Question 1

An environment where the plants are low to the ground and many boggy areas are found is called

Accepted Answer

A)  a boreal forest. 
B)  a savanna. 
C)  a tundra. 
D)  a prairie. 
A)  a boreal forest. 
B)  a savanna. 
C)  a tundra. 
D)  a prairie.

Question 2

Los Angeles, California, has an average daily temperature between 70° F and 80° F throughout most of the year. There's very little rainfall except for during a rainy season beginning in the fall. This describes the city's

Accepted Answer

A)  climate. 
B)  weather. 
C)  biome. 
D)  ecosystem. 
A)  climate. 
B)  weather. 
C)  biome. 
D)  ecosystem.

Question 3

Why does Dallas, Texas, have a higher yearly average temperature than Chicago, Illinois?

Accepted Answer

A)  Dallas is at a higher latitude than Chicago. 
B)  Chicago experiences more prevailing westerly winds than Dallas. 
C)  Dallas receives more solar irradiance than Chicago. 
D)  Dallas is closer to a large body of water, than is Chicago. 
A)  Dallas is at a higher latitude than Chicago. 
B)  Chicago experiences more prevailing westerly winds than Dallas. 
C)  Dallas receives more solar irradiance than Chicago. 
D)  Dallas is closer to a large body of water, than is Chicago.

Question 4

Annual plants germinate, reproduce, and die in one season. These plants often evolved in

Accepted Answer

A)  deserts. 
B)  tundra. 
C)  deciduous forests. 
D)  chaparral. 
A)  deserts. 
B)  tundra. 
C)  deciduous forests. 
D)  chaparral.

Question 5

The typical pattern of temperature and rainfall/snowfall in a region, established over a long period of time, is called

Accepted Answer

A)  climate. 
B)  weather. 
C)  precipitation. 
D)  solar irradiance. 
A)  climate. 
B)  weather. 
C)  precipitation. 
D)  solar irradiance.

Question 6

The dry deserts of Nevada are most influenced by

Accepted Answer

A)  the hot desert sun. 
B)  the Pacific Ocean. 
C)  overgrazing by livestock. 
D)  the rain shadow from a California mountain range. 
A)  the hot desert sun. 
B)  the Pacific Ocean. 
C)  overgrazing by livestock. 
D)  the rain shadow from a California mountain range.

Question 7

The most precipitation is expected on the ________ of a mountain.

Accepted Answer

A)  very top 
B)  leeward side 
C)  windward side 
D)  north slope 
A)  very top 
B)  leeward side 
C)  windward side 
D)  north slope

Question 8

Burning fossil fuels can result in

Accepted Answer

A)  a decrease in ground-level ozone levels. 
B)  a decrease in carbon dioxide levels. 
C)  an increase in mercury levels. 
D)  a decrease in acid rain. 
A)  a decrease in ground-level ozone levels. 
B)  a decrease in carbon dioxide levels. 
C)  an increase in mercury levels. 
D)  a decrease in acid rain.

Question 9

In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs when

Accepted Answer

A)  the sun reaches its northern maximum. 
B)  the South Pole is closest to the sun. 
C)  solar irradiance is at its minimum. 
D)  lengths of day and night are equal at all latitudes. 
A)  the sun reaches its northern maximum. 
B)  the South Pole is closest to the sun. 
C)  solar irradiance is at its minimum. 
D)  lengths of day and night are equal at all latitudes.

Question 10

Which of the following locations would be expected to exhibit the greatest variation in temperatures throughout the seasons?

Accepted Answer

A)  a small town at sea level in Panama 
B)  San Diego, California 
C)  a city in Finland 
D)  Rome, Italy 
A)  a small town at sea level in Panama 
B)  San Diego, California 
C)  a city in Finland 
D)  Rome, Italy

Question 11

On a warm summer day in August, you decide to go for a walk through a new housing development that was built near your home a few years ago. As you walk by the pond that's in the center of this development, you notice an unpleasant smell. Then, you see that the pond is full of green algae, and there are dead fish floating on the surface. This is a pond that used to be clean and clear, and you used to play in it as a child. What could have most likely caused this change?

Accepted Answer

A)  Too many people are discarding food and other wastes in the pond, causing increased algal growth. 
B)  Lawns are being overfertilized, causing excess fertilizer to wash into the pond, stimulating algal growth. 
C)  The low reflectance of the surrounding area is heating up the pond, causing increased algal growth. 
D)  The salting of the roads during icy conditions in the winter has resulted in the runoff of salt and thus stimulated algal growth. 
A)  Too many people are discarding food and other wastes in the pond, causing increased algal growth. 
B)  Lawns are being overfertilized, causing excess fertilizer to wash into the pond, stimulating algal growth. 
C)  The low reflectance of the surrounding area is heating up the pond, causing increased algal growth. 
D)  The salting of the roads during icy conditions in the winter has resulted in the runoff of salt and thus stimulated algal growth.

Question 12

France is at almost the same latitude as Nova Scotia. Why is France's climate so much milder?

Accepted Answer

A)  France is surrounded by mountains that buffer it from all severe weather conditions. 
B)  Nova Scotia isn't near a large body of water, but France is located adjacent to the ocean. 
C)  There are more people in France than Nova Scotia, thus human activity warms up the former region during colder periods of the year. 
D)  The Gulf Stream brings warm water from the tropical Atlantic to France, modifying its climate. 
A)  France is surrounded by mountains that buffer it from all severe weather conditions. 
B)  Nova Scotia isn't near a large body of water, but France is located adjacent to the ocean. 
C)  There are more people in France than Nova Scotia, thus human activity warms up the former region during colder periods of the year. 
D)  The Gulf Stream brings warm water from the tropical Atlantic to France, modifying its climate.

