8. According to the Clean Water Act, when is it legal to release pollution into a body of water?
A. when a permit has been issued
B. if it is organic
C. in an emergency situation
D. never
10. Which best explains why lithium should be extracted from recycled lithium-ion batteries?
A. Lithium is inexpensive to recycle.
B. Lithium is very expensive to recycle.
C. Lithium is found in pure form in nature.
D. Lithium is a limited resource.
11. What effect did the Montreal Protocol have on Earth's ozone?
A. It did not affect the ozone.
B. It decreased ozone in the stratosphere.
C. It moved the ozone hole to the other pole.
D. It increased ozone in the stratosphere.
12. Biodiesel is produced from which type of molecules?
A. proteins
B. nucleic acids
C. carbohydrates
D. lipids
15. Imagine you need to dispose of household chemicals such as leftover oil-based paint. Which of the following should you do to help reduce water pollution?
A. Dump them over a hill far away from town.
B. Put them out with other household trash.
C. Pour them down the kitchen drain.
D. Take them to a hazardous waste collection site.
16. Which water-saving technology is aimed at limiting water loss in the home?
A. low-flow toilet
B. high-efficiency washing machine
C. smart water-leak detector
D. graywater system
17. Identify one-way oceans can influence climate change.
A. Oceans moderate warming by absorbing carbon dioxide.
B. Ocean acidity affect marine organisms.
C. Ocean salinity affects water volume.
D. Ocean currents affect tidal movement.
18. Which statement accurately compares the environmental impact of acquiring coal and refining crude oil?
A. Both are processed underground, which can cause sinkholes.
B. Both are considered clean-burning fossil fuels.
C. Both emit more greenhouse gases than natural gas does.
D. Both require underground mines to be constructed.
19. Which of the following fossil fuels influenced how people purchased goods in the 1800s?
A. hydrogen
B. natural gas
C. coal
D. petroleum
20. What part of an aquaponics system converts waste to fertilizer?
A. plants
B. bacteria
C. water
D. fish
21. Which can scientists study to learn about the atmospheric carbon dioxide thousands of years ago?
A. fossilized pollen
B. tree rings
C. sea levels
D. glacier ice cores
22. Use the data in the table to answer the question.
Which of the following statements accurately describes the costs and benefits of adopting intercropping on Farm A compared to monoculture?
Farm A Monoculture Intercropping
Seed Costs Per Acre $4.33 $5.20
Fertilizer Costs Per Acre $0.98 $0.41
Revenue Per Acre $5.68 $6.10
A. Intercropping has lower overall costs per acre and allows Farm A to bring in more revenue per acre.
B. Intercropping has higher overall costs per acre and leads to lower revenue per acre.
C. Intercropping has higher overall costs per acre but allows Farm A to bring in more revenue per acre
D. Intercropping has lower overall costs per acre but also leads to lower revenue per acre.
24. Which actions are most likely to reduce nitrogen dioxide levels in the atmosphere? Select the two correct answers.
A. a factory increasing its ozone output
B. a power plant increasing its energy efficiency
C. a park replacing nitrogen-producing trees with other plants
D. an individual reducing the number of miles he drives weekly
E. a farmer reducing the use of nitrogen fertilizers
25. Which of the following is a possible effect of beach erosion?
A. Shorelines move inland.
B. The volume of sand on a beach increases.
C. Shorelines extend further into the water.
D. Beach elevations rise.
26. What characteristic do tantalum and tin have in common?
A. beneficial for human health
B. categorized as conflict minerals
C. mined in the United States and Canada
D. used infrequently in modern manufacturing
27. What type of luster does a rock that looks like glass have?
A. vitreous
B. resinous
C. adamantine
D. metallic
29. In which layer of the atmosphere does most weather occur?
A. thermosphere
B. troposphere
C. stratosphere
D. mesosphere
30. Which rock type is best suited for aquifers?
A. igneous
B. permeable
C. metamorphic
D. impermeable
31. Which factors are important to consider when thinking of beach nourishment as a strategy to mitigate beach erosion? Select the two correct answers
A. the cost associated with the project
B. the hours the crew will work
C. the temperature of the ocean
D. the amount of daylight during the project
E. the time it will take to complete
32. Which of the following is an example of agricultural water use?
A. water used in cooling towers
B. water used in pesticide application
C. water used to grow flowers in a backyard
D. water used to give your pet a bath
33. Which of the following are effects of melting sea ice? Select the two correct answers
A. The exposed water can radiate more heat to the atmosphere than it could when insulated by the ice cover.
B. The exposed water reflects back more sunlight than did the ice.
C. The exposed water absorbs heat and then sinks, replaced by cooler water.
D. The exposed water absorbs more thermal energy from the sun than did the ice.
35. Which statement best describes the limits of requiring land reclamation as the primary method for mitigating environmental damage done by mining in the United States?
