AP Environmental Science

Air Pollution, Climate Change, & Ozone Depletion Unit Test

Name: _________________________________________________

SID# ________

Questions 1-3 refer to the following regions of Earths atmosphere.

(a) Thermosphere
(b) Exosphere
(c) Troposhpere
(d) Mesosphere
(e) Stratosphere

1.

The phenomenon causing global warming occurs primarily in this region of the atmosphere. ____

2. The beneficial ozone layer is in this region of the atmosphere. _____

3. Most oxygen is found in this layer of the atmosphere. _____

Questions 4-6 refer to the gases listed below.

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

H2O
CO2
CH4
O3
CCl2F2

4. A greenhouse gas that is exclusively anthropogenic ________

5. The most abundant nonanthropogenic greenhouse gas ________
6. A greenhouse gas that, in the lower troposphere, is formed by photochemical reactions

________

Questions 7-8 refer to the following air pollutants.

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

Sulfur dioxide
Lead
Ozone
Hydrocarbons
Particulates

7. Most often cited as the causative factor for acid deposition

________

8. Considered harmful in the troposphere but beneficial in the stratosphere

________

Questions 9-12 refer to the layers of Earths atmosphere in the temperature profile shown below.
APES

Pg. 1

9. Region where the protective ozone layer is located

________

10. Region that contains the majority of molecules in the atmosphere

________

11. Region largely responsible for the weather experienced at the Earths surface
12. Region with the lowest atmospheric pressure

________

________

Questions 13-16 refer to the substances listed.

(a) Asbestos
(b) Radon
(c) Lead
(d) Carbon monoxide
(e) Formaldehyde

13. Found in old plumbing pipes and fixtures and some ceramic glazes ______
14. Composed of fibers known to cause lung disease ______
15. Emitted from most manufactured building materials and furniture ________
16. Colorless, odorless gas that is naturally occurring decay product of uranium ______

Questions 17-18 refer to the following graph.

APES

Pg. 2

17. The data in the graph can be useful in explaining the greenhouse effect when they are compared with
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

volcanic activity
sunspot activity
mean global temperatures
annual nitrous oxide production
cycles of flooding and drought

18. The annual fluctuation in carbon dioxide concentration can best be explained by the
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

seasonal use of fossil fuels

regularity of volcanic activity
deforestation in the tropics
El Nino events
seasonal photosynthetic activity of green plants

19. Which of the following is true of carbon as it cycles in nature?

a.

Carbon dioxide is released during photosynthesis.

b.

Carbon compounds rarely exist in the gaseous state.

c.

Carbon sinks include forests and oceans.

d.

The carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is reduced by cutting trees.

e.

Carbon is concentrated in igneous rocks.

20. Which of the following is used to reduce SO2 emissions from coal-burning power plants?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Catalytic converters
Ultrafine mechanical filters
Electrostatic precipitators
Wet-scrubber units
Afterburners

21. Global climate change occurs because increasing concentrations of greenhouse gasses in
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

APES

the troposphere absorb outgoing IR radiation

the stratosphere absorb outgoing IR radiation
the troposphere absorb incoming UV radiation
the stratosphere absorb incoming UV radiation
neither the troposphere nor the stratosphere absorb incoming UV radiation

Pg. 3

22. Which of the following human activities is most closely associated with depletion of the stratospheric ozone
layer?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Mining of coal
Disposal of refrigerators and air conditioners
Heating of homes and factories
Generation of electricity
Agricultural irrigation

23. Although levels of CFCs in the atmosphere are much lower than those of CO 2, CFCs are still potent
greenhouse gases because they
remain in the atmosphere for only a brief time
a.
lack natural sources
b.
are much more efficient at absorbing thermal radiation
c.
circulate through the troposphere more easily than CO 2 does
d.
are more difficult to remove from smokestacks and tailpipes
e.

24. Which of the following shows the approximate concentration of CO 2, N2, and O2 in dry air?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

CO2
78%
43%
36%
10%
<1%

N2
< 1%
<1%
8%
70%
78%

O2
21%
56%
56%
20%
21%

25. The atmosphere concentration of carbon dioxide increased from 278 ppm in 1790 to 383 ppm in 2007. What
is the approximate percent increase in carbon dioxide concentration from 1790 to 2007?
38%
a.
50%
b.
92%
c.
105%
d.
138%
e.

