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 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.






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






3. A type of symbiosis where one species benefit at the expense of the other.






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






5. 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.






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






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






8. Single-celled organisms which lack a nucleus.






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






10. The flow of water in the water table.






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






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






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






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






15. Consumers which eat both plants and animals.






16. All of the water found on earth.






17. Exceptionally acidic (low pH) rain. This phenomenon is caused mainly by emissions of carbon dioxide - sulfur dioxide - and nitrogen oxide which react with water particles in the air.






18. A group of similar organisms capable of interbreeding.






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






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






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






22. A transitional area between two different ecosystems.






23. 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.






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






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






26. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






34. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






42. An act which protects certain lands as national parks.






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






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






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






46. The process of surface water entering the soil. This ensures that plants have adequate access to water.






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






48. An international protocol designed to stabilize global warming.






49. A forest found in temperate regions with warm summers - cool winters - and plenty of rainfall. These kinds of forests are characterized by evergreens and deciduous trees.






50. 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.