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. The loss of water vapor from leaves.






2. 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.






3. The process by which a new species is created. This process generally requires geographic isolation to prevent interbreeding between the newly emerging species and the parent species.






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






5. The flow of water in the water table.






6. A UN conference that addressed the growing population problem.






7. An extinct hominid species believed to have the same brain capacity as modern man and use many different weapons.






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






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






10. Political organizations not affiliated with the government which try to bring about social change.






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






12. Different species living in close contact with each other.






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






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






15. Plants taking in nitrates from the soil.






16. 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.






17. Precipitation which does not reach the soil but is instead collected by plants.






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






19. An international convention which created the framework for protecting the ozone layer.






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






21. The conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas.






22. An act which required the EPA to set standards for drinking water.






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






24. Consumers which eat decomposing organic material.






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






26. 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.






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






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






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






30. All of the water found on earth.






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






32. An act which established and enforced acceptable levels of air pollution.






33. A philosophy that extends ethics to non-humans. Under this system - animals - plants - and other aspects of the environment are seen as being deserving of justice and consideration.






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






35. Animals which eat leaves and shoots.






36. A group of similar organisms capable of interbreeding.






37. The coexistence of two species using the same resource where the two will use the resource in different ways.






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






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






40. Organisms which consume autotrophs for food.






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






42. 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.






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






44. 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.






45. Organisms which produce their own food.






46. Areas with only enough rainfall for grasses to grow. As a result - most animals are grazers - such as buffalo.






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






48. The process of a gas transforming into a liquid.






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






50. Organisms which create their own food out of inorganic (abiotic) substances.