Test your basic knowledge |

DSST Environment And Humanity

Subjects : dsst, science
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 UN conference that addressed the growing population problem.






2. A community of similar living organisms largely affected by the area's climate.






3. A type of farming where the farmer will fell and burn down trees to grow crops. After a few years - he will move on and continue the process.






4. The rapid increase of harmful algae in a body of water.






5. A transitional area between two different ecosystems.






6. Species which react quickly to an environmental change and therefore can be used to diagnose a particular ecosystem.






7. A type of farming where the farmer will grow just enough crops to satisfy his family's needs for the next year.






8. A UN conference held in Rio de Janeiro. The conference decided to protect biodiversity - reduce pollution emissions and greenhouse gasses - and promote sustainable development.






9. The conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas.






10. A principle that states that two species competing for a single resource cannot coexist. One species will inevitably gain an advantage over the other - causing the looser either to migrate or to become extinct.






11. An extinct hominid species believed to be the last common ancestor between man and apes.






12. A situation where a layer of warmer air traps lower - cooler air - causing pollution to collect near the ground.






13. The place of an organism in an ecosystem - such as what it eats and how it interacts with other organisms.






14. Also called that water cycle - this process describes the cycling of water throughout the environment. The stages of this cycle are evaporation - condensation - transportation - precipitation - infiltration and percolation - and run off.






15. A shubland found primarily in the South-Western United States and Mexico. Fire plays a predominant role in the life-cycle of the plants in this area - the seeds of which will sprout only after a fire.






16. Organisms which consume autotrophs for food.






17. Consumers which eat only other animals.






18. Biomes far north in North America - Europe - and Asia which - due to very low temperatures - cannot support tree growth.






19. An international organization designed to promote free trade between countries.






20. Growing more than one crop at a time.






21. The process of planting trees in between other crops.






22. A forest near the equator with heavy rainfall and a great diversity of plant and animal life. Although a mere 2% of the earth is covered with these forests - they contain 50-80% of earth's land species.






23. Animals which eat leaves and shoots.






24. The decomposition of organic nitrogen into inorganic ammonium. This process is also called mineralization.






25. A greenhouse gas. Although it is a natural part of the carbon cycle - the atmospheric concentration of this gas has increased due to the burning of fossil fuels.






26. The amount of pests needed before spraying pesticides is economical.






27. The oxification of ammonia by certain bacterium into nitrite and later into nitrates - which can then be used by plants.






28. A community of species interacting with their nonliving (abiotic) environment.






29. A forest characterized by clearly differentiated seasons - such as the trees loosing leaves in the fall and heavy snowfall in the winter.






30. Average expected birth rate for 1 -000 women.






31. The process of planting different plant species right next to each other to maximize one's yield.






32. The position of an organism on the food chain.






33. A rainforest in the temperate zone which receives heavy rainfall.






34. An especially potent greenhouse gas emitted during production and transportation of fossil fuels - decomposition of organic matter - and herds of livestock.






35. Integrating rows of trees alongside crops to provide mulch and shade - retain water in the soil - and promote sustainable land use.






36. An international protocol designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of CFCs and other harmful chemicals.






37. A group of similar organisms capable of interbreeding.






38. Forests found in the northern regions of North America - Europe - and Asia characterized by freezing winters and warmer summers. These forests lie just below the tree line.






39. Organisms which eat other organisms.






40. The uppermost atmospheric layer. Here satellites orbit the earth.






41. A variety of species living together.






42. The rate at which producers create organic material.






43. Growing only one crop at a time.






44. The biggest atmospheric layer. Without ozone - UV radiation causes ionization and the auroras in this layer.






45. The cycling and reusing of elements and molecules (such as water - nitrogen - and phosphorus) that are essential to life.






46. The process by which certain kinds of bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into ammonia - a form accessible to living creatures.






47. An act requiring federal agencies to detail the impact of proposed environmental policies.






48. The second atmospheric layer. The ozone layer is found here - increasing the temperature with altitude.






49. An act which called for the careful examination of new chemicals to ensure they are safe for their intended uses.






50. Organisms which produce their own food.