26. Of the following cities, which regularly experiences the worst levels of photochemical smog that is enhanced
by thermal inversions?
New York City, New York
a.
Los Angeles, California
b.
Portland, Oregon
c.
Atlanta, Georgia
d.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
e.

27. Possible effects of a warmer atmosphere include which of the following?

i. Expanded ranges of tropical diseases
ii. More intense hurricanes and typhoons
iii. Increased crop damage from pests and diseases
a. i only
b. ii only
c. i and iii only
d. ii and iii only
e. i, ii, and iii

28. Important factors that contribute to smog formation in the Los Angeles basin include which of the following?
i. Ample summer sunshine
ii. Sea-level elevation
iii. High concentration of automobiles
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
APES

I only
III only
I and III only
II and III only
I, II and III
Pg. 4

29. Which of the following is an appropriate remediation strategy for removing radon gas from the home?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Use filtered water for drinking and bathing.

Do not occupy the basement of the home.
Place monitors in suspect areas of the home.
Remove and replace soil in crawl spaces under the home.
Seal or ventilate places where radon enters the living space.

30. Which of the following is true of the Clean Air Act?

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

It was passed by Congress during the early 1950s.

It regulates the amount of CO2 emitted by power plants.
It has remained largely unmodified since it was originally signed into law.
It established a cap-and-trade program for SO2 in 1990.
It is set to expire in 2015.

31. When a rainforest is slashed and burned, the local concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
increases. This is primarily due to
Changes in the local climate
a.
Oxidation of carbon compounds
b.
Cellular respiration of rain-forest plants
c.
Erosion of exposed soil
d.
Carbon dioxide being released by anaerobic organisms
e.

32. Particulates can be removed from smokestack emissions by which of the following methods?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Irradiation by UV light
Electrostatic precipitators
Catalytic converters
Liquid chromatography
Exhaust-stream aeration

33. Which of the following is a greenhouse gas that is produced by domestic livestock?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

NO2
CH4
O3
CO
SO2

34. Which of the following are direct products of the use of hydrocarbon fuels in automobile engines?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

O, N and CO
CO, Ar, and O3
CO2, H2O and O3
CO2, O3, and Pb
CO2, NOx and VOCs

35. Which of the following has most directly resulted in increased skin cancer rates in Australia?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Water pollution in the Antarctic Ocean

Ozone depletion in the stratosphere
Increased immigration of Asian people into Australia
The occurrence of a solar maximum
Global warming in the lower atmosphere

36. Which of the following is part of a positive feedback mechanism associated with global climate change?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

APES

Increased gas mileage in cars

Increased cloudiness caused by more moisture in the atmosphere
Melting of Arctic sea ice
Increased acidity of seawater
Increased growth of CO2-absorbing trees and grasses
Pg. 5

37. The three main anthropogenic sources of gaseous air pollutants in the United States are
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Soil erosion, volcanoes, and forest fires

Soil erosion, volcanoes, and energy production
Industry, construction, and agriculture
Industry, transportation, and energy production
Industry, transportation, and agriculture

38. Which of the following factors is fundamentally responsible for seasons on Earth?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

The varying distance of Earth from the Sun

The tilt of Earths axis of rotation
The latitudinal variation in temperature and precipitation
The tidal pull of the Sun and Moon
The anthropogenic greenhouse effect

39. The polar regions radiate away more heat energy than they receive from the Sun in the course of a year.
However, they are prevented from becoming progressively colder each year primarily by the
absorption of ultraviolet radiation by snow
a.
transport of heat through the atmosphere and oceans
b.
concentration of Earths magnetic field lines at the poles
c.
release of latent heat to the atmosphere when the polar ice caps melt
d.
generation of heat by glacial movement
e.

