photosynthesis.
- D.
All of these answers.
- E.
None of these answers.
- 49.The organisms that are classified as primary consumers are the
- A.
Detritivores.
- B.
Omnivores.
- C.
Carnivores.
- D.
Decomposers.
- E.
Herbivores.
- 50.Which of the following statements is the most logical way to cope with the problem of limitations imposed by the three basic laws governing matter?
- A.
Use and waste less energy and matter.
- B.
Shift to nonpolluting nuclear fusion power.
- C.
Increase the output of low-quality heat.
- D.
Increase the input of high-quality energy.
- E.
All of these answers.
- 51.Which of the following statements is false?
- A.
Clear-cutting increases the amount of timber produced per acre.
- B.
Lumber companies prefer clear-cutting because it takes less skill and planning that other methods.
- C.
Clear-cutting shortens rotation time.
- D.
Clear-cutting requires more roads.
- E.
Clear-cutting permits reforestation with genetically improved stocks of fast-growing trees.
- 52.About _____ of the world fish harvest is used primarily as animal feed, fish meal, and oils.
- A.
One-half
- B.
One-third
- C.
One-fourth
- D.
One-fifth
- E.
One-sixth
- 53.During routine water testing on a level one stream, you find nitrates are present in higher concentrations than usual. You hypothesize that the nitrates are running into the stream from a chicken house in the stream's
- A.
Floodplain.
- B.
Source area.
- C.
Watershed.
- D.
Aquifer.
- E.
Headwaters.
- 54.Climate and vegetation vary with
- A.
Latitude only.
- B.
Altitude only.
- C.
Latitude and altitude.
- D.
Latitude and longitude.
- E.
Altitude and longitude.
- 55.Which of the following least characterizes U.S. immigration policy?
- A.
The law prohibits hiring of illegal immigrants.
- B.
Some environmentalists want to limit immigration to a small percentage of the U.S. population growth.
- C.
Some citizens feel that limiting immigration diminishes the U.S. role in providing a place of opportunity for poor and oppressed people.
- D.
Over the past decade, efforts to deport illegal immigrants have weakened.
- E.
Some citizens are opposed to limiting immigration because immigrants pay taxes and take many menial, low-paying jobs.
- 56.The fact that increased skin cancer rates may not show up for 15-40 years following ozone depletion illustrates the concept of
- A.
Positive feedback.
- B.
Negative feedback.
- C.
Lag time.
- D.
Suppression of the immune system.
- E.
Synergistic interaction.
- 57.Environmental resistance is enhanced by
- A.
The ability to compete for resources.
- B.
The ability to resist disease and parasites.
- C.
A specialized niche.
- D.
A high reproductive rate.
- E.
All of these answers.
- 58.A relationship in which both speicies benefit is best labeled
- A.
Competion.
- B.
Predation.
- C.
Mutualism.
- D.
Parasitism.
- E.
Commensalism.
- 59.A tree grower using uneven-aged management most likely has the goal of
- A.
Decreasing biological diversity.
- B.
Maintaining long-term production of high-quality timber.
- C.
Producing quick economic return.
- D.
Producing fiber for paper mills.
- E.
Increasing erosion.
- 60.Sustainable agriculture
- A.
Uses pesticides.
- B.
Minimizes erosion.
- C.
Requires high inputs of fossil fuel.
- D.
Employs massive fertilization programs.
- E.
Wastes water.
- 61.Which statement least characterizes laboratory research?
- A.
It allows measurement of model ecosystems and populations under controlled conditions.
- B.
It is faster than similar field research.
- C.
It is cheaper than similar field research.
- D.
It has been used to develop most of our knowledge about ecosystems.
- E.
None of these answers.
- 62.Which of the following statements about amphibians is false?
- A.
The older of today's amphibians were living as long as 150 million years ago.
- B.
Amphibians are important indicator species.
- C.
Amphibians are experiencing sharp population declines in variety of habitats.
- D.
