Test your basic knowledge |

DSST Environmental Science

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. Refers to the combined physical and biological components of an environment.






2. Could be melting of the polar ice caps - destruction of coral reefs - severe winters and summers - excessive rain fall in some areas and not enough in others - drought - etc.






3. The person who started the phrase: 'greenhouse effect' If this person isn't an option choose Pouillet






4. A recent warming of the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere - it is believed to be the result of a strengthening of the greenhouse effect mostly due to human produced increases in atmospheric greenhouse gasses.






5. Also known as the boreal forest - is a biome characterized by coniferous forests. Long and cold winters are the dominant feature of the ----- biome. The temperature in a ----- biome can range from -76 to 104 degrees.






6. Begins in areas where the soil is already present






7. As the CO2 gasses continue to rise it is causing a mass heating effect which is melting ------- ----- ----. At the current rate of global warming the entire --- --- will be melted in the next few decades






8. A species that eats both plants and animals as their primary food source. ex- pigs






9. Sometimes defined as anything more than primary and secondary treatment. Treated water is sometimes disinfected chemically or physically (for example by lagoons and microfiltration) prior to discharge into a water source.






10. A part of the pre-treatment phase of wastewater treatment. ----- is when influent sewage water is strained to remove all large objects carried in the sewage system.






11. Which region of the U.S. is most affected by acid rain?






12. Water pollution affecting a water body from different sources - such as polluted runoff from agricultural areas draining into a ricer - or wind-borne debris blowing out to sea. NPS may derive from many different sources with no specific solution to r






13. A nuclear accident that occurred on April 26 - 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine (then the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic - part of the Soviet Union). It is considered the worst nuclear power plant accident in history and is t






14. Depending on free oxygen or air






15. The practice of plowing across a slope following its elevation contour lines. The rows formed slows water run-off during rainstorms to prevent soil erosion and allows the water time to settle into the soil. In -------- plowing - the ruts made by the






16. Wastewater treatment. Screening and grit removal






17. A process by which radioactive energy leaving a planetary surface is absorbed by some atmospheric gasses called greenhouse gasses. They transfer this energy to other components of the atmosphere and it is re-radiated in all directions - including bac






18. Obtain nutrients by eating dead and rotten things. Ex- earthworms






19. Requires the EPA to set national ambient air quality standards for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment.






20. Form gradually where the overburden is thin. The dissolving limestone is replaced by sand granules the t fall into the depression and fill the holes. They appear as a concave depression in the ground. ------ ------ are usually only a few feet in diam






21. A natural process that occurs in an aging lake or pond as that body of water gradually builds up its concentration of plant nutrients






22. Animals that are adapted to eat plants






23. A very week direct greenhouse gas but has important indirect effects on global warming. Reacts with hydroxyl (OH) radicals in the atmosphere - reducing their abundance. As OH radicals help to reuse the lifetimes of strong greenhouse gasses - like met






24. The main cause and effects of infant mortality in developing nations






25. Which global region's population is increasing more than the others? (if not there - pick Africa)






26. Animals that eat mainly or only meat






27. Death rate






28. Feature found in 'state of the art' landfills






29. Living or active in the absence of free oxygen






30. Set limits to protect public health - including the health of 'sensitive' populations such as asthmatics - children - and the elderly






31. 19% - 20% increasing when compared to death rate






32. The ocean water pollutant that is the most damaging






33. Current world population growth






34. A federal agency charged with protecting human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by congress






35. Removes dissolved and suspended biological matter. Typically performed by indigenous - water-borne micro-organisms in a managed habitat. May require a separation process to remove the micro-organisms from the treated water prior to discharge or terti






36. The scientific study of the distributions - abundance - share affects - and relations of organisms and their interactions with each other in a common environment.






37. Consists of temporarily holding the sewage in a quiescent basin where heavy solids can settle to the bottom while oil - grease and lighter solids float to the surface. The settled and floating materials are removed and the remaining liquid may be dis






38. A method of farming used when a slope is too steep or too long - or when the other types of farming may not prevent soil erosion. ------ farming alternates strips of closely sown crops such as hay - wheat - or other small grains with strips of row cr






39. A vehicle that transports more than a few people. Ex- busses - trains - subways - etc. NOT your van/car






40. Two main factors that influence a region's climate






41. Is dealt with the secondary treatment phase when it becomes activated -----. It is then treated for disposal using anaerobic - aerobic or other means.






42. Begins in areas where no soil is initially present






43. What country is the biggest producer of Hazardous waste?






44. A colorless - odorless - non-flammable gas and is the most prominent greenhouse gas in Earth's atmosphere. It is recycled through the atmosphere by the process of photosynthesis - which makes human life possible. Is one of the greenhouse gasses. The






45. The effect industrialization initially has on birth and death rates






46. Set limits to protect public welfare - including protection against decreased visibility - damage to animals - crops - vegetation - and buildings






47. Often regarded as the main culprit in cases of eutrophication in lakes subjected to point source pollution from sewage. The concentration of algae and the trophic state of lakes correspond well to phosphorous levels in water. Humankind has increased






48. Occurs when human activity introduces increased amounts of plant nutrients - which speed up plant growth and eventually choke the lake of all its animal life.






49. The primary suggested method of disposing municipal solid waste as per EPA guidelines after preventing waste in the first place.






50. Are climatically and geographically defined as similar climatic conditions on the earth - such as communities of plants - animals - and soil organisms and are often referred to as ecosystems.