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 transitional area between two different ecosystems.






2. All of the ecosystems on earth.






3. The crust and upper mantle of the earth.






4. 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.






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






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






7. All of the water found on earth.






8. Populations characterized by large size - long lifespan - and few offspring.






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






10. The place of an organism in an ecosystem - such as what it eats and how it interacts with other organisms.






11. A forest near the equator with heavy rainfall and a great diversity of plant and animal life. Although a mere 2% of the earth is covered with these forests - they contain 50-80% of earth's land species.






12. Organisms with a nucleus.






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






14. Surface run-off caused by melted snow.






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






16. Also called that water cycle - this process describes the cycling of water throughout the environment. The stages of this cycle are evaporation - condensation - transportation - precipitation - infiltration and percolation - and run off.






17. 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.






18. Consumers which eat only other animals.






19. The rapid increase of harmful algae in a body of water.






20. 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.






21. Modern man.






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






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






24. Organisms which thrive in low nutrient environments and usually have slow growth rates.






25. All members of a species which live in the same area.






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






27. An international protocol designed to stabilize global warming.






28. Water found in estuaries. This water is a mixture of saltine ocean water and fresh water - usually from a river or stream.






29. The uppermost atmospheric layer. Here satellites orbit the earth.






30. 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.






31. Consumers which eat both plants and animals.






32. Animals which eat grass and roots.






33. Growing only one crop at a time.






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






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






36. Growing more than one crop at a time.






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






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






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






40. An extinct hominid species believed to have long - ape-like arms; have a brain capacity half that of modern men; and use primitive tools.






41. Animals which eat leaves and shoots.






42. The first atmospheric layer. Most weather and pollution occurs here - and the temperature decreases with altitude.






43. The conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas.






44. Organisms which eat other organisms.






45. The process of planting trees in between other crops.






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






47. A community of species interacting with their nonliving (abiotic) environment.






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






49. Biomes far north in North America - Europe - and Asia which - due to very low temperatures - cannot support tree growth.






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