Earth and Environmental Science Final Exam

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Which force is primarily responsible for holding planets in orbit around the Sun?

The process by which small particles combine to form larger bodies in the early solar system is called:

Earth’s rotation causes:

The tilt of Earth’s axis is responsible for:

What process powers the Sun’s core?

During nuclear fusion in the Sun, hydrogen nuclei combine to form:

Which layer of Earth's atmosphere absorbs most ultraviolet radiation?

In the solar system formation, gravity caused dust and gas to:

Photosynthesis is powered directly by:

Match each term below to its correct description.

Weathering is the breaking down of rock into ___________.

_________is the movement of sediment from one place to another.

The dropping off of sediments in a new place is called __________.

How does freezing water cause the weathering of rocks?  The freezing water—

What type of weathering is it when acid rain breaks down and changes the rock?

How do plants weather rocks?

Which type of rock results from melting and cooling of magma?

Which type of rock forms from extreme heat and pressure?

Wind, water, and ice breaking down rock is called

Identify the two elements that are chemically bonded to form water.

Which correctly represents the distribution of water on Earth?

The greenhouse effect is caused by......

What is primarily responsible for the current rate of climate change?

Which surface has the highest albedo (reflects the most light)?

Convection Currents in water are characterized by:

Point Source Pollution is characterized by:

Which statement about water conservation is most accurate?

Which of the following best explains why hurricanes typically form over tropical oceans?

What makes the eye wall of a hurricane particularly dangerous?

Many birds live in mountainous temperate forest ecosystems. Above the tree line on mountains, however, the ecosystems change. Few birds are found there. Many factors contribute to the lower number of birds seen above a mountain’s tree line. Which of these factors is abiotic?

Which environmental change will cause an increase in the amount of carbon removed from the atmosphere?

What cycle is most directly affected by the combustion of fossil fuels?

The line graph below shows global temperature data since 1970.

Which inference is best supported by the data?

A factory in Japan had been dumping mercury into Minamata Bay. Certain microorganisms in the water were able to change the mercury into a form that the plankton could use. Which most likely happened next?

On the edge of many deserts, there is a delicate area with abundant vegetation. Sometimes cattle are allowed to graze in these areas. The hooves of the cattle compact the topsoil making it less absorbent. Which environmental concern is most likely to happen at the edge of the desert when cattle graze there?

Deforestation in the rainforest can lead to localized extinctions of populations of some organisms. Once an area is deforested, which is most likely to decrease and result in organisms’ extinctions?

Why is a reduction in biodiversity due to loss of plant populations especially destructive to an ecosystem?

Lions tend to prey on primary consumers like zebras and gazelles. If there were a sudden decline in a population of lions, which ecological imbalance would most likely occur in the habitat?

A salt marsh food web shows how energy and matter are transferred in an ecosystem.

Which will most likely occur if the number of grasshoppers decreases?

A house is built in a desert, where there is no electricity and very little wind. Which action could lead to operating the electrical appliances in the house that would cause the least amount of environmental pollution?

Discarded electronic devices, such as outdated computers and cell phones, contain materials that can be toxic to the environment. Which statement best explains why humans continue to use these technologies?

When is wood a nonrenewable resource?

Many different plant and animal species live in the Amazon rainforest. Which is the most likely result of large areas of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest?

How do toxic heavy metals move from soil to lakes and streams?

The average global ocean temperature in 1912 was 15.8°C, and in 2011 this temperature was 16.5°C. Corals are sensitive to the temperature of ocean water. The health of corals is a concern if the ocean temperature continues to rise. Which of these is a likely prediction based on the current trend in ocean temperature data?

What is a disadvantage to having lower oil and gas prices in the United States?

The following table shows the number of insurance claims submitted to cover damage caused by sinkholes in six counties in Florida.

A business owner in Hernando County who has experienced sinkhole damage decides to relocate her business. In which county would the business owner have the lowest probability of property damage from sinkholes?

The table below contains information about the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s SO2 (sulfur dioxide) response plan for the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

If instruments at the volcano observatory detect SO2 levels from 425 to 477 ppb during a half-hour interval, observatory staff take which of the following actions?

The Torres Strait Islands are low islands off the coast of Australia. How would an increase in global temperature most likely make the islands uninhabitable?