Multiple
Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the
question.
|
|
|
1.
|
By causing atmospheric changes
through activities such as polluting and careless harvesting, humans have A. | caused the destruction of habitats | B. | affected global stability in a positive way | C. | established equilibrium in ecosystems | D. | replaced nonrenewable resources | | |
|
|
|
2.
|
Which human activity would have
the most direct impact on the oxygen – carbon dioxide cycle? A. | reducing the rate of ecological succession | B. | decreasing the use of water | C. | destroying large forest
areas | D. | enforcing laws that prevent the use of leaded
gasoline | | |
|
|
|
3.
|
To minimize negative
environmental impact, a community should A. | approve the weekly spraying of pesticides
on the plants in a local park | B. | grant a permit to a chemical manufacturing
company to build a factory by one of its lakes, with no restrictions on waste
disposal | C. | make a decision about building a new road in a hiking area based only
on the economic advantages | D. | set policy after considering both the
risks and benefits involved in building a toxic waste site within its
boundaries | | |
|
|
|
4.
|
El Niño is a short-term
climatic change that causes ocean waters to remain warm when they should normally be cool. The warmer
temperatures disrupt food webs and alter weather patterns.Which occurrence would most likely result
from these changes? A. | Some species would become extinct, and
other species would evolve to take their place. | B. | Some populations in affected areas would be reduced, while other populations would
increase temporarily. | C. | The flow of energy through the ecosystem
would remain unchanged. | D. | The genes of individual organisms would
mutate to adapt to the new environmental conditions. | | |
|
|
|
5.
|
Which statement illustrates how
human activities can most directly change the dynamic equilibrium of an ecosystem? A. | A hurricane causes a stream to overflow its banks. | B. | Increased wind increases water evaporation from a plant. | C. | Water pollution causes a decrease in fish populations in a
river. | D. | The ozone shield helps prevent harmful radiation from reaching the
surface of Earth. | | |
|
|
|
6.
|
Some factories have a negative
impact on Earth's ecosystems because they A. | have high energy demands that require the
use of fossil fuels and nuclear fuels | B. | utilize agricultural technology that
decreases soil erosion | C. | decrease the need for finite
resources | D. | limit the amount of emissions produced each
year | | |
|
|
|
7.
|
Which factor is not considered
by ecologists when they evaluate the impact of human activities on an ecosystem? A. | amount of energy released from the Sun | B. | quality of the atmosphere | C. | degree of
biodiversity | D. | location of power plants | | |
|
|
|
8.
|
A new type of fuel gives off
excessive amounts of smoke. Before this type of fuel is widely used, an ecologist would most likely
want to know A. | what effect the smoke will have on the
environment | B. | how much it will cost to produce the fuel | C. | how long it will take to produce the fuel | D. | if the fuel will be widely accepted by consumers | | |
|
Short
Answer
|
|
|
9.
|
Recycling can extend the use of
nonrenewable resources but can not restore them. Humans can restore renewable resources to
reduce some negative effects of increased human consumption. Identify one resource that is
renewable, and describe one specific way humans can restore this resource if it is being
depleted.
|
|
|
10.
|
Mountain lions and
big horn sheep are part of the natural food web in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Fish and Wildlife
Service recently declared these sheep an endangered species. This action could lead to the shooting
of mountain lions.
a. State one reason placing these sheep on an endangered
species list could lead to the shooting of mountain lions where the sheep
live.
b. State two reasons some people would oppose the shooting
of the mountain lions.
|
|
|
11.
|
Choose one ecological
problem from the list below.
Ecological Problems
Global warming
Destruction of the ozone
shield
Loss of
biodiversity
Discuss the ecological problem you chose. In your answer be sure to
state:
•
the problem you selected and one human action that may have caused the
problem
•
one way in which the problem may negatively affect humans
• one positive action that
could be taken to reduce the problem
|
|
|
12.
|
There are a number of possible
methods to control an invasion of gypsy moths in a city
park. Several alternatives are listed
below.
Write the letter of the method you would
use and give an ecologically sound reason for
your choice.
|
|
|
13.
|
In the early 1980s, scientists
discovered holes in the ozone shield surrounding Earth. State one negative effect this
environmental change could have on humans.
|
|
|
14.
|
All living organisms are
dependent on a stable environment.
a Describe how humans have made the
environment less stable by:
• changing the chemical composition of air, soil,
and water [1]
• reducing the biodiversity of an area [1]
• introducing technologies
[1]
b Describe two specific ways recently used by humans
to reduce the amount of
chemicals being added to the environment.
[2]
|
|
|
15.
|
The Pine Barrens
is a government-protected environment located on the eastern end of Long Island. A proposal has been
made to allow a shopping mall to be built in the middle of the Pine Barrens. Although the developer
has promised jobs for people in the surrounding communities, some community members oppose the
building of the mall due to the negative effects it would have on this fragile ecosystem.
Identify two negative effects this mall would most likely have on the Pine
Barrens.
|
|
|
Base your answers to the
following questions on the information below and on your knowledge of
biology.
The planning board of a community held a public hearing
in response to complaints by residents concerning a waste-recycling plant. These residents claim that
the waste-hauling trucks were polluting air, land, and water and that the garbage has brought an
increase in rats, mice, and pathogenic bacteria to the area. The residents were insistent that the
waste-recycling plant be closed permanently.
Other residents recognized the health
risks but felt that the benefits of waste recycling outweighed the health issues.
|
|
|
16.
|
Identify two specific health
problems that could result from living near the waste recyclingplant.
|
|
|
17.
|
State one cause of a health
problem that can be associated with the presence of the waste recyclingplant.
|
|
|
18.
|
State one ecological benefit of
recycling wastes.
|