Test your basic knowledge |

AP Environmental Science

Subjects : science, ap
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 amount that the population would grow if there were unlimited resources in its environment.






2. A tank filled with aerobic bacteria that's used to treat sewage.






3. The energy of motion.






4. The part of the mantle that lies just below the lithosphere.






5. The process by which specialized bacteria (mostly anaerobic bacteria) convert ammonia to NOy NO2 - and N2 and release it back to the atmosphere.






6. A method of supplying irrigation water through tubes that literally drip water onto the soil at the base of each plant.






7. When materials - such as plastic or aluminum - are used to rebuild the same product. An example of this is the use of the aluminum from aluminum cans to produce more aluminum cans.






8. A model that's used to predict population trends based on the birth and death rates as well as economic status of a population.






9. The part of the Earth and its atmosphere in which living organisms exist or that is capable of supporting life.






10. The low-rainfall region that exists on the leeward (downwind) side of a mountain range. This rain shadow is the result of the mountain range's causing precipitation on the windward side.






11. An effect that results from long -term exposure to low levels of toxin.






12. Organisms that derive energy from consuming nonliving organic matter.






13. The result of vibrations (often due to plate movements) deep in the Earth that release energy. They often occur as two plates slide past one another at a transform boundary.






14. The gaseous mass or envelope surrounding a celestial body - especially the one surrounding the Earth - which is retained by the celestial body's gravitational field.






15. An introduced - normative species.






16. Any noise that causes stress or has the potential to damage human health.






17. The result of chemical interaction with the bedrock that is typical of the action of both water and atmospheric gases.






18. An estimate of the amount of fossil fuel that can be obtained from reserve.






19. An influential theory that concerns the long-term rate of conventional oil (and other fossil fuel) extraction and depletion. It predicts that future world oil production will soon reach a peak and then rapidly decline.






20. A cooling of the ocean surface off the western coast of South America - occurring periodically every 4 to 12 years and affecting Pacific and other weather patterns.






21. The capacity to do work.






22. A soil horizon; B receives the minerals and organic materials that are leached out of the A horizon.






23. The number of children an average woman will bear during her lifetime; this information is based on an analysis of data from preceding years in the population in question.






24. A program funded by the federal government and a trust that's funded by taxes on chemicals; identifies pollutants and cleans up hazardous waste sites.






25. The molten core of the Earth.






26. The raising of fish and other aquatic species in captivity for harvest.






27. A group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area.






28. A high-speed - meandering wind current - generally moving from a westerly direction at speeds often exceeding 400 km (250 miles) per hour at altitudes of 15 to 25 km (10 to 15 miles).






29. An opening in the Earth's crust through which molten lava - ash - and gases are ejected.






30. The phenomenon whereby the Earth's atmosphere traps solar radiation - caused by the presence in the atmosphere of gases such as carbon dioxide - water vapor - and methane that allow incoming sunlight to pass through - but absorb heat radiated back fr






31. The management of forest plantations for the purpose of harvesting timber.






32. A platinum - coated device that oxidizes most of the VOCs and some of the CO that would otherwise be emitted in exhaust - converting them to CO2.






33. A soil horizon - horizon C is made up of larger pieces of rock that have not undergone much weathering.






34. Living or derived from living things.






35. Soil with particles 0.002 -0.05 mm in diameter.






36. The process of burning.






37. When the majority of a building's occupants experience certain symptoms that vary with the amount of time spent in the building.






38. The biological treatment of wastewater in order to continue to remove biodegradable waste.






39. The gradual breakdown of rock into smaller and smaller particles - caused by natural chemical - physical - and biological factors.






40. Radioactive wastes that produce low levels of ionizing radiation.






41. When populations are well below the size dictated by the carrying capacity of the region they live in - they will grow exponentially - but as they approach the carrying capacity - their growth rate will decrease and the size of the population will ev






42. Resources that are often formed by very slow geologic processes - so we consider them incapable of being regenerated within the realm of human existence.






43. The more or less constant winds blowing in horizontal directions over the Earth's surface - as part of Hadley cells.






44. Creating flat platforms in the hillside that provide a level planting surface - which reduces soil runoff from the slope.






45. Transition in species composition of a biological community - often following ecological disturbance of the community; the establishment of a biological community in any area virtually barren of life.






46. The removal of select trees in an area; this leaves the majority of the habitat in place and has less of an impact on the ecosystem.






47. The thinning of the ozone layer over Antarctica (and to some extent - over the Arctic).






48. A cyclonic storm having winds ranging from approximately 48 to 121 km (30 to 75 miles) per hour.






49. Any weathering that's caused by the activities of living organisms.






50. Smog resulting from emissions from industry and other sources of gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels - especially coal.