40. Ozone in the stratosphere is most important to life at Earths surface because it absorbs
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

gamma rays
microwaves
ultraviolet light
visible light
x-rays

41. Which of the following actions would reduce global greenhouse emissions?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Increasing the use of automobiles

Decreasing the number of nuclear power plants
Replacing coal-burning power plants with wind farms
Converting tropical forests to rice paddies
Switching from hydroelectric power generation to power generation using natural gas as the primary
fuel

42. The major source of radon in houses in the United States is

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

furniture and carpets

the underlying bedrock
the troposphere
nuclear power plants
fossil-fuel combustion

43. Which of the following is a greenhouse gas that is also a by-product of anaerobic respiration?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Methane, CH4
Nitrogen, N2
Oxygen, O2
Nitrogen dioxide, NO2
Hydrogen sulfide, H2S

44. Which of the following will occur if the trend of global temperature increase continues?
a.
b.

APES

Night temperatures will decrease as day temperatures increase.

Tropical areas will become cooler than they currently are.
Pg. 6

c.
d.
e.

Sea levels will drop due to increased evaporation.

The incidence of insect-borne diseases will decrease.
The troposphere will contain more water vapor.

45. The major human health problem related to radon accumulation is

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

lung cancer
heart disease
pancreatic cancer
cataracts
malignant melanoma

46. Stratospheric ozone depletion is most likely to result in which of the following?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Increased growth of food crops due to increasing amounts of ultraviolet radiation

Extended grazing season for cattle
Disruption of photosynthesis in plants
Increased movement of the human population toward equatorial regions
A higher percentage of cloudless days

47. Which of the following is a process that indirectly removes carbon from Earths atmosphere?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Formation of carbonate deposits

Outgassing by volcanoes
Respiration by mammals
Respiration by anaerobic bacteria
Photodissociation by ultraviolet light

48. Many scientists maintain that a rise in sea level has occurred in the last hundred years as a result of global
warming. If this is true, which of the following factors best explains such a rise?
Increased precipitation
a.
Increased cloud cover
b.
Increased evapotranspiration
c.
Thermal expansion of the ocean
d.
Melting of permafrost
e.

49. Which of the following natural events would most likely contribute to the cooling of Earths atmosphere?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Earthquake
Volcanism
Hurricane
Tsunami
Monsoon

50. One solution for reducing the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide would be to
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

increase oceanic temperatures to enhance carbon dioxide uptake

increase the rate of removal of tropical rain forests
decrease the total area of rice paddies
decrease the use of fossil fuels
decrease the production of chlorfluorocarbons

51. The drop in stratospheric ozone levels in the Southern Hemisphere (the ozone hole) is most evident during
which season?
Antarctic spring (October)
a.
Antarctic autumn (April)
b.
Antarctic summer only (January)
c.
Antarctic winter only (July)
d.
Both Antarctic summer and Antarctic winter (January and July)
e.

APES

Pg. 7

52. If Earth had no atmosphere, the mean surface temperature would be approximately -15C. With our present
atmosphere, Earths mean surface temperature is approximately +15C. Which of the following is the best
explanation for this difference?
Reflection of incident solar radiation by clouds
a.
Scattering of visible radiation by aerosols
b.
Absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer
c.
Absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases
d.
The breakdown of oxygen molecules in the thermosphere
e.

53. Which of the following would be the strongest evidence in support of a scientists contention that a local area
was experiencing acid deposition?
A sudden die-off of all the fish in a local stream
a.
A gradual increase in the temperature of a local lake
b.
An increase in the rate of photosynthesis of aquatic plants in a local lake
c.
A long-term increase in the pH of a local pond
d.
An increase in the concentration of soluble heavy metals in a local pond
e.

54. If mean global temperature keeps on increasing as predicted by contemporary scientists, which of the
following is most likely?
There will be fewer insect pests and disease-carrying organisms.
a.
Specialist species living in fragile ecosystems will risk extinction.
b.
There will be an increase in sulfate concentrations in wetlands.
c.
There will be an increase in the reproductive rate of mammals.
d.
The geographical range of many plants will move toward the equator.
e.

