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. Plants taking in nitrates from the soil.






2. An American environmentalist who is famous for promoting the ideas of environmental ethics and wildlife management.






3. 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.






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






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






6. 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.






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






8. 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.






9. 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






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






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






12. 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.






13. Growing only one crop at a time.






14. All members of a species which live in the same area.






15. Excess water which cannot be infiltrated into the soil and instead flows along the ground.






16. A transitional area between two different ecosystems.






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






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






19. The loss of water vapor from leaves.






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






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






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






23. Consumers which eat only other animals.






24. The rate at which producers create organic material.






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






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






27. 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.






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






29. A group of similar organisms capable of interbreeding.






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






31. 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.






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






33. 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.






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






35. Water found in estuaries. This water is a mixture of saltine ocean water and fresh water - usually from a river or stream.






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






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






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






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






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






41. A type of symbiosis where each species will benefit from interacting with the other.






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






43. Consumers which eat decomposing organic material.






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






45. 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.






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






47. Populations characterized by large size - long lifespan - and few offspring.






48. The area between the troposphere and the stratosphere. Here the temperature reverses from decreasing to increasing with altitude.






49. An agency created to establish regulations concerning pollutants to protect humans and the environment.






50. 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.