Amphibians eat many insects, second in number only to birds.
- E.
They are often considered indicator species.
- 63.Which of the following ecosystems has the lowest productivity?
- A.
Savanna
- B.
Tropical rain forest
- C.
Open ocean
- D.
Lakes and streams
- E.
Temperate forest
- 64.About _____ of the Earth's land area is tropical forest.
- A.
1%
- B.
6%
- C.
12%
- D.
16%
- E.
20%
- 65.All of the following harmful effects have been linked to prolonged exposure to excessive noise except
- A.
Gastric ulcers.
- B.
Psychological disorders and irritability.
- C.
High blood pressure and higher cholesterol levels.
- D.
Skin cancer.
- E.
Hearing loss.
- 66.The actual average replacement-level fertility for the whole world is slightly higher than
- A.
1 child per couple.
- B.
2 children per couple.
- C.
3 children per couple.
- D.
4 children per couple.
- E.
6 children per couple.
- 67.The crude birth rate is the number of live births per _____ persons in a given year.
- A.
50
- B.
100
- C.
500
- D.
1,000
- E.
10,000
- 68.Species that migrate or are accidentally introduced into an ecosystem are called
- A.
Indicator species.
- B.
Native species.
- C.
Keystone species.
- D.
Specialist species.
- E.
Nonnative species.
- 69.Which of the following statements is false?
- A.
The estimated number of malnourished people fell form 940 million in 1970 to 825 million in 2001.
- B.
Approximately 80% of deaths from malnutrition and undernutrition are children younger than five.
- C.
Approximately 250,000 children younger than age six go blind each year.
- D.
One of every ten people in developing countries is undernourished or malnourished.
- E.
People who are underfed and underweight, like those overweight and overfed, have a lower life expectancy.
- 70.Which of the following statements best describes the scientific enterprise?
- A.
There is one scientific method used to advance our understanding of science.
- B.
Intuition has no place in the scientific process.
- C.
Controlled experiments are the only way of advancing scientific understanding.
- D.
Consensus science is more widely accepted by the scientific community than pioneer science.
- E.
Scientists use data to prove that their models, theories, and laws are absolutely true.
- 71.Biomes are affected by ocean currents and water flow.
- A.
True.
- B.
False
- 72.There are significantly more disadvantages than advantages to clear-cutting forests.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 73.As in a human body, the Earth's capacity to repair itself is critical to its survival.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 74.Home gardeners customarily use organic fertilizers more than commercial farmers do because of their high cost per pound of actual nutrient element.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 75.Soil pH affects the nutrients that may or may not be available for native vegetation.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 76.A region's life expectancy is inversely related to crude death rate of that region.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 77.The declining economic health of cities often reduces services to their residents: water, electricity, open spaces, timely garbage collection, etc.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 78.In the stratosphere, temperature increases with altitude, due to absorption of UV light by oxygen and ozone.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 79.The size of a species' population, be that animal or human, is influenced by births, deaths, immigration, and emigration.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 80.Overall, the air quality is poorer and drinking water more polluted today than in the 1970s.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 81.Reducing illegal immigration into the United States would increase the rate of economic growth.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 82.The United States, China, and Russia, three of the world's major emitters, agreed in 2001 to participate in a cap-and-trade program to slow global warming.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 83.Man's ability to expand into new habitats increases man's population growth but does so at the expense of the environment.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 84.Public lands (parks, zoos, national forests, national seashores, etc.) help sustain biodiversity.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 85.The world's economies are not affected by climate change.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 86.Logging in the United States National Forests has no clear advantages because it provides only 3% of our lumber needs and has little impact on lubmer prices.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 87.When a nonrenewable resource is completely exhausted, it is referred to as economically depleted.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 88.The effect of a population increase or environmental resistance is not felt instantly in most cases.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 89.Urban areas are attracting more and more residents, partly because of the hope for employment.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 90.When a country's GDP decrease, the per capita GDP must also decrease.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
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