55. During an El-Nino- Southern Oscillation event, which of the following best describes conditions in the eastern
part of the tropical Pacific Ocean (e.g., near Peru and Ecuador)?
Sea Surface Temperature

Rainfall

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

Low
High
Low
High
Normal

Low
Low
High
High
High

56. True statements about ozone include which of the following?

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

i. It is a pollutant in the troposphere

ii. It filters out most of the UVC radiation in the stratosphere
iii. Most of it is formed in the stratosphere by reaction between carbon dioxide and free oxygen
atoms.
i only
ii only
iii only
i and ii only
i, ii, and iii

57. Which of the following best explains why it is predicted that ozone depletion over the poles will be at its worst
between 2010 and 2019?
Projected global warming from carbon dioxide emissions is expected to reach a peak during those
a.
years.
Ozone-depleting chemical produced before their use was banned will take that long to reach peak
b.
concentrations in the stratosphere.
Deforestation in tropical regions is expected to reach a peak during the second decade of the twentyc.
first century.
Increased global population will lead to an increase in per capita CO 2 production.
d.
Acid deposition will continue to increase, reaching a peak in approximately 2015.
e.

58. Smoke from forest fires is most likely to affect air quality over larger areas for many days when
a.
b.

APES

Smog is produced due to chemical reactions in the atmosphere

A persistent atmospheric inversion exists in the region
Pg. 8

c.
d.
e.

Oak trees are burned, releasing terpenes into the atmosphere

Primary, rather than secondary, forests are burned
Vegetation in the region is green and burns more slowly

59. Global warming is most likely to directly cause which of the following?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Shifting of grain belts toward the equator

Falling sea levels in the Southern Hemisphere
Coastal flooding and submersion of low-lying areas
A decrease in the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere
An increase in the number and size of glaciers

60. Which of the following is an important contributor to both global warming and ozone depletion?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

APES

An increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide to higher-than-preindustrial levels

A buildup of methane in the stratosphere to higher-than-preindustrial levels
An increase in the levels of ultraviolet radiation reaching Earths surface
An increase in the amount of infrared solar radiation absorbed in the troposphere
A release of chlorofluorocarbons to the atmosphere

Pg. 9

Key
AP Environmental Science
Air Pollution, Climate Change, & Ozone Depletion Unit Test

Name: _________________________________________________

SID# ________

Questions 1-3 refer to the following regions of Earths atmosphere.

(a) Thermosphere
(b) Exosphere
(c) Troposhpere
(d) Mesosphere
(e) Stratosphere

1.

The phenomenon causing global warming occurs primarily in this region of the atmosphere. C

2. The beneficial ozone layer is in this region of the atmosphere. E

3. Most oxygen is found in this layer of the atmosphere. C

Questions 4-6 refer to the gases listed below.

A. H2O
B . CO2
CH4
c.
O3
d.
CCl2F2
e.
4. A greenhouse gas that is exclusively anthropogenic ____E____
5. The most abundant nonanthropogenic greenhouse gas ____A____
6. A greenhouse gas that, in the lower troposphere, is formed by photochemical reactions

___D_____

Questions 7-8 refer to the following air pollutants.

A Sulfur dioxide
B Lead
C Ozone
D Hydrocarbons
E Particulates
7. Most often cited as the causative factor for acid deposition

___A_____

8. Considered harmful in the troposphere but beneficial in the stratosphere

___C_____

Questions 9-12 refer to the layers of Earths atmosphere in the temperature profile shown below.
APES

Pg. 1

9. Region where the protective ozone layer is located

___B_____

10. Region that contains the majority of molecules in the atmosphere

___A_____

11. Region largely responsible for the weather experienced at the Earths surface
12. Region with the lowest atmospheric pressure

____A____

___E_____

Questions 13-16 refer to the substances listed.

Asbestos
a.
Radon
b.
Lead
c.
Carbon monoxide
d.
Formaldehyde
e.
13. Found in old plumbing pipes and fixtures and some ceramic glazes __C_____
14. Composed of fibers known to cause lung disease _____A____
15. Emitted from most manufactured building materials and furniture _____E_____
16. Colorless, odorless gas that is naturally occurring decay product of uranium ____B______

Questions 17-18 refer to the following graph.

APES

Pg. 2

17. The data in the graph can be useful in explaining the greenhouse effect when they are compared with
volcanic activity
a.
sunspot activity
b.
mean global temperatures
c.
annual nitrous oxide production
d.
cycles of flooding and drought
e.
18. The annual fluctuation in carbon dioxide concentration can best be explained by the
seasonal use of fossil fuels
a.
regularity of volcanic activity
b.
deforestation in the tropics
c.
El Nino events
d.
seasonal photosynthetic activity of green plants
e.
19. Which of the following is true of carbon as it cycles in nature?
a.

