Question 1

Half of U.S.emissions of this pollutant is from natural sources such as vegetation.

Accepted Answer

A) VOCs 
B) nitrogen oxides 
C) lead 
D) carbon monoxide 
E) sulfur dioxide 
A) VOCs 
B) nitrogen oxides 
C) lead 
D) carbon monoxide 
E) sulfur dioxide A

Question 2

Why is indoor pollution still such a large problem in developed nations? What are the most dangerous indoor pollutants in developing and developed nations?

Accepted Answer

Indoor air pollution was not recognized as a problem until fairly recently.The 1970 U.S.Clean Air Act did not even mention indoor air pollution; rather,indoor spaces were assumed to be safe havens from outdoor pollution.Even smoke from indoor fires was viewed merely as a nuisance,in the absence of data showing it to cause health problems.Furthermore,actions to seal buildings to improve energy efficiency have resulted in decreased ventilation of indoor air pollutants to the outdoors.Some of the biggest indoor air pollution problems come from dust,dander,and mites,as well as toxins given off by furniture and rugs.The two most dangerous indoor pollutants in developed nations are cigarette smoke and radon,but VOCs and microorganisms also play significant roles.In developing nations,the biggest problems are soot and carbon monoxide resulting from burning fuelwood.International health research estimates that 7% of all deaths in developing nations are attributed to these factors.

Question 3

What gas comprises the largest portion of Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) nitrogen 
B) ozone 
C) argon 
D) sulfur 
E) oxygen 
A) nitrogen 
B) ozone 
C) argon 
D) sulfur 
E) oxygen A

Question 4

The decrease in NOx emissions in the U.S.from 1970 to 2014 can be partially attributed to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A) a decrease in the amount of energy consumed 
B) a decrease in the amount of nitrogen in the atmosphere 
C) the use of catalytic converters in motor vehicles 
D) a decrease in vehicle miles traveled 
E) the use of scrubbers in motor vehicles 
A) a decrease in the amount of energy consumed 
B) a decrease in the amount of nitrogen in the atmosphere 
C) the use of catalytic converters in motor vehicles 
D) a decrease in vehicle miles traveled 
E) the use of scrubbers in motor vehicles

Question 5

In the U.S.,which of the following has decreased since 1980?

Accepted Answer

A) population 
B) energy consumption 
C) air pollution emissions 
D) gross domestic product (GDP) 
E) vehicle miles traveled 
A) population 
B) energy consumption 
C) air pollution emissions 
D) gross domestic product (GDP) 
E) vehicle miles traveled

Question 6

In industrialized nations,the two most deadly sources of indoor pollution are ________________

Accepted Answer

A) synthetic furniture materials and radiation from electronic equipment 
B) pesticides and cleaning agents 
C) pesticides and cigarette smoke 
D) radon and cigarette smoke 
E) radiation from electronic equipment and pesticides 
A) synthetic furniture materials and radiation from electronic equipment 
B) pesticides and cleaning agents 
C) pesticides and cigarette smoke 
D) radon and cigarette smoke 
E) radiation from electronic equipment and pesticides

Question 7

Lead pollution is a problem because lead ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) causes central nervous system damage in humans 
B) is a precious metal,and it is being lost to the atmosphere 
C) causes excess nutrification of waterways,resulting in eutrophication 
D) can become attached to radon 
E) will cause the ozone hole to increase 
A) causes central nervous system damage in humans 
B) is a precious metal,and it is being lost to the atmosphere 
C) causes excess nutrification of waterways,resulting in eutrophication 
D) can become attached to radon 
E) will cause the ozone hole to increase

Question 8

________________ is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that may cause lung cancer.

Accepted Answer

A) Helium 
B) Hydrogen sulfide 
C) Radon 
D) Carbon monoxide 
E) Secondhand smoke 
A) Helium 
B) Hydrogen sulfide 
C) Radon 
D) Carbon monoxide 
E) Secondhand smoke

Question 9

Stratospheric ozone is important to ecosystems because it ________________

Accepted Answer

A) provides the air we breathe 
B) ensures lakes and oceans do not lose water 
C) keeps the temperature of Earth stable 
D) absorbs and scatters UV light 
E) keeps atmospheric gases balanced 
A) provides the air we breathe 
B) ensures lakes and oceans do not lose water 
C) keeps the temperature of Earth stable 
D) absorbs and scatters UV light 
E) keeps atmospheric gases balanced

Question 10

Which of the following is a secondary air pollutant?

Accepted Answer

A) radon 
B) carbon monoxide 
C) ozone 
D) nitrogen oxide 
E) sulfur dioxide 
A) radon 
B) carbon monoxide 
C) ozone 
D) nitrogen oxide 
E) sulfur dioxide

Question 11

In 1970,the source of most of the airborne lead emissions in the U.S.was ________________

Accepted Answer

A) coal -burning power plants 
B) water pipes 
C) paint 
D) gasoline 
E) pencil factories 
A) coal -burning power plants 
B) water pipes 
C) paint 
D) gasoline 
E) pencil factories

Question 12

Residence time is the ________________

Accepted Answer

A) length of time it takes for chemicals to be stored in the tissues of living organisms 
B) length of time a pollutant spends in the environment 
C) chemical change that occurs with time,when substances are altered by the sun or metabolized by microorganisms 
D) length of time it takes to produce toxic chemicals in the environment 
E) chemical change that occurs with time,when substances alter the growth and development of humans 
A) length of time it takes for chemicals to be stored in the tissues of living organisms 
B) length of time a pollutant spends in the environment 
C) chemical change that occurs with time,when substances are altered by the sun or metabolized by microorganisms 
D) length of time it takes to produce toxic chemicals in the environment 
E) chemical change that occurs with time,when substances alter the growth and development of humans