Question 13

Temperature variation among geographic locations is NOT affected by

Accepted Answer

A)  latitude. 
B)  proximity to water. 
C)  elevation. 
D)  longitude. 
A)  latitude. 
B)  proximity to water. 
C)  elevation. 
D)  longitude.

Question 14

An adaptation of evergreen trees in boreal forests includes

Accepted Answer

A)  a thick waxy coat on leaves. 
B)  lower levels of chlorophyll in leaves. 
C)  the ability to shed leaves when water availability is low in winter. 
D)  flower production in early spring. 
A)  a thick waxy coat on leaves. 
B)  lower levels of chlorophyll in leaves. 
C)  the ability to shed leaves when water availability is low in winter. 
D)  flower production in early spring.

Question 15

To determine a geographic area's climate, one must take into account the variability of

Accepted Answer

A)  distance from the equator and available sunlight. 
B)  altitude and bodies of water. 
C)  temperature and precipitation. 
D)  air quality and urbanization. 
A)  distance from the equator and available sunlight. 
B)  altitude and bodies of water. 
C)  temperature and precipitation. 
D)  air quality and urbanization.

Question 16

-In which general direction do the prevailing winds blow between 30° North and the equator?

Accepted Answer

A)  from south to north 
B)  from east to west 
C)  from north to south 
D)  from southwest to northeast 
A)  from south to north 
B)  from east to west 
C)  from north to south 
D)  from southwest to northeast

Question 17

The amount of light received by a given unit area over time is called

Accepted Answer

A)  solar precipitation. 
B)  solar irradiance. 
C)  solar flare. 
D)  solar convergence. 
A)  solar precipitation. 
B)  solar irradiance. 
C)  solar flare. 
D)  solar convergence.

Question 18

Valleys are usually ________ than nearby hilltops because ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  warmer; they receive more solar irradiance 
B)  cooler; they usually hold a body of cool water 
C)  cooler; cool air is heavier than warm air 
D)  warmer; warm air is heavier than cool air 
A)  warmer; they receive more solar irradiance 
B)  cooler; they usually hold a body of cool water 
C)  cooler; cool air is heavier than warm air 
D)  warmer; warm air is heavier than cool air

Question 19

A biome that contains few shrubs or trees and has limited rainfall is called

Accepted Answer

A)  grassland. 
B)  chaparral. 
C)  boreal forest. 
D)  tundra. 
A)  grassland. 
B)  chaparral. 
C)  boreal forest. 
D)  tundra.

Question 20

Hypothetically, scientists could lower Earth's temperature by ________, in order to combat global warming.

Accepted Answer

A)  moving ice from the Arctic to the tropical oceans 
B)  forcibly melting more glaciers and polar ice caps 
C)  reflecting more light from land masses 
D)  decreasing the reflectance of cities 
A)  moving ice from the Arctic to the tropical oceans 
B)  forcibly melting more glaciers and polar ice caps 
C)  reflecting more light from land masses 
D)  decreasing the reflectance of cities

Exam 16: Where Do You Live? Climate and Biomes

An environment where the plants are low to the ground and many boggy areas are found is called

Los Angeles, California, has an average daily temperature between 70° F and 80° F throughout most of the year. There's very little rainfall except for during a rainy season beginning in the fall. This describes the city's

Why does Dallas, Texas, have a higher yearly average temperature than Chicago, Illinois?

Annual plants germinate, reproduce, and die in one season. These plants often evolved in

The typical pattern of temperature and rainfall/snowfall in a region, established over a long period of time, is called

The dry deserts of Nevada are most influenced by

The most precipitation is expected on the ________ of a mountain.

Burning fossil fuels can result in

In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs when

Which of the following locations would be expected to exhibit the greatest variation in temperatures throughout the seasons?

France is at almost the same latitude as Nova Scotia. Why is France's climate so much milder?

Temperature variation among geographic locations is NOT affected by

An adaptation of evergreen trees in boreal forests includes

To determine a geographic area's climate, one must take into account the variability of

-In which general direction do the prevailing winds blow between 30° North and the equator?

The amount of light received by a given unit area over time is called

Valleys are usually ________ than nearby hilltops because ________.

A biome that contains few shrubs or trees and has limited rainfall is called

Hypothetically, scientists could lower Earth's temperature by ________, in order to combat global warming.

Can Science Cure the Common Cold? Introduction to the Scientific Method

Are We Alone in the Universe? Water, Biochemistry, and Cells

Is It Possible to Supplement Your Way to Better Health?

Fat: How Much is Right for You? Enzymes, Metabolism, and Cellular Respiration

Life in the Greenhouse: Photosynthesis and Global Warming

Cancer: DNA Synthesis, Mitosis, and Meiosis

Are You Only as Smart as Your Genes? Mendelian and Quantitative Genetics

DNA Detective: Complex Patterns of Inheritance and DNA Fingerprinting

Genetically Modified Organisms: Gene Expression, Mutation, and Cloning

Where Did We Come From? The Evidence for Evolution

An Evolving Enemy: Natural Selection

Who Am I? Species and Races

Prospecting for Biological Gold: Biodiversity and Classification

Is the Human Population Too Large? Population Ecology

Conserving Biodiversity: Community and Ecosystem Ecology

Organ Donation: Tissues Organs and Organ Systems

Clearing the Air: Respiratory Cardiovascular and Excretory Systems

Vaccinations: Protection and Prevention or Peril? Immune System

Sex Differences and Athleticism: Endocrine Skeletal and Muscular Systems

Is There Something in the Water? Reproductive and Developmental Biology

Attention Deficit Disorder: Brain Structure and Function

Feeding the World: Plant Structure and Growth

Growing a Green Thumb: Plant Physiology

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