Carbon dioxide is released during photosynthesis.

b.

Carbon compounds rarely exist in the gaseous state.

c.

Carbon sinks include forests and oceans.

d.

The carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is reduced by cutting trees.

e.

Carbon is concentrated in igneous rocks.

20. Which of the following is used to reduce SO2 emissions from coal-burning power plants?
Catalytic converters
a.
Ultrafine mechanical filters
b.
Electrostatic precipitators
c.
Wet-scrubber units
d.
Afterburners
e.

APES

Pg. 3

21. Global climate change occurs because increasing concentrations of greenhouse gasses in
the troposphere absorb outgoing IR radiation
a.
the stratosphere absorb outgoing IR radiation
b.
the troposphere absorb incoming UV radiation
c.
the stratosphere absorb incoming UV radiation
d.
neither the troposphere nor the stratosphere absorb incoming UV radiation
e.
22. Which of the following human activities is most closely associated with depletion of the stratospheric ozone
layer?
Mining of coal
a.
Disposal of refrigerators and air conditioners
b.
Heating of homes and factories
c.
Generation of electricity
d.
Agricultural irrigation
e.
23. Although levels of CFCs in the atmosphere are much lower than those of CO 2, CFCs are still potent
greenhouse gases because they
remain in the atmosphere for only a brief time
a.
lack natural sources
b.
are much more efficient at absorbing thermal radiation
c.
circulate through the troposphere more easily than CO 2 does
d.
are more difficult to remove from smokestacks and tailpipes
e.
24. Which of the following shows the approximate concentration of CO 2, N2, and O2 in dry air?
CO2
N2
O2
a. 78%
< 1%
21%
b. 43%
<1%
56%
c.
36%
8%
56%
d.
10%
70%
20%
e.
<1%
78%
21%
25. The atmosphere concentration of carbon dioxide increased from 278 ppm in 1790 to 383 ppm in 2007. What
is the approximate percent increase in carbon dioxide concentration from 1790 to 2007?
38%
a.
50%
b.
92%
c.
105%
d.
138%
e.
26. Of the following cities, which regularly experiences the worst levels of photochemical smog that is enhanced
by thermal inversions?
New York City, New York
a.
Los Angeles, California
b.
Portland, Oregon
c.
Atlanta, Georgia
d.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
e.

27. Possible effects of a warmer atmosphere include which of the following?

i. Expanded ranges of tropical diseases
ii. More intense hurricanes and typhoons
iii. Increased crop damage from pests and diseases
a. i only
b. ii only
c. I and iii only
d. ii and iii only
e. I, ii, and iii
28. Important factors that contribute to smog formation in the Los Angeles basin include which of the following?
APES

Pg. 4

i.Ample summer sunshine

ii.Sea-level elevation
iii.High concentration of automobiles
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

I only
III only
I and III only
II and III only
I, II and III

29. Which of the following is an appropriate remediation strategy for removing radon gas from the home?
Use filtered water for drinking and bathing.
a.
Do not occupy the basement of the home.
b.
Place monitors in suspect areas of the home.
c.
Remove and replace soil in crawl spaces under the home.
d.
Seal or ventilate places where radon enters the living space.
e.
30. Which of the following is true of the Clean Air Act?
It was passed by Congress during the early 1950s.
a.
It regulates the amount of CO2 emitted by power plants.
b.
It has remained largely unmodified since it was originally signed into law.
c.
It established a cap-and-trade program for SO2 in 1990.
d.
It is set to expire in 2015.
e.
31. When a rainforest is slashed and burned, the local concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
increases. This is primarily due to
Changes in the local climate
a.
Oxidation of carbon compounds
b.
Cellular respiration of rain-forest plants
c.
Erosion of exposed soil
d.
Carbon dioxide being released by anaerobic organisms
e.
32. Particulates can be removed from smokestack emissions by which of the following methods?
Irradiation by UV light
a.
Electrostatic precipitators
b.
Catalytic converters
c.
Liquid chromatography
d.
Exhaust-stream aeration
e.
33. Which of the following is a greenhouse gas that is produced by domestic livestock?
NO2
a.
CH4
b.
O3
c.
CO
d.
SO2
e.
34. Which of the following are direct products of the use of hydrocarbon fuels in automobile engines?
O, N and CO
a.
CO, Ar, and O3
b.
CO2, H2O and O3
c.
CO2, O3, and Pb
d.
CO2, NOx and VOCs
e.
35. Which of the following has most directly resulted in increased skin cancer rates in Australia?
Water pollution in the Antarctic Ocean
a.
Ozone depletion in the stratosphere
b.
Increased immigration of Asian people into Australia
c.
The occurrence of a solar maximum
d.
Global warming in the lower atmosphere
e.

