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






2. Says that the entropy (disorder) of the universe is increasing. One corollary of the Second Law of thermodynamics is the concept that - in most energy transformations - a significant fraction of energy is lost to the universe as heat.






3. When photochemical smog - NOx compounds - VOCs - and ozone combine to form smog with a brownish hue.






4. The place where two plates abut each other.






5. Sunlight.






6. Organisms in the first stages of succession.






7. The A layer of soil is often referred to as topsoil and is most important for plant growth.






8. An organism that is capable of converting radiant energy or chemical energy into carbohydrates.






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






10. The process in which soil becomes saltier and saltier until - finally - the salt prevents the growth of plants. Salinization is caused by irrigation because salts brought in with the water remain in the soil as water evaporates.






11. A basic substance; chemically - a substance that absorbs hydrogen ions or releases hydroxyl ions; in reference to natural water - a measure of the base content of the water.






12. A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit.






13. 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.






14. When mature trees are cut over a period of time (usually10 -20 years); this leaves mature trees - which can reseed the forest - in place.






15. When companies are allowed to buy permits that allow them a certain amount of discharge of substances into certain environmental outlets. If they can reduce their amount of discharge - they are allowed to sell the remaining portion of their permit to






16. 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.






17. Smog resulting from emissions from industry and other sources of gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels.






18. Graphical representations of populations' ages.






19. The process that occurs when two different species in a region compete and the better adapted species wins.






20. 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.






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






22. The removal of all of the trees in an area.






23. Pollutants that are formed by the combination of primary pollutants in the atmosphere.






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






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






26. A plate boundary where two plates are moving toward each other.






27. 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.






28. The process in which soil bacteria convert ammonium (NH4+) to a form that can be used by plants; nitrate - or NO3.






29. Any other species of fish - mammals - or birds that are caught that are not the target organism.






30. In fishing - the use of long lines that have baited hooks and will be taken by numerous aquatic organisms.






31. The removal of trees for agricultural purposes or purposes of exportation.






32. A severe tropical cyclone originating in the equatorial regions of the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea or eastern regions of the Pacific Ocean - traveling north - northwest - or northeast from its point of origin - and usually involving heavy rains.






33. Pollution that does not have a specific point of release - open -loop recycling -when materials are reused to form new products.






34. 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.






35. A symbiotic relationship in which one member is helped by the association and the other is harmed.






36. The result of a pathogen invading a body.






37. A system of vertical and horizontal air circulation predominating in tropical and subtropical regions and creating major weather patterns.






38. Open or forested areas built at the outer edge of a city.






39. Is equal to the number of deaths per 1 -000 members of the population in a year.






40. The part of the wide lower course of a river where its current is met by the tides.






41. The amount of time it takes for half of a radioactive sample to disappear.






42. Non-moving sources of pollution - such as factories.






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






44. When trees and crops are planted together - creating a mutualistic symbiotic relationship between them.






45. The number of individuals of a population that inhabit a certain unit of land or water area.






46. Bacteria - virus - or other microorganisms that can cause disease.






47. When one species feeds on another.






48. Refers to resources - such as plants and animals - which can be regenerated if harvested at sustainable yields.






49. The vertical movement of a mass of matter due to heating and cooling; this can happen in both the atmosphere and Earth's mantle.






50. Any process that breaks rock down into smaller pieces without changing the chemistry of the rock; typically wind and water.