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






2. An act created to protect endangered and threatened species.






3. An extinct hominid species with near the same brain capacity as modern man believed to use fire and stone tools - live a hunter/gatherer lifestyle - and speak a language.






4. A law designed to locate toxic waste sites - gauge their pollution level - and ensure these sites are taken care of properly.






5. The middle atmospheric layer. Meteors burn up after entering this layer.






6. The process by which the sun's energy converts liquid water to water vapor in the atmosphere.






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






8. A form of management which attempts to satisfy both the needs of humans and those of wildlife in the best way possible for both parties.






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






10. The loss of water vapor from leaves.






11. An extinct hominid species believed to have long - ape-like arms; have a brain capacity half that of modern men; and use primitive tools.






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






13. Condensed water vapor which falls to earth. This comes in many forms - such as rain - snow - ice - and hail.






14. An act which set standards for the amount of pollution in water.






15. The cloudiness of a liquid due to small suspended particles.






16. The spraying of pesticides to prevent a pest problem before it happens.






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






18. A variety of species living together.






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






20. An unstable form of oxygen which protects the earth from UV radiation. Although naturally occurring in the stratosphere (upper atmosphere) - in the lower atmosphere this gas acts as a pollutant.






21. Grasslands with short - widely spaced trees and no canopy - allowing for an unbroken layer of grasses beneath.






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






23. A greenhouse gas which also plays a key role in regulating ozone levels.






24. The amount of variation among organisms living in a particular ecosystem. The loss of this key characteristic leads to a reduction in ecosystem efficiency and the ability of species to adapt to new situations.






25. 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.






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






27. A partially enclosed part of the ocean with rivers or streams flowing into it.






28. The first atmospheric layer. Most weather and pollution occurs here - and the temperature decreases with altitude.






29. The process of a substance passing directly from the solid phase to the gaseous phase - and vice versa.






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






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






32. The combination of evaporation from the ocean - lakes - and other bodies of water and transpiration - the loss of water from plants.






33. The spraying of pesticides to keep produce from any injuries or damage.






34. An influential book by Rachel Carson which helped begin the environmental movement.






35. The infiltration of harmful chemicals - particles - or biological matter into the atmosphere which endanger living organisms. Pollutants include sulfur and nitrogen oxides - ammonia - and chlorofluorocarbons. Although there are natural sources for th






36. A type of farming where the farmer will grow crops both to fulfill his family's needs for the next year and to sell on the market.






37. Consumers which eat only other animals.






38. A theory that our current ecological problems are a product of deeper social problems.






39. An extinct hominid species believed to exhibit the first example of full-time bipedalism.






40. The process by which pollutants are carried by flowing water - such as a river.






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






42. The flow of water in the water table.






43. The rate at which producers create organic material.






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






45. Organisms which produce their own food.






46. Plants taking in nitrates from the soil.






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






48. 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.






49. Organisms which thrive in high nutrient environments - especially those with plenty of carbon.






50. Populations characterized by small size - short lifespan - and lots of offspring.