APES

Pg. 5

36. Which of the following is part of a positive feedback mechanism associated with global climate change?
Increased gas mileage in cars
a.
Increased cloudiness caused by more moisture in the atmosphere
b.
Melting of Arctic sea ice
c.
Increased acidity of seawater
d.
Increased growth of CO2-absorbing trees and grasses
e.
37. The three main anthropogenic sources of gaseous air pollutants in the United States are
Soil erosion, volcanoes, and forest fires
a.
Soil erosion, volcanoes, and energy production
b.
Industry, construction, and agriculture
c.
Industry, transportation, and energy production
d.
Industry, transportation, and agriculture
e.
38. Which of the following factors is fundamentally responsible for seasons on Earth?
The varying distance of Earth from the Sun
a.
The tilt of Earths axis of rotation
b.
The latitudinal variation in temperature and precipitation
c.
The tidal pull of the Sun and Moon
d.
The anthropogenic greenhouse effect
e.
39. The polar regions radiate away more heat energy than they receive from the Sun in the course of a year.
However, they are prevented from becoming progressively colder each year primarily by the
absorption of ultraviolet radiation by snow
a.
transport of heat through the atmosphere and oceans
b.
concentration of Earths magnetic field lines at the poles
c.
release of latent heat to the atmosphere when the polar ice caps melt
d.
generation of heat by glacial movement
e.
40. Ozone in the stratosphere is most important to life at Earths surface because it absorbs
gamma rays
a.
microwaves
b.
ultraviolet light
c.
visible light
d.
x-rays
e.

41. Which of the following actions would reduce global greenhouse emissions?
Increasing the use of automobiles
a.
Decreasing the number of nuclear power plants
b.
Replacing coal-burning power plants with wind farms
c.
Converting tropical forests to rice paddies
d.
Switching from hydroelectric power generation to power generation using natural gas as the primary
e.
fuel
42. The major source of radon in houses in the United States is
furniture and carpets
a.
the underlying bedrock
b.
the troposphere
c.
nuclear power plants
d.
fossil-fuel combustion
e.
43. Which of the following is a greenhouse gas that is also a by-product of anaerobic respiration?
Methane, CH4
a.
Nitrogen, N2
b.
Oxygen, O2
c.
APES

Pg. 6

d.
e.

Nitrogen dioxide, NO2

Hydrogen sulfide, H2S

44. Which of the following will occur if the trend of global temperature increase continues?
Night temperatures will decrease as day temperatures increase.
a.
Tropical areas will become cooler than they currently are.
b.
Sea levels will drop due to increased evaporation.
c.
The incidence of insect-borne diseases will decrease.
d.
The troposphere will contain more water vapor.
e.
45. The major human health problem related to radon accumulation is
lung cancer
a.
heart disease
b.
pancreatic cancer
c.
cataracts
d.
malignant melanoma
e.
46. Stratospheric ozone depletion is most likely to result in which of the following?
Increased growth of food crops due to increasing amounts of ultraviolet radiation
a.
Extended grazing season for cattle
b.
Disruption of photosynthesis in plants
c.
Increased movement of the human population toward equatorial regions
d.
A higher percentage of cloudless days
e.
47. Which of the following is a process that indirectly removes carbon from Earths atmosphere?
Formation of carbonate deposits
a.
Outgassing by volcanoes
b.
Respiration by mammals
c.
Respiration by anaerobic bacteria
d.
Photodissociation by ultraviolet light
e.