A. There are many more surface mines than underground mines; however, land reclamation is less successful at surface mine sites.
B. There are thousands of mine sites that have been abandoned, leaving huge areas that are not being reclaimed.
C. Surface mining causes such extensive environmental damage that land reclamation is rarely successful.
D. Land reclamation works for mitigating environmental damage at coal mines, but not other types of mines.
Answers:
8. A. when a permit has been issued
10. D. Lithium is a limited resource.
11. D. It increased ozone in the stratosphere.
12. D. lipids
15. D. Take them to a hazardous waste collection site.
16. C. smart water-leak detector
17. A. Oceans moderate warming by absorbing carbon dioxide.
18. C. Both emit more greenhouse gases than natural gas does.
19. C. coal
20. B. bacteria
21. D. glacier ice cores
22. C. Intercropping has higher overall costs per acre but allows Farm A to bring in more revenue per acre
24. B. a power plant increasing its energy efficiency and E. a farmer reducing the use of nitrogen fertilizers
25. A. Shorelines move inland.
26. B. categorized as conflict minerals
27. A. vitreous
29. B. troposphere
30. B. permeable
31. A. the cost associated with the project and E. the time it will take to complete
32. B. water used in pesticide application
33. A. The exposed water can radiate more heat to the atmosphere than it could when insulated by the ice cover. and D. The exposed water absorbs more thermal energy from the sun than did the ice.
35. B. There are thousands of mine sites that have been abandoned, leaving huge areas that are not being reclaimed.
8. According to the Clean Water Act, it is legal to release pollution into a body of water when a permit has been issued (A).
10. Lithium should be extracted from recycled lithium-ion batteries because lithium is a limited resource (D).
11. The Montreal Protocol decreased ozone in the stratosphere (B).
12. Biodiesel is produced from lipids (D).
15. To help reduce water pollution, you should take household chemicals such as leftover oil-based paint to a hazardous waste collection site (D).
16. The water-saving technology aimed at limiting water loss in the home is a low-flow toilet (A).
17. One way oceans can influence climate change is by absorbing carbon dioxide and moderating warming (A).
18. The environmental impact of acquiring coal and refining crude oil both emit more greenhouse gases than natural gas does (C).
19. In the 1800s, coal influenced how people purchased goods (C).
20. In an aquaponics system, bacteria convert waste to fertilizer (B).
21. To study atmospheric carbon dioxide thousands of years ago, scientists can study glacier ice cores (D).
22. Intercropping has lower overall costs per acre and allows Farm A to bring in more revenue per acre (A).
24. To reduce nitrogen dioxide levels in the atmosphere, an individual reducing the number of miles he drives weekly and a farmer reducing the use of nitrogen fertilizers are actions that can be taken (D and E).
25. Beach erosion can cause shorelines to move inland (A).
26. Tantalum and tin are categorized as conflict minerals (B).
27. A rock that looks like glass has a vitreous luster (A).
29. Most weather occurs in the troposphere (B).
30. Permeable rocks are best suited for aquifers (B).
31. When considering beach nourishment as a strategy to mitigate beach erosion, important factors to consider are the cost associated with the project and the time it will take to complete (A and E).
32. Water used to grow flowers in a backyard is an example of agricultural water use (C).
33. Effects of melting sea ice include the exposed water radiating more heat to the atmosphere and the exposed water absorbing more thermal energy from the sun (A and D).
35. Requiring land reclamation as the primary method for mitigating environmental damage done by mining in the United States has limits because there are thousands of mine sites that have been abandoned, leaving huge areas that are not being reclaimed (B).
8. According to the Clean Water Act, it is never legal to release pollution into a body of water without a permit. Therefore, the correct answer is D. To find this answer, one can refer to the Clean Water Act, which is a federal law that regulates the discharge of pollutants into the waters of the United States.
10. The best explanation for why lithium should be extracted from recycled lithium-ion batteries is that lithium is a limited resource. Therefore, the correct answer is D. To arrive at this answer, one can consider the fact that lithium is a valuable and finite resource, and extracting it from recycled batteries helps to conserve this resource and reduce the need for new lithium mining.
11. The Montreal Protocol had the effect of decreasing ozone in the stratosphere. Therefore, the correct answer is B. To find this answer, one can research the Montreal Protocol, which is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and use of ozone-depleting substances.
12. Biodiesel is produced from lipids, which are a type of molecule found in fats and oils. Therefore, the correct answer is D. To determine this answer, one can consider the fact that biodiesel is typically made from vegetable oils or animal fats, which are rich in lipids.
15. To help reduce water pollution when disposing of household chemicals like leftover oil-based paint, one should take them to a hazardous waste collection site. Therefore, the correct answer is D. To arrive at this answer, one can consider that household chemicals, including oil-based paint, can be harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly. Taking them to a hazardous waste collection site ensures that they are handled and disposed of safely.
