Test your basic knowledge |

AP Environmental Science

Subjects : science, ap
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A hydrocarbon that forms as sediments are buried and pressurized.






2. Land that's fit to be cultivated.






3. The process of burning.






4. The movement of individuals out of a population.






5. A cyclonic storm having winds ranging from approximately 48 to 121 km (30 to 75 miles) per hour.






6. When ecological succession begins in a virtually lifeless area - such as the area behind a moving glacier.






7. A tank filled with aerobic bacteria that's used to treat sewage.






8. The bedrock - which lies below all of the other layers of soil - is referred to as the R horizon.






9. Creating flat platforms in the hillside that provide a level planting surface - which reduces soil runoff from the slope.






10. The phenomenon whereby the Earth's atmosphere traps solar radiation - caused by the presence in the atmosphere of gases such as carbon dioxide - water vapor - and methane that allow incoming sunlight to pass through - but absorb heat radiated back fr






11. Any compound that releases hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. Also - a water solution that contains a surplus of hydrogen ions.






12. Air currents caused by the vertical movement of air due to atmospheric heating and cooling.






13. Organisms in the first stages of succession.






14. A place where a large quantity of a resource sits for a long period of time.






15. An opening in the Earth's crust through which molten lava - ash - and gases are ejected.






16. An area in which a particular mineral is concentrated - mining -the excavation of the Earth for the purpose of extracting ore or minerals.






17. Refers to when farmers plant seeds without using a plow to turn the soil.






18. When the size of an organism's natural habitat is reduced - or when development occurs that isolates a habitat.






19. Organisms that consume primary consumers.






20. Organisms that reproduce early in life and often and have a high capacity for reproductive growth.






21. In a sewage treatment plant - the initial filtration that is done to remove debris such as stones - sticks - rags - toys - and other objects that were flushed down the toilet.






22. Radioactive wastes that produce high levels of ionizing radiation.






23. When each family in a community grows crops for themselves and rely on animal and human labor to plant and harvest crops.






24. Any substance than is inhaled - ingested - or absorbed at dosages sufficient to damage a living organism.






25. A hydrocarbon deposit - such as petroleum - coal - or natural gas - derived from living matter of a previous geologic time and used for fuel.






26. When the signs and symptoms of an illness can be attributed to a specific infectious organism that resides in the building.






27. The process in which plants absorb ammonium (NH3) - ammonia ions (NH4+) - and nitrate ions (NO3) through their roots.






28. The coarsest soil - with particles 0.05 -2.0 mm in diameter.






29. The atmospheric pressure conditions corresponding to the periodic warming of El Nino and cooling of La Nina.






30. Gave the EPA power to set emission standards for major sources of noise - including transportation - machinery - and construction.






31. The day-to-day use of environmental resources as food - clothing - and housing.






32. When the majority of a building's occupants experience certain symptoms that vary with the amount of time spent in the building.






33. A soil horizon; B receives the minerals and organic materials that are leached out of the A horizon.






34. The removal of all of the trees in an area.






35. Living or derived from living things.






36. The removal of select trees in an area; this leaves the majority of the habitat in place and has less of an impact on the ecosystem.






37. The process by which the concentration of toxic substances increases in each successive link in the food chain.






38. A fishing technique in which the ocean floor is literally scraped by heavy nets that smash everything in their path.






39. Poor nutrition that results from an insufficient or poorly balanced diet.






40. When a species occupies a smaller niche than it would in the absence of competition.






41. An organism such as a bacterium or protozoan - that obtains its nourishment through the oxidation of inorganic chemical compounds - as opposed to photosynthesis.






42. A usually triangular alluvial deposit at the mouth of a river.






43. The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into compounds - such as ammonia - by natural agencies or various industrial processes.






44. Radioactive wastes that produce low levels of ionizing radiation.






45. Power generated using water.






46. A layer of soil.






47. The process of soil particles being carried away by wind or water. Erosion moves the smaller particles first and hence degrades the soil to a coarser - sandier - stonier texture.






48. Acid rain - acid hail - acid snow; all of which occur as a result of pollution in the atmosphere.






49. Using strategies to reduce the amount of risk (the degree of likelihood that a person will become ill upon exposure to a toxin or pathogen).






50. A model that's used to predict population trends based on the birth and death rates as well as economic status of a population.