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. Consumers which eat decomposing organic material.






2. 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.






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






4. The study of the interaction between organisms and their environment.






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






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






7. 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.






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






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






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






11. Organisms which consume autotrophs for food.






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






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






14. Surface run-off caused by melted snow.






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






16. 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.






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






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






19. 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.






20. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






26. The crust and upper mantle of the earth.






27. Organisms which eat other organisms.






28. 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.






29. 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.






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






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






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






33. The loss of water vapor from leaves.






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






35. A bloom of phytoplankton in a body of water caused by an abnormal increase in nutrients. This process depletes the water's oxygen level - killing off other aquatic organisms.






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






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






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






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






40. Biomes with less than 10 inches of rain a year. Foliage is scarce in these areas - and remaining plants and animals work hard to conserve the little water they receive.






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






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






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






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






45. Growing only one crop at a time.






46. 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






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






48. All of the water found on earth.






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






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