Question 1

Temperature inversions:

Accepted Answer

A)  cause gases and particulate matter to remain trapped near the ground. 
B)  typically last for weeks at a time. 
C)  occur when air a layer of warm air is trapped near the ground by a colder, upper layer. 
D)  are of greatest concern in areas with relatively flat topography. 
E)  All of these choices are correct 
A)  cause gases and particulate matter to remain trapped near the ground. 
B)  typically last for weeks at a time. 
C)  occur when air a layer of warm air is trapped near the ground by a colder, upper layer. 
D)  are of greatest concern in areas with relatively flat topography. 
E)  All of these choices are correct

Question 2

In the absence of air pollution control devices, which of the following is the most significant source of sulfur dioxide?

Accepted Answer

A)  refrigeration and air conditioning 
B)  coal-burning power plants 
C)  motor vehicles 
D)  fertilizers 
E)  fire retardants 
A)  refrigeration and air conditioning 
B)  coal-burning power plants 
C)  motor vehicles 
D)  fertilizers 
E)  fire retardants

Question 3

All of the following are methods of controlling air pollution due to particulate matter EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  catalytic afterburners. 
B)  scrubbers. 
C)  careful land-excavating activities. 
D)  fabric filters. 
E)  electrostatic precipitators. 
A)  catalytic afterburners. 
B)  scrubbers. 
C)  careful land-excavating activities. 
D)  fabric filters. 
E)  electrostatic precipitators.

Question 4

Which of the following pH values indicates a strong base?

Accepted Answer

A)  pH=3 
B)  pH=5 
C)  pH=7 
D)  pH=9 
E)  pH=11 
A)  pH=3 
B)  pH=5 
C)  pH=7 
D)  pH=9 
E)  pH=11

Question 5

Chlorofluorocarbons such as CFC-12 are released into the atmosphere by:

Accepted Answer

A)  smoke stacks. 
B)  car exhaust. 
C)  leaking air conditioners and old refrigerators. 
D)  pesticides. 
E)  nuclear power plants. 
A)  smoke stacks. 
B)  car exhaust. 
C)  leaking air conditioners and old refrigerators. 
D)  pesticides. 
E)  nuclear power plants.

Question 6

The U.S. Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 require the:

Accepted Answer

A)  development of automobiles with lower nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon emissions. 
B)  construction of more mass transit systems. 
C)  elimination of diesel-fueled vehicles. 
D)  reduction of automobile traffic. 
E)  reduction of air pollutants in agricultural and rural areas. 
A)  development of automobiles with lower nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon emissions. 
B)  construction of more mass transit systems. 
C)  elimination of diesel-fueled vehicles. 
D)  reduction of automobile traffic. 
E)  reduction of air pollutants in agricultural and rural areas.

Question 7

Industrial smog:

Accepted Answer

A)  was first described in Los Angeles. 
B)  caused thousands of deaths in London. 
C)  is formed from chemical reactions involving sunlight and hydrocarbons. 
D)  is much worse in the summer months. 
E)  is only a significant problem in highly-developed countries. 
A)  was first described in Los Angeles. 
B)  caused thousands of deaths in London. 
C)  is formed from chemical reactions involving sunlight and hydrocarbons. 
D)  is much worse in the summer months. 
E)  is only a significant problem in highly-developed countries.

Question 8

Which of the following requires the average fuel economy of covered vehicles to be 27.5 miles per gallon by 2020?

Accepted Answer

A)  Clean Air Act (1970) 
B)  Clean Air Act Amendments (1990) 
C)  CAFE standards 
D)  EPA Emissions Testing 
E)  None of these choices is correct 
A)  Clean Air Act (1970) 
B)  Clean Air Act Amendments (1990) 
C)  CAFE standards 
D)  EPA Emissions Testing 
E)  None of these choices is correct

Question 9

Electrostatic precipitators, and scrubbers in smokestacks, are used primarily to remove which air pollutant?

Accepted Answer

A)  particulate matter 
B)  ozone 
C)  carbon dioxide 
D)  sulfur dioxide 
E)  oxygen 
A)  particulate matter 
B)  ozone 
C)  carbon dioxide 
D)  sulfur dioxide 
E)  oxygen

Question 10

All of the following affect ozone-related air quality in Southern California except:

Accepted Answer

A)  high temperatures. 
B)  hydrocarbons. 
C)  lead. 
D)  sunlight. 
E)  water vapor. 
A)  high temperatures. 
B)  hydrocarbons. 
C)  lead. 
D)  sunlight. 
E)  water vapor.

Question 11

Which of the following air pollutants is correctly paired with one of its major effects?

Accepted Answer

A)  sulfur oxides - acid precipitation 
B)  carbon oxides - corrosion of metal 
C)  hydrocarbons - reduced visibility 
D)  nitrogen oxides - blocks UV radiation 
E)  particulate matter - production of photochemical smog 
A)  sulfur oxides - acid precipitation 
B)  carbon oxides - corrosion of metal 
C)  hydrocarbons - reduced visibility 
D)  nitrogen oxides - blocks UV radiation 
E)  particulate matter - production of photochemical smog

Question 12

Lead in the atmosphere has decreased significantly since the 1970s primarily due to:

Accepted Answer

A)  new CAFE standards for automobiles. 
B)  the invention of the catalytic converter. 
C)  increased use of scrubbers in coal-fired power plants. 
D)  the phasing out of leaded paint in buildings. 
E)  replacing leaded gasoline with unleaded gasoline. 
A)  new CAFE standards for automobiles. 
B)  the invention of the catalytic converter. 
C)  increased use of scrubbers in coal-fired power plants. 
D)  the phasing out of leaded paint in buildings. 
E)  replacing leaded gasoline with unleaded gasoline.

