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DSST Environmental Science: Land Use

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 turning and loosening of soil for the planting of crops






2. Mining method- mountain's forests are clear-cut and the timber is sold - topsoild is removed - and then the rock is blasted away to expose the coal for extraction. Overburden is placed back on the mountaintop. Primarily for coal in the Appalachian Mo






3. 1990 Clean Air Act amendments encouraged clean-burning low-sulfur coal led to more mining in Appalachia -dumping ton of debris sinto valley degrades and destroys areas of habitat -social and health impacts. loose rock tumbles down into homes - overl






4. The use of heavy machinery to remove huge amounts of earth to expose COAL or MINERALS - which are mined out directly.






5. Mining method- mining underground coal deposits - in which shafts are dug deeply into the ground and networks of tunnels are dug to follow coal seams.






6. Advantages: removes the least amount of unwanted material so less waste - Disadvantages: potential collapse; sinkholes; acid drainage; pollutes groundwater; risk of injury/death from dynamite blasts - natural gas explosions - inhalation of toxic gass






7. Heating ore beyond its melting point and combining it with other metals or chemicals ( process of separating).






8. Bio-control can be extremely cost effect - Bio-control can harm other animals - The cane toads control cane beetle in Carribean






9. The golden molecule for plants because it makes them grow - Leagues have special nitrogen fixing bacteria in their rhizomes (roots) - Three covalent bonds for N2. Stronger the covalent bonds - the harder it is to react. Nitrogen gas is inert.






10. Worthless material that surrounds a wanted mineral in an ore deposit.






11. The surface soil that must be moved away to get at coal seams and mineral deposits






12. The uniform planting of a single crop






13. Makes money - remove resources from its original location - Firewood - Paper - Lumber - Charocoal - Gem - Hunting - Medicine






14. A naturally occurring solid element or inorganic compound with a crystal structure - a specific chemical composition - and distinct physical properties.






15. Completely missing something






16. When sulfide minerals in newly exposed rock surfaces react with oxygen and rainwater to produce sulfuric acid - causing runoff as it leaches metals from the rocks






17. Corn yield has increased dramatically in the US since the 1920s because it was in the 1920s that GM corn started to be developed






18. Not enough of some vitamin/mineral/essential thing in food






19. Systematically tests different approaches and aims to improve methods and find ideal over time - Advantages: can be highly effective; works with each specific environment; can protect species; can provide minimum impact - Disadvantages: difficult to






20. Cheap - But - removes all overburden (trees - soil - rocks - etc.); obliterates natural communities b/c everything has been removed; leads to erosion; causes sulfuric acid run-off;






21. Genetically engineered using recombinant DNA






22. Maximum Sustainable Yield - Ecosystem-based Management - Adaptive Management






23. There is now more nitrate in the soil and water than ever - sometimes at unsafe levels - Corn harvests have improved






24. A severe shortage of food (as through crop failure) resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death






25. Can hurt other species - methods used to control other species can become invasive species themselves - Ex. Australia released a virus to kill the excessive rabbits; Australians brought in cane toads to kill beetles on their sugar cane - BUT the toa






26. Nicotine - Alcohol - Cocaine - if it can kill you - it can kill other living things.






27. Locally-based socio-economic model of agriculture and food distribution. also refers to a particular network or association of individuals who have pledged to support one or more local farms - with growers and consumers sharing the risks and benefits






28. Educational - Maintain biodiversity - Aesthetics - Oxygen - Improve quality of life - Co2 to O2 - Shade - Habitat/ biodiversity - Erosion - Clean water - Soil enrichment






29. A fossil fuel composed of organic matter that was compressed under very high pressure to form a dense - solid carbon structure.






30. More expensive then clear cutting - leaves rows of trees for reseeding/ future harvesting.






31. Strip mining - open pit mining - mountain top removal






32. Cutting the trees down - burning them. Nutrients from the ash go to soil. You have a farmland for ranching cattle or farming soybeans.






33. To reclaim is to make things level - and to get something growing and prevent erosion - If the U.S were to try to reclaim - it would cost tax payers about 2 trillion dollars.






34. Fertilizers - promote plant growth by providing essential nutrients like nitrogen or phosphorus; increases crop yield - Combines/Machinery - allows farmers to work much faster and more efficiently; increases crop yield - Pesticides - kill insects - p






35. In the last 100 years - humans have doubled the amount of organic nitrogen in the biosphere by artificial synthesis of ammonia.






36. Food assistance given to an area. Can take away the incentive to produce food in that area. Distribution is an issue.






37. (Insecticides - Herbicides/ Fungicides) - Artificial chemicals used to kill pests/ insects/plants/fungi






38. Long term information is unknown - Can take over surrounding ecosystem - Pest-killing toxin also kills insects that should not and are not meant to be killed such as monarch butterflies - Pollen can be carried to nearby plants by wind thus making th






39. Now makes up 80% of corn in the US - Benefits: Contains naturally occurring pesticide - Increases production - could feed more people - Grow more per square area - Doesn't spoil as quickly - Bigger - tastier






40. Manages resource harvesting so as to minimize impact on ecosystem and ecological processes that provide the resource - Advantages: can protect certain areas; can restore habitats; considers surroundings; allows timber harvesting while preserving inte






41. Uses the idea that 'the enemy of one's enemy is one's friend' - Battles pests and weeds with organisms that eat or infect them - Can be extremely effective and inexpensive






42. Combination of different pest management techniques combined in a specific way best for the place they are being used.






43. Harvesting only mature trees of certain species and size; usually more expensive then clear-cutting but it is less disruptive for wildlife and often better for forest regeneration






44. Shafts are excavated deep into the ground - and networks of tunnels are dug or blasted out to follow deposits of the mineral. requires removal of the overburden - Used for metals ( zinc - lead - nickel - tin - gold - copper) and coal - Most dangerous






45. Having not enough of something






46. Foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. include selective breeding; plant breeding. Typically - genetically modified food






47. Natural fertilizers from decomposing solid organic matter; have lots of nitrogen






48. Cut trees shortly after they go through their fastest stage of growth (which is during their intermediate age) - Advantages: maximizes timber production over time - Disadvantages: trees get cut before they mature; alters forest ecology; eliminates ha






49. Recycle batteries - Send large amounts of metal to scrap yards/businesses instead of to landfills (ex. cars - fridges - dishwashers - etc.) - Recycle old electronics like phones and computers to prevent more mining of minerals like tantalum that are






50. A mining technique that involves digging a gigantic hole and removing the desire ORE - along with waste rock that surrounds the ore.