Question 13

The Coriolis effect ________________

Accepted Answer

A) keeps the wind circulating at constant speed around the planet 
B) is caused by the moon 
C) keeps Earth from spinning too fast 
D) is caused by earth's rotation 
E) results in seasonal periods of 24 -hour darkness at the poles in winter 
A) keeps the wind circulating at constant speed around the planet 
B) is caused by the moon 
C) keeps Earth from spinning too fast 
D) is caused by earth's rotation 
E) results in seasonal periods of 24 -hour darkness at the poles in winter

Question 14

Photochemical smog differs from industrial smog in that it ________________

Accepted Answer

A) consists of primary pollutants 
B) has large quantities of soot 
C) is formed only in the presence of sunlight 
D) is primarily composed of carbon monoxide 
E) is an unhealthy mixture of pollutants 
A) consists of primary pollutants 
B) has large quantities of soot 
C) is formed only in the presence of sunlight 
D) is primarily composed of carbon monoxide 
E) is an unhealthy mixture of pollutants

Question 15

The Coriolis effect contributes to ________________

Accepted Answer

A) increased acidic deposition 
B) a reduction in eutrophication 
C) global wind patterns 
D) an increase in eutrophication 
E) global warming 
A) increased acidic deposition 
B) a reduction in eutrophication 
C) global wind patterns 
D) an increase in eutrophication 
E) global warming

Question 16

Which of the following is a consequence of acid deposition?

Accepted Answer

A) It is increasing the rate of global warming. 
B) It leaches important minerals from soils. 
C) It increases the likelihood of low -lying ground fogs. 
D) It results in offshore eutrophication,damaging coral reefs. 
E) It creates rainwater that can damage skin cells or cause cancers. 
A) It is increasing the rate of global warming. 
B) It leaches important minerals from soils. 
C) It increases the likelihood of low -lying ground fogs. 
D) It results in offshore eutrophication,damaging coral reefs. 
E) It creates rainwater that can damage skin cells or cause cancers.

Question 17

In the 1970s,sources of CFC pollution in the U.S.included all of the following EXCEPT ________________

Accepted Answer

A) coal -burning power plants 
B) refrigerators 
C) aerosol spray cans 
D) air conditioners 
E) polystyrene manufacturing plants 
A) coal -burning power plants 
B) refrigerators 
C) aerosol spray cans 
D) air conditioners 
E) polystyrene manufacturing plants

Question 18

The relative humidity is the ________________

Accepted Answer

A) difference in available water vapor at midnight and at noon 
B) amount of oxygen a given volume of air holds relative to the maximum amount it could hold at a given temperature 
C) amount of water vapor in the atmosphere 
D) amount of oxygen in the atmosphere 
E) amount of water vapor a given volume of air holds compared to the maximum amount it could hold at a given temperature 
A) difference in available water vapor at midnight and at noon 
B) amount of oxygen a given volume of air holds relative to the maximum amount it could hold at a given temperature 
C) amount of water vapor in the atmosphere 
D) amount of oxygen in the atmosphere 
E) amount of water vapor a given volume of air holds compared to the maximum amount it could hold at a given temperature

Question 19

Seasons are a result of ________________

Accepted Answer

A) the phases of the moon 
B) differences in the amount and intensity of sunlight brought about by the tilt of Earth's axis 
C) changes in day length 
D) differences in the distance between Earth and the sun 
E) alterations in Hadley cells 
A) the phases of the moon 
B) differences in the amount and intensity of sunlight brought about by the tilt of Earth's axis 
C) changes in day length 
D) differences in the distance between Earth and the sun 
E) alterations in Hadley cells

Question 20

What determines the amount of solar radiation that strikes Earth's surface? What is the role of solar energy in creating seasons?

Accepted Answer

The spatial relationship between Earth a

Exam 17: Atmospheric Science,air Quality,and Pollution Control

Half of U.S.emissions of this pollutant is from natural sources such as vegetation.

Why is indoor pollution still such a large problem in developed nations? What are the most dangerous indoor pollutants in developing and developed nations?

What gas comprises the largest portion of Earth's atmosphere?

The decrease in NOx emissions in the U.S.from 1970 to 2014 can be partially attributed to which of the following?

In the U.S.,which of the following has decreased since 1980?

In industrialized nations,the two most deadly sources of indoor pollution are ________________

Lead pollution is a problem because lead ________________.

________________ is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that may cause lung cancer.

Stratospheric ozone is important to ecosystems because it ________________

Which of the following is a secondary air pollutant?

In 1970,the source of most of the airborne lead emissions in the U.S.was ________________

Residence time is the ________________

The Coriolis effect ________________

Photochemical smog differs from industrial smog in that it ________________

The Coriolis effect contributes to ________________

Which of the following is a consequence of acid deposition?

In the 1970s,sources of CFC pollution in the U.S.included all of the following EXCEPT ________________

The relative humidity is the ________________

Seasons are a result of ________________

What determines the amount of solar radiation that strikes Earth's surface? What is the role of solar energy in creating seasons?

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The decrease in NO_x emissions in the U.S.from 1970 to 2014 can be partially attributed to which of the following?