Question 13

Air pollution is a greater health threat to children than adults because:

Accepted Answer

A)  children need more oxygen than adults. 
B)  children breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. 
C)  children have a higher metabolic rate than adults. 
D)  children's lungs are still developing. 
E)  All of these choices are correct 
A)  children need more oxygen than adults. 
B)  children breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. 
C)  children have a higher metabolic rate than adults. 
D)  children's lungs are still developing. 
E)  All of these choices are correct

Question 14

Dangerous levels of toxic compounds have been measured in pristine arctic regions due to the:

Accepted Answer

A)  many power plants required for power and heat in the winter. 
B)  migration of birds and marine animals each year. 
C)  global distillation effect. 
D)  illegal disposal of waste from urban areas. 
E)  none of these is correct 
A)  many power plants required for power and heat in the winter. 
B)  migration of birds and marine animals each year. 
C)  global distillation effect. 
D)  illegal disposal of waste from urban areas. 
E)  none of these is correct

Question 15

Which of the following statements about the U.S. Clean Air Act is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Clean Air Act of 1970 focused on about 200 air pollutants. 
B)  The most dramatic improvement in air quality has been a reduction of lead in the atmosphere. 
C)  Sulfur dioxide emissions since 1970 have been reduced by over 90%. 
D)  The Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, but has not been updated since then. 
E)  Urban areas have done the best job of meeting the standards for clean air. 
A)  The Clean Air Act of 1970 focused on about 200 air pollutants. 
B)  The most dramatic improvement in air quality has been a reduction of lead in the atmosphere. 
C)  Sulfur dioxide emissions since 1970 have been reduced by over 90%. 
D)  The Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, but has not been updated since then. 
E)  Urban areas have done the best job of meeting the standards for clean air.

Question 16

The stratospheric chemical that prevents much of the solar ultraviolet radiation from penetrating to Earth's surface is:

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon dioxide. 
B)  water vapor. 
C)  ozone. 
D)  particulate matter. 
E)  nitrogen oxides. 
A)  carbon dioxide. 
B)  water vapor. 
C)  ozone. 
D)  particulate matter. 
E)  nitrogen oxides.

Question 17

Air pollution has been linked to all of the following human health problems except:

Accepted Answer

A)  suppression of the immune system. 
B)  increased susceptibility to West Nile virus. 
C)  inflammation of the respiratory tract. 
D)  potential development of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. 
E)  impaired reflexes and increased drowsiness. 
A)  suppression of the immune system. 
B)  increased susceptibility to West Nile virus. 
C)  inflammation of the respiratory tract. 
D)  potential development of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. 
E)  impaired reflexes and increased drowsiness.

Question 18

Describe how acid deposition develops and describe some of the effects of acid deposition.

Accepted Answer

Acid deposition occurs when sulfur dioxi

Question 19

The most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere is:

Accepted Answer

A)  argon. 
B)  carbon dioxide. 
C)  hydrogen. 
D)  nitrogen. 
E)  oxygen. 
A)  argon. 
B)  carbon dioxide. 
C)  hydrogen. 
D)  nitrogen. 
E)  oxygen.

Question 20

The difference between primary and secondary air pollutants is that primary air pollutants:

Accepted Answer

A)  only affect plants, while secondary pollutants affect plants and animals. 
B)  are not harmful to humans, whereas secondary air pollutants may be toxic to humans. 
C)  enter the atmosphere directly, whereas secondary pollutants form from other substances released into the atmosphere. 
D)  are the direct result of natural processes, whereas secondary air pollutants are the result of human activity. 
E)  are smaller, primary molecules. 
A)  only affect plants, while secondary pollutants affect plants and animals. 
B)  are not harmful to humans, whereas secondary air pollutants may be toxic to humans. 
C)  enter the atmosphere directly, whereas secondary pollutants form from other substances released into the atmosphere. 
D)  are the direct result of natural processes, whereas secondary air pollutants are the result of human activity. 
E)  are smaller, primary molecules.

Exam 19: Air Pollution

Temperature inversions:

In the absence of air pollution control devices, which of the following is the most significant source of sulfur dioxide?

All of the following are methods of controlling air pollution due to particulate matter EXCEPT:

Which of the following pH values indicates a strong base?

Chlorofluorocarbons such as CFC-12 are released into the atmosphere by:

The U.S. Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 require the:

Industrial smog:

Which of the following requires the average fuel economy of covered vehicles to be 27.5 miles per gallon by 2020?

Electrostatic precipitators, and scrubbers in smokestacks, are used primarily to remove which air pollutant?

All of the following affect ozone-related air quality in Southern California except:

Which of the following air pollutants is correctly paired with one of its major effects?

Lead in the atmosphere has decreased significantly since the 1970s primarily due to:

Air pollution is a greater health threat to children than adults because:

Dangerous levels of toxic compounds have been measured in pristine arctic regions due to the:

Which of the following statements about the U.S. Clean Air Act is true?

The stratospheric chemical that prevents much of the solar ultraviolet radiation from penetrating to Earth's surface is:

Air pollution has been linked to all of the following human health problems except:

Describe how acid deposition develops and describe some of the effects of acid deposition.

The most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere is:

The difference between primary and secondary air pollutants is that primary air pollutants:

Introducing Environmental Science and Sustainability

Environmental Laws Economic and Ethics

Ecosystems and Energy

Ecosystems and the Physical Environment

Ecosystems and Living Organisms

Major Ecosystems of the World

Human Health and Environmental Toxicology

The Human Population

The Urban World

Energy Consumption

Fossil Fuels

Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power

Water: a Limited Resource

Soil Resources

Mineral Resources

Biological Resources

Land Resources

Food Resources

Global Climate Change

Water Pollution

Pest Management

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Tomorrows Word

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