48. Many scientists maintain that a rise in sea level has occurred in the last hundred years as a result of global
warming. If this is true, which of the following factors best explains such a rise?
Increased precipitation
a.
Increased cloud cover
b.
Increased evapotranspiration
c.
Thermal expansion of the ocean
d.
Melting of permafrost
e.
49. Which of the following natural events would most likely contribute to the cooling of Earths atmosphere?
Earthquake
a.
Volcanism
b.
Hurricane
c.
Tsunami
d.
Monsoon
e.
50. One solution for reducing the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide would be to
increase oceanic temperatures to enhance carbon dioxide uptake
a.
increase the rate of removal of tropical rain forests
b.
decrease the total area of rice paddies
c.
decrease the use of fossil fuels
d.
decrease the production of chlorfluorocarbons
e.
51. The drop in stratospheric ozone levels in the Southern Hemisphere (the ozone hole) is most evident during
which season?
Antarctic spring (October)
a.
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b.
c.
d.
e.

Antarctic autumn (April)

Antarctic summer only (January)
Antarctic winter only (July)
Both Antarctic summer and Antarctic winter (January and July)

52. If Earth had no atmosphere, the mean surface temperature would be approximately -15C. With our present
atmosphere, Earths mean surface temperature is approximately +15C. Which of the following is the best
explanation for this difference?
Reflection of incident solar radiation by clouds
a.
Scattering of visible radiation by aerosols
b.
Absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer
c.
Absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases
d.
The breakdown of oxygen molecules in the thermosphere
e.
53. Which of the following would be the strongest evidence in support of a scientists contention that a local area
was experiencing acid deposition?
A sudden die-off of all the fish in a local stream
a.
A gradual increase in the temperature of a local lake
b.
An increase in the rate of photosynthesis of aquatic plants in a local lake
c.
A long-term increase in the pH of a local pond
d.
An increase in the concentration of soluble heavy metals in a local pond
e.
54. If mean global temperature keeps on increasing as predicted by contemporary scientists, which of the
following is most likely?
There will be fewer insect pests and disease-carrying organisms.
a.
Specialist species living in fragile ecosystems will risk extinction.
b.
There will be an increase in sulfate concentrations in wetlands.
c.
There will be an increase in the reproductive rate of mammals.
d.
The geographical range of many plants will move toward the equator.
e.
55. During an El-Nino- Southern Oscillation event, which of the following best describes conditions in the eastern
part of the tropical Pacific Ocean (e.g., near Peru and Ecuador)?
Sea Surface Temperature
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Low
Low
High
High
High

Rainfall
Low
High
Low
High
Normal

56. True statements about ozone include which of the following?

i. It is a pollutant in the troposphere
ii. It filters out most of the UVC radiation in the stratosphere
iii. Most of it is formed in the stratosphere by reaction between carbon dioxide and free oxygen
atoms.
a. i only
b. ii only
c. iii only
d. i and ii only
e. i, ii, and iii
57. Which of the following best explains why it is predicted that ozone depletion over the poles will be at its worst
between 2010 and 2019?
Projected global warming from carbon dioxide emissions is expected to reach a peak during those
a.
years.
Ozone-depleting chemical produced before their use was banned will take that long to reach peak
b.
concentrations in the stratosphere.
Deforestation in tropical regions is expected to reach a peak during the second decade of the twentyc.
first century.
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d.
e.

Increased global population will lead to an increase in per capita CO 2 production.

Acid deposition will continue to increase, reaching a peak in approximately 2015.

58. Smoke from forest fires is most likely to affect air quality over larger areas for many days when
Smog is produced due to chemical reactions in the atmosphere
a.
A persistent atmospheric inversion exists in the region
b.
Oak trees are burned, releasing terpenes into the atmosphere
c.
Primary, rather than secondary, forests are burned
d.
Vegetation in the region is green and burns more slowly
e.
59. Global warming is most likely to directly cause which of the following?
Shifting of grain belts toward the equator
a.
Falling
sea levels in the Southern Hemisphere
b.
Coastal flooding and submersion of low-lying areas
c.
A decrease in the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere
d.
An increase in the number and size of glaciers
e.
60. Which of the following is an important contributor to both global warming and ozone depletion?
An increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide to higher-than-preindustrial levels
a.
A buildup of methane in the stratosphere to higher-than-preindustrial levels
b.
An increase in the levels of ultraviolet radiation reaching Earths surface
c.
An increase in the amount of infrared solar radiation absorbed in the troposphere
d.
A release of chlorofluorocarbons to the atmosphere
e.

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