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






2. The molten core of the Earth.






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






4. An animal that only consumes other animals.






5. The outermost shell of the atmosphere - between the mesosphere and outer space - where temperatures increase steadily with altitude.






6. Each of the feeding levels in a food chain.






7. The total sum of a species' use of the biotic and abiotic resources in its environment.






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






9. A process in which cold - often nutrient-rich - waters from the ocean depths rise to the surface.






10. The process by which - according to Darwin's theory of evolution - only the organisms best adapted to their environment tend to survive and transmit their genetic characteristics in increasing numbers to succeeding generations - while those less adap






11. The process in green plants and certain other organisms by which carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water using light as an energy source. Most forms of photosynthesis release oxygen as a byproduct.






12. The process of fusing two nuclei.






13. An organism such as a bacterium or protozoan - that obtains its nourishment through the oxidation of inorganic chemical compounds - as opposed to photosynthesis.






14. Graphical representations of populations' ages.






15. 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.






16. 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.






17. States that matter can neither be created nor destroyed.






18. 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






19. The accumulation of a substance - such as a toxic chemical - in various tissues of a living organism.






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






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






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






23. The point at which 50 percent of the test organisms show a negative effect from a toxin.






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






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






26. The day-to-day variations in temperature - air pressure - wind - humidity - and precipitation mediated by the atmosphere in a given region.






27. Being extinct or the process of becoming extinct.






28. Close - prolonged associations between two or more different organisms of different species that may - but do not necessarily benefit the members.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






36. A species whose very presence contributes to an ecosystem's diversity and whose extinction would consequently lead to the extinction of other forms of life.






37. Acid rain - acid hail - acid snow; all of which occur as a result of pollution in the atmosphere.






38. The water from which a river rises; a source.






39. A semiconductor device that converts the energy of sunlight into electric energy.






40. When an area of vegetation is cut down and burned before being planted with crops.






41. A stable - mature community in a successive series that has reached equilibrium after having evolved through stages and adapted to its environment.






42. When physically treated sewage water is passed into a settling tank - where suspended solids settle out as sludge; chemically treated polymers may be added to help the suspended solids separate and settle out.






43. Occurs when infection causes a change in the state of health.






44. The use of devices - such as solar panels - to collect - focus - transport - or store solar energy.






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






46. The fraction of solar energy that is reflected back into space.






47. When the size of an organism's natural habitat is reduced - or when development occurs that isolates a habitat.






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






49. A fishing technique in which the ocean floor is literally scraped by heavy nets that smash everything in their path.






50. The management or regulation of a resource so that its use does not exceed the capacity of the resource to regenerate itself.