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






2. An international protocol designed to stabilize global warming.






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






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






5. Excess water which cannot be infiltrated into the soil and instead flows along the ground.






6. 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.






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






8. The decomposition of organic nitrogen into inorganic ammonium. This process is also called mineralization.






9. 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.






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






11. 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.






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






13. Surface run-off caused by melted snow.






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






15. Growing more than one crop at a time.






16. A greenhouse gas which also plays a key role in regulating ozone levels.






17. The coexistence of two species using the same resource where the two will use the resource in different ways.






18. 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.






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






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






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






22. All of the water found on earth.






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






24. Precipitation which does not reach the soil but is instead collected by plants.






25. A type of farming where the farmer will fell and burn down trees to grow crops. After a few years - he will move on and continue the process.






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






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






28. An extinct hominid species believed to have the same brain capacity as modern man and use many different weapons.






29. A rainforest in the temperate zone which receives heavy rainfall.






30. 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






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






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






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






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






35. The combination of evaporation from the ocean - lakes - and other bodies of water and transpiration - the loss of water from plants.






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






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






38. Exceptionally acidic (low pH) rain. This phenomenon is caused mainly by emissions of carbon dioxide - sulfur dioxide - and nitrogen oxide which react with water particles in the air.






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






40. The spraying of pesticides to keep produce from any injuries or damage.






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






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






43. The conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas.






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






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






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






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






48. The process by which a new species is created. This process generally requires geographic isolation to prevent interbreeding between the newly emerging species and the parent species.






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






50. The rate at which producers create organic material.