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. A form of management which attempts to satisfy both the needs of humans and those of wildlife in the best way possible for both parties.






2. 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.






3. An extinct hominid species with near the same brain capacity as modern man believed to use fire and stone tools - live a hunter/gatherer lifestyle - and speak a language.






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






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






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






7. An extinct hominid species believed to be the last common ancestor between man and apes.






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






9. Animals which eat leaves and shoots.






10. Surface run-off caused by melted snow.






11. An act requiring federal agencies to detail the impact of proposed environmental policies.






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






13. 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.






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






15. Evolution in one organism due to change in a related organism.






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






17. Species which serve key roles in an ecosystem. The absence of these important organisms is detrimental to the surrounding area.






18. Consumers which eat both plants and animals.






19. A forest characterized by clearly differentiated seasons - such as the trees loosing leaves in the fall and heavy snowfall in the winter.






20. 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.






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






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






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






24. The flow of water in the water table.






25. A transitional area between two different ecosystems.






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






27. Organisms which consume autotrophs for food.






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






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






30. Plants taking in nitrates from the soil.






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






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






33. The UN's first major conference on environmental issues.






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






35. An especially potent greenhouse gas emitted during production and transportation of fossil fuels - decomposition of organic matter - and herds of livestock.






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






37. A type of symbiosis where one species will benefit while the other will be neither benefit or be harmed.






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






39. The rate at which producers create organic material.






40. An international organization designed to promote free trade between countries.






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






42. Animals which eat grass and roots.






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






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






45. A type of farming where the farmer will grow crops both to fulfill his family's needs for the next year and to sell on the market.






46. The middle atmospheric layer. Meteors burn up after entering this layer.






47. A variety of species living together.






48. Organisms which produce their own food.






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






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