Question

Answer all the following questions. One correct answerper question.                                     (25pts)

1. The phenomenon because of which the Earth’s temperature is increasing and causing widespread environmental changes is called:
   1. Biothermal effect
   2. Geothermal effect
   3. Greenhouse effect
   4. Troposphere effect

2. Which layer of the atmosphere protects the earth from the dangerous UV radiations of the sun?
   1. Troposphere
   2. Stratosphere
   3. Mesosphere
   4. Thermosphere

3. Groundwater is formed of water
   1. That infiltrates into the ground
   2. That evaporates into the air
   3. That precipitates from the sky
   4. None of the above is correct

4. Which of the following are disadvantages of withdrawing groundwater?
   1. Sinkhole formation
   2. Overpumping
   3. Increased contamination from deeper wells
   4. All the above are correct

5. What are the best solutions to control flood damage?
   1. Allow agricultural development and urban sprawls on wetlands
   2. Build dams and levees
   3. Get rid of dams and levees
   4. All the above are solutions

6. Widespread use of certain chemicals has reduced ozone levels in the _____________ and allowed more harmful ______________ radiation to reach the earth’s surface.
   1. Troposphere; infrared
   2. Stratosphere; infrared
   3. Stratosphere; ultraviolet
   4. Troposphere; ultraviolet

7. Natural capital consists of ______ and ecological services
   1. Resources
   2. Economic services
   3. Climate change
   4. Gross national product
8. An ecological footprint is
   1. A measure of the earth’s biological capacity
   2. A measure of a person’s contribution to creating a sustainable society
   3. The amount of biologically productive land and water needed to support each person
   4. The amount of wilderness available on the earth

9. Which of the following statements can be used to describe nonrenewable resources?
   1. They cannot replenish themselves by recycling and replacement
   2. They can replenish themselves by quick recycling within a short period of time
   3. They cannot be completely used up because they are abundant
   4. All the above are correct

10. The variety of life in an area that is determined by the number of different species in that area, is referred to as
    1. Sustainability
    2. Pollution
    3. Biodiversity
    4. Footprint

11. Things that can cause pollution.
    1. Pollutants
    2. Species
    3. Biodiversity
    4. Resources

12. The term “environment” includes
    1. Animals and plants
    2. Oceans and rivers
    3. Air and water
    4. All the above are correct

13. Which one of the following is not considered to be an ecosystem service?
    1. Air
    2. Air purification
    3. Soil renewal
    4. Nutrient recycling

14. Which one of the following is a principle of sustainability?
    1. Protecting biodiversity
    2. Depending on nonrenewable energy
    3. Disrupting chemical cycles
    4. All the above are correct

15. The rough measure of the volume of freshwater that we use directly and indirectly is called
    1. Virtual water
    2. Water footprint
    3. Withdrawn water
    4. Water consumption per capita

16. Reverse osmosis is one method of withdrawing freshwater from aquifers.
    1. True
    2. False

17. What is the most abundant element present in the troposphere, other than oxygen?
    1. Nitrogen
    2. Carbon dioxide
    3. Water vapor
    4. Argon

18. Which one of the following problems is associated with acid precipitation?
    1. Decreased atmospheric visibility
    2. Damages to outdoor structures containing calcium carbonate CaCO₃
    3. Damages to trees and leaves
    4. Release of toxic metals from water pipes
    5. All the above are associated to acid precipitations

19. Greenhouse gases
    1. Absorb UV radiation coming from the sun
    2. Absorb heat released from Earth’s surface, which later warms the Earth’s surface
    3. Trap air in the troposphere and warm the Earth
    4. Are not related to human activities

20. Why groundwater cannot cleanse itself?
    1. It has a high concentration of dissolved oxygen
    2. It flows slowly
    3. It has small populations of decomposing bacteria
    4. All are correct
    5. Only B and C are correct

21. Protect sensitive areas from oil shipping and drilling, is a way of preventing:
    1. Water pollution
    2. Groundwater pollution
    3. Indoor air pollution
    4. Outdoor air pollution

22. Ban smoking unless in well ventilated areas, is a way of preventing:
    1. Water pollution
    2. Groundwater pollution
    3. Indoor air pollution
    4. Outdoor air pollution

23. Store harmful liquids in aboveground tanks, is a way of preventing:
    1. Water pollution
    2. Groundwater pollution
    3. Indoor air pollution
    4. Outdoor air pollution

24. Get old cars off the road, is a way of preventing:
    1. Water pollution
    2. Groundwater pollution
    3. Indoor air pollution
    4. Outdoor air pollution

25. Use less cleaning agents, paints, is a way of preventing:
    1. Water pollution
    2. Groundwater pollution
    3. Indoor air pollution
    4. Outdoor air pollution

1. Fill-in-the Blank

Fill in the missing words in the paragraph using words from the list below.                            (10pts)

Unsustainable – pollutants – sustainability – water – poverty – renewable – wind – nutrient – biodiversity – pollution – population

Major causes of environmental problems are ___________________, ___________________ growth and ___________________ resource use. A key to most solutions is to apply the three principles of ___________________. First, we should rely more on ___________________ energy from the sun, the ___________________ and flowing ___________________ to meet most of our heating and electricity needs. Second, we should protect ___________________ by preventing the degradation of the earth’s species, ecosystems and natural processes. Third, we should not disrupt the earth’s ___________________ cycles by overloading them with ___________________ or by removing natural chemicals faster than the cycles can replace them. This requires relying more on ___________________ prevention and reducing the wasteful use of resources.     

2. Short Answer Question

You are working in the tutoring center, and one of the students did not clearly understand what a smog was. How would you explain it to him/her? Include the definition of smog and the difference between the two types of smog discussed in BIOL-105. (5 points)

Answer 1

QUESTION 1

Option A:-Incorrect

Reason:- Biothermal energy is a renewable energy that is produced from the compost of organic matter.

Option B:-Incorrect

Reason:-Geothermal energy is a renewable energy that is produced using the thermal energy stored and generated in the earth.

Option C:- CORRECT

Reason:-The greenhouse effect is an environmental concern that is caused by an increasing level of greenhouse gasses like Co2, methane, nitrous oxide. These greenhouse gases trap the solar energy of the sun and gradually rises the earth's temperature.

Option D:- Incorrect

Reason: The troposphere is the lowest and the closest layer of earth.

QUESTION 2

Option A:-Incorrect

Reason:-The troposphere is the lowest and closest layer of the earth.

Option B:-CORRECT

Reason- Stratosphere is also called the ozone layer. The ozone layer shields/protect the earth from harmful UV radiation.

Option C Incorrect

Reason:- It is the middle layer of the atmosphere between the stratosphere and the thermosphere layer.

Option D:- Incorrect

Reason:-Thermosphere layer is located above the mesosphere and below the exosphere.