16. The water-saving technology aimed at limiting water loss in the home is a low-flow toilet. Therefore, the correct answer is A. To determine this answer, one can consider that low-flow toilets are designed to use less water per flush compared to traditional toilets, thus reducing water consumption and minimizing water loss.
17. One way oceans can influence climate change is by moderating warming through the absorption of carbon dioxide. Therefore, the correct answer is A. To arrive at this answer, one can consider that the oceans act as a carbon sink, absorbing a significant amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide and helping to mitigate global warming.
18. The accurate comparison of the environmental impact of acquiring coal and refining crude oil is that both emit more greenhouse gases than natural gas does. Therefore, the correct answer is C. To find this answer, one can consider the fact that both coal and crude oil are fossil fuels and burning them releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
19. The fossil fuel that influenced how people purchased goods in the 1800s is coal. Therefore, the correct answer is C. To arrive at this answer, one can consider that coal was widely used as a source of energy during the Industrial Revolution, powering factories and trains, which greatly impacted the way goods were manufactured and transported.
20. In an aquaponics system, the part that converts waste to fertilizer is bacteria. Therefore, the correct answer is B. To determine this answer, one can consider that bacteria play a crucial role in breaking down the organic waste produced by the fish in the system, converting it into a usable form of fertilizer for the plants.
21. Scientists can study glacier ice cores to learn about the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels thousands of years ago. Therefore, the correct answer is D. To find this answer, one can consider that ice cores drilled from glaciers contain air bubbles trapped thousands of years ago, providing a record of past atmospheric composition, including carbon dioxide levels.
22. The correct statement that accurately describes the costs and benefits of adopting intercropping on Farm A compared to monoculture is that intercropping has lower overall costs per acre and allows Farm A to bring in more revenue per acre. Therefore, the correct answer is A. To determine this answer, one can compare the seed and fertilizer costs as well as the revenue per acre for monoculture and intercropping on Farm A.
24. The actions most likely to reduce nitrogen dioxide levels in the atmosphere are an individual reducing the number of miles he drives weekly and a farmer reducing the use of nitrogen fertilizers. Therefore, the correct answers are D and E. To arrive at these answers, one can consider that nitrogen dioxide is produced by vehicle emissions and the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers, and reducing these sources can help mitigate its levels in the atmosphere.
25. A possible effect of beach erosion is that shorelines move inland. Therefore, the correct answer is A. To find this answer, one can consider that beach erosion refers to the gradual loss of sand and land along a shoreline, which can cause the shoreline to retreat or move further inland.
26. Tantalum and tin have the characteristic of being categorized as conflict minerals. Therefore, the correct answer is B. To determine this answer, one can consider that these minerals have been associated with human rights abuses and armed conflicts in certain regions of the world, leading to their categorization as conflict minerals.
27. A rock that looks like glass has the characteristic of vitreous luster. Therefore, the correct answer is A. To find this answer, one can consider that vitreous luster refers to the shininess and appearance of glass-like materials, indicating a smooth and reflective surface.
29. Most weather occurs in the troposphere, which is the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface. Therefore, the correct answer is B. To determine this answer, one can consider that the troposphere is where temperature and weather conditions are most dynamically and directly influenced by the Earth's surface.
30. The rock type best suited for aquifers is permeable rock, which allows water to flow through it. Therefore, the correct answer is B. To arrive at this answer, one can consider that aquifers are underground water-bearing formations, and permeable rock allows water to move through it, promoting the storage and flow of groundwater.
31. When considering beach nourishment as a strategy to mitigate beach erosion, important factors to consider include the cost associated with the project and the time it will take to complete. Therefore, the correct answers are A and E. To determine these answers, one can consider that beach nourishment projects involve significant financial investments and can take a significant amount of time to complete.
32. Water used to grow flowers in a backyard is an example of agricultural water use. Therefore, the correct answer is C. To find this answer, one can consider that agriculture refers to the cultivation of plants for food, fiber, and other purposes, and growing flowers in a backyard falls under this category.
33. Effects of melting sea ice include the exposed water radiating more heat to the atmosphere, and the exposed water absorbing more thermal energy from the sun. Therefore, the correct answers are A and D. To arrive at these answers, one can consider that sea ice acts as a reflective surface, and as it melts, more heat is absorbed by the exposed water, increasing energy exchanges with the atmosphere.
35. Requiring land reclamation as the primary method for mitigating environmental damage done by mining in the United States has its limits because there are thousands of mine sites that have been abandoned, leaving huge areas that are not being reclaimed. Therefore, the correct answer is B. To determine this answer, one can consider the significant number of abandoned mine sites in the United States and the challenges associated with reclaiming these areas due to financial, logistical, and legal constraints.